Three Things Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, Peeps!  This week we are about Summer time heat at Disney World.  Anyone that has spent any time in Disney World from May until October knows what I am talking about.  To say it's hot is a gross understatement.  It's scorching - like lava from a volcano hot, hot, hot!  Ok, maybe I am being a little dramatic, but it really can be uncomfortably hot.  I have gone in the Summer plenty of times and even though I swear I am part lizard, it got to me at times too.

dramatic picture to give you the point...HA!

My Best advice for beating some of the hottest parts of the day is morning touring.  Get your buns out that room as early as possible and get to the parks.  Do all running from ride to ride then.  Get on as many as your "must do's" by 1pm and then get the heck out of there!

Morning touring is not for shows, or attractions that don't have any outside queue at all.  Get those done in the evenings when the sun has gone down for the day.  Walk through the gifts shops when you can - that cold air will feel like a kiss from heaven.

So, that's my take on beating the heat.  Are you thinking about going in the hot months?  Email me.  I would love to book your Summer trip and give you a touring plan that will keep you out of the worse of it!  Take it from me!  I did August 5 years straight!  Dana@Mouseketrips.com

Mama Monday

Hi Mamas, It's summer and it's HOT at Disney this time of year, actually most of the year it is hot at Disney. I can't stress the importance of making sure you and the kiddos stay hydrated. Dehydration can lead to stomach issues, heat exhaustion, headaches, and GRUMPINESS! None of which are fun to deal with on a regular day but you definitely don't want to deal with this on your magical vacation.

So where can you find water at Disney? EVERYWHERE!

You can buy bottled water at every restaurant and snack place. You can also get a bottle of water with your dining plan also. I prefer to bring our water into the park, which is totally allowed!

If you've rented a stroller from our friends over at Kingdom Strollers, you can order a case of water for $9 through them and they include a cooler bag free of charge with their strollers. This is our preferred method of taking waters in. Every room at Disney has a mini fridge so we are able to keep the waters cold then put four in the cooler bag for the day.  If you have ordered groceries, you can also order water by the case that way. Our family goes through a case easily. Plus Disney has a way to recycle the bottles.

There are water fountains near every bathroom. A lot of people refill the water bottles there.  You can also go into the Baby Centers and use their sinks too for the kids.(and you)

And for those of you creative people, you can make your own custom Disney Water bottle like these or you can order them all over etsy!

As much as I love sodas, they don't keep you hydrated. Water is the best solution. Don't wait for your kids to say they are thirsty. We keep our kids' sippy water cups attached to their stroller and every time they hop in the stroller, they take a drink.

Keep everyone healthy and hydrated with water throughout all of the parks!

Come follow along with me on facebook or email me melissa@mouseketrips.com.

Super Sunday!!

Good morning and Happy Sunday, Peeps!

I normally just introduce the topic of the week on Sunday, but today is just a little special.  We are celebrating a very special day in Mousekchicks land.  We turned one year old!  It has been such a fun year bringing you all a range of topics, introducing new Chicks and making a solid line-up to help you with your planning and bring you that little Disney fix every single day.

Also today is Father's Day!!

A very Happy Daddy Day to all the Dads out there!!!

 Celebrations acknowledged - CHECK!

Now, on to this week's topic.

With Summer here and the hottest of the Disney months fast approaching,

the Chicks and I thought the best idea for a topic was how to beat the heat!

Enjoy your week, Peeps!!

5 Places to Avoid the Crowds on a Disney Cruise Ship

Happy Saturday, all!  In keeping with this week's theme of "off the grid" attractions, I will be sharing with you 5 places to escape crowds on a Disney ship.  Since you will be floating with a few thousand others during your voyage, it is kind of tough to truly go off the grid. But there are some places to hang out where you can enjoy some personal space and perhaps even some solitude.

