Though that may be a Dr. Seuss quote, it seems fitting for the last runDisney race at Disneyland for a few years. runDisney will continue to have marathons at Walt Disney World in Florida, and now in Disneyland Paris but the California Disneyland races have been cancelled indefinitely (at least for 3-4 years) while extensive construction is taking place to expand Disneyland Parks with a new hotel, parking structure and of course, Star Wars Land. 

I wanted to do a runDisney event with my kids so they could experience the joy of running a runDisney race so the Spiderman 5K was the perfect intro to the runDisney world. It's such a great family friendly event for all ages  with kids as young as 5 able to register and participate. There is a minimum age 10 to participate in the 10K, and minimum age 14 to run the half marathon. And we love our Superheroes so the theme was absolutely perfect for us! We were so excited to be running the 2017 Avengers Superheroes Half Marathon Weekend! 

The best part of the race is seeing all the great costumes that people race in, and the incredible support of everyone in the race. It's such a great community to be a part of and I can't believe there won't be any more races. I'm grateful that we took the plunge to register for this race, not knowing it would be the last at Disneyland. ​

We got our Spidey senses tingling, hulked up and ran the race! The best part of the race is simply having fun! There were lots of character stops to take your photos with Captain America, Thor, Hawykeye, Black Widow and Spiderman and photo ops at the mile markers as well. 

We stopped for Captain America and then didn't have time to stop for any of the otters characters. Had we waited in line for another character, we would have risked seeing the infamous balloon ladies who sweep you off the course and you don't finish the race. 

I'm so proud of my kids who not only finished the race, they thought it was too short! It was over so quickly, just as the fun was starting. They are confident they can do the 10K and are eager to try. 

Races begin at 5:00am in the morning and must be completed before the park opens to the public. There are lots of Good Neighbour hotels in the area to stay in, and complimentary shuttle transportation is provided to all race participants throughout the weekend. 

There's nothing like walking around the parks after a race with all your runDisney attire and proudly wearing that medal around your neck! The camaraderie and the community makes the event such a welcoming and worthwhile experience. I'm so sad that there won't be any races at Disneyland anymore, just as I got introduced into the runDisney experience.  

There is no other way  to describe the experience other than it was so much fun! 

I don't know when the next race will be but I definitely want to be running in one again! 

Why not get all dressed up in your Sunday best and head to Disneyland? That's the idea behind Dapper Day, a day to celebrate the days of a bygone era where people would get dressed up in their best attire for a day out in Disneyland. It's not an official event held by Disney, but what started out as a fun way to dress up and spend the day in Disneyland has grown to a bi-annual event in Disneyland, and spread to Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris for their own Dapper Day events. Spend a day in the parks wearing your most dapper attire, and check out the expo for a lot of great vendors specializing in couture and pinup clothing styles. 

The Disney PhotoPass photographers are plenty around the parks and they are awesome at ensuring you get the best photos always! Sometimes the characters will also be in their most dapper gear so it's so much fun to spend the day being dapper. ​

Disneyland now has the MaxPass system for $10/day per person if you wish to utilize the digital Fast Pass system at Disneyland. With MaxPass, you can choose your next Fast Pass within the Disneyland app, without having to go to the physical distribution location to obtain a Fast Pass. It is very convenient to choose Fast Passes without having to race across the parks for your next Fast Pass. If you have a Park Hopper ticket, you can choose Fast Passes in either park. Once you have chosen your Fast Pass, it will tell you what time to return to redeem the Fast Pass. You will also be notified when you can choose your next Fast Pass. 

Also included in MaxPass are unlimited photos from the day so it's also a great opportunity to take as many photos in the parks as you can. Photos are uploaded into your Disney account about 30 minutes afterwards and you receive unlimited downloads of your photos (without the watermark) for up to 30 days after your return. 

Is it worth it?? Absolutely. It significantly reduces the time you need to spend waiting in lines, especially the really popular rides that always have long wait times. For us, our must do was to visit the new Guardians of the Galaxy attraction in California Adventure. While I was sad that the Tower of Terror was no longer, I can't believe how much fun the new Guardians of the Galaxy attraction is! The music and the energy of the ride is electric! (Note to self: make sure you have some food in your belly before going on this ride!). I always bring my ginger with me to help settle my stomach for rides like this, but definitely worth it!! 

Really, we wish you were here! 

Dapper Day is just another fun and unique way to enjoy Disneyland and it was neat seeing how so many people dress up! I loved the costumes, the clothing and how everyone is able to express themselves through fashion and feel absolutely beautiful at Disneyland. And there is no better backdrop that Disneyland for your picture perfect self! 

For an extra special treat, combine your vacation with a stay at The Disneyland Hotel! It's such a charming hotel, complete with Disney magic that you just can't describe until you're there. The headboard lights up with fireworks and plays soft music. It's simply magical. Sigh. 

The hotel is located next to Downtown Disney for easy access to restaurants and shopping, and only about a 10 minute walk to the parks. Staying onsite at a Disney resort also gives you Extra Magic Hours, an hour before the park opens to the public so that you can enjoy the parks before the crowds! So many extra benefits to staying at a Disney Resort! And you can beat the magic that comes with Disney! 

​Let me know if you have any questions! I would love to help you! 

​We just recently came back from a whirlwind trip to Walt Disney World and experienced the newest land that just opened in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park in Orlando! While it is a bit crazy to visit Disney World for a quick weekend getaway from Calgary, some of the best trips are short and sweet! In my mind, a little Disney magic is better than no Disney at all! It was a perfect weekend to explore the new world of Pandora with the Extra Magic Hours available to Disney onsite guests as a part of its opening plans.  

​We took a red eye flight for Calgary to Orlando, arriving in the morning, boarded the Disney’s Magical Express airport transportation and took us straight to our resort, Disney’s All Star Sports. Because it was short weekend trip, and because I didn’t get a chance to check out the All Star Resorts (Music, Movies and Sports) during my last visit, I thought it was a great opportunity to check it out. 

The All Star Resorts are a collection of value resorts onsite at Walt Disney World. They are perfect for those who want to stay onsite at Disney World and receive all the benefits of an onsite resort, without the added amenities and desirable locations of the moderate and deluxe resorts. But because our main goal for this visit was to visit Pandora and Animal Kingdom Park, the All Star Resorts were a perfect location because of its close proximity to Animal Kingdom! ​We check into our resort, dropped off our bags, grabbed a quick lunch and headed straight to Animal Kingdom Park. ​

First things first, we head straight to Pandora The World of Avatar! If you have seen the movie Avatar, you will recognize the influence of the director, James Cameron within the land. The idea of Pandora, the beliefs and culture of the Na'vi blend perfectly with the overall theme and culture of Animal Kingdom Park. Here in the Valley of Mo'ara, the scenery is set 100 years in the future from the time period of the movie, Avatar. Since the movie's ending, the moon planet has undergone extensive damage and has been revitalized and guests can take expedition tours to visit Pandora.

The beauty of Pandora is absolutely breathtaking! You can wander for hours just exploring and taking in all the beauty of the flora and the fauna.

Play on the drums that echo through the mountains!

Touch and feel parts of the land that come alive with your touch! You are first greeted Pandora with the Flaska Reclinata, a plant that spews water and steam when you touch its insides. It looks like the insides are are slimy and gooey but it's really not!

We originally had Fast Passes for the Avatar Flight of Passage but much to our horror and dismay, after flying on a red eye flight twelve hours earlier, we arrive in Pandora and BOTH signature attractions in Pandora were closed! Apparently there was a fire sensor that went off so guests were evacuated from both rides. We didn’t know how long it would take so we decided to head back to our room to regroup and and decide on our next steps. We would come back again sometime this weekend and try again. 

While we were not able to ride the attractions that day, we did head back to Animal Kingdom Park another day to see Pandora at night, which is another experience altogether! Pandora lights up at night and the experience is truly magical. But it's difficult to get good photos so you just have to experience it in person to get the full immersive experience. ​
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NA'VI RIVER JOURNEY

The Na'vi River Journey is a relaxing slow moving boat ride, (similar to Pirates of the Caribbean and It's a Small World) through the biolumnescent forest of Pandora. Enjoy the exotic flora and the fauna of the magically lit up forest with dazzling colours and soothing music of the Na'vi, finally meeting the Na'vi Shaman of Songs, as she shares her personal and deep connection to the forest through her music.

FLIGHT OF PASSAGE

Flight of Passage is the signature attraction of Pandora. Don't let the incredibly long wait times scare you! There will likely be long lines for many years to come. The ride is THAT amazing! It is definitely necessary to snag a Fast Pass for this ride, use Extra Magic Hours and early morning opening times to take advantage of lower crowds to experience this attraction. The wait is worth it. 

Guests board the back of a banshee to experience the ride of a lifetime! It is a simulator experience, where guests can link up to an avatar already in flight on a banshee and experience this rite of passage for the Na'vi. Each person sits on a bike-like contraption so it feels like you are straddling a banshee and the experience feels very individual as each person rides his/her own banshee. With a large screen in front of you, wind and water spray effects that complement the ride, the experience takes you through the Valley of Mo'ara from the back of a banshee. It is thrilling and exhilarating!

The queue itself is a unique experience with a lot of detail to help pass the time spent in line. It's one of those queues that twists and turns and never seems to end! There is a lot of back story into the technology they use to link you to an existing avatar already on the back of a banshee and how it all works.  

The two rides at Pandora are tiered for Fast Passes, meaning you can only choose one or the other per day. Given that choice, get a Fast Pass for Flight of Passage, and wait in line for the Na'vi River Journey. The Na'vi River Journey is a constantly loading boat ride so the line moves fairly quickly and anticipated wait times might be 60 to 90 minutes. Flight of Passage wait times without Fast Passes will likely be into several hours at peak times, so take advantage of Fast Passes, and early morning hours to reduce the wait time for the ride. Whatever your strategy, Flight of Passage is a MUST DO and not to be missed! 

A few other highlights....

We visited Disney's Hollywood Studios to meet some of the newest characters to join the meet and greet options. Star-Lord and Baby Groot were a hit and so much fun! 

I can't remember what BB-8 said at this time but it must have been pretty funny! 

At EPCOT, head over to the Canadian Pavilion where they are handing out special edition pins for Canadians to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday! You can write your hometown and wear your button with pride all around the parks. Though my home is now Calgary, I am a born and raised prairie girl trekking throughout the prairie provinces so I had to represent each city I've lived in! 

Because we had a lot to accomplish in one weekend, our whirlwind trip included a quick stop at all four parks, plus Disney Springs over the course of the weekend, including three parks in one day for our second park day. 

And at the end of our 14 hour day visiting EPCOT, Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Park.....

These kids are such troopers and great little assistants for my quick research trip to Disney World! Not only did they handle the red eye flights with ease, topped with long park days, Florida heat, crazy lines and a lot of walking, they managed to settle back into regular life without too much of a hassle. 

Disney is not just a destination, it's a way of life! It was a crazy action-packed weekend and I would do it again in a heartbeat! 

Who wants to go to Disney with me next time?? The more the merrier! Let me know! 

If you have an upcoming trip planned to Disney World already, then you won't want to miss this, "Pandora The World of Avatar: What You Need to Know!"

​Contact me to help you with your Disney vacation (or any kind of travel, really!) I'm available to help you with your travel adventures! 

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What would be the perfect Christmas gift this year?? Why not the gift of travel?! The opportunities for travel are plenty and I am forever grateful and blessed to travel as much as I can, with my kids in tow to experience all the wonders of travel. And especially as a Disney Vacation Specialist, we have been fortunate enough to visit Disneyland in March, Walt Disney World in August, and a Disney cruise in December. That's a whole lot of Disney vacations in one year! And because of these awesome opportunities, we have had some pretty amazing vacations that my kids will remember for years to come, instead of more "stuff", which we have way too much of anyway! 

So, here is a quick overview of our recent Disney cruise experience to the Bahamas, aboard the upgraded and newly refurbished Disney Wonder! The Disney Wonder came out of dry dock in November and began her new season sailing out of Galveston, Texas to the Caribbean and the Bahamas, which was the perfect opportunity for me to explore the updates on the Wonder, explore Castaway Cay, Disney's private island, and visit Atlantis, Paradise Island at Nassau for potential future vacations for clients. 

Where to stay in Galveston:

Disney partner hotels for cruises departing out of Galveston include the Marriott at George Bush International Airport in Houston, or the San Luis Resort in Galveston. If you book your pre or post hotel stay with Disney, you can arrange shuttle transportation with Disney to get you from the airport to the port and back. If you book your hotel stay elsewhere, then you will need to make your own arrangements for transportation to the port. The shuttle from Disney is great as the shuttle ride is about 1.5 hours from George Bush International Airport to Galveston, but there is Wi-Fi onboard, and you can watch Disney movies the whole time so it doesn't feel long at all. If you don't book with Disney, a great shuttle option is with Galveston Express, which has pre-booked shuttle times or private transfer options for small groups. 

The San Luis Resort Spa & Conference Center in Galveston Island is where we stayed for our pre-cruise night. It is a beautiful resort that overlooks the Gulf of Mexico. 

Other highly recommended hotels to stay in Galveston include the Hilton Galveston Island and the Holiday Inn Galveston, both which are located on either side of the San Luis Resort and all are a part of the same overall management group. Another popular and highly recommended hotel is the Hotel Galvez and Spa, which is located closer to the port so you get a great view of the incoming ships! Complimentary shuttle transportation to the port is available from all these hotels. Many offer cruise and park stays to park a car, or you can park at the cruise terminal, with savings if you prepurchase your cruise terminal parking.  

Our cruise departs at 4:00pm with a sail away party and heads off to sea for the next 36 hours. This is the perfect opportunity to explore the ship, and get to know your surroundings. It wouldn't be a very Merrytime cruise without Christmas decor! 

While at sea, the first full night onboard is usually formal night. This is a fantastic opportunity to get dressed up and there are plenty of opportunities onboard for family photos in your best attire! With the theme of the Golden Mickeys, it's Disney's red carpet affair celebrating the history and highlights in Disney animation and cinema, with an impressive live theatre musical show. 

