A Disney Bird's Dream for Epcot

Please give a warm welcome to Disney Bird! This is her very first "official" article here at Disney Guru. We are so very blessed to have her here. Please visit her on her website Disney Bird or visit her on Facebook and "like" her page. 

Hey, Bird here! This month at Disney Guru we’re focusing on Epcot, a Disney treasure. At first glance it may appear as though Epcot is missing that "Disney magic" or that "Disney flair" because it's not centered around Disney characters or movies. Upon closer inspection though, you can see that Epcot offers so much more than that. Epcot allows people to see both where we've come from and where we're headed, in addition to taking us on a trip around the world! Where else could you experience all of that in a single day?!

As I said last week, I'm no park expert (yet). My only recollection of Epcot was from my last trip in 2008. I'll be honest though, aside from a meandering stroll through the World Showcase, and checking out some other popular attractions, I too missed out on so much Epcot has to offer. As this was the case, I decided to take a different approach. I'll be listing what I am most looking forward to experiencing at Epcot in a few weeks and asking for suggestions for must see's.

Let me start by saying, I want to see everything at Epcot. The following list is just some of my top picks, and with 10 of us total, I'm sure there'll be several other attractions/stops on everyone's lists as well.

In Future World:

• Spaceship Earth
  Especially looking forward to taking Bug on this one- a nice little history lesson
  
  
• The Seas with Nemo & Friends
  I think Bubby is especially going to love this one, maybe as much as I did

• Turtle Talk with Crush
  I had a blast with this one last time. I can't wait to see what the kids think of this little gem
  
  
• Coral Reef Restaurant
  We have an ADR there for lunch on my anniversary
  
  
• Club Cool near Innoventions
  To taste Coca Cola products from around the world
  What's that one I'm supposed to get everyone to try?!
  
  
• Test Track
  Bug wants to do this one "whenever we go" as she is always saying

In World Showcase:

• All of the World Showcase pavilions (that should go without saying), especially Germany
  My maternal grandmother is from Austria (my grandparents met while my Papaw was stationed there after the Korean War), and my mama and uncles were all born in Austria and Germany. My Nana took me both to Austria and Germany, as well as some surrounding countries the summer after 5th grade, and I was most intrigued. I really enjoy the culture and being able to come close to my "roots" at Epcot is wonderful. 

• Impressions de France show
  
  
• Bijutsu-Kan Gallery in Japan
  
  
• The Pearl Experience in Japan
  What's the pearl experience, you ask? Well, it's this amazing little "activity" you can do in one of the shops in the Japan pavilion. They have these tanks set up filled with all kinds of oysters, and for a price you get to pick one. They'll crack it open for you, and you keep the pearl inside! They will check the pearl out and let you know what it's worth, and for an additional price they'll even put it in a jewelry setting for you! We saw this on our last trip, and for whatever reason I didn't get one. Trust me, I kicked myself the rest of the trip for not doing it!

• Paper Fans in Japan
  I heard about these great little souvenirs from DeAnna at The Affordable Mouse. You can purchase an inexpensive paper fan and take it to the back counter where they will personalize it with your name written in Japanese, for free! They also provide you with gift boxes and stickers for the boxes, also free. Thanks, DeAnna for the wonderful tip!
  
  
• American Heritage Gallery
  
  
• La Bottega Italiana in Italy
  I'm looking forward to checking out the Venetian masks here
  
  
• Der Teddybear in Germany (German toy shop)
  
  
• Kunstarbeit in Kristall in Germany featuring glassware
  
  
• Sussigkeiten in Germany (German confections)
  
  
• Volkskunst in Germany
   To check out the cuckoo clocks. Visiting at my grandparents, I always enjoyed seeing their cuckoo clocks brought straight over from Germany
  
  
• Weinkeller in Germany
  To do some wine tasting (I love German wines!)
  
  
• Die Weihnachts Ecke in Germany
  To get some Christmas ornaments and check out the nutcrackers. When Boo and I were there I came home with 4 Christmas ornaments!
  
  
• Sommerfest in Germany
  To maybe enjoy an afternoon meal, possibly a frankfurter or bratwurst with sauerkraut- yum!!
  
  
• Reflections of China show
  360º show shown in the Temple of Heaven (no seats, standing only)
  
  
• The Chinese acrobats, street performers
  
  
• House of Whispering Willows, an exhibit of ancient Chinese art
  
  
• Mexico's frozen drink stand
  My hubby and I shared some frozen margaritas while strolling the promenade and since I'll be there on our anniversary (sadly, without him) I hope to enjoy one and relive the wonderful memories of our '08 trip :-)

 We'll also be attempting to tackle all of the KidCot fun stops along the way, and maybe the passport as well. I'm also very much looking forward to seeing IllumiNations!!

