Month: September 2014

Preparing for a Disney Vacation with Disney Baby Products

disney baby

In my family, Disney is introduced at birth!

From Disney character nursery room décor, to adorable Disney themed outfits,toys and books, my children started their lives surrounded by Disney magic!  My babies are now seven-years-old and three-years-old and it’s my goal to keep sprinkling a daily dose of Disney in their lives.  Disney Baby products, available at Walmart, have helped me do this. They easily take everyday moments in our life, such as snack time, and add a touch of magic that can only be expected from Disney.  My daughter, Victoria is three-years-old and I still pack Minnie Mouse and Doc McStuffins insulated sippy cups to take on errand runs!  (She loves the characters and I appreciate going through the store knowing she won’t drip milk on their floor!)  Needless to say, our family loves Disney Baby products.

Talking about Disney moments, I’m preparing for my family’s upcoming trip to Disneyland! YAY! The other day I was writing one of my many packing lists, when I received an email asking me to write a post about some pretty awesome new Disney Baby products.  A few of the items jumped right out at me because I wanted them for this upcoming trip!  I had no idea that Disney character booster seats existed, so of course I wanted to share them with you.

I love that these booster seats celebrate Disney Pixar’s film, “Cars”, perfect for my son and my daughter’s favorite mouse, Minnie.  As an added bonus, each booster seat has a built in cup holder and a super convenient pull-out storage drawer!

Disney Store n Go Backless Booster Formula Racer Disney Store n Go Backless Booster Minnie Mouse Silhouette Pink

Here’s my legal disclosure:  This post was sponsored by Disney Baby and I was compensated to write it. Regardless, I’m sharing my opinions and experiences with Disney Baby products with the hope that you find the information useful in adding a touch of Disney into your daily life.

Prepare and Pack for Transportation!

Transportation planning for a trip to Disneyland is incredibly important if you have children!

Disneyland does not offer Magical Express service from any airports.  If you’re flying to California and choose to rent a car, keep in mind that in the state of California all children under the age of 8 years old must be secured in a safety seat to ride in a vehicle.  Don’t forget to add car seats to your packing list!  Good news is that most airlines will allow you to check your children’s car seats or boosters FREE of charge.

Pack your child’s stroller!

Yes, you can rent a stroller at Disneyland or Walt Disney World for $15 per day, but why not use your own for free? During our past ten trips to Walt Disney World with children there was one occasion where we rented a stroller at the park and we’ve decided to stick with our own strollers.  My husband and I found that our children took naps much easier in their stroller from home.  It’s where the kids feel most comfortable to sleep and airlines allow strollers to be checked at the gate for FREE!

Also on my packing wish list is this ADORABLE Mickey Mouse Umbrella Stroller.  Could it be any cuter?  I was surprised to see that it’s only $22.59 at Walmart.com with free in-store pickup!

PROD_UmbrellaStroller_Mickey.jpg

Here’s a Stroller Tip for touring a Disney Park with your own stroller: Attach a stand out luggage tag on the handle or tie a bright-colored ribbon to your stroller.  This will make finding the stroller a bunch easier.  Why all the fuss you might ask?  Disney Cast Members rearrange the strollers while you’re enjoying an attraction.  Sometimes this can make finding your stroller within the sea of strollers challenging.

Although my children have outgrown infant seats, I just had to share this set with you. I love the polka-dots!  For the littlest Mouseketeerette in your family, this is the Disney Baby Minnie Mouse Coral Flowers Travel System.

Disney Saunter Sport LC-22 Travel System Coral Flowers Minnie Mouse

 Pack the Pack-n-Play (if you have room!)

Rest assured, if you’re flying and have no intentions on bringing your child’s Pack-n-Play, Disney Resort rooms provide you with one free of charge.

Here’s a Pack-n-Play Tip:  Disney provides you with one cover for the base of the unit.  I recommend bringing extra sheets so you have extra if they get soiled and possibly pack a sleeper sack.  I have found that the air conditioning gets really cool for infants, so my children used sleeper sacks.

However, if you’re driving or your child favors her own Pack-n-Play, add it to your list!  Check out this stylish Minnie Mouse themed Playard. This is the Disney Baby Minnie Mouse Coral Flowers Care Center Playard!