First stop, Key West, Florida!
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It's a cute little town, perfect for walking around and exploring the sights. Mallory Square is full of trinket and souvenir shopping, conch sea shells, pirate gear and Take bicycle tour of the city, visit Ernest Hemingway museum or the Little White House of President Truman and make sure you try some key lime pie! Plus, don't forget to visit the Southernmost point of the continental USA, where you are only 90 miles from Cuba. 

Castaway Cay, Disney's private island in the Bahamas and the highlight of most tropical Disney cruises!! It is a beautiful private island and the most enjoyable day of the whole cruise!

Castaway Cay 5K
One of the optional "excursions" (although it is not really an excursion) is the Castaway Cay 5K! It's not an excursion you can pre-book, but you can head straight to port adventures or guest services as soon as your board to register for the race. It is a fun way to enjoy the island and the 5K is open to all guests 10 and older, although I saw a few little kids running the 5K as well! Everyone who registers for the race receives the Castaway Cay 5K medal so kids younger than 10 can certainly run or walk the 5K but they won't receive the medal. It is not a timed race so you can walk or run the distance on your own time. (But it is hot!)

The island has something for everyone, including an onsite kids club, Scuttles Cove, for the little kids if you want to drop them off. There are family beach areas, snorkeling lagoons, the Pelican Plunge water slide area and water play areas for younger kids. Optional excursions you can book include stingray adventures, tubes and float rentals, bicycle rentals, or head to the adults only area at Serenity Beach for a tranquil beach experience. Private cabanas are also available to rent. There is also a post office on the island where you can send mail from Castaway Cay to where you want to send mail but be warned, it will be sent on Bahamian time! 

Lunch is served on the island with a BBQ and an all you can eat ice cream station for dessert. There are a couple of shops on the island with unique apparel and souvenirs that are only found on the island itself so if you want a Castaway Cay souvenir of some kind, you can only find it at the shops on the island. 

Your Castaway Cay beach day ends with a pirate party, Mickey's Pirates in the Caribbean Party! Feast on a pirate themed menu, and join the deck party onboard with all the characters in their pirate gear, finishing off with fireworks in the sky! It's a fun event where many guests get all dressed up in pirate gear, and although it is not mandatory to dress up, it's so much fun! 

Our third port was Nassau, Bahamas and our excursion was to visit Atlantis, Paradise Island! There are lots of varying excursions you can choose for Atlantis, including swimming with dolphins, stingray adventures, Aquaventure access (includes access to their waterparks), aquarium and marine tour or spend a day at the Atlantis beach. 

Atlantis, Paradise Island is such a huge resort and we were only able to explore about half the resort! There is so much to do there that it deserves its own post! (coming soon!) 

And it's not everyday you get to see two Disney ships docked at the same port! There were 5 ships docked in Nassau that day, including both the Disney Wonder and the Disney Dream. When docked beside each other, you can clearly see the size difference between the two ships! 

After three port days exploring Key West, Florida, Castaway Cay, and Nassau, we had two full days at sea to relax, enjoy the ship activites, all the great shows onboard and take it easy. Enjoy some spa time at the Senses Spa, or take in the pilates and yoga classes offered at the fitness center, which really helped with my tight muscles after the 5K and bike ride on Castaway Cay! 

One of our most favourite things to do is watch movies and there are plenty of opportunities to watch first run movies in the theatre onboard. Usually after dinner (we had the late seating so dinner was at 8:15pm), we would got catch some characters for photos and autgraphs and then go get popcorn in our refillable popcorn bucket for refill, head to deck 9 to get some drinks and ice cream and head back to our stateroom for movies in our room or head to the movie theatre for a late night movie. All Disney first run movies play onboard the ship! 

One of our highlights for this cruise was to attend the midnight premiere of Star Wars Rogue One! Any new Disney movie that premieres on land, will premiere on the ship at one minute past midnight on the premiere date! So we were lucky and stayed up to watch Star Wars Rogue One the night before we disembarked the cruise and it was absolutely worth it! 

Our Disney cruise was a jam packed, kickass vacation that felt like more than 7 days! But it is full of so many memories for me and my kids that they will have forever. It's one of the many things we love about Disney and Disney vacations and it is why I choose to help people plan such amazing and memorable vacations. If you want help in planning your next vacation, let me know! I would love the opportunity to help! 

When the opportunity arose to go on another Disney cruise adventure, it was one I could not pass up! After our first cruise a couple of years ago aboard the Disney Wonder to Alaska, I figured my next cruise would like be a south cruise aboard the Disney Dream or Fantasy, or possibly the Magic, which is the sister ship to the Wonder. But the Disney Wonder went into dry dock earlier this year for extensive upgrades and changes, her debut into the world reimagined offered an opportunity to visit her again to see all her in her shiny new enhancements! Her reimagined look debuted onto the seas with the November 18, 2016 sailing from Galveston, Texas and we were lucky enough to be on the new sailing in her new digs!  

The former Route 66 area has now been transformed into an upscale adults only area, After Hours, with redesigned lounges and nightclubs. Diversions is now the Crown & Fin pub, a proper English-style pub and the Wave lounge is now the Azure Lounge, a posh and modern lounge area for many of the day time shows for families, and becomes an adult only nightclub after 9:00pm. The buffet restaurant on Deck 9, formerly Beach Blanket, has been expanded and is now Cabanas. 

The Oceaneer's Club and Oceaneer's Lab Kids clubs area for kids ages 3 to 12 located on Deck 5, also got a facelift with new additions including the Marvel Superhero Academy, Frozen Adventures and Wandering Oaken's Trading Post, Andy's room playroom, just to name a few. The many youth activities happening in the kids clubs will entertain your kids no matter what their interests are. 

The kids clubs are a completely contained area where kids can roam freely between the lab and the club to enjoy the different themed areas in each. The kids clubs are open daily from 9:00am until midnight each day. Parents have the option to check in and check out their kids, or kids can check themselves in and out themselves if you give them that permission. Lunch and dinner can also be served in the kids clubs so you don't need to worry about feeding them if they are in the kids clubs. Another great option is to have your kids join you at your regular dinner seating but the kids meals can be served first and the youth couselors can take them back to the kids club so you can enjoy the rest of you dinner. 

Kids outside the ages of 3 to 12 need not fret. There is the Edge Club for kids ages 11 to 14, and the Vibe Club, for teens ages 14 to 17 to hang out. Under the age of 3, there is a nursery onboard that can look after your kids (with additional fee), at the "It's a Small World Nursery" (formerly, the Flounder's Reef Nursery).

Some other new additions include a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique onboard, a place where little girls get get a princess makeover or little boys can be turned into dashing knights or fierce pirates! Dory's Reef is a new toddler water play area that is safe and self contained so the little ones can enjoy water activities safely and comfortably in their own little area. 

One of the unique features of a Disney cruise is the rotational dining experience. There are three main dining restaurants and guests rotate between the three restaurants, while the serving team remains with the table and moves with guests each night for dinner. Each restaurant has a unique themed menu based on the restaurant specialty so you get to try three different menus each. Then for the menu changes for the rest of the nights so that a menu is never repeated and you will have a unique menu for each night you dine. On the Disney Wonder, the three main restaurants are Animator's Palate, Triton's and Tiana's Place (replaces the former Parrot Cay). 

One of the biggest changes and most exciting ones is the new restaurant, Tiana's Place, a complete recreation of the restaurant from the Princess and the Frog, with Tiana and Lewis, the jazz playing alligator in attendance. The restaurant features a live band with jazz, wing and blues music as you enjoy your Louisiana-inspired menu. The decor and ambiance resemble a New Orleans, French Quarter atmosphere and the must have favourite of the dining experience is Tiana's Buttermilk Beignets! 

Animator's Palate remains a dining favourite among many, and the menu, decor and animated shows never disappoint! Sorceror Mickey joins you as a part of the dinner show, and then there is also a new interactive animation show, where your own creations become a part of the show! 

These was my animation drawing before dinner. Each person draws their own character and they take the drawings and they come alive on the screen in the after dinner interactive animation show. It's really neat to see everyone's drawings come alive! And if you hear the chuckle in the video, my drawing was Ariel, with no arms and a mermaid tail and it was hilarious to see Ariel walking around in her mermaid legs! 

The entertainment onboard is one of the best in the industry and the shows are always a must do! Taking place in the Walt Disney Theatre, the Broadway-style shows, and the secondary entertainment, including magicians, ventriloquist acts, comedians  are perfect for the whole family! "The Golden Mickeys" provide a perfect red carpet experience for formal night onboard, and the "Disney Dreams: Enchanted Classics" show, reminds us that a little faith, trust and pixie dust, all of our dreams can come true if we believe in ourselves. New to the Wonder and replacing the "Toy Story Musical", is "Frozen, a Musical Spectacular", a live theatre production of the popular animated movie and definitely lives up to the hype, even for non-Frozen fans. 

With all the new updates onboard the Disney Wonder, she is renewed, refreshed and ready for guests to enjoy for many years to come! Disney continues to update, renew and adapt to the ever changing needs of the guests and continues to amaze us all with new experiences that exceed our expectations every single time.

If you have never been on a Disney cruise, it is truly a vacation of a lifetime and a unique experience that must be enjoyed at least once in your lifetime! Let me know if you would like any assistance with your vacation as I would love the opportunity to help you create those magical memories for you and your family!

If you have been on one before, please feel to connect with me and share your experiences! I would love to hear your thoughts!  

Canadian pride is out in full force! One of the most highly recommended restaurants in all of Disney World is Le Cellier Steakhouse and is one of the first restaurant recommendations I mention to clients or friends. Le Cellier, is French for "the cellar" and is located in the Chateau at the Canada Pavilion at the World Showcase in EPCOT at Walt Disney World. The experience is akin to visiting an underground wine cellar for a cozy and intimate steak dinner surrounded by vintage glass and wood architecture.

The restaurant is divided into sections, which are all named after the provinces. We were seated in Nova Scotia, and our server was from Ottawa, who mentioned that they actually don't have a lot of Canadians dine at Le Cellier. Weird, I tell everyone about it! But I was happy to chat with a fellow Canadian! 

Classic Canadian favourite such as Canadian Cheese Soup (made with Moosehead beer and Nueske's applewood-smoked bacon) is one of their signature dishes  as well as P.E.I. Mussels steamed in white wine. It would not be a Canadian restaurant without poutine! You can choose from the Le Cellier Signature Poutine (with Canadian cheddar, truffles and a red wine reduction), the French Onion Poutine (gruyere, caramelized onions and French onion gravy) or a new Korean BBQ poutine (with braised short ribs, parmigiana-reggianao cheese, spicy aioli and sewer soy, pickled vegetables).

The filet mignon is their specialty and it does not disappoint! AAA Canadian Tenderloin on a bed of mushroom risotto, with an asparagus and tomato relish and truffle butter sauce to finish.  Pork, chicken and seafood options are available alternatives to beef and the pork chop is just as comparable to the steak! Finish with a maple creme brûlée for a truly Canadian experience! On the kids menu, we picked the chocolate mousse which came dressed as a chocolate moose!

If not only to dine at Le Cellier Steakhouse, I LOVED the Canada pavilion! The outdoor show at The Mill Stage was an entertaining, lively upbeat show that had the crowd chanting for more. It captured perfectly the goofy, fun loving and laid back attitude of Canadians and the catchy music and beating drums could be heard even from the other side of the World Showcase! 

And who can pass up the opportunity to watch Martin Short in "O Canada! in Circle Vision" as he guides us through the wonder and beauty of our country? Is it a bit silly that I started to tear up a bit while watching the vast scenery of our country displayed before us in 360 circle vision?? Watching iconic views of Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary and the East Coast stirred such pride, awe and amazement that I could not be more proud to be a Canadian! 

Valid theme park admission is required to enter EPCOT to be able to dine at Le Cellier but it is definitely a signature dining experience worth every penny or table service credit if you can score a reservation! It does take 2 table service credits for both lunch and dinner if you are on the dining plan but it is worth swapping credits to dine here. Reservations are highly recommended and advance dining reservations can be made at 180 days before your arrival date. Le Cellier is one of the highly sought after reservations so I would keep trying if you can't get a reservation right away. Whether you are on the dining plan, or paying out of pocket, it is a signature experience and one that I highly recommend!

Have you dined at Le Cellier Steakhouse? What did you think? Did you enjoy the Canada pavilion? I would love to hear your thoughts! (And if I am the only one who got all choked up watching O Canada! in Circle Vision?? Silly I know!) 
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One of the benefits to staying onsite at a Disney resort is that you can add a dining plan to your reservation! The dining plan is exclusive to Disney World onsite guests and gives you pre-purchased meal credits that can be used in over 100 restaurants throughout Disney World. Each guest is allotted a certain number of meal credits (depending on the specific plan purchased), per night of your stay. All guests in the room reservation must be on the same dining plan and must be purchased for the length of the stay. 

Now you might have a bunch of questions about the dining plan - what is it? How much it is? What does it include? Is it worth it? 

There are three different dining plans available and you can choose the one that fits your dining needs and preferences best.

1. QUICK SERVICE DINING PLAN.
Each person in the room will receive the following for the number of nights in your Walt Disney World room or package reservation:
 - 2 quick service meals
 - 2 snacks
 - 1 refillable resort mug that can provides unlimited refills of fountain drinks, tea and coffee at any quick serve location at all Disney Resort hotels. 

1 quick service meal credit includes a non-alcoholic drink and entree.
Children ages 3 to 9 must order from the children's menu. Each children's meal (1 credit) includes a drink (milk or water), entree and a side. 
All unused credits will expire on midnight on the date of your check out.

2. DISNEY DINING PLAN.      ** Most popular **
Each person in the room will receive the following for the number of nights in your Walt Disney World room or package reservation:
 - 1 quick service meal
 - 1 table service meal
 - 2 snacks
 - 1 refillable resort mug that can provides unlimited refills of fountain drinks, tea and coffee at any quick serve location at all Disney Resort hotels. 

