Disney On Ice: Dream Big

You have likely seen the Disney advertisement for “Dream Big, Princess” which encourages girls to do exactly that. The highlight of Disney On Ice: Dream Big are the Disney Princesses. Some of the original princesses had shorter skating segments. But, the more recent and young age friendly princesses, stole the show. The Disney On Ice experience is one that our family has always enjoyed. If you’ve never been to Disney On Ice, you’re really missing out! The show is hosted by none other that Mickey & Minnie Mouse with several appearances by Goofy!

Safety Measures

Tickets for these events are sold in “seating pods”. This means that you buy a set of tickets based on how many people you would like to sit together. We purchased a pod of 4 for our family, but saw other groups with up to 8 people in the pod. There was a good mix of family pods and friend pods. It is up to you to create your pod! All guests over the age of 2 are required to wear a face covering. There were also markings on the floor leading up to concession and merchandise areas. Vendors were equipped with cash and card payment options.

Merchandise 

There was plenty of merchandise available for all of the children in attendance. Disney On Ice provided an array of t-shirts, plush dolls and Mickey Mouse bubble wands! Additionally, there were several kiosks set up with Disney On Ice specific concessions. We decided that we needed an icee in a Frozen themed cup, which had both Elsa and Anna on the sides. They also had cups that were fashioned like Olaf, the Disney Princesses and Moana, among others. Cotton candy adorned with either a princess tiara or Olaf hat was also available for purchase and many smiling faces filled the seats!

Disney Princesses (and Coco)

Disney On Ice: Dream Big, includes most of the original Disney Princesses. There were short skating segments highlighting popular tunes from several animated classics as well as Miguel from Disney/Pixar’s Coco. Belle and Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast performed “Be Our Guest” with very entertaining flatware. Similarly, Cinderella arrived in a stunning horse drawn carriage and skated gracefully with Prince Charming to “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes” and special guests Anastasia and Drizella bumbled around the ice tripping and falling over themselves!

Afterwards, Maleficent took to the ice first for the Sleeping Beauty segment. The scene transitioned to Prince Philip fighting her as the dragon. Of course, he won and woke Aurora from her sleep! Additionally, there were segments including Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, Tiana and Prince Naveen and Miguel performed “Un Poco Loco” with many of his ancestors from the Land of the Dead for a scene from Coco. I know, I know – he isn’t a princess, but he was there and it was awesome!

Aladdin, Moana, The Little Mermaid and Frozen

Disney On Ice: Dream Big started with a classic. Aladdin was first act of the entire show and had the village setup where Aladdin meets Princess Jasmine and is running from the palace guards. The Genie was rubbed free from the lamp and granted Aladdin his wish to become…Prince Ali! To end, he and Jasmine fell in love and skated away to a whole new world, together. Moana drifted onto the ocean floor in her canoe. She was ready to find Maui and deliver the heart back to Te Feti. Together, the sang their way through their adventure and were ultimately successful in returning the heart!

Sebastian and King Triton’s daughters started the second half of Disney On Ice: Dream Big. Ariel is missing! We find her dreaming about dinglehoppers and Ursula convinces her to sign her voice away to go to land to get Prince Eric to fall in love with her. They defeat Ursula and Ariel and Prince Eric live happily ever after! Finally, the showstopper was without a doubt – Frozen! Anna and Elsa, along with Kristoff, Sven and Olaf dazzled the crowd with wishes of summer. Elsa belted “Let It Go” and as a result the arena was covered in a blanket of snow. Collectively, the voices of hundreds of tiny fans joined her. Hans (ew!) tried to defeat Anna and Elsa but as we all know, an act of true love with thaw a frozen heart and the kingdom was saved!

Coming To A Town Near You!

In conclusion, if you haven’t attended Disney On Ice: Dream Big, GO NOW! Shows will be taking place throughout the country through the end of April. Go to their website to check for available dates and times in a city near you. You and your kids will really enjoy seeing some magic in your own backyard. I mean, just look at this face! She LOVED IT!

What are some of your favorite “non-park” activities? Do your kids have different favorite things than you? Skate over to DISNEY EXPRESS LANE and let us know! One of our favorites is to Whip Up Some Disney Inspired Dole Whip Cupcakes At Home. Are you ready to plan your next trip to Walt Disney World? Contact our friends over at Walt Express Travel to get a free, no obligation quote TODAY! 

