Sunday is craft day

I love to make crafts. Of every sort! I love scrapbooking, painting, some small sewing projects and various other things. I love being creative! Making something with my own hands gives me so much pleasure. And with my Disney passion I am never at a loss for things to make or create.

I've decided to try a new project. I'm designing it myself so it's a little touch and go with the directions. It looks like a complete mess right now! lol

I'll show you what I've got and hopefully by this time next week, I will have a completed project to show off!

This will become something fantastic......I hope

What projects are you working on? Do you have a favorite site you like to go to for inspiration? Share your craftiness!

Sending you Pixie Dust and Magical wishes,

Shelly

Why should I use a Disney Vacation Planner

So you know for sure you are wanting to plan a Disney vacation. You are all prepared to go online and hunt, hunt, hunt. You see ads all the time for Disney Vacation Planners, and you start asking yourself, why should I use a Disney Vacation Planner when I can do it all myself?

Well, there are several reasons actually.

An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner specializes in Disney vacations. They know their stuff! They have had to go through a lot of training to be able to get that special title. Not all Disney planners are ADVP either, look for one that states this. This means they are given special access to things not everyone has access to. Some may offer special discounts not available to you anywhere else on the internet. Or they may have special gifts that you receive once you book your trip.

The main reason, you are leaving the trip of your dreams in the hands of someone who is as Disney crazed as you are. So you know you will come out on top.

It's not just about booking the trip. It's stress elimination. Planning the perfect trip takes time, and can cause so much stress that you are ready to give up before you even get to your destination.

Let someone else handle that for you.

Your Disney Vacation Planner will:
1. work to get you the best price for the dates that you have selected.
2. watch for any promotions that may affect your travel, meaning saving you money on your vacation.
3. make your dining reservations for you.
4. create a customized trip itinerary just for you and your family/group that is specific to your trip.

Yes you can do all this yourself. However; the time it takes to do all of this is mind boggling. You don't have time to sit on the phone for hours waiting to see if Disney will give you that free dining that just came out, and believe me, it is literally hours, up to 8-10 hours on hold. Your ADVP does, and WILL do this for you.

It doesn't cost you anything to use an ADVP either. Their services are provided free of charge. They get paid by Disney, only a very small percentage of your total trip amount, but the commission never comes out of your pocket. You pay the same price whether you use a planner or not, so you might as well get some peace of mind while planning that vacation.

Plus having a planner book your vacation, means someone has your back and is looking out for you. You are on your own when you book your trip by yourself. With an ADVP, you have someone who is not afraid to call to make even the slightest wrong RIGHT.

What ADVP should you use? Well there are so many online, that you can just type in Disney planner on Google and come up with hundreds of names. Check out the websites, see if they have any reviews from previous customers anywhere. Check out their Facebook pages to see how often they connect with their client base. And you can check out a great agency here, Magical Moments Vacations by Shelly

In my belief, yes you should use a vacation planner, no matter where you are vacationing. It makes sense. You get their knowledge, peace of mind, and you are helping to support/sustain a good ole American small business!


Sending you Pixie Dust and Magical wishes,

Shelly

Recipe Friday - 1900 Park Fare Strawberry Soup

Have you had the delicious, creamy, mouth watering strawberry soup from 1900 Park Fare?

This soup is a wonderful, chilled bowl of heaven.

1900 Park Fare is a wonderful buffet restaurant in the Grand Floridian resort. Here you can have a character breakfast with Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter and Pooh and Tigger. Or dine with Cinderella, her evil Step Mother and step sisters, and of course Prince Charming!

Dinner with the Wicked Stepmother

We found Prince Charming!

Our sweet Cinderella

The resort itself is very stunning where Victorian elegance meets modern sophistication. There is a live orchestra and a pianist in the lobby playing your favorite tunes, and this resort is on the Monorail line, so it's very easy to get to.

Once inside 1900 Park Fare you will find foods that delight all of your senses from the sight, to the smells, the textures, and right down to the tastes. One of my very favorites, has to be the sweet and cool Strawberry Soup.

And you can make this at home, to enjoy anytime of the year!

Sweet, cool and delicious!

Ingredients

2 pounds 8oz of strawberries, frozen, thawed with juice

16 oz heavy cream

2 oz sour cream

3 oz yogurt

1/2 pound fresh strawberries

Preparation

1. Mix berries, heavy cream, sour cream, and yogurt.

2. Beat slowly until well mixed and a smooth consistency. 

3. Chill, shake well before serving.

4. Garnish w/fresh strawberry halves. 

5. Enjoy!

Once you've had this, you will never want to stop making this delectable treat for yourself. Just another way to keep the Disney Magic with you! 