1 quick service meal credit includes a non-alcoholic drink and entree. 
1 table service meal credit can be used for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
For breakfast, the credit includes one entree and non-alcoholic beverage OR one buffet or family-style meal (will vary depending on the restaurant.
For lunch and dinner, the credit includes one entree, one dessert and one non-alcoholic beverage OR one buffet or family-style meal. 
Children ages 3 to 9 must order from the children's menu. Each children's meal (1 credit) includes a drink (milk or water), entree and a side. 
All unused credits will expire on midnight on the date of your check out.

3. DELUXE DINING PLAN
Each person in the room will receive the following for the number of nights in your Walt Disney World room or package reservation:
 - 3 meals (regardless quick service or table service) 
 - 2 snacks
 - 1 refillable resort mug that can provides unlimited refills of fountain drinks, tea and coffee at any quick serve location at all Disney Resort hotels. 

Children ages 3 to 9 must order from the children's menu. Each children's meal (1 credit) includes a drink (milk or water), entree and a side. 
All unused credits will expire on midnight on the date of your check out.
​

SNACKS
Look for this icon to confirm which items can be eligible for your snack credit.

Some locations will permit swapping your dessert for a snack item.
Common eligible snack items that can be redeemed include a single serving
​of the following items:
- frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle or fruit bar (yay Mickey bars!)
- popcorn scoop
- 12 oz coffee, tea or hot chocolate
- pre-packaged milk or juice
- piece of whole fruit (apple, banana, orange)
- bag of snacks (potato chips, pretzels, grapes, carrots, apples, etc...)
- 20 oz bottle of Coca Cola, Dasani water, etc.
- 20 oz fountain drink

NOT INCLUDED in any of the Dining Plans
- Alcoholic beverages
- Items that are larger than a single serving
- Items served in a souvenir container (eg. popcorn buckets or souvenir drink containers)
- Items from recreational rental counters
- Merchandise (eg. Mickey straws, bottle toppers, glow cubes)
- Special dining events offered at table service locations. 
- Gratuities at table service restaurants (except at dinner shows, private in room dining and Cinderella's Royal Table.)

QUICK SERVICE LOCATIONS
Quick Service locations are located at each Disney resort hotel so it's perfect for a quick stop for breakfast, during the day or in the evenings for a quick snack or meal. They are also located throughout each park (including the water parks) and in Disney Springs so there is always a place to eat when you need to break for a meal. No reservations are required for quick service restaurants.

TABLE SERVICE RESTAURANTS
Table service restaurants are located in moderate and deluxe resorts, at Disney Springs and include character dining experiences. Not all restaurants offer all three meals on the dining plan as some will only offer lunch or dinner as a part of the dining plan. Advance reservations are required for table service meals and can be made 180 days in advance of your arrival. A credit card guarantee is required for the reservation but you can change or revise the reservation anytime. Cancel 24 hours in advance of your reservation to avoid a $10 per person no show/cancellation fee. 

We took advantage of the table service credits to dine at character meals as much as we could! Not all of these characters are available to meet in the parks, plus no need to wait in line to meet with characters. :) 
- 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian to meet with Cinderella, Prince Charming, her step mother Lady Tremaine, and her ugly stepsisters Drizella and Anastasia!  It was an all-you-can enjoy full dinner buffet with wide assortment of dining choices. You can also meet the characters for breakfast for the Supercalifragilistic Breakfast. 
- Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort. Meet with Chef Mickey himself and his culinary team including Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Donald Duck. Another all-you-can enjoy full dinner buffet. Chef Mickey's also offers a character breakfast and brunch dining experience. 
- Ohana at the Polynesian to meet with Lilo and Stitch, Mickey and Pluto.

Other character dining experiences that are included ​in the table service credit:
- Minnie's Beach Bash at Cape May Cafe at the Yacht & Beach Club

In the theme parks (park admission is required):
- The Crystal Palace (Magic Kingdom) - breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Fairytale dining at Cinderella's Royal Table (Magic Kingdom) - 2 table service credits required for breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Chip 'n Dale's Harvest Feast at Garden Grill (Epcot)
- Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (Epcot, Norway pavilion) - breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Disney Junior characters at Hollywood & Vine (Hollywood Studios) breakfast, lunch and meet Minnie's Seasonal Dining for dinner
- Donald's Dining Safari at Tusker House (Animal Kingdom) for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
​

SIGNATURE DINING EXPERIENCES are also available on the dining plan offering an elegant and authentic table service dining experience. Choose from traditional African, Mediterranean, Indian and other cultural options to premium steaks and seafood cuisines. Signature dining experiences required 2 table service credits to be redeemed (but definitely worth using 2 credits for any of these experiences!) but gratuities are not included and must be paid separately. 

- Jiko - The Cooking Place (Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo House)
- Flying Fish (BoardWalk Inn and Villas)
- California Grill (Contemporary)
- Citrico's (Grand Floridian)
- Narcoossee's (Grand Floridian)
- Artist Point (Wilderness Lodge)
- Yachtman Steakhouse (Yacht and Beach Club)

In the theme parks (park admission is required) for lunch or dinner:
- Le Cellier Steakhouse (Epcot, Canada pavilion)
- Tiffins (Animal Kingdom)
- The Hollywood Brown Derby (Hollywood Studios)

DINNER SHOWS are also available on the dining plan where you can
enjoy a family-style dining meal experience with a themed dinner
show. Dinner shows require 2 table service credits but are located in
Disney Resorts so theme park admission is not required. Gratuities
are also include in the price/ table service credits. Advance reservations
​are required for all dinner shows. 

- A Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show (Polynesian Resort)
- Mickey's Backyard BBQ, seasonal (Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground)
- Hoop-Dee-Dee Musical Revue (Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground)

PRIVATE IN-ROOM DINING
Table service credits can be used for private in-room dining at select deluxe resorts and in room pizza delivery at all value resorts (All Stars resorts, Art of Animation and Pop Century) and select moderate resorts (Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans). Two table service credits per person will be redeemed.
​
DISNEY SPRINGS
Several restaurants in the Disney Springs area are also included in the dining plan. No theme park admission is required to dine in Disney Springs and parking is also free.

Our favourite dining experience in Disney Springs was Morimoto Asia, a Pan-Asian restaurant featuring creations from Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. Read about our experience here. Morimoto Asia is 1 table service credit for lunch, and 2 table service credits for dinner. 

BENEFITS OF ADDING A DINING PLAN

- No need to worry about budgeting for food costs during your trip. Your food is paid in advance and you can use the credits however you wish during your stay. 
- If you have leftover credits at the end of your stay, you can trade them in for snack credits and redeem that for snacks that you can take home with you.
- Food costs savings vs paying out of pocket for the same meals. Save about 10% per adult on the quick service dining plan, 15% per adults on the dining plan and 25% per adult on the deluxe dining plan. 
- Experience all the wonderful dining and culinary experiences that are offered throughout Walt Disney World without worrying about the cost! Experiences are treated equally with credits vs a per person cost. 

Disney periodically offers promotions throughout the year, including the most popular, "Free Dining Promotion" during slower times of the year. With the free dining promotion, guests staying at a value resort receive free quick service dining plan, with the option to upgrade to the dining plan for the difference in cost. Guests staying at a moderate or deluxe resort can receive free dining for all guests in the same room. This promotion can net significant savings on your package and provide you with many dining experiences you may not have considered. Even without the promotion, a dining plan can provide you with upfront savings on the cost of food, and then you have the option and freedom to select from a variety of dining experiences your family will enjoy most. 

I would love to hear your thoughts about your dining experiences at Disney World! Which are your favourite restaurants and experiences! Any must do's on your list??

If you have questions, let me know! I would love the opportunity to help you with your dining options! 

If you are considering staying offsite, then you need to read this!! Staying onsite at a Disney World Resort adds so much magic to your Disney World vacation by being completely immersed in the world of Disney not to mention the convenience and maximized opportunities to enjoy all of Walt Disney World! With the size similar to San Francisco or double the size of Manhattan, Disney World is truly a world in itself. The transportation and traffic logistics of simply entering and exiting Disney World can add precious hours each day that could be better utilized onsite. 

ONSITE BENEFITS

Complimentary roundtrip transportation aboard Disney's Magical Express from the airport to your resort. Once you get off the airplane, head directly to the Magical Express area and board the bus. Don't worry about your luggage! With the bright yellow tags provided, their luggage service will have Disney pick up your bags from the airport carousel and have them delivered directly to your room at your resort. (Luggage can take up to 3-4 hours after your arrival before it arrives at your resort.) ​

Magic Bands. All guests staying onsite at a Disney resort will receive complimentary Magic Bands (or you can purchase the standard ones for about $14.99 or fancy themed ones for up to $29.99 each). The Magic Bands are tied to your reservation, provides access/entry to your room, access to your Fast Passes, track your dining credits, scan for Memory Maker photos and charge all purchases to the band. It is a convenient multi-purpose band! Choose your Magic Bands colours in advance or you will receive the standard gray colour. Personalize them with your name (or whatever you want to be called) to make them yours! ​

Matching Luggage tags.
​Each Disney resort reservation also includes free luggage tags that match your Magic Bands.

Aren't they cute?! Sometimes it's the littlest things! 

Extra Magic Hours are available all Disney Resort guests. One park each day will be open either an hour earlier or a couple of hours later for onsite guests only to enjoy. Use this time to enjoy attractions with shorter wait times because the time is not open to the general public. (Check the schedule online or in the app as the park hours will vary.

Dining Plan. Onsite guests can choose to add a dining plan to their reservation. A dining plan is a pre-purchased meal plan where guests have an allotment of dining credits they can use at their leisure and convenience. A dining plan can also save guests that hassle for budgeting for food costs because it is a set cost that always nets savings vs paying for the same amount of food out of pocket. For more detailed information about the dining plan options, check out this post, "Disney Dining Plan - Yay or Nay?". 

Advance Fast Passes reservations. Onsite guests can choose their Fast Passes 60 days before their arrival date. Guests can choose up to three Fast Passes each day in one park, for each day of their vacation. Guests who are not staying onsite can purchase their Disney tickets in advance but can only make Fast Passes 30 days before their arrival day at each park and can only reserve Fast Passes one day at a time. 

Free round of mini golf at Fantasia Gardens or Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course. There will always be some down time and non-park time during your vacation. Each onsite reservation also includes a free round of mini golf and a free entrance to ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex. In addition, there are lots of discounts and vouchers for various dining, shopping and entertainment options in Disney Springs included as a part of your reservation bonuses. 

UPDATE: As of March 20, 2018 - parking fees are in effect at Disney resort hotels as per here.
N/A: Free parking. If you rent a car or drive down to Orlando, parking is free to all onsite guests. Otherwise, it is $20/day to park in Disney World (except for Disney Springs where parking is free). 

Staying onsite simply keeps you immersed in the Disney bubble for a complete Disney vacation. The convenience, the impeccable customer service, the quality of experience is completely tied to ensuring utter happiness during your stay. If you have chosen to visit Walt Disney World for your next vacation, you have made the choice to accept happiness and joy. Why wouldn't you want to maximize that experience as much as possible?! That is what Disney World is all about! 

If you are thinking about a visit to Walt Disney World in Orlando, then this is the perfect place to begin! There are so many different options for every single type of family vacation, (or honeymoon!), and for all budgets. Often, the biggest determining factors tend to be for how long, and where to stay. The many extra benefits of staying onsite at a Walt Disney World Resort far outweighs the cost savings of staying onsite and sometimes the difference can be minimal, if you factor in all the extra time and costs that are levied when you stay offsite. 

Regardless of your budget for your Walt Disney World vacation and your personal preferences and style, there is an onsite Disney resort available that you can choose to immerse yourself in the world of Disney that is completely within your grasp. With a variety of choices ranging from value, moderate and deluxe prices with an assortment of themes, there is a Disney resort for you to experience! Especially for first time visitors, there is nothing more magical than staying onsite to immerse yourself in the world of Disney, the way Walt Disney originally envisioned. Not convinced about staying onsite yet? Read more about the benefits of staying onsite here. 

With promotions available throughout the year, there will be many opportunities to stay onsite. Stay in touch with me and I can update you on any upcoming promotions or be on the look out for any deals related to your trip. The "Free Dining" Promotion is definitely one of the most popular promotions each year and I can tell you from firsthand experience that it is worth scheduling your vacation during a promotion to give you maximum opportunities to enjoy the convenience and high end luxurious dining experiences that you may overlook.  To begin your Disney World vacation, we only require a $200 USD deposit to hold your reservation and the final payment is not due until 30 days before your arrival date. You can make as many revisions to your reservation before final payment date without any additional cost or fees. Plus, if a promotion becomes available, we can apply any promotions offered if they fall within your travel dates or we can change your travel dates to the applicable dates to take advantage of the Disney promotions!

Here is an overall map of Walt Disney World and the onsite hotels. I've highlighted the hotels that I visited so you can see the location and proximity to the parks.  

The value resorts offer affordable and comfortable accommodations and are ideal for families who are budget conscious but want to stay onsite and take advantage of the benefits of staying onsite. Perfect for those who want to maximize their time in the parks while having a comfortable and convenient place to stay onsite, there are currently five value resorts that families can choose from. The value resorts are also an excellent choice for younger families who enjoy the over-the-top theming of the resorts that young kids may enjoy! 

ALL STAR SPORTS, ALL STAR MUSIC and ALL STAR MOVIES resorts are located in the Animal Kingdom area, and are located the furthest away from the three other parks (Magic, Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Epcot). The All Star Resorts comprise of total of 5264 rooms and 260 suites, and most rooms can accommodate up to four guests in a room plus a child under the age of 3. A limited number of family suites at the All Star Music Resorts can accommodate up to six guests. The resorts offer food court quick service dining options, but do not have a sit down table service restaurant onsite. Each resort also includes 2 pools and a children's pool but pools do not have waterslides. The All Star Resorts are all very similar and comparable and the only difference is the theming between them. The three resorts share a bus for direct transportation to the parks and Disney Springs. 

The other two resorts, Pop Century and Art of Animation are "sister" resorts connected together by a pedestrian walkway bridge, in the Hollywood Studios area. 

POP CENTURY takes you back in time into your favourite memories of the biggest hits of 20th century pop culture and celebrates the fashion, the catch phrases, toys and all favourites of pop culture during that time. Building sections are grouped into the 90's, the 80's, 70's, 60's and 50's, each celebrating the favourites of that decade. 