Disney Baby Minnie Mouse Coral Flowers Care Center Playard

 Last but certainly not least~ Pack Empty Sippy Cups!

I learned very quickly that a toddler’s carton and/or jug of milk will spill just about instantaneously in the parks without a sippy cup.  Therefore, about five years ago, I started packing the take and toss cups by Disney Baby.  The sippy cups are available in Disney brands Princess, Minnie Mouse and Cars and can be purchased at Walmart!  The image below is of the “Cars” insulated cups I used for years with Gavin.  They’re fabulous for around the house- NO LEAKING!  But for storage purposes, I would recommend the Take and Toss cup styles.

Here’s a Sippy Cup Tip:  Purchase a set of three Take and Toss Disney Baby cups and place them inside a gallon size Ziploc bag (without drinks).  Then put them in your backpack to take to the parks.  Also pack an additional empty gallon size Ziploc bag.  As the day progresses, purchase milk for your child from the quick service food locations and pour the drink into a clean sippy cup.  When he’s done drinking, just rinse the cup in a drink fountain and then put the cup in the Ziploc bag to be washed that evening in the resort. When he’s thirsty again, just use another clean one from the backpack. I found that the Take and Toss cups are great space savers and they have beautiful Disney Princesses on them so my daughter enjoys using them.  I have to admit, the cups are a time saver too!  Without the cups I’m certain my daughter would have many more wardrobe changes!  A princess can’t be seen in milk drenched ensemble, you know.

Disney Baby 2pk Insulated Cups Cars

Whether you’re planning a vacation to a Disney Park or planning a trip to the local park, Disney Baby products are a perfect way to add a dash of Disney magic into your child’s everyday moments!   I won’t overload you with all of the cool Disney Baby products available at Walmart.  Instead I invite you to explore Walmart’s Disney Baby product line on your own.  Visit Disney Baby here!  Have fun shopping!  Now it’s back to packing list writing for me!

 

Walt Disney World the day after 9/11/2001

On the morning of September 11th, 2001 I was just like most Americans, both eyes focused on the television in disbelief and in terror.  At the time, I was employed at Walt Disney World, however I wasn’t scheduled to work that day. I remember finding out that all park guests were vacated from Disney’s four theme parks and my fellow cast member friends were sent home from work early.  I recall spending that emotional day huddled with friends around the television and talking to my family back in Pennsylvania, that is, once I was able to get my cell phone to work.  I’m fairly certain that most Americans remember a similar version of that horrible day. Regardless of where you were on September 11th, 2001, the events of that day we never forget.

I will also never forget the day AFTER 9/11.  On September 12, 2001, I worked at the Disney Vacation Club booth located in front of The American Adventure attraction in Epcot’s World Showcase.  I had worked at this location dozens of times before but only recall with clear vision that specific day.  It was quiet, really quiet.  I had never seen the park so empty.  There was no laughter or the typical over-tired families fighting.  Guests were quiet.  They all walked slowly and didn’t make eye contact.  It was awful.  It was somber.  It was raw emotions masked by the idea of a vacation.

But then the drums tapped…and the beautiful woodwind sounds of the fifes erased the silence.

September 12th wasn’t a day full of pixie dust and magic but it was a day full of strength and American pride.  For something that typically was dismissed by almost every guest became an attraction that unified strangers with their belief that as American citizens we are stronger than the terror that took the pixie dust away just the day before.

During each hour it would begin with a few taps of the drums…guests seemed to follow the sound and then gathered around the Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corps.  The guests didn’t rush by, instead on that day Americans circled around the performers.  They sang patriotic songs.  Some guests shed tears.  But most significantly the pride that I saw in guests’ faces, and the strength I heard in their voices was something that I never saw matched in the years I worked at Walt Disney World.

I hope today as we continue on with our overly busy lives, we take a moment to think of how truly blessed we are to live in America and to give thanks to all that serve our country.  May God bless them.

I’m deeply sadden to say that September 25, 2014 will be the final day to see the Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corps perform at Epcot.  If you plan on visiting Epcot within the next two weeks, make sure to see one of their performances.  I promise you, seeing the Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corps in person will give you goose bumps!  If you can’t make it to Epcot by September 25th, you can watch their performance below!


I linked this post to the Fastpass to History blog hop.  If you love reading about Disney history, check out these other links!