Some of you may have noticed a BIG attraction (or two) missing from my list... Soarin'. The hubby had been on it before and wasn't all that impressed, so we skipped right over it last time. I'm not quite sure what he didn't like about it because it seems like quite an experience to me. However, unless someone else in the group really wants to do it, I'm not hard-up to stand in the outrageous lines for it this time around since the kids are really too little for it. I'd rather spend the time doing something we could all enjoy. I have faith it's not going anywhere anytime soon :-)

So, there you have it- my Epcot To-Do list! Please, I'd love to hear your suggestions! I'm looking forward to this month's posts from the true Disney Gurus here- I'll be taking notes!

My next post won't be until after I return from Disney (where hopefully I'll be a little closer to "Guru" status, lol), but in the meantime, please feel free to come see me at DisneyBird.

See ya soon!

Bird

An Inspiration of Dreams: Epcot

Living the Fairytale Life with Belinda!

I couldn’t be more excited about the month of May; Celebrating Epcot in all its glory. Many of us have never truly taken the time to delve into this park and really gain an understanding for all of the dreams and inspiration that Walt had for Epcot.  With all of the attractions, technology, restaurants and landscape, their comes a story, a history of Walt that lives within the park every time we visit. My hope is that you all will follow us during this month as we pay tribute to a park and a man that shared his dreams of technology and life with all of us.  Join us as we share some of our favorite attractions, memories and dreams of all things EPCOT.

As a little girl I remember visiting Disney World very clearly. The first park that always came to mind of course was Magic Kingdom. As a kid I loved it. I can remember them taking me to Epcot for the first time as well, and as a child, I was bored. I didn’t feel that spark that I got when I was spending the day around Cinderella’s Castle. As I grew into my teens, I still dreaded the annual Epcot visit each time we visited Disney World. I never dreamed as a child that all that would change. Now, as an adult, Epcot has become my heart and on my top favorite list.

Epcot inspires me, it helps my husband and I to dream for tomorrow and live for today all in one visit. From World Showcase to Innoventions, Test track and Finding Nemo, all of these attractions and sights in Epcot make us feel a sense of Walt within us and our hearts.  Epcot is a celebration of life, of freedom, and of the dreams that live in all of our hearts. Take for example, Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. This mesmerizing show embraces Walt’s vision of humanity and the American dream.

In 1999 Epcot offered the LEAVE A LEGACY. A max of seven-hundred thousand guests could pay a nominal fee to have their photo placed on a square tile and placed on a wall surrounding Spaceship Earth. This program ended in June 2007. My husband and I feel so blessed to have participated in this. Now, every time we visit, we find magic in our hearts knowing that we are a part of Walt’s dream every day.

My husband and I make it a point with every trip to spend at least two full days at Epcot. From dining in World Showcase to embracing some of our most favorite Disney attractions, Epcot has become a part of us and our love for Disney. Join us this month as we celebrate the dreams, the magic and inspirations of life that Walt created for all of us to enjoy….. EPCOT!

Keep Believing

Belinda

Dealing with Post Disney Blues

This is an article originally written for WDW Fan Zone another place that I call my Disney blogging home. Enjoy!

We all know it is coming, we have planed and spent and stayed up late hours in anticipation of the most magical vacation ever, your trip to Walt Disney World. But what happens when the trip is over?  If you are like me you begin to anticipate your post Disney blues before you even go on your trip!! For me it is like a downhill train ride. The first 4 days we are on our trip I am in heaven, once we get to the middle of the week I begin to feel sad in anticipation of the day we depart to go home. L The good news is, there are many ways you can help alleviate your post Disney blues.

Listen to Disney Radio

A fantastic way to ride those blues is to keep a small piece of Disney magic in your life every day. Before getting into the Disney online community, I never knew that there were actually Disney related radio stations out there. I cannot tell you enough how much it has helped me to be able to listen to Disney talk and music throughout my day!! This is probably the best way to rid my Disney blues.  These are the stations that I LOVE to listen to!!