With a quick walk over this bridge will take you to Art of Animation! 

ART OF ANIMATION  is newest value resort that opened and is a "sister" resort to Pop Century so guests can visit either resort with a quick walk overrate bridge that connects the two resorts. Art of Animation immerses guests into the world of Pixar and makes them feel like a character in favourite Disney and Pixar movies, including The Little Mermaid, Cars, The Lion King and Finding Nemo. The Little Mermaid suites are standard rooms with double beds that can sleep up to four. The Family Suites at Cars, Lion King and Finding Nemo can sleep up to size in a room, and offer three sleeping areas, two bathrooms and a kitchenette. 

The moderate resorts at Walt Disney World offer lush themes that provide comfort, modern amenities, understated and stylish accommodations. 

CARIBBEAN BEACH RESORT

We stayed at Caribbean Beach Resort, which is one of the most popular resorts to stay at, not to mention one of the the largest spanning over 200 acres. The resort in located in the Epcot area, making it fairly centrally located and easy to visit both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. The resort has 2109 rooms spanning six different Caribbean islands, including Jamaica, Aruba, Trinidad North and South, Barbados and Martinique that are all accessible via an internal resort shuttle to and from your rooms and the main pool and food court area. Standard rooms can accommodate up to four guests but the real fun of Caribbean Beach are the pirate rooms! Upgrade to a pirate room where your stay becomes a swashbuckling adventure!  

Seven heated pools are available for your swimming enjoyment. The private pool areas are open 24 hours but do not have lifeguards on duty. The main pool, Fuentes del Morro Pool includes a swashbuckling  themed Spanish fortress with two waterslides, hot tub and kiddie pool area. 

CORONADO SPRINGS takes you to colonial Spain, Mexico and New Mexico and offers a tranquil lakeside destination vacation. Enjoy the beauty, fantasy and unique cultural elements at Coronado Springs. Located in the Animal Kingdom area, it is also fairly centrally located to all the parks. The onsite restaurant, Maya Grill specializes in wood grilled steaks and seafood, while quick service offerings are available at the Pepper Market Food Court and Cafe Rix by Rix Lounge. The resort includes four heated pools, including The Lost Coty of Cibola Pool with a Jaguar Pool slide and an archaeological themed Mayan Dig Site playground. 

PORT ORLEANS
Classic Southern comfort is what you will find at the Port Orleans Resorts, a combination of sister resorts, French Quarter and Riverside. French Quarter recreates the historic district of New Orleans, while Riverside captures the aristocratic and sprawling mansions of Louisiana and the Mississippi River. Located in the Disney Springs area, you have the option of taking the Sassagoula River Cruise for a relaxing boat ride to Disney Springs as an alternative to the Disney shuttle busses. 

The Sassagoula River Cruise can take you to Port Orleans Riverside and/or Disney Springs area. 

Boatwright's Dining Hall is a table service restaurant at Port Orleans Riverside featuring Southern specialties and home-style classics. 

For the ultimate in luxury, convenience, amenities and a distinction in excellency that transcends your expectations, a stay at any of the deluxe resorts will give you an unforgettable experience that goes beyond the parks. Each of the deluxe resorts offers authentic dining experiences that match the magnificence of the resort. 

ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE is one of the best themed resorts at Walt Disney World. It is absolutely breathtaking. Based on an African savannah lodge theme, the resort is architecturally amazing and built around an African savannah. Book a savannah view and you can witness the beauty of giraffes, zebra, gazelles and other African animals right from your room! Simply walking around the resort will also give you a view of the animals in the common areas. 

The monorail resorts, Grand Floridian, Polynesian and Contemporary around Magic Kingdom and offer convenience and luxury unlike any of the other Disney World resorts. 

The CONTEMPORARY RESORT is the closest to Magic Kingdom and is the only resort within walking distance. It is a very modern and architecturally amazing designed hotel with the monorail running directly through the inside of the resort. Rooms can accommodate up to five guests plus one child under the age of 3. California Grill, signature dining experience offers California cooking influenced by the melting pot of the West coast and Chef Mickey's is the home of the character dining experience where you can meet Chef Mickey and his friends! 

Guests at the POLYNESIAN RESORT can enter the world of Polynesia and be whisked away into the unmatched beauty, hospitality and culture of the Polynesian Islands. Book an overwater bungalow for the ultimate Polynesian experience! 

Unique dining experiences at the Polynesian include Ohana's, a family style dinner featuring Polynesian favourites for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast at Ohana's includes a character experience with Lilo and Stitch. 

The Spirit of Aloha Dinner show combines a live theatre music show with elaborate costumes, Polynesian dancers, enchanting music and an all you can enjoy feast of Polynesian favourites. The food was served family-style and included pineapple coconut bread, Polynesian ribs, grilled chicken, soba noodle salad, pulled pork and an assortment of vegetables. Beer and wine were included for guests over the age of 21. Advanced purchase of tickets are required with two shows daily at 5:15pm and 8:15pm. The dinner show is also included in the dining plan and requires 2 table service credits. 

Opulent, lavish and timeless elegance awaits you as you enter the GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT & SPA, Disney World's flagship resort. A mix of Victorian-style splendour combined with modern amenities, the resort is filled with exquisite and intricate details that take your breath away. 

Many of the finest dining experience sin all of Walt Disney World can be found at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. Citrico's and Narcoossee's are popular signature dining experiences whereas Victoria & Albert's is an intimate seven course dinner menu in a Victorian setting. Jackets are required and diners must be ages 10 and older to dine at Victoria & Albert's. Advance reservations are required at all restaurants. Character dining experiences are available at 1900 Park Fare for breakfast and dinner. Meet Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine (stepmother) and her ugly stepsisters, Drizella and Anastasia! 

So if you've made it this far and are still reading, I applaud you! That was a lot of information and photos to go through! As you can see, there is a wide assortment of resort options to choose from when you choose to stay onsite. I didn't have enough time to visit ALL of the Disney onsite hotels but I was able to visit  the most popular ones and will have the save the rest for another visit (just another reason I need to return!) 

Let me know your thoughts on any of the above resorts. Have you stayed at any of them? Which one is your favourite? Which one would you love to stay at next? If you are planning on an upcoming visit to Disney World, let me know how I can help! It's such a large vacation destination and not one you can simply "wing it!" 

When I heard that Morimoto Asia was opening up in Walt Disney World as a part of the newly redesigned Disney Springs in September 2015, I knew that I had to visit on my next trip to Disney World. Growing up, Chef Masaharu Morimoto was my favourite Iron Chef on the original Iron Chef series and I would faithfully watch the food battles of Kitchen Stadium and loved the dubbed Japanese conversations! There was so much fire and excitement centered around food! Now we find old episodes on Youtube to introduce my kids to the food finds of the nineties! 

Once we arrived in Orlando and checked into our hotel, we set off towards Disney Springs for a bite to eat. Now, not knowing when we would arrive exactly and how long everything would take, I totally fell into the trap of being a traveller and did not take my own advice as a travel agent about making dining reservations in Walt Disney World (Eek! I know!) I thought we could just show up and see where we could eat (Even travel agents can make rookie traveller mistakes!). Well, of course every table service restaurant we thought we might want to try out had a 2 hour wait before we would get a seat. After walking around Disney Springs for 45 minutes, hungry and tired and no idea where to eat, we decided to try Morimoto Asia Street Food (Morimoto Asia had a 2 hour wait time for inside dining). We couldn't get into Morimoto Asia inside, so we opted to eat in the Street Food side, which is located right outside the restaurant. Quick service street food options are available and seating is plenty for  the outdoor Asian street food experience. 

The Street Food side of Morimoto is the perfect place for your Asian street food fix with classic Chinese, Japanese and Korean flavours! Choose from favourites egg rolls, California and shrimp tempura rolls to lo mein noodles and chill glazed ribs, the dishes offer Asian favourites with a twist. My favourite was the Bao Tacos, with choices from the pork bao, chicken teriyaki bao or kalbi bao. 

Morimoto Asia Street Food offers a teaser of the enormous potential of the possibilities that lay inside those four walls. Having tasted a little bit of Asian food heaven, I knew we had to make a visit during our stay so off to make a dining reservation for the next week!  

Oh the possibilities once you enter those doors! 

First you are greeted by a stunning view of crystal chandeliers hanging from above glimmering in an elegant welcome with a distinctly Japanese feel. It definitely feels posh and refined without feeling stuffy or over the top. 
​

The main dining area is on the main floor but as you head up to the second floor, you will find the Forbidden Lounge, a sushi bar area and private dining areas that can be reserved for private parties or groups. 

If you want Asian, this is the place to go! Journey through Asia with a mix of Chinese, Japanese and Korean dishes with a unique twist on classic favourites.  Between sushi and sashimi, noodles and rice, and Korean BBQ favourites, there is something for everyone to try. 

We ordered the peking duck (a Chinese favourite!), the chasu pork ramen (Japanese noodles) and the Morimoto buri-bop (a version of the Korean bibimbap rice dish but made with yellowtail.) The buri-bop was served in a very hot, sizzling stone bowl with fresh yellowtail sashimi slices along the edges of the bowl. The heat of the bowl sears the yellowtail and your server elegantly finishes the dish in your presence so you can see the freshness of the fish! 

I would have loved to try the sashimi and sushi offerings too but there are simply too many choices so I guess I'll have to reserve that experience for the next time! 

Stunning, gorgeous, and elegant but yet with a casual relaxing atmosphere, Morimoto Asia offers a unique Pan-Asian culinary experience that is a welcome change from the usual North American fare that is common throughout Walt Disney World and Disney Springs. It certainly satisfied our Asian food fix with an experience that was everything we could have imagined from a restaurant created from the ingenuity of the Iron Chef himself. 

We thoroughly enjoyed the food, the atmosphere and the service! It is definitely a restaurant I recommend to anyone looking for an Asian food experience that is truly unique. It's Asian food, but with a distinct and unique twist to it. It's hard to describe so you need to try it out for yourself to truly understand! 

​Morimoto Asia is located in The Landing at Disney Springs. Advance reservations are strongly recommended. If you are on the dining plan, it counts as 1 table service credit for lunch and 2 table service credits for dinner. No time to squeeze in a sit down meal?? Then I would at least head to the Street Food side for a taste! There are lots of great Street Food options to try! 

Have you been to Morimoto Asia? What did you try? I would love to hear your thoughts! 

Isn't she pretty?? I can only hope I look this good when I turn 60!

​Disneyland in Anaheim is continuing to celebrate the 60th Anniversary Diamond Celebration in the parks but the celebration is only on until September so if you haven't had a chance to visit the park in all her bedazzled beauty, there is still time! As a part of the Diamond Celebration, three spectacular evenings shows were created and re-imagined for the celebration to combine heartfelt tributes to Walt Disney and his vision with the newest technology available to create the most magical experience for guests! Nostalgia and modernity combine to bring awe-inspiring and unforgettable experiences. 
​

1. PAINT THE NIGHT PARADE

Paint the Night is a nighttime spectacular parade with millions of LED light and a catchy tune with all your favourite Disney characters! There are 2 shows each night - 8:30pm and 10:30pm (times may change on different days so check before your trip for specific show times, but these were the times of the show for the week we were visiting) as it is definitely something you will want to do! It is one of the most popular attractions for guests and many pass holder guests enjoy the parade so you will see people reserving their spots for the parade as early as 5:30pm! Benches and curbs are priority viewing seats so they are snagged early if you want a front row view. 

If you check the parade route ahead of time, the parade begins at "it's a small world" and continues toward the castle, down Main St. and ends in the Towne Square near the entrance of the park. For the second show, the parade route is reversed and it begins in Towne Square, heads through Main St, towards the castle and ends at "it's a small world".

 Many of your favourite Disney and Pixar characters dazzle and shine while they dance away into the night! 

Main St and the castle area are the most popular viewing areas so spots in these areas are always reserved early as they are also in a prime location for viewing the fireworks that are on after the parade. 

Strategize your ideal location based on your plans. 
​
1. "it's a small world" - this is where the early parade begins. Be among the first to see the parade as it starts! The parade lasts about 20 minutes and then you are free to head to other attractions and rides to enjoy with less crowds and line ups as most people will be watching the parade! (Just don't head towards the castle or Main St.) If you are planning on leaving the parks after the early parade, then I wouldn't suggest this area for viewing.

2. Castle area and Main St. There are lots of areas around the castle and Main St that people start snagging spots early. The week we were visiting, people were holding their spots with blankets and snacks by 5:30pm and the first parade wasn't until 8:30pm! If you decide to watch from the castle area, make sure you try to get a spot in the circle by Tomorrowland and not Frontierland as the parade doesn't go by that area. 

These central areas are also ideal to view the fireworks after the parade. If you are in these central areas, be prepared for mass crowds and you will not be moving very quickly if you want to head to another area! But they are prime locations to view the fireworks and the projection show on the castle and the Matterhorn during the fireworks show. No need to fret if you are in "it's a small world" though, the projection show is also visible in that area too! So wherever you are to view the fireworks, you'll still get the magical experience of the fireworks show! 

3. Towne Square - if you are planning on exiting the parks after the parade and the fireworks, especially with young ones, I would suggest finding a spot in Towne Square. This is where the early parade ends. Stay for the fireworks, enjoy last minute shopping before exiting at your convenience. Then you can avoid the mass exodus of crowds once the fireworks are complete. 

3. WORLD OF COLOR - CELEBRATE! 

World of Color - Celebrate! takes the Wonderful World of Walt Disney to a whole new level with a live water, lights, special effects and musical show to celebrate Walt Disney, his vision from his early beginnings with animation, a mouse, Disneyland dreams to the unforgettable Happiest Place on Earth it continues to be today. End your day in Disney California Adventure with World of Color - Celebrate! 

The show is hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and Mickey Mouse as they celebrate Walt Disney. Through music and special effects, your hosts pay tribute to the early dreams and creations of Walt, and move you through his journey into the popular Disney favourites of today.  