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Is it just me or does this sound like the cries of your family members while walking around any of the theme parks located at Disney World? It seems like there is always someone who could stand to take a little break inside the air conditioning or at least get off their feet while we are on vacation. Here are our best spots at Disney World Parks when we take a much needed break!

Best Spots At Disney For A Break

I always strategically sneak in the following attractions if someone in my family starts to get a little tired. Works like a charm every single time and we come out of the attraction energized and ready to go!

Magic Kingdom

• Mickey’s PhilharMagic: Honestly one of my favorite things to do when we visit Magic Kingdom. This is tucked away by Peter Pan’s Flight and Prince Charming Regal Carrousel in Fantasyland. You get to enjoy the adventures of Donald as he travels through some of your favorite Disney classics chasing Mickey’s sorcerer’s hat. Donald Duck shows up in some of your favorite scenes from Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aladdin, and Fantasia. The best part to me, this is a 3D attraction so not only do you get to sit and relax, you get to experience so much more: smells, water, and many flying objects. Don’t sneak out before the ending either, Donald makes a surprise flight at the very end!
• Other great options: Country Bear Jamboree, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover

Epcot

• Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros: located in the pyramid in the Mexico Pavilion of World Showcase. This is another attraction starring Donald Duck; in this adventure Donald disappears in Mexico. It is up to you and his friends Panchito and Jose Carioca to find him! Such a nice relaxing boat ride filled with awesome footage and fun songs. And as a bonus, you can explore the inside of the Mexico Pavilion or grab a bite to eat at the San Angel Inn Restaurante when you’ve finished!
• Other great options: Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Turtle Talk with Crush, Living with the Land

Hollywood Studios

• Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy: A bonus for this attraction is that it is located right next to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. So, if you have some members of your party who would like to experience that while some are not able to, this is a great attraction to take kids (and kids at heart) to! This is a fairly new attraction and it is really neat for those who love the Cars franchise. You get to go with Lightning McQueen on his newest most state-of-the-art racing simulator. You can also catch up with some of his favorite friends including Tow Mater and Cruz Ramirez. Lightning faces some challenges as he’s getting ready for the next racing season and it’s sure to keep everyone on their toes!
• Other great options: For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Show Spectacular!, Muppet*Vision 3D.

Animal Kingdom

• Festival of the Lion King: enjoying this Broadway-style show in the heart of Africa with a cast of your favorite characters, dancers and acrobats is truly breathtaking. Timon and Pumbaa help you relive some of your favorite songs from The Lion King including “Hakuna Matata”! While you are dazzled by the mischievous monkeys, you are encouraged to be part of all of the fun. The costumes and light effects are fantastic. This is a show that you definitely do not want to miss as it will delight all of the ages in your travel party. 
• Other great options: Finding Nemo – The Musical, UP! A Great Bird Adventure, It’s Tough to be a Bug!

No matter which of these you choose, you’re sure to get some good entertainment and a nice break from the heat and for your feet! Where is your favorite resting spot when visiting the Disney World Parks? Let us know in our Facebook Group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE. Did you know that we have friends over at Walt Express Travel, who would be happy to help you plan some magic on your next vacation? Don’t forget to bring THESE items with you on your next trip to Disney World!

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Stress free and a vacation do not always go hand in hand. But, it CAN happen! Follow these great and hilarious tips to make sure you and your family have a stress free Disney vacation! All done with a sense of humor.

Stress Free Disney Vacation

A sense of humor is needed for pretty much everything these days. If you don’t have it, well, it can be pretty rough. We have some great tips here for a stress free Disney vacation that will have you ready (and laughing all the way) to your Disney Destination!

Great Tips!

• Use a TRAVEL PLANNER. Using a travel planner can take away ALL the stress of planning a vacation. Now, if you enjoy the planning part yourself and you don’t get overwhelmed easily, go for it! Or if you are the control freak type who doesn’t want anyone messing with your vacation, do it yourself! Just teasing here, but a travel planner can be a great asset, even if you like to plan most of it yourself. Our travel planners over at Walt Express Travel will do as much OR as little as you need.
• No matter if you are visiting Disney World or Disneyland, take breaks from the heat. Disney World in Orlando gets very humid and hot! If you aren’t used to it, it can drain you! Watch the above video to find out what “swamp butt” is and how you can fix it!
• Traveling with extended family and/or friends. DON’T. Just teasing, but you also need breaks from them. You know they are going to get on your last nerve and vice versa. Choose your traveling partners VERY wisely!
• PLAN, but don’t over plan. It’s great to have a plan, but sometimes, plans change. Don’t let plans changing ruin your vacation. Go with the flow! Temper Tantrums aren’t just for the kiddos!
• Don’t rush! Take time to sit on the bench and enjoy all of the sights, sounds and smells! Grab a cake pop and chill!
• Eat AND Drink. This is super important and will help keep those attitudes at bay! Stay hydrated.
• Save money! As my husband says, just stay home! LOL! Set limits and stick to them!
• Leave the kids at home. Hear us out on this one. We know the kids enjoy it, but it’s totally OK to go without the kids!
• Leave your spouse at home WITH the kids! 
• Leave EVERYONE at home! SOLO TRIP! And head straight to the Mexican Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase. Grab one for us!
• If these tips fail, then you need to just stay home. Just teasing, just teasing!