·         WDWRADIO.COM

·         Sorcerer Radio Live365.com

Pictures and Video

Right when we get home from our Walt Disney World vacation, I upload all of my pictures and video. My family and I love watching our Disney vacation dvd. As for the pictures, I always by a Disney photo album with the year on it. My kids and I have a blast putting all of the pictures in order and arranging them into photo albums.  I have all of my Disney albums displayed in a bookcase in my living room.  My kids often ask me to “read them” the photo albums. What they want me to do is go through them and talk about each photo and what we did on that particular trip. It is so much fun!!

Disney Related Forums

Believe it or not there are a TON of Disney related forums out there. The people that belong to these forums are all ready and willing to talk Disney 24 hours per day. There are discussions from shopping all of the way to rumors about all things Disney. There is also a place to write trip reports, people want to read about your vacation and they have questions. This has been the very best medicine for me. I have belonged to Intercot.com since 2008 and I have never looked back. Not only are these forums a great place to curb your Disney appetite but they are also a great resource when you are planning your Disney vacation.  These are my favorite Disney forums:

·         Intercot.com

·         Disboards.com

Start a Website

If you are so inclined, feel free to begin your very own website that is related to all things Disney!! I began Disney Guru back in August 2010; this is my way to give back to the Disney community that has been so kind to me. I have met so many wonderful friends and I have even learned a thing or two about creating a website.  There is truly no better way to bring Disney magic into your life then to create your own Disney site.

So yes, while there is really nothing to completely get rid of your Disney World craving like actually going there, there are things you can do to help buy you some time until you return.  I find time in my daily life to incorporate each and every one of the things I discussed above and then before I know it, it is time to return to the most magical place on earth, Walt Disney World!!

See ya real soon!!

Kelly

Walt's Vision for Epcot

Attraction Tuesday!!! 

This month at Disney Guru we are going to do some fun posts about Epcot. All of the Disney Guru girls are going to share what they love about Epcot. We chose to do this special on Epcot because we truly feel that it is a park full of hidden gems and wonders. It is a place that many people wont delve into in fear that it is too complex for their family. It is our hope that after we share the special elements of Epcot with you, you will feel inspired to explore Epcot on your next Walt Disney World vacation!


The differences from Magic Kingdom to Epcot are huge as Epcot's focus is on human journey of imagination, creation and how we are all different yet the same.  Walt did not live to see even the beginning stages of Epcot, but his vision still holds true. He wanted this park to be a celebration of life. Walt wanted to see humankind live harmoniously to create a better earth.  


One of my favorite attractions at Magic Kingdom is the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. On this journey you will pass through Walt's City of the Future Model. This vision was in full what Walt wanted to see happen at Epcot. Walt wanted his model to be a dynamic community that changed with human growth and technology. 


It was not until Walt's passing in 1966 that the plans for Epcot had changed drastically. The park went from one park to a divided park. One of the parks was to showcase the future of technology while the other was a tribute to cultures from around the world.  While it took many debates amongst the Imagineers, they came together to create a park full of wonder and beauty that of which is a true celebration of life and what we as humans can do with it. 


I never forget Walt as I think about my second home, the most magical place on earth. I feel that when I know his vision for his special place it truly helps me to appreciate the thought and dedication that went into creating "our" favorite place to be in the whole entire world.  I hope that you enjoy May here at Disney Guru as we delve into Epcot, the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. 


See ya real soon!!
Kelly 

Save Money and Stay Healthy at Disney World

Money Saver Monday!!

The heat has hit Orlando and with that comes the need to hydrate your body especially when you are exposed to the heat for 8 hours or more each day. The very best way to stay hydrated is to drink plenty of water. The good news is water is FREE!! One great way to save a TON of money on your Walt Disney World vacation is to skip the expensive soft drinks and opt for the FREE glass of water. A family of 4 will purchase approximately 8 soft drinks per day priced at $2.50 per drink. That comes to $20 per day or $120 for the week!! 

I know that your kiddos may beg to differ on wanting to skip soft drinks and go for the water but if you make it fun for them they are sure to opt for the FREE healthy option. Visit your local dollar store or Target Dollar Spot (they have Disney themed merchandise there) and let your children pick out a water bottle that they would like to use on your vacation. They can use this water bottle for the duration of your trip to fill up as needed. Did you know that any counter service location on Walt Disney World property will give you a FREE glass of ice water? Go and get your FREE ice water and pour it into your fun water bottle. There you have it fin and savings all rolled into one. 

Tip: As an added bonus you could get some fun flavored drink mix ins for your water...that way the kids will enjoy it even more. 

Tip: If you are on the Disney Dining Plan and are not too worried about the added expense of a soft drink, feel free to opt for bottled water instead of the soft drink. This way you are staying healthy and hydrated. Then you can refill your bottled water as needed. 