FASTPASS
If anything, don't miss World of Color!! If you go early enough into California Adventure, you can obtain a FastPass for World of Color. The FastPass distribution for it is at Grizzly River Run. Then you will have preferred viewing area access and don't have to go early to find a good viewing spot for the show. FastPasses are available in limited quantity on a first come, first served basis though and they usually run out fairly early in the day. This particular FastPass does not count toward your daily limit so you can hold a World of Color FastPass, as well as another FastPass for a different attraction. 

If you are a foodie like me, then you will want to experience Disney fine dining cuisine at least once during your trip! Disney cuisine is legendary and the quality, service and experience is a memorable experience! My kids still talk about the food they ate on the Disney cruise a couple of years ago! 

We decided to experience the World of Color dining package at Carthay Circle, the restaurant recreated to pay homage to the theatre that Walt's Disney's first film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, premiered. 

Walking through the restaurant takes you back in time to an era of stylish and chic elegance. (My daughter quietly informed me that we were not dressed properly to dine here.) 

Carthay Circle specializes in seasonal cuisine, featuring California favourites so the menu is based on seasonal availability of ingredients to ensure they are used at highest peak for flavour and colour. The dining package offers a three course meal for children and adults and a decent selection of menu items that are sure to satisfy any palette. 

Disney at night is so different than Disney during the day! Make sure you try to experience even just a little bit of everything during your trip to Disneyland. You can't do it all. There is just too much to experience! And with the 60th Diamond Anniversary Celebration, the tributes to the history and nostalgia pull at your heartstrings as you can see, feel and experience everything that Walt envisioned. How can one person have the vision to create the Happiest Place on Earth and inspire so many to fiercely protect his vision and ensure that every single person, regardless of age, can enjoy the most magical experience in the Wonderful World of Disney. Whether it is your first visit, or repeated weekly visitor, the feeling of walking under the bridge magically transports you into a world where your dreams come true and you simply can't stop smiling! The Happiest Place on Earth delights the child in all of us! 

"I hope we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started with a mouse" ~ Walt Disney 

 The best parts of Disney with no kids? 

No more whining. About long lines, about being bored, or hot, or thirsty, or hungry.....You've got your Disney face on and you're ready to head into the parks and tackle WHATEVER YOU WANT! 

Enjoy Disney at your own pace. Go on the rides you want to. You can do whatever you want, whenever you want. You can go early and stay as late as you want without having to worry about nap times, or breaks during the day. And the best part...NO.MORE.MELTDOWNS!! Well, at least from your own kids! You may witness meltdowns within the parks but you can rest easily knowing it's not something you need to deal with this time! 

No need to share! Enjoy your Mickey bar, Dole Whip or favourite treat all by yourself!! And cheaper too when you only have to buy for yourself...

Shop at your leisure! Shop without having to constantly field off questions "Mom, can we buy this?" "How about this?" "Can I get this?" "Can we go now?" "Again??!" "Are you done yet?" and so many more....  I can indulge in browsing all the merchandise over and over again carefully mulling my purchase decisions. So many beautiful things to choose from! What to buy??!! 

"Single rider" your way through popular rides! For many popular rides, there is a single rider line for those who are riding alone. With kids, parents have to figure out how to split the kids on many rides and who will sit where so the whole family has to stand in line together. But, without kids, the single rider line is a fantastic option to lessen your wait times. Without kids, adults can go in the single rider line to ride alone if you don't "need" to sit with your party. Less wait times = more rides! And you can continue going through the single rider line to repeat the ride as many times as you want! 

Experience more rides and attractions. As indicated with the single rider option, you can maximize your time with less wait times in the single rider line and FAST PASSES so that you can see and do more in a short time frame. Without kids, you can wake up early to take advantage of Magic Morning opportunities without dragging sleepy kids up early OR stay up late to watch the parade, fireworks and night time shows without sleepy kids who can't stay up late. Or, for the hardcore Disney adult fan, go early AND stay late...because you CAN! We don't need as much sleep as kids anyway...

See the characters that YOU want to see! (Swoon.) And yes, my kids and their friends were totally jealous that we got to meet some superheroes! Score! 

Fine dining. Take the opportunity to try new foods and restaurants that you may not have the chance to with kids around. You don't have to settle for kid-friendly restaurants and menu items. Without kids, you can experience some high end dining and choose from several of their fine dining restaurants with three course meals and food delicacies that only Disney can offer. For foodies, this is the ultimate opportunity in trying out Disney cuisine! 

Drink! Yes alcohol! While Disneyland in Anaheim is "dry" and no alcohol is served inside the park, alcohol is permitted in Disney's California Adventure. DCA has a completely different "vibe" to the park and the evening turns into a "rockin" and "hip" place to be! There is music, dance parties and a very youthful energetic feel to the park that is geared towards an older kids and young adults crowd. Enjoy, dance the night away and party like you're young again!  

Disney has this amazing ability to cater to anyone of any age! Young or old, Disney has something for everyone. It was the way Walt Disney envisioned it, and the vision has carried through to today. Whether you head to Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney cruise or any Disney resort or theme park in the world, you will experience the same unparalleled level of quality, customer service and cleanliness with the magical experience that turns each person into a giggling little kid again! Experience that immediate rush of happiness that engulfs you when you enter ANY Disney destination! 

I love my kids and I love going to Disney with them! I enjoy experiencing their fun and excitement more than my own! But going to Disney without kids allows you the opportunity to become a kid again and enjoy all the pixie dust magical touches that you can only experience on your own. With the kids, you will always be the parent. Without the kids, you can be the kid again! And sometimes, we need the kid in all of us to come out once in awhile! 

Have you done an adult-only Disney vacation before? I would love to hear your experience! 

When most people first hear the words "Disney cruise", images of kids overtaking the ship and frantic parents abound trying to appease high energy kids are very common! One might  think, Disney cruises are best for kids and families. Which... it is true. Disney Cruise Line is definitely highly recommended and recognized to be a cruise line option for families. But what about adults? Disney is not JUST for kids!! There are plenty of adult-only activities on a Disney cruise that will fill your time WITHOUT the kids!! 

One of the most attractive benefits of going on a Disney cruise is that you can bring your own alcohol on board! There is no limit regarding what you choose to bring onboard as long as you bring it with you in your carry on baggage. Alcohol is not permitted in checked baggage. So whether you want to bring a flat of beer, several bottles of wine or your choice of whiskey, vodka and/or other hard liqueurs, the choice is absolutely yours to choose! (But remember that you do have to carry it with you in your carry on baggage!) Wine packages are available for purchase onboard so I wouldn't suggest wine unless you are very particular about your wine choices, but the onboard options are usually pretty good. Beer packages are also available onboard and are really heavy to bring on board so it wouldn't be my first choice to bring onboard either. Where you can get the most "bang" for your buck is to bring a bottle of whiskey or vodka onboard. The drink station on the top deck offers unlimited pop, coffee and tea so it's easy to get your mix from the beverage station and add your own choice of alcoholic beverage to create your own beverage of choice! 

Though you can bring alcohol onboard to enjoy, please note that you can only enjoy the beverages in your stateroom. You are not permitted to drink in public areas unless they are purchased directly from the lounge or restaurant where you are hanging out. So, you can only enjoy your beverages in the comfort of your stateroom. But who says you can't have a little party in your cabin? 

Throughout your cruise days, there are several classes you can sign up for with a nominal fee (anywhere between $15 to $35 to help cover the beverage cost) - wine tastings, champagne tastings, beer tastings, chocolate and liquer tastings, mixology classes, port tastings, etc....the choices are pretty numerous and they offer them several times during the duration of the cruise. Beverage experts run the classes and offer some first hand knowledge with the beverages and you get to learn about drinks, and enjoy them too! Make sure you are properly prepared before these classes as you do walk way from them pretty tipsy! The nominal fee is that - nominal....and you get your money's worth in the class! There are a limited number of spots available in each class and they do fill up quickly! So if you are interested in signing up for any of these classes, go to Guest Services when you first board to sign up! 

We enjoyed the wine tasting and the mixology class! I took notes during the mixology class of the drinks we made and just found them on my phone! So here are my notes from the class -  though, I didn't include all the measurements so if you do decide to try them, you'll have to use your own judgement as to the amount to use but that's part of the fun, isn't it?! 

Mixology Class Drinks! 

Signature cocktail (Pomo Passions)
Pomegranate liquer, splash of passion fruit juice (orange, guava, passion fruit), prosecco or champagne, Garnish with fresh raspberries.

Martini (El Diablo)
Fill glass with ice, 1 oz tequila, splash triple sec, splash of Grand Marnier, splash sugar syrup, splash sweet lime juice, splash of orange juice. Garnish with lime. 

Mojito
Three slices of lime and mint leaves, sugar syrup, rum, ice, club soda, stir and garnish with lime wedge or mint.

Yellow Bird (Chicken)
Fill with ice, 1 oz rum, splash of creme de banana, Galliano, pineapple juice, equal amounts of orange juice.
Shake well without ice. Pour over ice. Garnish with lime, orange or cherry. 

Cast Away (Melon ball)
Fill with ice, Malibu pineapple, splash of midori on top. It's a build up drink so no garnish is needed.

Long Island
Vodka, gin, tequila, rum, triple sec. Tp with lime juice or sour juice with sugar syrup. Splash of Coca Cola. Garnish with lemon or lime.
If drink is made with Coke = Long Island
If drink is made with cranberry = Long Beach
If drink is made with Curacao = Blue Lagoon

Bahama Mama
1 oz rum, 1 oz creme de banana, equal parts orange juice and pineapple juice, splash of grenadine. Shake well, garnish with orange or cherry. 

Tequila Sunrise
Grenadine splash, tequila, orange juice

Bay Breeze
Fill with ice, 1 oz vodka,  equal parts cranberry juice, pineapple juice

B52
Grand Marnier, Baileys, Kahlua (pour backwards)
If made with Grand Marnier = Baby Guiness

So as you are going through the list....yes, we enjoyed every single one of these drinks in our mixology class!! It was a lot of fun!! Lots of laughs, lots of great company, and lots of great information! 

Who would have thought that going on a Disney cruise would be so educational??!! Just another reason to go on a Disney cruise! 

Our Disney vacation bucket list continues with a trip to Hong Kong Disneyland! Pretty much as soon as we got off the airplane, this was our first stop in Hong Kong! Located on Lantau Island, close to the airport, Hong Kong Disneyland brings the pixie dust magic to the Asian gateway of Eastern and Western culture! 

Hong Kong Disneyland is much like Disneyland in Anaheim and Paris except that it is a bit smaller being one park and easy to see and do all the attractions you wish in 1 day. With some of the lands being very similar and old favourites of Disneyland fans (e.g Main Street, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Adventureland), there are also a couple of areas that are unique to Hong Kong Disneyland - Toy Story Land, Mystic Point and Grizzly Gulch. 

Familiar and favourite attractions include Space Mountain, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, The Disneyland Railroad, Mad Hatter Tea Cups, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, It's a Small World, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and Autopia. Fast Passes are only available for Space Mountain and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh but the longest wait time for an attraction was only about 30 minutes. 

Toy Story Land is a depiction right out of Andy's toy box, from the movie Toy Story! Everything is larger than life and all the toys come alive with the rides and attractions in Toy Story Land! The RC Racer is a thrilling, gravity-defying race that speeds back and forth on a U-shaped track. At the Toy Story Parachute Drop, guests can "drop" from the sky in a parachute training drill ride. And ride the Slinky Dog Spin to chase his tail around and around!  

Mystic Manor in Mystic Point is only found at Hong Kong Disneyland. Board Lord Henry Mystic's carriage to enjoy a ride through his amazing collection of art and antiquities gathered on his journeys around the world! (Ride is very similar to the original Haunted Mansion ride, but not as "scary") Chinese people don't really believe in "ghosts" and are not very familiar with the idea so the premise of the Haunted Mansion doesn't really appeal to the Chinese masses as it conflicts with many of their traditional beliefs. So instead, the ride itself is similar to Haunted Mansion where guests can sit in a carriage and go through the Manor and enjoy the discoveries and journeys of Lord Henry Mystic and his monkey, Albert. It is a light hearted and fantasy-driven attraction. 

The biggest attraction at Grizzly Gulch is the Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars - a wild ride through the West, where grizzly bears over take the town of Grizzly Gulch and send the mine cars racing backwards and forwards though the mountain and the town! It's not a ride for the faint of heart! I opted to pass on this ride as I get motion sickness too easily but my 6 year old LOVED the ride!! He couldn't get enough of it! 

(Video below courtesy of Theme Park Review) 

The Festival of the Lion King is a colourful pageant show of music and dance to celebrate the classic animated story, "The Lion King". 

Also unique to Hong Kong Disneyland is their evening show, "Disney Paint the Night" Nighttime Spectacular, a parade filled with all the Disney characters as they "light up" the streets of Disneyland! 

Overall, Hong Kong Disneyland gives guests a familiar Disney experience in a smaller, more intimate environment compared to Anaheim Disneyland. It is very similar to Disneyland Paris, except all the shows are in French with no English translation there! At Hong Kong Disneyland, it is easy to get around as everything is in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. 

Old favourites are present with some new and unique Disney experiences! Admission ticket prices are comparably less, with adult prices at $499 HKD, and child prices $355 HKD, which works out to be about $80 CAD for adults, and $57 CAD for children. (Disneyland in Anaheim recently announced ticket price increases to $99 USD for adults and $93 USD for children so Hong Kong Disneyland is a bargain compared to the US!) 

Hong Kong Disneyland is located on Lantau Island and is very easy to access by various modes of transportation. Hope aboard the Disneyland Express, which is the MTR train that travels from Sunny Bay Station to Hong Kong Disneyland Resort! Free shuttle busses also transports guests to and from the two Disney Resorts to Disneyland theme park. 

We also had the extra bonus of being in Hong Kong Disneyland prior to the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations and the whole park was decked out in Chinese New Year decorations and unique Chinese New Year themed souvenirs! It was the perfect mix of Chinese and Disney themes! 

Overall, we were thrilled to be in Hong Kong, and then to be at Hong Kong Disneyland on top of it all, it was an incredible couple of days! Another Disney destination completed to mark off our list! 

