A Collection of Dreams and Inspiration

Living the Fairytale Life with Belinda....

 I decided for my article this week, I would take some time to share with all of you my dreams and inspiration of Disney and why it is such an important aspect in my life, while introducing you all to something very special... my “happy place”.

As a child, I had always envisioned a place where I am at my most happiest, where my dreams feel as if they are real, where magic takes place around every corner…. And then I found it, Disney World; this passion and this love that I have for Disney started at a very young age. As I grew up, the passion turned into my life. It has become a part of mine and my husband’s daily routine, to incorporate Disney into every aspect of our day.  From my early visits as a child to now my yearly visits as an adult, I always knew one thing that really bothered Shawn and I and we needed a way to try and fix it…. Every time we went on vacation to Disney World, we always dreaded leaving. It would literally bring us to tears. That’s when we decided to create our own “happy place”.  We needed somewhere that would always make us feel “at home”.

We started by taking and extra room in our home and creating it into something amazing. We began keeping all of our memorabilia from past trips to Disney items that we have bought online and at Disney stores world wide decorated in this room. It has now grown into a massive phenomenon. I love my room! Because I have my computer in here, I get to the feeling of being in Disney everyday. It is floor to ceiling Disney and nothing more, with the help of my husband painting and hanging things, it has truly turned into a magical place for me. Disney is such an inspiration, and my “happy place” helps me to leave my problems at the door and to take in all the magic that lives inside my room. Life has so many trials and tribulations. At the end of the day, when life has gotten the best of me, I step into my room and onto Main Street, envisioning the sights and sounds of a magical place, where nothing else matters but me and all of my hundreds of stuffed mickeys. I now have everything from Disney snow globes, to hundreds of figurines, statues, crowns and princesses, pins, Nemo and friends and mickeys galore. It truly makes me happy, it is my daily inspiration, my heart and soul and my dreams all captured into one special place.     

 I can remember one very trying time in my life, about 5 years ago. An unexplained incident where I began having severe pain across my shoulder blades. As the pain got severely worse, I took myself to the ER while my husband was at work. During this time my parents we’re in Disney with my nieces. I was admitted right away. After an echocardiogram  and an MRI, I was that next day rushed into Emergency  surgery. The doctor came in and told me that I had 3 disk severing my spinal cord. All I could remember him saying was that if this wasn’t done quickly, I would end up a quadriplegic.  At this point, the feeling in my legs was scares and I couldn’t even write my name. All I could think about was the fun that my parents must be having and how I wish I was with them. I am fully recovered now, with a titanium plate in my neck. The one thing that got me through was the magic that was in my heart, the mickey blankets I would cover up with, and the snow globe of Four parks one world that my parents brought home for my birthday. Disney gets me through everything. It has taught me hope. It has taught me to live my dreams in a way that I never thought I could. For me, Disney makes everything better.

My most recent addition is my Tinkerbell tree. It has white twinkling lights that I turn on in the evening, after all, this is when the Magic Kingdom comes to life; and it is filled with all kinds of Tinkerbell fairies, balls and globes. My ceiling is covered with blue and white clouds and a parachuting mickey. I have now added many vinylmation’s and more shelving. Just as Disney does, my vision of my “happy place” keeps growing and growing. Disney is a place of wonder and enchantment, it is the heart and soul of all of us who believe in magic. It is my fairytale that has come to life and it has given my husband and I memories that years ago we could have only dreamed of. 

My hope is that people everywhere get to experience the magic of Disney at least once. It has truly changed my life in more ways than I could have ever thought possible. Disney is my heart, my soul and an inspiration that continues to grow, and with my “happy place” that I have created, I always feels at home!

May the magic of Disney live in your hearts and bring your fairy tales to life just as it has for my husband and I.

Keep Believing

Belinda

Becoming a ‘Disney Diva’…

Welcome to Wacky Wednesday's With New England Disney Diva, Julie!!!

Becoming a ‘Disney Diva’…

What makes WDW so magical for me?  The magic begins way before that exhilarating moment of passing through the WDW gates and knowing that I’m finally ‘home’!  The fun for my family and I starts way before the actual trip gets here!

As crazy as it may sound to some (but not so much to my ‘fellow Disney-manics’ out there…) I will actually start ‘mentally planning’ my next trip while I’m STILL at WDW! This usually happens on our last couple of days of vacation. I know the magic is coming to an end, so this is my ‘coping mechanism’. I immediately begin to make mental notes of what I want to do on the next trip. Things such as, ‘which Disney resort to stay at, Adr’s to make, new things to try, etc’...

