conner family: Disney World 2013

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Disney World 2013

We had the best time at Disney World!

We planned our vacation for February because the last time we went, the parks were empty and the weather was great. This time, there were a lot more people there, but the weather was amazing. For most of the trip, we had sunshine and warm temps.

**DISNEY TIP: Bring a change of clothes in a backpack for your princess, eventually she will get tired of wearing that dress.

Maisy always started the day in Princess dress. I brought a change of clothes for her in a backpack because by lunch she was ready to be in something less itchy :)

My travel agent and friend, Stephanie plans trips to Disney (email me if you would like her contact info)-- she provided us with a great plan of action. I don't know about you, but the whole "Disney Planning" is kind of intimidating. This time, I had no stress.

**DISNEY TIP: Use a travel agent to plan your trip. This service is provided at no-cost to you, they are paid by Disney. It is helpful to have an expert on your side!

The New Dumbo Ride

Our trip was Sunday thru Thursday. We spent a day in each park-- and two days at Magic Kingdom. We got to see the "New FantasyLand"- which was pretty cool. The new Ariel ride there was a hit with my girls, it was similar to the "Finding Nemo" ride at Epcot. We weren't able to eat at the new "Be Our Guest" restaurant, it was already booked up when we tried to get reservations.

*DISNEY TIP: Bring a stroller, even big kids get tired of walking all day.

We brought our own strollers, and even though my first grader is very independent, we brought a stroller for her too. I was happy to have it-- there were a lot of people there and we did a ton of walking. It was nice to have both girls safe in their seats as we meandered through the parks.

For this trip, we gave the Disney Dining Plan a try. I had heard some people say that the dining plan included too many desserts/junk food. But I think we actually ate pretty healthy on our trip. We simply requested to trade our desserts for fruit or veggies, chose water over sodas, skipped chips/frys, and took advantage of the salads, wraps, and grilled items. (And of course, at dinner we did have our share of our desserts- just not at lunch-time!)

**DISNEY TIP: Make the Dining Plan work for you. Trade fries, desserts, chips and sodas for veggies, fruits and bottled water.

We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge. I loved this resort! It was a fun atmosphere, with lots to do. The girls even swam a few times.

**DISNEY TIP- Bring a swimsuit! We didn't expect to swim, but the pools were heated and February in Florida can be warm.

Each evening we hung out in the lobby where the girls danced and played while Jeff and I relaxed.

One of the girls favorite things about Disney is the autographs. We made our own autograph books from spiral art journals and decorated the fronts.

**DISNEY TIP: Bring an autograph book and a sharpie marker- the kids love collecting autographs and the marker is easier to the characters to hold.

We used the daily schedule, passed out in each park, to find out where/when our favorite characters would be signing autographs.

Since Maisy was too short to ride some of the bigger rides, we took advantage of the Rider Pass, which allowed Jeff and I to easily switch out riding with Afton (without having to wait in a long line).

We took the girls to two character meals. Chef Mickey at the Contemporary Hotel was adorable and the food was really good. You can't go wrong with Mickey waffles.

On our last day at Magic Kingdom, we ate at Cinderella's Royal Table. I was really impressed with the food and 'fanciness' of this meal. The staff really made the girls feel special.

The only draw back of the trip was that Maisy got sick on Thursday and Jeff on Friday. They both ended up with the flu. I guess with that many people in one area, it is bound to happen. Good thing it was at the end of the trip, not the beginning.

My favorite part of the trip was soooo much quality family time with the girls (they will only be little once!). Even though it is a 'kids trip', Jeff and I had a lot of fun too. When else do you get to hang out with your hubby for a week straight?