Dining on Disney cruises is definitely a culinary experience unlike any other cruise line! Their unique rotational dining experience allows you to try a different themed restaurant (and menu) each night while your serving team stays with you as you move. Onboard the Disney Wonder, the three main dining restaurants are Tritons, Parrot Cay and Animator's Palate. 

Triton's is named after Ariel's father (from The Little Mermaid) and offers fine dining "under the sea". Available for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the food is American style with a slight French flair. 

Parrot Cay is a relaxed, carefree and colourful Caribbean restaurant. It's a great place for breakfast and lunch offering buffet style dining. Dinner is focused on food from the islands. 

Animator's Palate is inspired by creativity! The drawings of the cartoons and the creativity of the cuisine create an enjoyable and magical dining experience with contemporary American food and Pacific Rim cuisine.

On a 7 day cruise, guests have the opportunity to dine in each restaurant twice to experience the different food offerings. On theme nights, all guests share the same "themed" menu regardless of the restaurant they are dining in. Some of the themed evening meals we experienced were the "Golden Mickeys" theme on the formal evening. Passengers have the option to get all dressed up, take part of the "Red Carpet" on your way to the "Golden Mickeys" show and watch them hand out "awards for the evening. On the Pixar Pals Party theme night, we enjoyed a Toy Story themed menu with a live production Broadway-style show of "Toy Story". Our third themed evening was "Taste of Alaska", all things Alaska! All you can eat King Crab legs, lobster, Baked Alaska, etc.....a truly Alaskan culinary feast!  

Room service is always available in your cabin if you don't feel like venturing out to the rest of the ship.
Beach Blanket is another fantastic buffet-style option located on deck 9 for breakfast and lunch (serves the same food as Parrot Cay buffet). In the evening, the restaurant serves main dining specialties in a casual but elegant setting. 

Poolside options offer healthy and tasty quick service sandwiches and snacks. Pluto's Dog House provides classic American fare including hot dogs, hamburgers, and french fries. Pinocchio's Pizzeria serves up tasty slices of pizza and Goofy's Galley offers healthy salads, sandwiches and fresh fruit. Don't miss the unlimited ice ream treats and frozen yogurt there too! 

Cove Cafe is a quiet, adult-only coffee bar where guests can enjoy some peace and tranquility among and endless choice of gourmet coffee and teas. It can be a necessary retreat from some of the other crazy energetic areas of the ship! 

PALO
Palo is an absolute fine dining treat and a must do on any Disney cruise! For $25 a person, guests can supper or brunch on Deck 10 for scenic ocean views, exemplary service and high end Italian speciality cuisine! For the $25, it is an experience like none other and well worth it! Palo is only open on sea days and reservations are required. A dress code is also in effect and the restaurant is only open to adults 18 and older. 

That was supper. Brunch was no different and comparably just as wonderful of an experience! The choice, the presentation, the food....absolutely exquisite! 

If you asked me if I preferred supper or brunch, I don't have an answer for you. Both experiences were uniquely enjoyable and different from each other so it's like comparing night and day. It really depends on personal preferences and if you have the time to enjoy both, I would suggest doing both for the experience! On our cruise, our supper was with a large group of us where we were in the private room and we could all enjoy the food, the company and the drinks. The environment, the scenery and the service made the meal one of the highlights of our trip! Brunch was a more quite, intimate Sunday brunch experience but the endless choice of offerings made it extremely difficult to choose! This was one brunch where I seriously wanted to eat everything!! Including caviar....

Palo was an unforgettable culinary experience! For the extra $25/person to dine at Palo, the price is a bargain for the complete experience offered at Palo! I recommend it to anyone going on their first cruise to ensure they make reservations at Palo and I know it will be a must do on anyone's Disney cruise experience! 

Let me know if you've been to Palo and your thoughts on the food and the experience! 

It's been a rough few months during the latter part of 2014 and priorities changed. Life changed things. Puts things into perspective and you realize that you can't take things for granted. Life truly is too short and one must take opportunities when they present themselves. 

So, when members of my family decided to travel to Hong Kong in February, I took this as the opportunity to take my kids to Hong Kong as well! I haven't been back to Hong Kong since 1989 so I am certain things have definitely changed! Although I was born and raised in Canada, my parents are from Hong Kong so it feels like a trip to the homeland! And to be able to provide my kids with this opportunity to experience more of their Chinese ancestral heritage is one I couldn't pass up! Plus, I will be visiting my 105 year old grandma whom I have not seen since the late 1990's. 

Naturally, I needed to brush up and get the lay of the land. So, I'm now a Hong Kong certified travel professional! Once I am able to re-aquaint myself with the area, I hope to have opportunities to share the fun and excitement, the food and the sights of Hong Kong and Asia with groups travelling with me! 

We are fortunate enough to be travelling to Hong Kong over Chinese New Year, which will be a treat onto itself! Chinese New Year is the most important day of the year for Chinese people and to be in Hong Kong for the festivities is a huge bonus. Plus, as we continue our Disney bucket list, the first stop we plan on hitting is Hong Kong Disneyland!!! We can't wait and will keep you posted with our travel adventures! Make sure you "Like" my Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/ReneeTsangTravel and Twitter at @ReneeTsang1 for travel updates, news, deals and details of our travel adventures! 

After recently returning from our Disney cruise over the summer,  and helping others plan their first Disney cruise, I'm often asked about the "Must Do's" and "Don't Misses" on a Disney cruise. So, in no particular order, here are some highlights of things that I would recommend to include on your first Disney cruise vacation! 

1. Don't miss the shows! Enjoy all the live theatre shows, especially the award-winning Broadway-style live theatre shows. Disney knows how to entertain and I highly encourage you to check them all out! 

2. Bring a re-useable mug to use. The drink stations offer unlimited beverages (coffee, tea, water, pop, etc...) so you can enjoy beverages at your own leisure. It's handy to have your own mugs to refill and walk round the ship. 

3. Order milk and cookies from room service and they will deliver it as a bedtime snack. (You can even specify "warm" milk and cookies, the cookies will be delivered warm!)

4. Don't miss out on character photo ops! Take as many photos with characters as you can. There are lots of character opportunities throughout the week on the ship and the line ups are never as long as the parks! Character appearances are included in your personal navigator so you can plan out your schedule and see which characters you want to meet! Characters are always roaming throughout the ship and will stop to take photos with you if you ask. You can get photos taken by the Disney photographers, but make sure you take some with your own camera too! 

6.  Soft serve ice cream EVERY DAY. Soft serve ice cream + pop at the beverage station = ice cream float! Mmmm...

7. At dinner, order whatever you feel like eating. You can order more than one appetizer or entree if you cannot decide! Most nights, we ordered 1 or 2 appetizers and usually 2 entrees. 

8. Use the Kids Clubs!! No need to feel guilty about dropping off your kids at the different kids clubs onboard! Kids enjoy specialty programming and entertainment while being supervised by highly trained youth counsellors. Safety and security is a high priority so parents do not have to worry about leaving their kids there. Most kids don't want to leave! 

9. DANCE! Disney puts on fantastic dance parties with the characters so enjoy the music, get dancing with all your favourite characters and have some fun! From their legendary sail away parties, "Til We Meet Again" ending and the Pixar Pals Party, get out and dance! 

10. If you want a keepsake with Disney character signatures, bring a pillow case, tote bag, t-shirt or photo matte, etc. and drop it off at Guest Services at the beginning of your cruise in a plastic bag with your stateroom number. They will have the characters autograph it and then will return it to your cabin before your cruise ends. 

11. If you're a coffee fanatic and regular coffee won't do, there is a specialty coffee shop onboard. Coffee at the beverage station is free, however there is an additional cost for coffee from the specialty cafe. Make sure you get obtain a coffee card so that your 6th coffee is free! 

12. PALO. Palo is an adult-only restaurant where for a nominal charge, guests can enjoy a unique fine dining cuisine experience in an intimate and relaxing environment with attentive service and unbelievable views! Palo is only open on sea days and is available for both dinner and brunch. Both are equally recommended and completely different dining experiences! Definitely a MUST DO in my books! 

13. Bring your own alcohol. Disney Cruise Line permits guests to bring along their own alcohol onboard as long as it is brought on with their carry on a baggage. With unlimited access to fountain pop and coffee at the beverage station, you can create and enjoy your own beverages in the comfort of your stateroom. 

14. Eat, eat and eat! Don't miss out on any opportunity to eat! The cuisine on Disney cruises is high quality from the main dining cuisine to all their quick service restaurants as well. The food is always fresh, tasty and incredibly satisfying! Pizza from Pinocchio's Pizzeria, hot dogs and burgers from Pluto's Dog House and sandwiches from Goofy's Galley are all delicious afternoon snacks for a quick service meal! 

15. Enjoy a first run movie at the Walt Disney Theatre! If you happen to be on a Disney cruise when Disney releases a new movie in theatres, guests can enjoy the release at the same time the movie is released elsewhere in North America. Watch a first run movie onboard and enjoy other Disney classics during the week as well! If you don't feel like leaving your stateroom, you can enjoy a variety of Disney movies and shows from the comfort of your room. 

16. Join a Fish Extender group if you want to meet new people online or onboard your ship! There are lots of online communities dedicated to the sail week so it's fun to meet with others who will be planning and enjoying the same vacation as you! 

17. Enjoy some adult only time.  Drop off the kids at the kids clubs and take the opportunity to enjoy the numerous adult only areas and activities! Go for a dip in the Quiet Cove Pool, enjoy a gourmet coffee and/or cigar in the Cove Cafe, or take part in different wine, liquor and champagne tastings (for a nominal fee) and learn about spirits and beverages from experts in the field! These workshops are incredibly informative about the topics and who doesn't enjoy a little buzz when learning! 

18. Enjoy a movie on the top deck by the pools on the smokestack screen! It's nice to cuddle up on the lounge chairs with snacks and watch a Disney movie on the Funnel Vision large screen. It's kind of like being at the drive-in but on a ship! 

19. Book your next cruise onboard! If you've enjoyed your cruise so much and can't wait until your next cruise, book you're next cruise onboard before your first one ends to get a 10% discount off current rates with a reduced deposit (10% deposit) to secure the reservation. If you use a travel agent for your vacations, no problem! Just include your travel agent's name and they can take over the reservation immediately after you book! 

20. Don't try to do it all. There are ultimately too many choices and activities that you simply cannot do it all in one trip. Relax and enjoy your vacation! 

Our big summer vacation for 2014 was a 7 night Disney cruise from Vancouver to Alaska, aboard the Disney Wonder. Originally, Alaska may not seem like a common destination for summer travel. Most people generally prefer warm, tropical destinations. Especially for those of us in Alberta and living so close to the Rocky Mountains, Alaska and its surroundings may seem to be very similar to our Canadian picturesque view of the mountains and landscapes. But having been to Alaska and its natural untouched beauty, it is a destination I would highly recommend and definitely go back if given the opportunity to return!

The cruise season to Alaska begins in May and ends mid-September. Several cruise lines, including Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America and Princess Cruises are simply a few operators that offer sailings to Alaska. 

TRACY ARM
One of our first visits was to Tracy Arm, a fjord located near Juneau with a narrow passage that provides an up close and scenic view of the natural beauty of Alaska. As you pass through the fjord, the waters are calm and the breathtaking views of large glaciers and floating icebergs are surrounded by rugged mountains and forest terrain. Wildlife including black and brown bears, deer, wolves, harbour seals, bald eagles and other birds can be visible as you cruise through the fjord. 

Our next stop was our first port, in Skagway, a sleepy town that appears to be frozen in time as it was the gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush of the 1880's. Its history is largely steeped in the days of the Klondike Gold Rush, beginning around 1880 and ending in 1899. Gold was first discovered along the nearby Klondike River, which brought forth people from all over in the hopes of finding gold. 

In Skagway, we opted to enjoy the "Klondike Experience" which included Dog Sledding and Mushing experiences combined with Gold Panning. Dog mushing originally was a common form of transportation of goods and communication during the Klondike Gold Rush. Over time, the use of dog mushers was reduced as modern technologies for transportation was introduced to the area. To keep the legacy and spirit of dog mushing to Alaska's roots, the Iditarod, the Last Great Race on Earth was created. Originally created as a one-time event, the event has grown to epic proportions with a race running each year. Sled dog teams train all year from everywhere to participate in the gruelling race, in blizzard, white-out conditions, sub-zero temperatures, gale-force winds creating wind chills of -100F (-73'C), for the shot at the title of champion. The race runs in early March from Anchorage down to Nome and teams consist of one musher and 6 to 16 dogs on the team. The race is usually completed in 9 to 15 days. The Iditarod keeps the legacy of dog mushing alive and central to Alaska's state identity. 

We were then introduced to Gold Mining and Gold Panning adventures. We get to look for gold! We were able to collect about $44 in gold that day! 

JUNEAU
Juneau is the state capital of Alaska and is only accessible by air 
or ship. Our port adventure was whale watching and we were 
able to witness natural feeding habits, also known as bubble 
net feeding, of humpback whales. It was a rare and amazing 
sight to witness and I know that the term, "bubble net feeding" 
has not been lost on my kids! I cannot describe into 
words the experience but here is a great article that 
captured the experience from nature's perspective 
(with much better photos from a closer angle). 

Mendenhall Glacier is also visible from the catamaran and you get a close up view of the beautiful glacier. 

KETCHIKAN
Ketchikan is a quaint little fishing town, famously known as the salmon capital of the world! Fishing and tourism are the staple industries in the area and many people come to Ketchikan to fish! Ketchikan is also home to the largest collection of totem poles. 

We took the opportunity to check out the "Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show", a live action packed family fun show showcasing the raw strength and power of lumberjacks! 

As the ship is docked, you can take a closer look at the beauty of the Disney Wonder ship! So much care and detail is placed on the appearance of the ship both inside and outside. As we docked in Skagway, maintenance workers were around the ship, washing it down, painting the sides and painting touch ups to the Captain Mickey on the front! Again the attention to detail that Disney places is beyond anyone's expectations. 

Alaska is a beautiful destination. Not one I would have expected to be so mesmerized by. The natural untouched beauty and history of the land gives me a new appreciation for life and for nature and its beauty. I'll admit, I never would have thought that Alaska would have been this interesting! I'm so glad I had the opportunity to experience it and I would definitely recommend the Alaskan cruise experience for a unique vacation! 