Once I return home I am forced to deal with ‘reality’-I’m usually booking my next vacation within a couple weeks! I never used to be this way, until the last couple years or so? I MUST have a WDW trip booked at all times. It doesn’t really matter how far off it is, be it 6 or 12 months. Life is happier with a trip to look forward to plan for. Don’t you all agree? This just helps me get through ‘bad days’ or the ‘daily grind’ when the normal, everyday chores get to be a bit too much! We all have those days…

I love the pre-planning that takes place months before from my scheduled WDW trip. I look forward to running out and buying my shiny, new copy of the ‘Birnbaum Guides, Walt Disney World’ guidebook each year. For me, it’s my ‘Disney bible’; I always have it close by. We always had this book in the house growing up so it’s just another one of those Disney traditions that I’ve kept up with.

                                            Holiday Road

Picture from: 

http://www.thefancarpet.com/uploaded_assets/images/gallery/4499/National_Lampoons_Vacation_41835_Medium.jpg

Having grown up in a Disney household, we were always surrounded my Disney magic!  Whether it was by toys, movies or planning our annual spring vacations to the world, Disney played an intricate part of who I am today. I’ve now passed this torch down to my own family!

We always drove from our home in Northwest Indiana to Florida, so ‘getting there’ was half the fun (picture the Griswold’s family from the ‘Vacation’ movies & that was us!!) It was a 2-day drive so once we finally hit Florida, it was totally magical!

Stopping for fresh O.J. at the Florida Welcome Center and smelling the orange blossoms while driving past the orange groves are some of my favorite memories. This just meant we were getting ‘closer to home’!

My own family now follows these same traditions each year. This year will be our 6^th consecutive trip to WDW and we love it!

We recently moved to Northern New England, so driving may be out of the question. I have a feeling we’ll be making many new memories flying down and enjoying the Magical Express ride to our resort!

Can’t wait for that moment to hear ‘Aloha, Welcome Back’ at the Polynesian. Our next family adventure is taking place in Sept. 2011, can’t wait!!

I’d love to hear who else has any other special family memories that have been passed down. Do you still follow these same traditions now with your own Disney family? Please feel free email me and share your comments/thoughts!!

Thanks for sharing your Wednesday with me...we’ll chat soon!!

Julie can be reached @ nedisneydiva@hotmail.com Be sure to "like" Julie's Facebook Page...New England Disney Diva's!!

Fantasmic...A Feast For Your Eyes

Attraction Tuesday!!


Disney's Fantasmic is located at Disney's Hollywood Studios. From boats, characters, fireworks, flames, water fountains, lasers, smoke, video projected images on water and a beautiful theatrical score, Fantasmic is a show that has it all!! Like all stories that are Disney, Fantasmic tells a story of good verses evil. As Mickey Mouse dreams, a colorful story is told of animals, princesses. Disney villains are sure to make an appearance but are soon whisked away through the forces of good. 

The story begins with Mickey, of course he is in his ever so famous Sorcerer's Apprentice  outfit as he conducts the orchestra. The real treat begins as he conducts the water which is choreographed to Disney music. In addition, images are projected as the water acts as a screen. Very quickly this story turns from a dream to a nightmare as a series of villains take the stage. No worries though, this is Disney folks, this story has a happy ending including a beautiful boat ride that features Ariel, Belle, and Snow White. 

I have to say that this show actually amazes me!! I have never seen anything like it before. This is a must do for every Disney trip! If you are a Disney newbie be sure to read some of my suggestions for getting a good seat. 

Some Tips....

• Fantasmic can often times be a standing room only attraction. Seating for this attraction begins 90 minutes prior to showtime.  
• If you do not want to arrive 90 minutes prior to showtime you can take advantage of the Fantasmic Dinner Package. This package allows you to have priority seating at the first showtime. Meals are offered at; The Hollywood Brown Derby, Hollywood & Vine Character buffet, or Mama Melrose Ristaurante Italiano. If you would like to make this reservation call 407-WDW-DINE be prepared to hold this reservation with a credit card. 
• While this is a wonderful show, it is very loud and can scare young children. 
• We have sat in all different place and have been able to see no matter where we are seated. 
• Be sure to check for showtimes before you plan to attend. This show only runs a few days per week, some days twice per day. 

Enjoy a short video clip of Fantasmic my friend Ariel sent me. :0)

See ya real soon!!

Kelly 

Free Treasure!!!!