My number one fella with Alice in Wonderland!

Sending you Pixie Dust and Magical wishes,

Shelly

Booked my vacation with Dining.....now what

Alright, so you have your trip booked or at least deposited. It's still a while away and you are wondering what you should do now. ADR's!!! Advanced Dining Reservations!

A lot of the more popular restaurants book months in advance, so you want to be prepared and ahead of the game. This is where your Disney Vacation Planner can really help you out!

Here are some ways you can pre-plan your dining experiences at Disney World.

1. Read the brochures on the plan you have booked! I cannot stress this enough. These dining plan brochures are specific to your purchased dining plan. You can read what restaurants are available on your plan, what meals are served (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks), and what types of foods you will be able to enjoy there. Head over to the dining page here to download your copy now!

2. Start making a list of the restaurants you want to visit. Have a few in mind for your planner to check on and number them in order of preference. If the first one isn't available, your Disney planner can check on the others for you. And please, give a time frame if possible, but remember, be flexible here. Because of the popularity of some of the locations, a dinner might not be able available until 8:00 PM. Let your planner know if this is acceptable.

3. Make a list of quick service locations in the theme parks. Unless you have a lunch reservation, your gang is going to get hungry while spending the day in the theme park. Take a nice break and grab a quick lunch! With the list you made and while looking at your park maps, you'll quickly find the best spot to grab a bite to eat. You can locate all Disney maps on our Map page here.

4. Don't forget about your snack credits! There are so many snacks to choose from! From a bottle of water or soda, to a piece of fruit, apple slices w/caramel dipping sauce, ice cream treats to popcorn, there are so many options you won't know what to try to first! You can find snacks at gift shops, stand alone carts, and kiosks all throughout the theme parks. And if you are back at your hotel, don't forget to check your quick service location there.

The Disney Dining plans were created to take the stresses and hassles away from you when it came to dining options and feeding your family. With a little bit of prep work, and your Disney Planners tenacity you will have a much more enjoyable trip!



Sending you Pixie Dust and Magical wishes,

Shelly

Disney Dining Plan.....worth the cost?

So anyone who has planned a Disney vacation, either on the website alone or with the help of a Disney Vacation planner has at least heard of the Disney Dining Plans.

There are several to choose from and everyone has their own opinion regarding whether it is a good idea or not.

What is the Disney Dining Plan?

What it amounts to is a convenient and flexible way to enjoy your meals and snacks at over 200 locations on Disney property. These are included in some of the Magic Your Way packages you book.

So that's the "Official" definition. My definition? Only the greatest add on EVER to any of my Disney Vacation Packages!

Ok, so you like it you say, what can I do with it? Well how about never worrying about the cost of a meal, or budgeting for meals and snacks while on your Disney vacation? Oh....that sounds nice you say...tell me more!

Why sure I will, I love the Disney Dining plans. It is convenient, no hassle, no worry way for me to have the dinners/snacks I and my family want while we are vacationing. I can make all the dining reservations I want to make knowing that my meals are completely covered and I don't have to worry about budgeting for each meal.

But are are the plans really worth it?

On our last trip, it was my husband, myself, and our gorgeous grandson who was 4 at the time of the trip.

Some of our dining costs were:

Dinner w/Princesses at Akershus Norway Epcot total: $119.25
Breakfast at Cape May Cafe $67.07
Dinner at Hollywood & Vine $77.72
Character Breakfast at O'hana $67.19
Character Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare $57.48
Dinner at Trails End $72.81
Disney Jr. Character Breakfast at Hollywood & Vine $91.61
Lunch at T-Rex in Downtown Disney: $96.00
Dinner Show at Hoop De Doo Revue: $180.00

This was not all of the meals we had at Disney of course, we had a few more that I cannot find the receipts for, plus we had lunch in the parks for the most part usually at a quick serve location, and at our hotel a few times. And of course this doesn't even begin to cover our 2 snacks per person per day which we always enjoyed in the parks :)
But this totals to: $829.13
So you figuring in 2 snacks per person per day at an avg cost of $1.50 each
$3.00 (day) * 3 (ppl) * 6 days = $54 for the week
Then add in 5 quick serve lunches =$200
And add in the days for dinner that wasn't reserved: $100.00

For a grand total of: $1,183.13 for 6 days of meals w/snacks.