For more photos, please check out my Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/ReneeTsangTravel. 

Fish Extender Update!
If you read my earlier post about all the extra fun activities that go into Disney cruise vacation planning, here is a quick summary of how things turned out! All the extras are certainly not required to do on a Disney cruise but it is a fun way to meet and interact with other people who are on the same cruise week so you can share ideas, stories and fun. As well, the fish extender groups help spread a little pixie dust onboard the ship and makes the trip extra magical! If you have a Disney cruise booked, look for your ship and sail date on www.disboards.com or search for the group on Facebook. It's a great way to meet new people! 

We decorated our cabin door with homemade magnets and our fish extender so it made our "home" easily recognizable for the next 7 days. It was so exciting to come back to our cabin and receive surprises in our fish extender! 

We enjoyed all of our fish extender gifts including mugs, photo frames, t-shirts, games, keychains, sanitizer, bottle openers and much of it was handmade so we appreciate the time and energy that went into creating these wonderful keepsakes of our vacation! One of my favourite aspects of Disney Cruise Line is that you can bring your own alcohol onboard so we were STOKED to receive this in our fish extender! 

One of my handmade exclusive fish extender gifts were keychains for the adults in the cabins. On one side, it reads "I'll be your Minnie" and has the name of the female adult. On the other side, it reads "I'll be your Mickey" with the name of the male adult in the cabin. 

If you would like autographed souvenirs, you can drop off an item (photo frame matte, t-shirts, pillowcases, etc) at Guest Services and they will have your items autographed by the characters and delivered to your stateroom by the end of the cruise. There is a limit of 2 items per stateroom. I chose to personalize a fabric tote and dropped it off at Guest Services for autographs. It's a great service Disney provides so you can get all the autographs you want, without having to carry your item with you all week long. 

First time cruisers do not receive lanyards for the cruise. Once you are on your second cruise (or sixth, or eleventh), you become a Castaway Club member signifying your status as a repeat Disney cruiser. Silver Castaway Club members (2 to 5 cruises) receive a silver lanyard to wear, Gold Castaway Club members (5-10 cruises) receive a gold lanyard, and Platinum (10+ cruises) receive a Platinum lanyard. Disney Cruise Line has the highest number of repeat cruisers than any other cruise line and members wear their lanyards with pride! 

As first time cruisers, we didn't receive any lanyards so I ordered some online 
for my group. These lanyards are unique and one of a kind! (A Renee Tsang Travel exclusive! :) So when Cast Members onboard commented on our unique lanyards, 
it was a a nice surprise that our lanyards are being recognized! One of the 
random questions we encountered was "Are you guys travelling in a large 
group? Because I've seen quote a few people wearing these lanyards!" 

We proudly wore our exclusive lanyards all week long!

To have the opportunity to go on a Disney cruise is the ultimate in family vacation! It really feels like the trip of a lifetime and once you've sailed with Disney Cruise Line (DCL), you will promise yourself that you will definitely be back at some point in your life! I've been on a cruise before although it was only a 3 night cruise, it sure felt like decadence on a ship! With Disney, the decadence, the service, the attention to detail, the dining, the entertainment, the activities, the staterooms and there is so much more! There is truly something for everyone on a Disney cruise and regardless of age, I guarantee you will find entertainment and enjoyment on a Disney cruise! 

The Disney Wonder is one of 4 ships that Disney sails - Disney Magic, sister ship to the Wonder, and the Disney Dream and Fantasy round out the 4 ships available. Disney sails to many exciting destinations including The Bahamas, Caribbean, Alaska and the Mediterranean. On the 7 night cruise to Alaska, we spent 2 days at sea, visited the fjords at Tracy Arm to view glaciers, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan before departing and arriving at Vancouver, BC. 

The moment you enter the ship, your family is warmly greeted with a cheerful welcome from the crew, and an announcement is made over the microphone: "The Disney Wonder welcomes .......the Tsang Family!" and all the crew members applaud and give you the grandest entrance onto the ship! You instantly feel the magic of Disney and the feeling never leaves you, even a week after you get off the ship! 

SAIL AWAY PARTY!
As the ship gets ready to sail off from Vancouver, there is a "Sail Away" Party on Deck 9 to get everyone in sailing mood! Disney Cast members and characters come out for a huge dance party on the top deck to celebrate as we head to sea! 

ROTATIONAL DINING
The dining on Disney Cruise Line is unique from other cruise lines with its rotational dining experience. You dine at a different restaurant each night (3 main dining restaurants rotated throughout the cruise) but your service team moves with you each night. So you have the same servers who get to know your preferences, allergies and other food sensitivity concerns but dine in a different themed restaurant each night. 

Animator's Palate
Creativity is abound at Animator's Palate! The restaurant is based on an artist's studio theme, where the creation of animated characters begin. And the food takes on an American and Pacific Rim cuisine menu. 

(Video courtesy of DixielandMomReviews on YouTube)

Parrot Cay
Parrot Cay is a Caribbean-themed restaurant that brings the colourful and relaxed atmosphere of the Caribbean. It's the perfect place for buffet style meals for breakfast, lunch and is one of the three main dining restaurants. 

Triton's
Triton's is named for Ariel's father in the The Little Mermaid and offers fine dining "under the sea". Triton's offers a la carte breakfast and lunch, and dinner options include a slight French flair. 

Other dining options include The Beach Blanket buffet on Deck 9, which is a buffet style restaurant serving meals all day long. Quick service restaurants on deck 9 are also available to serve food whenever the hunger strikes! Goofy's Galley offers unlimited free ice cream (one of our favourite stops!) and lots of healthy food options include fresh fruit, salads, wraps and sandwiches. Head across the pool to Pluto's Dog House for hot dogs and burgers, or Pinocchio's Pizzeria for fresh pizza slices all day long. 

For those looking for a quiet dining alternative, there are several adult 
only (18+) areas on the ship that caters to adults only for a relaxing and
quiet experience onboard the ship. Palo, is an adult only restaurant, 
open only on sea days featuring high end Italian cuisine. Located on 
deck 10, adults can enjoy a fine dining experience with outstanding service, gorgeous views, Italian specialties in a cozy and intimate atmosphere. 
Palo is available for supper and brunch and is an experience that is not 
to be missed upon a Disney cruise! 

The Cove Cafe is an adult only cafe where guests can enjoy specialty coffees, cocktails and cigars in a quiet, relaxing cafe overlooking the gorgeous ocean views. Coffee at the beverage station is included with your cabin fare however the Cove Cafe serves specialty coffees including cappuccinos, espressos, and the like. 

[DCL Travel Tip: Make sure you obtain a coffee card when you purchase coffees at the Cove Cafe as you will receive the 6th drink free! ]

ACCOMMODATIONS
Disney Cruises have a variety of different stateroom options to suit all ages and family sizes. Beginning with inside staterooms, rooms include a queen size bed, single convertible sofa and a pull out bed upper berth (in some). Standard inside staterooms (184 sq ft) do not include windows and can sleep 3-4 people. Deluxe inside staterooms offer an extra 30 sq ft for a more comfortable fit for a family of 4, with rooms at 214 sq ft. The layout is similar however it does include a split bath with tub and shower. 

Oceanview rooms include the following: 
- Deluxe ocean view staterooms (204 sq ft, sleeps 3-4)
- Deluxe family ocean view staterooms (241 sq ft, sleeps 3-5)
- Deluxe ocean view stateroom with verandah (246 sq ft, including verandah, sleeps 3-4)
- Deluxe family ocean view state room with verandah (299 sq ft including verandah, sleeps 4-5)

[DCL Travel Tip: If you're celebrating a special occasion during your cruise, make sure you let Disney know and they will help make it extra special for you!] They will decorate your door and/or cabin to welcome you when you first arrive! Repeat cruisers will also receive special Disney gifts when they arrive as well! 

ENTERTAINMENT & ACTIVITIES

You may wonder, "What is there to do on the ship? We're at sea for a couple of those days, what do you do? Will I get bored?" 

The answer is an unequivocal "NO!!" 

If you have ever been to Disneyland Resort in California, or Walt Disney World in Orlando, you may be familiar with the "busyness" and "so much to do!" aspect in the parks! Disney has designed their parks with so many offerings, and options  that you simply cannot do everything you want to to do, and when you want, thereby securing a future visit to do the things you didn't get to do. Well, on a Disney cruise, they have succeeded to offer the same with their activities and entertainment. On a 7 day cruise, there were so many things to do that we did not get the chance to do even half of what we had originally planned! And there truly is something for everyone on a Disney cruise! 

Character Fun
You can't go on any Disney vacation without meeting any Disney characters! The beauty of a Disney cruise is that there are plenty of opportunities to meet with Disney characters and the line ups are not very long!! So many photo opportunities are abound and sometimes you may even "bump" into characters as they stroll the ship! Here are only "some" of our character meet and greets!

And of course you can't forget about Mickey and Minnie! Mickey and Minnie are present on the ship as Sorcerer Mickey, Alaska Mickey and Minnie, Captain Mickey and Minnie and formal night themed "Golden" Mickey and Minnie! 

The biggest bonus of this cruise was the opportunity to meet Anna and Elsa from Frozen! After getting a scheduled  meeting time with Anna and Elsa, the wait time was MAYBE 5 minutes before you got to meet the princesses! FIVE MINUTES!! That's it!! Compared to 2 to 3 hour line ups in the Disney parks?? Well worth the cruise! My daughter is the biggest Frozen fan (as is almost any child these days, boys included!) and I couldn't help but skip a beat when I met the princesses themselves! Here is one of my favourite photos from our meet and greet - you can't help but feel the Disney magic and the memories they create with that GRIN! 

Kids Clubs
Disney cruises are designed for kids and for families. They have different clubs for different age groups to ensure that there is something for everyone. Parents can register their children for the kids clubs, which include plenty of scheduled programs to keep kids busy and entertained. Once the kids are dropped off, parents can enjoy the cruise activities however they wish! 

Flounder's Reef Nursery is an area for babies and toddlers, ages 3 months to 3 years. Children are cared for by trained counsellors to tend to young babies and toddlers. For kids ages 3 to 12, the Oceaneer Lab and Oceaneer Club are 2 different areas for kids to play, learn and have adventures. Themed programs are offered daily so kids will never be bored! Edge, is a tween-inspired play space for kids ages 11 to 14 where kids can interact with other tweens, lounge in a high-tech environment and sing karaoke, go on scavenger hunts and so much more. Activities designed for the tween age group! Vibe, is the next club up for ages 14 to 17 with similar themed activities in a lounge area that is designed for this age group as well. Teens can watch TV, play video games and make new friends in the Vibe! 

There is an additional cost to use Flounder's Reef Nursery. There is no additional cost to use the other kids club programs and facilities. They are all included in the basic cabin fare. Kids clubs are open all day until midnight, and there is no limit on how often you utilize the kids clubs. All the Youth counsellors are properly trained to look after and entertain your children so parents can freely enjoy some free time without the kids! 

Families who choose the second dining seating can opt to utilize the "Dine and Play" Program. Servers will serve the kids meals first and once they are finished their meals, Youth Counsellors from the kids clubs can take the kids to the clubs and entertain them while the adults can enjoy their dinner quietly and comfortably without kids, if they so choose. 

Adult Only
Without having to entertain kids on vacation, adults have plenty of opportunities to enjoy some adult only time in many adult only activities and spaces. Diversion and Cadillac Lounge are 2 adult only lounges where adults can enjoy drinks and cocktails, music and entertainment. The Quiet Cove Pool is a pool area for aunts only where they can enjoy pool areas and activities in a relaxing and quiet atmosphere. 

There are many activities for adults to enjoy without the kids including wine tasting, champagne tastings, whisky tastings, chocolate and liquor tastings, cocktails, etc. If you don't drink, you can choose to participate in other activities including animation classes and game show trivia activities that don't include kids. If you want to participate in these activities as a family, they also have family friendly options so kids don't miss out if you want to participate together! 

Family Friendly Areas
Family vacations are all about spending time with the family and there are lots of areas and activities for families of all ages and sizes to go and take part in. Wavebands and Studio Sea are two lounge areas that often have activities for trivia games, dance parties, and other family friendly entertainment. 

Route 66

Of course you can't forget the pools! Mickey's Pool and Mickey's Slide is perfect for kids of all ages. Mickey's Splash Zone is for infants and toddlers who are not potty trained. Goofy's Pool is for kids and adults who want to be within visual distance of their kids, but yet not within splashing zone! 

Theatre and Broadway-style Shows
While on a Disney cruise, it is imperative to take in all the entertainment and shows options they put on each day. Each night, a Personal Navigator is delivered to your stateroom (and can also be accessed on the DCL app if you download to your phone), which outlines all the daily activities scheduled for your enjoyment. On a 7 night cruise, there are three Broadway-style shows not to be missed! All shows are in the Walt Disney Theatre, a grand theatre that provides an impressive setting for their shows and movie experiences. There is also the Buena Vista theatre that shows movies throughout the day if you wish to get away from the busyness of the cruise activities. 

Shows included the "Welcome Aboard" show which was an amusing welcoming show for the cruise experience. The Golden Mickeys was our formal evening, and showcased the Mickey awards to the strengths of what Disney has brought us in movies and theatre. Toy Story: The Musical was a live on stage reproduction of the movie for the Pixar-themed evening. And Enchanted Dreams was the closing Broadway-style show, which showcased that if you believe, you can make your dreams come true! The music, the choreography and talent of the performers made the shows an unforgettable live theatre experience! 

If you like movies, there is an endless supply of Disney movies you can watch. In the comfort of your stateroom, there are Disney movies playing in different channels throughout the day. Order some room service and enjoy movies in your cabin! Movies also play in the Buena Vista Theatre and the Walt Disney Theatre. Check the Personal Navigator for movies and showtimes. If there is a new Disney movie that is being released while you are onboard, you get the opportunity to watch the movie at the release time! On our cruise, the movie "Guardians of the Galaxy" was being released so it was offered to us on the cruise and playing at the same time the movie was released in Los Angeles! 

Why cruise with Disney? 