Money Saver Monday!!!

There is truly nothing better than free. So on my quest to find Disney freebies I came across this....kiddos and adults alike are welcome to participate.

After your pirate filled Journey on Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom, head over to the  cash register on the far left side of the store. Ask the cashier if you can answer a trivia question. If you get the question correct, you get a certificate and a free gift from the treasure chest. There is nothing better than that!!!

A special thank you to the Mouse For Less community for this wonderful tip!

See ya real soon!!
Kelly

Traveling to Disney With a Pack

Today's article is one that was originally written for WDW Fan Zone. Enjoy!!

Although I am an only child I seem to always travel in a pack. My husband Dan and I LOVE to bring people with us when we travel to Walt Disney World. In fact, now that I think of it, we have never been to Disney alone.  Traveling in a pack to me means 8 or more people, so to Disney this is called a Grand Gathering.  When you are traveling to Disney as a Grand Gathering it can become very stressful to plan around what everyone wants to do.  There are actually ways to travel as a Grand Gathering and keep it stress free…I can honestly say the larger my group the more fun we have!!

Let the planning begin!!

Oh yeah…before we begin, you may want to have a designated Disney notebook so that you can take notes as you plan. :0) 

Gather Your Facts

There is always going to be at least one person that will lead the trip planning. In the case of my family it is yours truly. :0) There is also the case of there being too many people that all want to plan at the same time. In this case allow everyone to gather their facts…this way you can all divide out tasks once you are ready to truly plan your trip.  So what facts do you need to gather?  Research online about the various resort options and pricing, times of year to visit, along with weather patterns. Price out park tickets, transportation and anything else that will help you get a handle on just how much this trip is going to cost you and your family/friends.

Plan a Trip Planning Meeting

Part of the fun in vacationing to Walt Disney World is the planning. I have said it time and time again, that I love planning my trips almost as much as I love going on them.  Before traveling in a large group go online and order the Disney Vacation Planning DVD. Then invite everyone over for pizza and to watch the DVD. Not only is the DVD very informational but there is no better way to pump up your friends and family about your upcoming trip.  Now it can happen that possibly some of the people that will be traveling with you do not live close enough to come over for pizza and a movie. If this is the case it is very important that they also have a copy of the free vacation planning DVD and that you include them in on your meeting somehow.

The Meeting

Before you invite everyone over be sure that they come with a few things in mind; a budget, a time of year that they would like to travel and some possible vacation dates. At this meeting your goal should be to watch the DVD, pick your accommodations, and dates of travel. Now keep in mind that you do not all have to be at Disney World for the exact same amount of time and on the same days. As long as you all try to be there for at least a few days at the same time it will make for a wonderful vacation.   

Making the Reservation

One person should be appointed the lead of the group. This person will call and make their reservation first so that they can let the reservation agent know that this is a Grand Gathering.  Once the lead makes their reservation they will be given a group number. When everyone else makes their reservation they should mention the group number. The number will help tie together room assignments and dinner reservations.  As you can tell I think it is best if each party makes their own reservation, it is just much easier that way.

Dining Reservations

This is by far the most fun we have as a group…planning those dining reservations. We love it!!  When we travel we eat all together every day…nothing is done seprate. But I know that you can also decide to do a few meals together and some on your own. This is a topic that should be discussed at your meeting.  Assuming that you are all eating together, have everyone do a little research on the web about the different dining options that Walt Disney World has to offer. Usually we have each person provide 2-3 places that they really want to go to. From there I copy and paste the description and the name on a word document. This document becomes a voting sheet. If we have 7 ADR’s then we each  get to pick our  top 7, (in no particular order) that we would like to go to. The vote is the final answer. Everyone LOVES finding out where we are eating after the vote. 

Getting There

In a perfect world everyone will be on the same page with how they would like to travel to Walt Disney World. But we all know that is not always possible when you are dealing with a large crowd. Don’t feel bad if some people decide to fly, while others may decide to drive. The most important part is being together at Walt Disney World. :0)

The Trip

Once we are there aside from our dining reservations and extra magic hours, we do what we want. Again, we all stay together as a group, but this may not work for all large groups. At the end of each day we always discuss what time we are going to meet at the bus stop and what park we are hitting in the morning. The rest of the day we wing it!!

 When you have a large crowd the best advice I have for you is to be structured in your planning but lose once you are on your trip. Be ready for anything and everything and you will have a fantastic time!! 

I would love to hear your thoughts about how you brave “Traveling with a Pack.”