This plan also included a refillable collectible mug for each of us, valued at $14.95 each =$44.85.

So all in all our meals/mug cost us $1,227.98
We paid a total of $1,168.98 for the 6 nights with the Deluxe Dining plan.

I know, I know, you are looking at this going really? You saved $59. Yes I saved $59!!!! That means I had $59 more in my pocket to spend on bringing the magic back home with me. Or, I had $59 more to spend on the grandbaby.

Honestly, in all reality, I would balk at paying those prices anywhere else! There is no way I'm going to go out and spend $96 at a dinosaur restaurant. However....stop and think about this for a moment.

I was able to make my dining reservations for some of the most sought after places on Disney property and didn't have to worry about having the cash on hand to pay for it!
You also do not have to worry about walking around with that much cash on your person, or having to go to an ATM to get cash out, or putting it on a credit card and having to pay the interest.
I was able to create memories for a lifetime, and see the joy on my grandsons face, that I would never have been able to see anywhere else. And for that....the Dining Plan is priceless.

So for me, the Dining plans are totally worth it. There is no amount of money that you can place on a memory with a precious grandchild. Remembering his face now, is bringing tears to my eyes, because that moment, I would've given kidney for if I had to!

The loves of my life! This smile is worth any cost!

Disney Dining prices have gone up a bit since our last family trip.

Prices for 2014 are:

Quick Service Dining Plan:

• 2 quick service meals per person per night of stay
• 1 snack per person per night of stay
• 1 refillable Resort mug,  per person per package

Cost is $39.64 per night age 10 and up and $15.75 per child ages 3-9 years.

Disney Dining Plan:

• 1 quick service meal per person per night of stay
• 1 table service meal per person per night of stay
• 1 snack per person per night of stay
• 1 refillable Resort mug per person per package

Cost is $58.66 per person per night age 10 and up and $18.88 per child ages 3-9 years.

Deluxe Dining Plan:

• 3 meals per person per night of stay (can be used as quick service or table service
• 2 snacks per person per night of stay
• 1 refillable Resort mug per person per package 

Cost is $104.94 per person per night age 10 and up and $29.51 per child ages 3-9 years. 

You can read all about the different dining options available now and get more in depth information by clicking on one of the links below. 

2013 Quick Service Dining Plan

2013 Dining Plan

2013 Deluxe Dining Plan

I will post the 2014 editions as it gets closer. There are some locations still not added as contracts are still being worked out with Disney and the non Disney locations. 

So you can look at this way, with the dining plan added, you get an all inclusive vacation. You don't have to worry about a thing, except where it is that you want to eat! Is it worth it? In my book yes, very much so. This is something that needs to be looked at from every angle for each family going. Not everyone thinks this way. You will need to decide for yourself :)

Sending you Pixie Dust and Magical wishes,

Shelly

Epcot's Food and Wine Festival

What is your favorite time of the year to go to Walt Disney World?

Mine is in October! Not only is it this Disney fans birthday, but the weather is absolutely perfect! The crowds have died down from the summer madness and The annual Food and Wine festival is going on at Epcot.

Have you been to this festival yet? No? Read on!!!

This is a fantastic festival held in Epcot every year.

You get an unforgettable tour of culture, global cuisines, and the best wine offerings around! You can eat and drink your way around the world in one day and no 2 dishes will be the same. My absolute favorite spot is in France, where I can get the most delicious bubbly pink champagne and a sampling of 3 mini delectable, delicious desserts.

There are also some fantastic new experiences for you while you are visiting the festival. From more than 25 International markets to choose from to food and wine pairings to samplings and signings, there is something for everyone at the Food & Wine Festival. Plus you have the chance to get in on some premium opportunities. From a tour of Scotland, to a Party for the Senses to grand Culinary Adventures, there are over a dozen amazing opportunities waiting for you! 

Book a sweet seat for a dessert filled experience.

Attend special demonstrations and seminars, from a Mixology to learning all about cheese!

There is also a free concert series you can attend while at the festival! So many things to do and try, you will have a hard time getting through it all in one day!

Things to know before you go are: an admission ticket into Epcot is required to attend the Food & Wine Festival. Several experiences have a separate fee, please be sure to check the website! 

Click on the flier for more information regarding this fun event. 

Tell us about your favorite event or food or wine at the Food & Wine Festival! Or what are you most excited about tasting/experiencing when you go?

Sending you Pixie Dust and Magical wishes,

Shelly

Disney's Konk Kooler Recipe

Have you been on a Disney Cruise and stopped by Disney's private island Castaway Cay? 

