Including Disney in your holiday decor

It's that time of year when you switch out all your regular home decor for some holiday fun!

While I have tried to maintain some sophistication when it comes to Christmas decorating, being such huge Disney fans, it wouldn't be right to exclude the "Mouse" from this special holiday.

Here are our Disney Christmas pieces:

This artificial palm tree is in our kitchen. We've made it a tradition to get a new ornament from Walt Disney World every year, and this tree is reserved exclusively for these WDW ornaments.



This collector's piece is from Carleton Cards at a local mall. I thought it was too cute to pass up... Especially on sale.



Lastly, I always have a throw on my sofa, mainly because I have a tendency to be cold in the evening and I like to cuddle underneath a blanket. Each Christmas, though, I swap out my usual throw, for this holiday one we bought at WDW. It was part of those common promotions where if you spend so much, you get the throw for $15 or $20. I can't remember which one. It's a cozy blanket which features the whole gang snuggling up in front of the fireplace (Goofy and Donald couldn't fit in my shot).



How do you include Disney in your holiday decorating?

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Who else is watching Sofia the First?

My little girl has been eagerly awaiting the premiere of Disney Junior's new show. Today has finally arrived. Here's my Little Princess watching Disney's newest Princess.




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A week in an OKW Grand Villa

As I'm sure most of you are in your circles of friends, I tend to be known as the Walt Disney World guru around my friends and family. People are always asking me where to stay when they head down to visit the Mouse.
It's common practice to visit the World in large groups. Whether you're bringing down the grandparents, or friends who have never been, or maybe you're even having a family reunion, lots of visitors come to Walt Disney World with more than just their immediate family.
Of course there are lots of off-site accommodations for large groups, but if you want to stay right inside the magic, you might want to consider a Grand Villa at a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) resort. These villas feature three bedrooms, four bathrooms, full-sized dining rooms and living rooms, full kitchens and a washers and dryers. Even if you're not a member, there are many websites dedicated to matching WDW guests with DVC owners wanting to rent out their points!
The most economical Grand Villa is at Disney's Old Key West Resort. We had the pleasure of staying in one in September 2011. Here is a photo tour of our Grand Villa.




This was our "home" for the week. We chose a Grand Villa this trip because we were taking our parents with us.




When you walk in, to the right was the full kitchen. The laundry room was off of the kitchen.




The dining room was adjacent to the kitchen.




To the left was one of four bathrooms (the only one which wasn't an ensuite) and the master bedroom.




The master bedroom ensuite was extremely spacious.












The focal point of the main floor, however, was the beautiful living room with cathedral ceilings.








This Grand Villa was the size of a house! Two bedrooms also awaited us on the second floor!




Our view from the second floor.
It was so nice to have the space to spread out and not get in each other's way. I would definitely stay here again with a party of 6 - or more. The living room sofa converts to a bed, as does the chair.
I would highly recommend this Grand Villa, and the resort, as well. Old Key West had a very relaxed and welcoming feel about it... And relaxing is just what we did. :)
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My Real-Life Prince Charming

In between the kids' temper tantrums, arguments, and the other stresses that come our way, I remember how lucky I am to feel like I am living a fairy tale straight out of a Disney movie. I have my children and my castle, but it really all started with my Prince.

On the anniversary of our 6th wedding anniversary, I thought I'd dedicate this post to him, because without him, this blog probably wouldn't exist.

As I've mentioned in the past, I've always been a big Disney and Walt Disney World fan. Every year I'd ask my parents to take us to WDW, and I was very lucky that some years they listened! We always had a great time, and I secretly hoped that whomever I married would enjoy it as much as I so we could return when we had a family of our own!

Once my soon-to-be-husband and I got closer to marriage, I began to put the bug in his ear: "You know, we should really visit Disney World one day," I'd say. Unfortunately for me, it seemed to go in one ear and out the other. He had absolutely no interest in visiting an "amusement park" (as he called it).

That all changed, however, in October 2007, when for some reason, he decided to give it a shot! I don't remember how I convinced him, but I think the perk of free dining helped. Of course I thoroughly enjoyed that trip. I cried at the end of the week because I didn't know when we would ever come back. What if once was enough for him? Well, to my surprise, he wanted to return just as much as I did! That was music to my ears.

We defied the misconception that WDW is just for kids. Only 8 months after our firat trip, we returned, newly pregnant with our first child. Again, we had an amazing time, despite my all-day nausea.

Now, two children later, we return to Walt Disney World two to three times per year, and have also included Disney cruises into our repertoire. We love it even more now with our children, than we did by ourselves.

I am so thankful to my husband. He has a job that allows us to frequent the World so often, but what's more is that he doesn't just agree to the trips for me. He gets it. I don't have to explain what's so great about seeing the Castle when you first walk onto Main Street or why I get goosebumps when I watch SpectroMagic or Fantasmic. I just look at his face and I know that he gets it. I am so thankful to have him to share the Disney magic with.