Sneak-Peek! Disney Channel Premiers “Around the World with Minnie’s Bow-Toons week!”

Monday September 8th on Disney Channel, Minnie Mouse and her friends begin globe-trotting adventures in new episodes of “Minnie’s Bow-Toons”!  

I’m so excited to be able to show you two sneak-peeks of these special cartoon shorts. The first sneak-peek is from the “Minnie’s Bow-Toons” episode, “Gondola with the Wind.”  This adorable cartoon short kicks off the special week on Monday September 8 at 11:55 a.m. ET/PT.  

Watch as Minnie and Daisy set off on a gondola cruise through Venice Canals!  

 Here is the “Minnie’s Bow-Toons” schedule for next week!

 Monday September 8 at 11:55 a.m. ET/PT – “Gondola with the Wind”

Tuesday September 9 at 11:55 a.m. ET/PT – “Uh, Oh, Pizza Dough”

Wednesday September 10 at 11:55 a.m. ET/PT – “Fiesta Follies”

Thursday September 11 at 11:55 a.m. ET/PT – “Royal Delivery”

Friday September 12 at 11:55 a.m. ET/PT – “Kabuki Chaos”

“Royal Delivery”

 In this second sneak-peek, Minnie and Daisy have created a special Bow hat for the Queen and must find a way to get the bow to her.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the special sneak-peeks of “Minnie’s Bow-Toons” as much as I have.  Have a great weekend everyone and get ready for some world travelling with Minnie Mouse next week!

Doc McStuffins Band-Aid Inspired Treat

Doc McStuffins Treat

 Do your kids love to watch Doc McStuffins?

My daughter has finally let Frozen GO and moved on to her new “favorite” Disney show, Doc McStuffins!  We start every morning with at least one “check-up”, followed by the request to watch “Time for a Check-up!” and then back to giving anything within a mile radius a check-up.  I have to admit, I think she’s adorable when she sings the Doc McStuffins theme song as she runs around with her “doctor tools” and I can’t help but love that she says she wants to be a doctor when she’s bigger. So last week, I decided to make her a Doc McStuffins inspired treat to share at a play tea party with her little cousins.

Graham crackers are a popular snack in our family, so I used a graham cracker sheet as a base to make a band-aid that’s “so much better” to enjoy than a real one!  If you have an aspiring doctor in  your home and would like to know how I made the treat, here is a step by step tutorial!

You’ll need the following supplies.

Doc McStuffins Inspired treat 004

  1. Red chocolate melts
  2. White chocolate melts
  3. Make and Mold small squeeze bottles
  4. Graham crackers
  5. Paper and wax paper

Create a Band-Aid Template

Doc McStuffins Inspired treat 020

Using a graham cracker to trace, create your band-aid template on a white sheet of paper. Once you’re done, place a sheet of wax paper on top of the drawings.  I placed both the wax paper and the white paper on a cookie sheet.  The cookie sheet made it easy to transfer the hot pieces of chocolate into the refrigerator for cooling.

Create the “cotton” white center of the band-aid.

Melt the white chocolate.  Using the melted chocolate, create a white square. I used a knife to smooth it out.  Once the chocolate has cooled and hardened, flip it around so that the smooth side is up.  To adhere the square to the center of the graham cracker use a few dots of hot white chocolate.

Doc McStuffins Inspired treat 015

 With the remaining melted white chocolate complete the bandage look by using the squeeze bottle to create the dots.

Doc McStuffins Inspired treat 017

Create a red heart with red chocolate melts.

Add red chocolate candy melts to the second squeeze bottle and melt them in the microwave.  Once the chocolate is completely melted, make a read candy heart with the use of your band-aid template.

My daughter, Victoria, shared these treats with her brother and cousins.  Since we were making them for boys and girls, she had me add sugar sprinkles to the girls’ hearts!

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 After hardening, secure the red heart to the white chocolate square with a few drops of red melted chocolate.

That’s it!  I hope your aspiring doctor enjoys the treat too!Doc McStuffins Inspired treat 030

Do your little Mouseketeers love Doc McStuffins too?  Have you made any themed treats for Disney Junior shows?  If you created one for your blog, please feel free to add your Disney Junior treat idea post’s link in the comments below!