Well they have this amazing drink on the island called the Konk Kooler. It is just the most wonderful frozen glass of heaven I can think of! 
And thanks to the Disney Food Blog, you can now make these wonderful drinks for yourself, at home, and enjoy them anytime you need a tropical refresher!

-4 ounces (1/2 cup) dark rum
-6 ounces (3/4 cup) light rum
-8 ounces (1 cup) passion fruit juice
-8 ounces (1 cup) piña colada mix
-8 ounces (1 cup) orange juice

The list of ingredients you will need are:

Makes 4-8 servings

Directions: 

Add dark rum to your blender.

Add light rum next.

Add in your passion fruit juice (this is available in your dairy section, made by Welch's)

Add in your piña colada mix

Finally add in your OJ. Blend on high for a few seconds. Let the mixture settle, then pour over crushed ice in your favorite glass. Garnish with an orange wedge and a cherry, add the little umbrella and a bendy straw and there you have it. Party in a glass! 

You can make these non alcoholic just by using the juices and pina colada mix for the little ones who want to try a glass of Disney heaven!

Have you ever been on a Disney cruise? What is your favorite food/drink/recipe? Share in the comments below!

Sending you Magical wishes and Pixie dust,


Shelly

Disney Planes debuts today!!!

Ok so who is excited to see this movie??? It opens today in theaters around the US!

This action packed animated comedy stars Dusty, a big hearted, fast flying crop duster who dreams of competing in the most exhilarating around the world race in history! The big kicker, he's afraid of heights! 

This should be a very cute movie with lots of lessons to be learned by all. 

You can purchase tickets right from the Planes website here! It may take a few weeks for me to see it. The grandchildren have all gone back to school so I'll have to find a weekend to steal them away! If you do see it, let us know what you thought about it! 

Sending you Pixie Dust and Magical wishes,

Shelly

Disney Trivia

Time for Disney Trivia Tuesday:

Which is not the name of one of the steam engines which circle around the Magic Kingdom?

A. Robert A. Iger

B. Roy O. Disney

C Lilly Belle

D. Roger E Broggie

Leave your answer in a comment :)


Sending you Pixie Dust and Magical wishes,

Shelly

Disney....just for kids?

When you first think of Disney, you think of the Mouse, the movies you grew up with as a child and the shows your own children or grandchildren watch now.

Do you ever think of Walt Disney World as being for adults?

Yes Disney is the number one destination in the world for family vacations, but how many of you go without children? I have heard a lot of excuses and supposed reasons of why people don't go there without their children. From there is nothing there that is just for adults to really? a kids theme park? Bah I say to all these baloney reasons!

WDW is a wonderful resort and while it is known for it's wonderful theme parks, it's not just for kids!

Break free, let the child in you come out!

How about a spa vacation? 

A relaxing couples spa to bring back that feeling of togetherness!

The Senses Spa at the Grand Floridian resort offers a wealth of services that is just for adults. A relaxing couples massage for instance. This is one sure way to be alone and reconnect with that special someone in your life. You will need to make reservations for the spa treatments and it is well worth the appointment. You both will come out feeling rested and rejuvenated, ready to hit the town!

Maybe golf is a sport you enjoy together. Disney has 5 of the worlds greatest golf courses all on property! 

From beautifully landscaped country club courses, to hosting PGA tours, Disney knows golf! You can rent golf carts and have a relaxing day spent out on the course while sharing the love of the game with your love. 

How about night life? 2 words...Downtown Disney! (soon to be renamed Disney Springs)

World class restaurants, dazzling entertainment, unique shops and great dance clubs all await you at this part of the Disney resort. Take your time to stroll through Downtown Disney to shop at some the most fantastic boutiques, maybe take in a movie at the AMC theater, or bowl a few games at Splittsville, catch La Nuba by Cirque Du Soliel to be mesmerized by acrobats. See Disney from a whole new prospective from atop Characters in Flight hot air balloon! 

There is so much more to Disney than just the Mouse and theme parks. You can have a fantastic vacation while staying on Disney property and never set foot in any of the 4 theme parks. However; since you are at Disney, let yourself be a kid again! Go for the theme parks, ride the rides, eat the wonderful treats that are available and dance with the music from the parades. You only live once, you might as well live enjoy it all while you can!

Sending you Pixie Dust and Magical wishes,

Shelly

Collectible Souvenirs

Is there one item (or more) that no matter how many times you go to Disney, you have bring this item back with you?