1. "Secret deck 7" - on the Wonder and the Magic, if you walk all the way aft on deck 7 there is a door that takes you out to a not-so-secret deck.  This space sees little traffic other than occasional group meet-ups.  There are plenty of loungers for you to soak up some sun or enjoy a good book.
2. The entire ship on a port day - if you have ever wanted to know what it feels like to have a ship
   
   to yourself, stay onboard or re-board early on a port day.  My husband and I have done this at Castaway Cay.  I have some great pictures of a nearly-empty ship on days that we have returned early to the ship
3. The promenade - on all 4 ships, deck 4 is home to the walking/running deck.  This area is also lined with comfy padded lounge chairs. This is a great alternative to lounging up on the pool deck during peak pool hours.  And another great place to enjoy a good book.
4. The movie theater - I have never seen the movie theater on board more than half full with the exception of the Muster Drill and the release of a new movie.
5. One of the main dining rooms at lunch time - check your daily Personal Navigator to see which dining room(s) will be serving lunch.  I have eaten in a nearly-empty restaurant more than once.

Are you thinking about Disney cruising? I would love to help you plan an amazing trip!  Contact me at Debbie@Mouseketrips.com.

Fun Disneyland Facts

Happy Friday, Peeps!!  I've been a bit obsessed with New Orleans Square at Disneyland lately, as evidenced by my recent posts on the Blue Bayou and the French Market.  So, it should come to no surprise that I'm heading back over to this area of Disneyland, but not for the food or the atmosphere.  I'm here to shop!  Most people think of Main Street or Downtown Disney when they think of shopping at a Disney park.  But the New Orleans Square has so many niche shops, that it's a "must-do" while at Disneyland.  So, grab a mint julep and join me as we take a stroll down Royal Street!

Down the winding "streets" of New Orleans Square, you'll find a variety of shops that are perfect for browsing (and buying - I never leave here empty handed!).  From time to time, Disney will change out the shops, so you'll always find something new during each trip.

1. Cristal d'Orleans - This shop has crystal collectibles.  I feel like a bull in a china shop here!
2. L'Ornement Magique – Features collectible ornaments.  
3. La Boutique de Noel – This is a Christmas shop with tons of different holiday decorations and it's my favorite shop in all of Disneyland!  I used to visit New Orleans often before having children (I was stationed about 4 hours away) and there was a shop in the French Quarter area that was just like this.  I loved it!
4. La Mascarade d'Orleans - Your typical Disney merchandise store with pins and whatnot (hey, they had to put one of these here!).  
5. LeBat en Rouge – Features merchandise from the Nightmare Before Christmas movie.  
6. Mlle. Antoinette’s Parfumerie - This shop has so many different types of perfume.  It reminds me of Plume et Palette in the France Pavilion at Epcot.    
7. Parasol Cart – The cast member at this cart will personalize a parasol with your name.  It's a very cute gift idea. 
8. Pieces of Eight – This shop has pirate themed items, perfect for the pirate fan in your family.  We always stop here to pick up some new stuff for our pirate collection. It's also very conveniently located near the exit of the Pirates ride. 

There are also portrait artists at kiosks on the street who will draw your picture.  They're actually quite quick at getting your picture drawn and are very talented.  My kids will probably say that Royal Street Sweets is their favorite shop in New Orleans Square.  It features many different types of candy, from  lollipops to prepackaged goodies.  I always cave and end up getting them some sweets - it is vacation after all, right?  

Heading to Disneyland?  Let me help you plan your vacation!  My services are FREE, so what have you got to lose?  jen@mouseketrips.com

Tips for Tots

Hi, friends!  Today, I'm taking you to one of my favorite viewing spots to watch the Wishes fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom.  But, guess what?  This spot isn't even located in the Magic Kingdom.  Say what, now?  That's right, this spot is located outside of the park - the beach at the Polynesian Resort.