See ya real soon!!

Kelly 

Romance in Disney ~ Four Parks One Love

Living the Fairytale Life with Belinda!!!!

There is no better feeling than walking down Main Street at Magic Kingdom listening to the sounds and taking in the sights of Cinderella’s Castle…. Unless of course; you are sharing this moment with that special someone. I have been so very blessed to spend all of my magical moments in Disney with an amazing husband. The magic that the Disney parks brings to our life and our marriage is some of the most memorable moments of our lives. One not need children to bring out the childlike innocence and the magic that Disney creates. It’s all around us at the Disney parks and at the end of the day when you exit; your hearts will have connected in a way that only Disney can do. It’s purely magical!

These are some of our favorite things to do while visiting the parks as a Disney couple.

Magic Kingdom

Picture from onlywdworld.com

The Magic Kingdom Park to me screams romance from the moment Cinderella’s Castle is in plain view. There are a few attractions at this park that always gives my heart some extra gushiness and with my hubby right beside me, these moments are priceless. If you’re at the Magic Kingdom Park in the evening, don’t miss Wishes! A nighttime fireworks spectacular that brings tears to your eyes, joy to your heart and simply takes your breath away!

Peter Pan's Flight

Photo from onlywdworld.com

 I love this attraction! There is nothing like boarding Peter’s pirate ship for an adventure to Never Land. The highlight of romance for this attraction and my all-time favorite part is flying over London. Simply amazing! When you look down below you get a nighttime view of the city twinkling with blue lights, it is so beautiful. Keep your eyes on the lookout for the London Bridge and Big Ben. This attraction tells the story of Peter Pan in a quick 3 minute adventure that makes any romantic couple never want to grow up!

Mickey's Philharmagic 

Photo from  Themeparkreview.com

Where do I begin…My Favorite 3-D attraction in all of Disneyworld! This show is offered several times a day and is a must see for any Disney couple! With music, special effects and some of Disney’s most popular animated films, this attraction is priceless. Once you don your 3-D glasses get ready as Donald and Mickey take you on an adventure for the eyes and ears. I have to admit, I have never watched this show without shedding tears…Ok, so I let out a secret! Grab your sweetheart as you fly with Jasmine and Aladdin to the sounds of A Whole New World, dine in pure delight with Lumiere and Cogsworth and go under the sea with Ariel, not to mention a few other surprises. The music itself puts a lump in my throat; you get the feeling that you’re living the movies. It puts you right in the middle of the magic and with the 3-D effect, you definitely feel like you lived a fairytale. You won’t be disappointed by this attraction, and if you’re like me…. Hide some tissues in your pocket. 

Epcot

Photo From disneydreamtravel.com

The Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow! Epcot is another favorite on our list of parks to spark the romance bug. This park is very interactive which is good for couples. It brings people closer together by the interaction and closeness of a lot of the attractions.

We love World Showcase; it’s our favorite part of Epcot. What could be more romantic than traveling the world sightseeing, eating and shopping, all from one convenient location? Disney does this perfectly. Some of our favorite countries to visit are Germany, Norway and Italy. All of these countries have such great detail and are perfect for picture taking. If you’re like me; …. You take pictures of everything. 

Another fun thing to do at Epcot is called, The What If Labs sponsored by Kodak. These interaction stations are so much fun to do with that special someone. Shawn and I always laugh until we cry with all the fun yet funny things you can do! You can conduct an orchestra, step on stones to create music and distort your body through a mirror, which can be some pretty silly fun. Our favorites here are the photo booths where you can put your face into pretty much anything. We never leave without a few giggles and some pictures that are priceless. This is such a fun way for couples to interact, working together to create magic and making photos that you’re sure to laugh about for years to come!

Shawn and I at the Kodak What If Labs

If you’re at World Showcase in the evening, be sure to stay for Illuminations-Reflections of Earth! A nighttime show with lasers, fireworks, music and fountains that presents the history of our planet in a breathtaking way! Bring the tissues, this show is priceless.

Hollywood Studios

Photo from Disney-deskopwallpaper.com

Welcome to Hollywood! Take two! This Park is truly nostalgic and fitting for any Disney couple. Step back to yesteryear as you walk Hollywood Boulevard taking in the sights and sounds of movies and magic! Our all-time favorite Disney Princess movie is Beauty and the Beast. It has kind of a personal meaning for Shawn and me and so we as a Disney couple love seeing The Beauty and Beast live on stage show. Ahhh… Be our Guest, Be our Guest, put our service to the test….. 