We purchase beach towels, that have the year on them, and now it looks like we will be collecting (or trying to collect) the pressed coins at Walt Disney World.

I bought a few on our first visit, then purchased more when we took our grandson down for his first visit. Then a few more on a business trip to Disney. Now, I've got the bug! I had no idea there were so many pressed coin locations! And of course with my OCD, I can't have an incomplete collection! Ugh

Have you seen these beautiful little pieces of Disney Heaven?

Just some of the pressed pennies that can be found at Walt Disney World. 

I really didn't think about it when I first bought the first few. Then once I purchased some for our little blonde dwarf, I got to thinking about it more. Then of course more thought when I purchased some from my business trip. And ever since then, this has begun to weigh heavily on my mind! I must now have the whole complete set of each and every pressed coin there is. And let me tell you, there are a lot of them! However; with that being said, these are one of the cheapest souvenirs you can purchase while at the World. 51 cents, if all you do is the penny. And I'm trying to save really nice shiny pennies for our next trip. I may just go to the bank and purchase a roll of new pennies just for the occasion. 

I happened to be reading a blog that has a downloadable pdf file with every location of the pressed penny/dime/quarter machines on the property at Walt Disney World. 27 pages worth! You can check it out here as well!  Thanks to Chip and Co for uploading such a sweet find and feeding my newest addiction!

I think I'm going to start on page 1 and work my way down the list, checking them off as I go :) 

What do you collect? Tell me about your Disney addiction! 

Sending you Pixie Dust and Magical wishes,

Shelly

Disney Quote

I love quotes from Walt Disney. Love them from movies, the legend himself, Mr. Disney, and anything else I can get my hands on.

This one has to be my all time favorite:

"I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse."—Walt Disney 


Sending you Pixie Dust and Magical wishes,


 Shelly

Disney Trivia

How about a dose of Disney Trivia?

How many trains operate in Magic Kingdom?

And ready.....GO!


Sending you Pixie Dust and Magical wishes,


 Shelly

My first Passion

Being passionate about Disney really means I'm passionate about all things Disney :)

On Facebook there are so many different craft posts floating around that it got me thinking and got my creative juice flowing today :)

I have a Disney fund, what passionate Disney fan doesn't? I was just keeping it in an old cookie tin I had lying around. But then I started seeing how every one was really making their fund holders match their passion. So I decided you know what, I need to do that same :)

So here in all it's glory, I present to you....My Disney Fund Keeper and how I created it. :)

1. Gather all your supplies! You will need ModPodge, Paint, scrapbook paper, stickers, a paint brush and small tray, and of course your container. I used a glass cookie jar (canister) that I have had for years.

2. I decided to "paint" my glass using ModPodge tinted with paint. I didn't want a full yellow container, just something tinted and see through yet with color. I poured about 2 Tablespoons of ModPodge into my paint tray. Then I added a small dab of yellow acrylic paint, just enough to give the ModPodge some color. 

3. Start painting! No wrong way here. I used a foam brush for mine, you could use any paint brush you have, or even a small roller if the project is large enough!

This is the first coat after I painted the whole vessel. Some of it is still wet, other parts dry, but as you can see not looking really great at the moment. 

4. Add a second coat of ModPodge Paint!

There we go, looking much better now :) This is wet, so it remember, it won't look like this once dried!

5. While the vessel was drying I decided to work on my lid.

Luckily the lid and handle came apart with a screw.

6. Lay the lid on a piece of scrapbook paper. Trace around the lid and cut out the shape. Glue this to top of the lid with your choice of adhesive. I used a craft glue and squeezed a healthy bead all around the top of the lid, then "painted" the glue with my fingers to cover the entire top surface. Once that is on, position your paper on top and smooth out. I had a little bit of problem with smoothing and should have made some extra cuts in my circle as I know have a crease on top, but that's ok, no one will see the lid anyway!

7. Put your lid back together if it does come apart. I stuck the screw through the paper so that only a tiny hole was made. Then I used ribbon to accent the outer edge of the top. And topped the handle with a bit of scrapbook paper also.

8. By now your vessel should be dry. And this is where fun and Magic begin! Take your favorite Disney stickers and decorate to your hearts content! I love the way mine turned out :)

This is the front of my Disney Fund Keeper

One of the sides

The back side

The other side 

And here is filled with some of that fund!

This was such a fun project! I am now roaming the house to see what else I can "Disneyfy"! 

Sending you Pixie Dust and Magical Wishes,

Shelly