- There is really something for everyone. It is the perfect vacation for families of all ages, multi-generational families, kids and adults alike. 
- Unique dining experiences with themes and unforgettable cuisine
- Outstanding and excellent customer service. Once you've been pampered by the service of Disney crew, other cruise ship experiences will not compare. 
- Cleanliness - the attention to detail for cleanliness completely exceeds even the most cautious micro-germophobe! Sanitizing stations are abound everywhere and sanitizing wipes are required before any entry into a restaurant or foodservice area. Attendants are present in or outside the public washroom to clean and sanitize the washrooms after customer use. The food buffet counter areas and the beverage counter areas were always wiped down and there is never a drop of food or drink on the counters. Supplies were always stocked and trash bins were never overflowing. The amount of attention paid to cleanliness is one of the primary reasons people and families sail with Disney. 
- Most of the ship's activities, food and beverages are included in the cabin fare so there is no "extra" to pay when you board. Disney also permits guests to bring their own alcohol onboard (as long as it is in their carry on and not checked in) so you are free to drink your own alcohol (in your stateroom). Alcoholic beverages are additional cost if purchased onboard. 
- Organization - everything is organized to the last minute detail. The embarking and disembarking process was a breeze! On another cruise, I remember the disembarking process taking hours and was incredibly frustrating, but a part of the process. Disney had all guests disembarked by 9:00am on the day of arrival and getting ready for the next wave of guests beginning to embark by 11:00am. If that is not efficiency and productivity, I'm not sure what is! 


Year after year Disney Cruise Line continues to win numerous awards for vacation experiences. Disney has one of the highest repeat cruisers than any other cruise line. Once you've sailed with Disney, you will know why! :) With the next cruise you take, Disney will have little gifts to give you for being a loyal customer and you join they Castaway Club the minute you book your second cruise with them. Castaway Club members receive lanyards indicating their status in the club. Silver members have been on 2 to 5 cruises, Gold members are in the 5 to 10 cruise category and Platinum members have silted with Disney 10 or more cruises! They offer fantastic bounce back offers if you book your next cruise with them before you disembark.

If you have any questions regarding Disney cruises or Disney vacations, please contact me! There is so much information that it is difficult to include it all in one blog post but there will be more to come so please stay tuned! Also, there are lots of photos on my Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/ReneeTsangTravel) so please feel free to check it out and give me a quick "like" to stay updated! 

Half the fun of the Disney cruise vacation has been in the planning and preparations for the trip! Not only was I coordinating the travel details for a group of 25 people, I was immersed in Disney Cruise Line culture as I discovered there is a whole underground civilization of Disney Cruise addicts with activities and groups that are found only with Disney Cruise participants! In my "research" of Disney cruise vacation planning, there are all these extra "activities" and suggested "must do's" to make your vacation planning even more fun and magical for the trip! So out comes the creative juices of my brain to maximize the fun factor for our vacation...


What is a Fish Extender?? If you go online and look, you will find a plethora of Disney cruise forums, groups and lots of online communities devoted to Disney and Disney Cruises. There are specific online communities dedicated to each Disney cruise, specific to the location and the week of sail. You can find your sail date cruise on www.disboards.com and on Facebook if you search your cruise for the week and destination. Find your cruise and join the online community and you can interact with others who will be sailing with you on the same cruise. It's a great way to meet new people onboard and have fun interacting with each other before your trip! A Fish Extender group takes this a step further where participants can "opt in" and participate in a Fish Extender Gift Exchange with whoever wishes to participate. Usually someone will volunteer to organize and arrange the group details. You submit your cabin number (if known) and the names and ages of those in the cabin. For those who have chosen to participate in Fish Extender group, everyone buys or makes little gifts or crafts for those in the cabin. It's kind of like a "Secret Santa" exchange for all the participants. The gifts themselves do not have to be anything extravagant. There are lots of great ideas on Pinterest and Etsy for ideas. Crafty individuals make little souvenir items like key chains, hand sanitizer, personalized gifts or gifts with the cruise dates, etc. 

The Fish Extender itself is a tool you hang outside your cabin door on the fish hook, hence the name "Fish Extender". Each Fish Extender is personalized with individual pouches for each member in the cabin room so people can leave little gifts for each person in the cabin. It's fun to go and check out different decks as you deliver your gifts secretly so as not to be discovered by other members! And it's a lot of fun as you return to your cabin and find little treats or gifts in your pouches! There are lots of fantastic ideas and really pretty Fish Extenders found on Pinterest and Etsy for the really crafty individuals. I don't sew, so I had to get creative with my Fish Extender! 

Another fun activity to help with the Fish Extender groups is to personalize your cabin door! The cabin will be your home for the duration of the cruise (7 nights in our case) so you might as well make it yours for the week! By personalizing your cabin door, it makes it easier to find your cabin, for yourselves and for those who will be dropping off Fish Extender gifts. If you have young kids, it's also much easier for them to find the cabin when it's personalized as opposed to trying to remember the cabin number amongst  long hallways of continuous plain cabin doors on both sides. The cabin doors are magnetic so it's easy to create some magnets to decorate your door while making it much easier to find! I also created magnetic photos of our family Disney vacations to decorate our door and personalize with our Disney family memories too! 

Because we are travelling as a large group and central to any Disney vacation with a group is .... MATCHING T-SHIRTS!! 

Another MUST DO activity is to collect autographs from all the characters onboard! You can either purchase or create your own autograph book or use a blank white pillowcase to collect autographs as a fantastic souvenir of the trip! If you don't want to run around all week on board collecting autographs, you can simply drop off your autograph book/item at Guest Services (with markers) at the beginning of your cruise then pick it up at the end of the cruise and your item will have all the character autographs on it without having to chase down characters all week! I chose to personalize a fabric tote as our souvenir and plan on collecting character autographs for it for our Disney Cruise souvenir item! I think it will look awesome! (Check back after the cruise and I will post the final outcome so you can see what it looks like!) 

One of the unique activities on the Disney Wonder to Alaska is the Pixar Pals Party. It's a fun and interactive dance party with all the Pixar characters present and everyone is encouraged to dress up as their favourite Pixar characters! (Or a Disney character will also suffice!) Dress up, join the dance party and have some fun on deck! 

We have decided to go as "The Incredibles" family and have created our costumes for our upcoming party! 

I've still got lots of little things to do before our cruise including assembling all my Fish Extender gifts for other families in my Fish Extender group, (which I won't post so as not to spoil the surprise!). But it has been such a fun process along the way! Stay tuned for more details about the cruise in its complete glory as we  set sail in a couple of weeks! Let me know if you've been on a Disney cruise and have any additional tips and tricks so we don't miss out on anything! 

Disney California Adventure Park is the home of Cars Land, where Radiator Springs from the movie, "Cars" comes alive!! Walk into Cars Land and you feel like you've walked right into the movie itself! 

Popular rides in Cars Land include Mater's Junkyard Jamboree and Luigi's Flying Tires. But the most popular attraction, Radiator Springs Racer is one you don't want to miss! You stroll through Radiator Springs in your car and then you get to race other cars through Ornament Valley!! Fast Passes are available for this attraction but they do run out quickly. We were there around 1pm and the Fast Passes were gone for the day. But the wait in line for this attraction is definitely worth it and is one attraction you definitely don't want to miss! If you get a Fast Pass for this, you can take your time and enjoy the other attractions, return during your Fast Pass designated time frame and get on the ride immediately! 

There are so many rides and attractions you want to make sure you see and obtain Fast Passes wherever you can to guarantee that you can experience them all! 

World of Color
Experience the night time spectacular show involving water, colour, fire and light, creating a fantasy of Disney and Pixar characters and their stories coming to life! Make sure you get a Fast Pass for the show if you want to get a premium location to watch the show. The Fast Pass distribution centre for the World of Color show is located by the Grizzly River Run ride and this Fast Pass does not count towards your daily limit. So make sure you get your World of Color Fast Pass first thing as you enter the park to ensure you get premium seating for the show. You can still watch the show without a Fast Pass in non-ticketing areas around Paradise Bay. You can also make dining package reservations at Ariel's Grotto, Carthay Circle Restaurant and Wine Country Trattoria, which include tickets for reserved viewing areas for the show. 

Back from our recent Disneyland vacation last week and we're going through some serious Disney withdrawal! It's such a magical place where you can immerse yourself in all things Disney, enough to get your Disney "fix" without over doing it! This was a first time visit for my kids, and I'm glad I waited until my youngest was tall enough to go on "most" of the rides! It was well worth the wait as we were able to enjoy many of the "scarier" rides and roller coasters. The minimum height requirement for many of the rides is 40". There are a few that have 46" as the minimum height, with the larger roller coasters having 48" as the minimum height. Once you've crossed 48", you've hit the magic number and can go on every single ride!! 

We chose the 3 day Park hopper pass which allows unlimited admission to both the Disneyland Park and Disney's California Adventure Park on a single day and gives the maximum amount of flexibility for access to both parks. Both parks are pretty big, but right across from each other so that it is very easy to access both parks in the same day. 

Fast Passes are the way to go to ensure you get to experience the popular attractions and rides! Disneyland uses the paper Fast Pass system so you need to head to the Fast Pass Distribution area for the ride or attraction you wish to pick. Only 1 Fast Pass per person per park is permitted at one time. When the Fast Pass is used or the time has expired, you can obtain another Fast Pass for a different attraction. With a park hopper ticket, you can obtain a Fast Pass for Disneyland Park, head to California Adventure to get a Fast Pass for a ride there and effectively have 2 Fast Passes at the same time! But it is a lot of walking back and forth between 2 parks if you decide to do this! There are sufficient rides with decent wait times that you can wait in line for less busy attractions while holding a Fast Pass for busier ones. With a Fast Pass, you return to the attraction during the designated time within the 1 hour time frame and you can skip the lines and go straight onto the ride! Three day park hopper tickets also give you 1 Magic Morning, so that's one morning of early admission to the park before the park officially opens. This is a great option to go early before opening to check out the popular rides without the added crowds! 

Fast Passes are available for the following rides: Indiana Jones Adventure, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin, Autopia, Space Mountain, Star Tours. 

We also had the privilege of being in Disneyland during their 4th of July celebrations and we're so happy we did! It was worth braving the crowds to experience Disney's Celebration of America on July 4th! 

As we drive up to the entrance, we are warmly greeted by valet staff who help take our luggage and hold it in storage for us while we go check in and wait for our room. Front lobby staff welcome each individual with a lei greeting, including little gifts for the kids! You can check in anytime on the date of your check in and begin using the facilities of the resort immediately. Although your room is not available until 4pm, the Luana Lounge is available for all guests, who are offered a one-time use of the lounge to change into bathing suits and begin enjoying the pool area. The lounge is also available to  guests after check out, if they wish to remain for the day and continue using the facilities after check out time. 

The Aulani resort offers many value added activities that are included in your stay. During your stay, you can use the pools, watersides, beaches, etc... from the day of your check in until 11:59pm on the day of your check out so you can take advantage of the opportunities to maximize your stay at Aulani! 

RECREATION ACTIVITIES:
We checked in to get our resort cards and wristbands and headed straight to the pools! There are lots of different activities, something for everyone! The Waikolohe pool is 8200 square feet of family fun in the water. The Waikolohe Stream is lazy waterway that moves you through the landscape of Aulani or you can enjoy the Tubestone Curl, an exhilarating slide that launches your tube into the Waikolohe Stream! There is also the Wailana Pool, an adult only pool area that provides some serenity and peace from the little keiki guests.  Other pool areas include the Ka Maka Grotto, with an infinity pool that overlooks the beautiful beaches of Ko Olina, Makai Preserve (interactive conservation pool),  4 different whirlpool spas for the ultimate relaxation, 2 of which are specifically placed to catch the spectular sunsets of Hawaii! For the little keiki guests, there is the Menehune Bridge, and interactive water play area for children, and the Keiki Cove Splash zone. Poolside cabanas are also available for rent, for the ultimate in pampering by the pool! 

Aunty's Beach House is a state of the art kids club with over 5000 square feet of fun!! Disney Youth Counsellors provide world class children's programming where kids can watch movies, partake in authentic Hawaiian crafts and so much more! Parents can drop off their kids at Aunty's Beach House with the confidence that the kids will be well entertained, while enjoying some adult-only time at the resort! All are value added activities that are included with your stay! 

Aunty's Breakfast Celebration  with parade, songs and dance! 

There are both full service dining restaurants onsite, and grab & go dining options as well. Poolside lounges and quick service restaurants are easy options to quench your hunger or thirst, without leaving the pool areas. 

ROOMS:
Aulani is designed for families. Both hotel rooms and vacation villas are available to book with spacious accommodations and lots of amenities specifically for families. The beds are raised so that luggage can be stored underneath without the need to take up extra floor space in the room. Each room includes a pack and play, and a stool for little ones to reach the sink! Connecting rooms are available for families travelling together. Each room also includes refrigerator, microwave, in-room safe and so much more!  For larger families travelling together, there are also 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom suites available.

Our stay at Aulani was much too short! We didn't have enough to enjoy all that Disney had to offer at the resort! Which only means that we MUST go back!! (Which I think that's what Disney wants anyway....) As with anything Disney does, they do it well and Aulani is no exception. The attention to detail, and the authenticity of the Hawaiian experience make Aulani and truly exceptional experience for families vacationing to Hawaii! 

For more pictures of our visit to Aulani, please visit my Facebook page at Facebook.com/ReneeTsangTravel. 

And because I simply couldn't capture the magic and wonder of Aulani myself, here's a fantastic video by Disney showcasing the amazing resort that is Aulani! 

If you have any questions about the resort or are interested in booking your next family vacation, please let me know!! I would love to help you book your family vacation at Aulani or anywhere else (including all things Disney)! 

One of the first training course I wanted to complete was the College of Disney Knowledge! Who wouldn't want to immerse themselves in all things Disney??!! Then after I completed my Akamai Level Hawaii Destination Specialist course, I knew I needed to experience Hawaii for myself! And if you have both Disney and Hawaii certifications, then that can only mean one thing........a visit to Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa is a definite MUST DO on our list!! Stay tuned for all the details of our visit!