You can get to the Polynesian by taking the Monorail, located near the entrance to the Magic Kingdom or at the Ticket and Transportation Center.  It's a very short, 5-10 minute ride depending on how many stops the monorail makes.  We like to head over and have dinner at the resort beforehand and 'Ohana or the Kona Cafe are favorites.  The Kona Cafe is so very underrated and many people forget it's even there!  After dinner, we wander the resort until it's almost time for the show.  The dinner + fireworks experience is a great thing to do on one of your non-park days, since it requires no park entry.

View of the Magic Kingdom from the beach.

The beach is a favorite of my family for many reasons, which may resonate for some of you with little ones.  First off, we aren't watching the fireworks while standing in a sea of people which means no pushing, shoving, etc. once the show is over (strollers hitting your ankles - OMG!!).  Secondly, the noise.  My girls don't do very well in situations where the noise level is extremely loud.  From the beach at the Poly, you can hear the fireworks, but the noise definitely more subdued and not as "booming."

My favorite reason of all - the viewing of the show.  It's absolutely beautiful when you're viewing it over the water.  You can see everything from the beach and the Wishes music will be playing at the resort, so you're able to take in the entire experience.  Add in watching it while snuggling with your family at the beach and it's one of those awesome moments where life is just perfect.

Let me help you plan your next Disney World vacation.  I have tons of knowledge and tips to share with you!  Email me at jen@mouseketrips.com and let's make some magic for your family!

YeHaa Bob at Port Orleans Riverside

Looking for something fun, special, memorable and FREE to do while visiting Walt Disney World?  Look no further than the River Roost Lounge at Port Orleans Riverside.  The fun begins most Wednesday through Saturday nights around 8:30pm. Although I highly recommend showing up around 8pm.  This improves your chance of getting a seat with a good view of Bob and his rocking piano. (Yes, the piano actually rocks.)  You might also have a chance to be greeted by Bob as he makes his pre-show rounds.  If Bob remembers your name, you may find yourself enjoying a cameo in the  show!

Bob is a one-of-a-kind entertainer who combines comedic and musical skills into a hilariously entertaining sing-along show.  I dare you to try to walk past the Lounge when Bob is in action and not get sucked in.  You see, that is how I was first introduced to the brilliance of Yehaa Bob. I had stayed at Port Orleans Riverside several times before, but had apparently never been near the Lounge at the right time.  Until one fateful night my friend and I were looking for a place to sit down to wait for a straggler in the gift shop.  We noticed a ruckus coming from the next room over: we heard singing and laughing and clapping and stomping and naturally wanted to see what was going on.

That's when I saw Bob for the first time - a clownish-looking man whose fingers flew across the keyboard with sharpshooter accuracy while the piano rocked back and forth...on rockers...like a rocking chair!  Bob's charismatic nature drew us in and lulled us into a sense of security. And before we knew it we were answering the question "Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?"at the top of our lungs along with about 70 of our new best friends.  Anyone who can get yours truly along with a room full of mostly-sober adults to willingly sing the theme song from Sponge Bob Square Pants is a master entertainer, if you ask me.

And it only got better from there.  As the night progressed we danced to YMCA, performed a Rockettes-style kick line to New York New York, and learned a tongue-twister including the words "sits and shifts, shifts and sits" with the explicit instructions from Bob, "Don't mess it up."  By the end of the night, I had laughed so hard that my sides hurt and I had resigned myself to the fact that I would have no voice left for the rest of my trip.  Between laughing, singing and yelling like Tarzan (I know you are thinking that you won't...but you will), your vocal cords will need a vacation of their own by the end of the show.

Regrettably, my descriptions don't do justice to this amazing show.  The only way to get a true sense for the magic, madness and mayhem is to experience it for yourself.  The next time you are at Walt Disney World, plan to see Yehaa Bob's show.  If you are staying at Port Orleans, this is a not-to-be-missed attraction. If you are staying anywhere else, this is well worth the time and cab fare to get back to your resort after the show.

For more information on Bob and his show, check out his facebook page and webpage.  All pictures used with permission from Bob Jackson.