Do you have a money saving tip you would like featured on Money Saver Monday? Email me at kno2879@gmail.com and I will feature your tip here on Disney Guru. 

See ya real soon!!

Kelly  

A Disney Introduction by Disney Bird

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to our newest addition to Disney Guru writers.Brittiany aka Disney Bird comes to us fresh from her own site Disney Bird, where she tells the tale of her magical journey in planning a Walt Disney World vacation for her family. Take it away Bird.....

Well, hello there! Bird here, and I want to start by saying what an honor it is to be here at Disney Guru! I'm excited to have been asked to join Kelly, as well as the rest of the awesome Guru Team.  I'm looking forward to sharing whatever Disney knowledge I can with the wonderful readers of Disney Guru.

Compared to the other ladies of Disney Guru, I'm quite the Disney newbie, but in planning for my upcoming trip I am learning a lot. I'd love to share this information with you, along with my own experience, ideas, and advice. Before those posts though, maybe I should tell you a little about myself...

Again, the name's Bird, which is short for Brittiany... sort of, lol. When we were little my cousin would try to say my name and it came out "Birdy" which was eventually shortened to "Bird" and it stuck. I'm married to a wonderful man, my Prince Charming, if you will, and we have two beautiful children. Bug, my tomboy-princess, will be turning 7 in a couple weeks, and Bubby, my fellow Disney connoisseur, turned 2 in January (these are nicknames, of course). They are my greatest treasures.

As I said, I am currently planning a trip, and I've finally made it to the 30 day mark! Woohoo!! This trip is going to be extra special as it will be my kiddos' first trip to Disney! At the moment, I am more excited about it than they there. How so, you ask? Well, that could have something to do with the fact that they don't even know we're going yet. Haha! We'll finally be telling them next week on Bug's birthday. Bubby won't really get it until we're surrounded by all his favorite Disney buddies, but Bug is going to be blown away!

She'll be even more blown away when she finds out we're not the only ones going. This is going to be a Grand Gathering of sorts (a G.G. is a group of 8+ Disney travelers). There will be 10 of us going. My hubby's family likes to travel in a pack ;-) and I love it! The party will consist of his Grandma, Aunt & Uncle and their two daughters (18 & 25ish), his parents and three of us. Wait... what?! Unfortunately Boo (the hubs) will not be able to get off work to go. He's working on a project that will be due the first week in June, meaning the last full week in May (which is during our trip, 5/21-5/27) will be crunch time for him. This of course wasn't known when we first began planning the trip. So here his family has planned the best vacation ever and he doesn't even get to partake. Hmph! Though I am truly glad he has a job when we know of so many who don't, this is really throwing a wrench into my anniversary celebration- which would have been at Disney during our vacation!

Being the prince that he is though, he insisted I go ahead and take the kids. He figured that's the best anniversary gift he could have ever given me anyway... I think he was right! So, we're making the best of it and proceeding as planned. We all know I'll be documenting their every move and reactions, so aside from it being in real-time, he shouldn't miss much. While I'll have plenty of help from the family, this will make the trip a bit more interesting so wish me luck!

While I had trips to Walt Disney World at age 4 and 7/8?, I can honestly say I don't remember much- aside from being tricked onto Big Thunder Mountain Railroad... and LOVING it! Disney has still always had a place in my heart. I love the way Disney keeps the magic alive in people of all ages... So, when I returned to Disney as an adult with my husband, the magic was definitely alive and well inside of me! That trip spawned a whole new love of Disney. It has been my mission to bring my children to the World and have them experience all the wondrous things Disney has to offer.

When Kelly asked me to join the team, I was pleasantly surprised and also quite flattered, but what could I offer?... What would be my niche? I couldn't come up with one focus. I love every bit of Disney... every aspect of the planning, from my crazy lists and shopping missions, to making the phone calls... And of course, like everyone else, I am always wanting to get the most out of Disney... all the experiences, from rides and attractions to the entertainment, the people, the cast members, the hidden gems... I just want to take it all in :-)

And there it was!! A little bit of Disney Potpourri! I think when planning a Disney trip, the beginning to the end is an experience! And is there ever really an end?

So there you go... I'll be taking the things from planning, to park adventures, to keeping the magic going at home, and sprinkling them here at Disney Guru for you to enjoy.

Disney Potpourri with the Disney Bird is coming soon!

Thanks again to Kelly for inviting me over!