So, today, and everyday, I am thankful for what he's brought to my life. Happy Anniversary to my very own real-life Prince. I love you.



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Letting Disney in

My husband and I often joke that my sister and brother-in-law need to "let Disney into their lives". They don't have children yet, so they feel they have no need to visit Walt Disney World. They like to tease us about going to WDW so often and about how we probably have just as much fun there as the kids.

They're right. We go to WDW just as much for us as we do for our children. Probably more so right now, as our children are very young. But, letting Disney into your life does not simply mean making the obligatory once-in-a-lifetime visit to the World.

In my household, Disney is not just a brand of movies, toys or the Most Magical Place on Earth. It's a lifestyle.

Some people take issue with what Disney promotes. One such example is the focus on princesses for little girls. The argument is that girls should be taught to be strong leaders, rather than to be dependent on a "prince" for happiness. Well, we have no issue exposing our children to Disney's overarching mantra: believing in your dreams and making them come true.

As such, we have no problem "letting Disney in". Our children regularly watch Disney movies, wear Disney clothing, listen to Disney music and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Knowing that one of my son's first words was Goofy makes me proud. Watching as my daughter asks to be measured every day by my husband in order to see if she will be able to go on a new ride at WDW makes me happy.

We have definitely let Disney in and will never go back. I am proud to show my children that, in a world with so much negativity, anything is possible... dreams do come true. And when we sometimes forget this, there is a "World" out there, filled with pixie dust, waiting to remind us.


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Why we never tire of Walt Disney World

I have been coming to Walt Disney World since I was a child, but my visits became more frequent after I got married. One trip was all it took to get my husband on board and he was converted. We have been coming two to three times per year since 2007. This is partially due to the fact that in 2010, we became Disney Vacation Club members. We have been truly blessed to be able to vacation at the Most Magical Place On Earth as often as we do.

Of course, not everyone sees it as a "blessing". We often hear, "again?!" or "aren't you sick of that place yet?!". Yes, it becomes annoying feeling like you have to defend your vacation choices, but I decide to try to enlighten people with my answers instead.

I tell them it's not just about the rides. It's about the feeling I get when I step on the Magical Express and all my worries and stresses of the real world vanish. It's not about seeing people dressed up as stuffed animals. It's about seeing my daughter's eyes light up as she approaches Mickey, thinking she is about to meet one of her best friends. Surely, you can never grow tired of those special feelings and experiences.

Of course, when traveling with children, it is about the rides and characters in their eyes. The beauty of beginning their Disney trips when they are young is that you can watch them grow a bit each vacation. My son, Max, is currently 19 months old, but has been to Walt Disney World five times. He has always been afraid of the characters, but this trip, something changed. For the first time yet, he approached Princess Tiana on his own and handed her a flower that he picked. That, to me, was Disney magic. On our first trip with Max, he was afraid of the Uzima Pool at Animal Kingdom Lodge. We spent most of our pool time that trip holding him above water. This trip, he was happily diving about, not caring whether we were there or not. My daughter, Claire, rode Splash Mountain for the very first time this trip! Although she has been to Walt Disney World eight times so far, she is just at the very beginning of her thrill ride adventures!

I am happy to explain this all when people ask. To my family, Walt Disney World is not just a theme park, but a wealth of memories that we add to each and every trip. Creating memories as a family will never grow old for us.


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[Disney] Decisions, Decisions

I know this is a good dilemma to have, so I'm definitely not complaining... But I still need a decision!

I guess it's no secret that I REALLY enjoyed our first Disney cruise: 4 nights on board the Disney Dream. We had cruised four times prior to this one, but none were on DCL. There was something about a cruise combined with the Disney atmosphere reminiscent of that found in Walt Disney World that made this cruise incredibly magical for me!

So, we are currently booked on the same 4 night Bahamian cruise in September. This is the vacation week we were supposed to spend in WDW, but have now made it into a land and sea-type idea. Because we booked it in May onboard the Dream, though, staterooms were limited, and we were booked into an expensive verandah cabin. Whatever.

Now, because I'm obsessed with Disney travel planning, I'm always trying to think of new ideas and find ways of getting good deals. Well, it turns out that if we book a 7 night Caribbean cruise onboard the Fantasy (Disney's newest ship!!), stay in an ocean view stateroom (no balcony), pay for part of it with the DVC points we were going to use on the "land" portion of our vacation, we could actually save some money. This is, in part, due to the fact that we will no longer have to pay for our meals while in WDW.

Well, I'm all ready to switch my reservation because I'm dying now to try a 7 night Disney cruise! My husband, though, is resisting. He really doesn't want to give up those days in WDW. I see it as Disney is Disney, and I get that same warm and fuzzy feeling whether I'm on a Disney cruise or in Disney World.... But he still really wants the WDW aspect!

Truth be told, when I really want something, I can usually work my magic to eventually convince him, but will it work this time? And in time before all the inside ocean view cabins sell out?! Oh, and I should mention that we are also already booked on the 4 night Bahamian in May again.

Any advice?


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