 A truly romantic and foot stomping stage show that brings the story of Belle and the Beast to life live on stage. The props are a must see and the music will stay in your heart forever.

Fantasmic

 On select nights at Hollywood Studios, be sure to stay for Fantasmic! A truly awesome show filled with fireworks, lasers, fountains and lots of Disney characters. This is a truly magical Disney show presented live and told by Mickey himself. I remember the first time Shawn and I saw this show…. The music started, my heart started to pound with excitement, Mickey appeared handsome as ever, and then it happened, Mickey raised his arms while fire flared from his fingertips! I realized then that I had tears streaming down my face, as I looked over at Shawn, it was another magic moment when I knew we we’re meant for each other because…. He had tears too.

 Animal Kingdom

Shawn and I in front of the Tree of Life

Venture on a romantic getaway just like Tarzan and Jane as you enter the gates of Animal Kingdom! Shawn and I think that the most romantic part of Animal Kingdom is the surroundings itself.  There is nothing like feeling as if your spending the day in Africa or Asia with that special someone. We love the outdoors and are huge animal lovers so this park truly engulfs the romance the two of us share. We spend a lot of our time on the nature trails here. They are unguided and are the perfect way for you to enjoy a romantic walk through the lush landscape and winding paths to view birds and other small exotic animals

One must see for us at this park is the Festival of the Lion King Show. This is another sentimental attraction for us as it has so much meaning.  This live show is now enclosed and features performers in animal costumes along with singers draped in colorful African attire. There are also acrobatics’ and props to help add to the live show. The music itself gets me every time; songs such as; “Can you Feel the Love Tonight,” and “The Circle of Life” are performed.  We even named our Cat child we got a few years ago Simba. Shawn got me one day when he called me in the living room and had Simba (our cat child) held up to the ceiling singing The Circle of Life. It was such a magical moment! This show is a must see for anyone that has love in their heart, you may have to wait an hour or two but believe me… you won’t be disappointed.

 Romance is everywhere in Disneyworld. From the moment you arrive, until the time you leave, you are taken to a place that can only be created by Disney. My heart is full of so many romantic memories that I have shared with my husband; from all the laughs to all the tears, every year our journeys to the parks bring us closer together. Sharing in the magic and the love at a place where dreams come true. I hope that all of you get the opportunity to embrace the love and magic that Disney has to offer with your special someone just as I have. It’s an overwhelming feeling that will truly have your heart crying for more.

Keep Believing

Belinda

Wishes

Attraction Tuesday!! 


This month we are going to focus on the night shows at each park. I am really excited to begin with what I think is the best and most touching fireworks celebration that I have ever experienced......Wishes. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hyku/2166226191/sizes/l/

Wishes can be viewed at Magic Kingdom just in front of Cinderella Castle. This nighttime spectacular is truly a work of art. From the dazzling paint in the sky to the stunning musical score it is sure to bring a tear to your eyes. Narrated by Jiminy Cricket himself, this 12 minute long show takes you through the journey of believing in yourself. The message is beautiful! The story starts off with a wish and Tinkerbell as she steps off of Cinderella Castle and glides through the air. (This is a must see for all Disney newbies)  


Characters such as Pinocchio, Cinderella, Ariel, Peter Pan and other beloved Disney Characters make an audio appearance through a fantastic tale told amongst the stars. In the end Jiminy shares that if you believe in yourself, all of your wishes will come true. Now if this is not the main focus of what Walt stood behind his entire life....I don't know what is.  This story truly opens the door for some great conversation between you and your children...what are your dreams and what are their dreams? 


Fun Facts....

1. If you are looking for Tinkerbell, she makes her appearance just after Jiminy says, " and it all starts with a wish."
2. The fireworks launch for 11 different locations. 
3. Sometimes Tinkerbell is played by a male. The role requires a person that is not over 105 lbs and no more than 5 ft 3 in. 
4. Watch the castle throughout the show as it sparkles and changes color throughout the show. 

Where should you watch the show? 

1. The best place to see the show is right in front of the castle. It will not fill up there until the start of the show. 
2. The very best place to watch the show is up on Main Street train station porch area. You are high up and have a gorgeous view of the show. 
3. If you are feeling very adventurous, read my article about Free things to do at WDW...there you will see some alternatives to watching Wishes at Magic Kingdom. 

Keep in mind that showtimes vary depending on the time of year and special events. Click here for showtimes. 

See ya real soon!!

Kelly