See ya real soon!

Bird of DisneyBird

Spring Disney Fever

Living the Fairytale Life with Belinda.......

Its spring time, the weather is nice, the sun is shining and you still have several months before your trip “home” to Disney World. If you are like me, you’re finding yourself going crazy with what I call, “Spring Disney Fever”!  As my husband and I go for walks in the neighborhood taking in the sites of houses and trees, my thoughts quickly go to views of Main Street, the castle and the smell of fresh baked goodies. Spring is such a lovely time to visit Disney, with all of the flowers a bloom at the flower and garden festival, the sunshine and the Easter holiday, one can’t help but get into the blues when their trip is still a few months to a few years away. Luckily we are heading home in 4 ½ months, but the withdrawal that one can feel while time is spent waiting can be a bit of an unhappy one.  Over the past few months, I have found ways to bring a little bit of Disney into our home to help make the time of waiting seem less painful.

Bring Goofy’s Candy Co. to your kitchen!

Goofy’s Candy Co. is one of our must do things every time we visit Disney. We had been missing our rich chocolate goodies and needed a fix badly. So, Shawn and I decided to bring Goofy home. This was so much fun to do! It is really easy, inexpensive and will help get you through those waiting blues.

Items Needed:   Box of rice krispies cereal, Bag of marshmallows, big barks of cooking chocolate, any candy coating you prefer, Popsicle sticks, large mickey cookie cutter.

Make the rice krispy treats according to box. Let cool and lay flat on counter. Make sure you cook chocolate exactly according to package. This was the tricky part, cooking with chocolate is very delicate, if you don’t get it at the exact temperature, it won’t work. It took a few tries, but we got it! Press the mickey head cutter into the rice krispy’s to make the heads. Insert sticks into the bottom. Dip the tips of the ears into the chocolate then into your favorite topping. QUICKLY, put on waxed paper topped plate and into very cold freezer for about 15 minutes or so. Keep checking on it. You’re all done! And now you can enjoy a little bit of Disney at home to help get you by :0)

Countdown to Mickey

There are so many things that we try to do to incorporate Disney in our day to help make time go by fast.  The thought of waiting seems endless but with each day that passes, we are a bit closer to the magic and closer to “home”.  Every year we make a countdown and put it on the fridge. We don’t count each number of days like some; instead we count only the Saturdays until our trip arrives. This means a lot less Mickey heads on the fridge and it makes time go by a lot faster, which I love. I would rather say, only 19 more Saturdays than 133 days! We use the same mickey cookie cutter, find different colors and designs of scrapbook paper (this works well if you’re going during a holiday, they have all sorts of designs) cut them out, have them laminated, and slap a magnet on the back. We only have to take them down once a week, so in that time the countdown number of day’s drops drastically. I love it!!

Plan a Disney Game Night

Shawn and I started this Disney tradition several years ago and it has steadily become one of our favorites. Disney game night! Every Friday night Shawn and I spend the evening in our living room battling it out playing nothing but Disney games! I must say, he knows his Disney stuff! It is a lot of fun and helps to keep the magic of Disney going as we wait for our trip to arrive. It also helps build the excitement when you’re in those Disney withdrawal blues. We usually pick one or different Disney games to play and incorporate our snacks to go with it. We make several appetizers baring the Disney title from our Disney cookbook and usually make some sort of Disney desert as well. This makes for a Disney night of magic and fun that everyone will enjoy and look forward to every week. The fun part is deciding what Disney snacks to make beforehand!

Some of our favorite Disney games! Magical Moments Scene it is Awesome!

This cookbook mainly has appetizers in it and is great for game nights!

 

  Dream, Wish and Do!

Disney impacts our life in such an overwhelming way. It gives us a sense of happiness, hope, fulfillment and joy. When waiting out the days of your Disney trip during such a beautiful time as spring, one can’t help but get the Spring Disney Fever blues.  But there is help! Do everything you can to incorporate Disney into your day and make it a part of your plans. Cook a meal from a Disney cookbook, plan a game night, make some Disney crafts, have a Disney movie night. Use your imagination, there are so many things that you can do to help eliminate the springtime blues. Don’t think about doing it, just do it. You will feel so much better at the end of the day and as you keep busy doing all the things that make you happy like Disney, the days till your trip will be flying by and be here in no time. Just keep the magic of Disney alive in your days and in your heart and coping with your Spring Disney Fever will seem much easier!

What do you do to help eliminate the Spring Disney Fever blues?

Keep Believing

Belinda