Laugh A Little!

We hope you have enjoyed and laughed a little at our crazy tips for a stress free Disney vacation! 

We get asked a lot, “is it even worth visiting Disney World right now“? Click that link for some amazing advice! Of we at Walt Express believe it’s ALWAYS worth it. For more great tips and tricks, visit our Facebook Group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE!

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Are you struggling with the idea of taking your child who is under the age of 5 to Disney World? Just not sure if it would be worth it? Let me tell you why you absolutely should take your toddler to Disney World.

Take Your Toddler To Disney World

One of the most common things that I hear from people when I ask them if they’ve considered taking a family vacation to Disney World is “my kids are too young”. They want to wait until they’re (insert age here, it’s usually 5). To those potential clients, I always ask (aside from their age), what is stopping you from going NOW? Usually, there isn’t anything else. I have some great reasons why you should take your toddler to Disney World NOW!

Under 3 is FREE

Kids under 3 are FREE! In case you didn’t know, you don’t get older at Disney World. So as long as your children are two when you check in, even if they have a birthday on your trip, they will be considered two for the length of your vacation. This means there will be NO charge for them to stay at the resort or to enter the parks or special events.

Meeting Characters

If your child knows who any of the characters are, they will be so overjoyed with meeting them. I know this first hand! We took our youngest daughter to Disney World for her first trip when she was just 10 months old. She was admittedly a little intimidated when we first arrived but by the end of the trip, she was handing out baby sized hugs and high fives all the way around. The characters LOVE small kids. They love older kids and adult sized kids too, but I honestly could not tell you how many times characters would stop what they were doing to interact with our daughter on our most recent family trip. Who loves to see a baby donning a pair of Minnie Mouse ears? Definitely Minnie Mouse.

Attractions for the entire FAMILY

There are actually plenty of attractions for them to enjoy, especially at Magic Kingdom. I would say the top three attractions on our last vacation were: Mad Tea Party, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Under the Sea, Journey of The Little Mermaid. She also really enjoyed Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, and Toy Story Mania. For our family, we typically ride these attractions every visit so it was an added bonus to be able to let the youngest member of the family tag along.

Toddlers are MONEY SAVERS

You’ll likely save money on dining as most kids under the age of 3 are not going to eat an entire meal from the menu. If you’re at a quick service restaurant, those meals are sometimes big enough for two adults to share! If you’re at a buffet or family style restaurant, there are plenty of options for foods that your child will eat. You can put it your plate to share with them. If you really want to spoil them, take them to a character dining meal (highly recommended!)! They’ll be so busy watching and interacting, they may not eat much anyway.

Memories as Parents

Seeing Disney World through your child’s eyes is priceless. Yes, it’s true that they likely will not remember a single thing from your trip and will rely on you sharing your photos and memories with them as they get older. But I promise you, there is nothing more wonderful than seeing your child smile from ear to ear as they see their favorite character from television or a movie right in front of them!

TIPS to take your toddler to Disney World

• Toddlers are a challenge. Traveling with them and spending the entire day at a theme park isn’t any different. You do have to account for naps and diaper changes and lost pacifiers and sometimes, you just need a little breather. Thankfully there is a Baby Care Center located within each of the four parks with tons of amenities for parents and kids. Don’t count out a visit just because you think your children aren’t old enough, it could be the best trip of your life.
• Face-masks are required now for children over the age of two. Here are some great tips on encouraging your child to wear them while visiting Disney World.

Do you take your toddler to Disney World? Would you recommend it? We would love to know your thoughts on this! We have a Facebook Group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE, where you can share your thoughts, ideas and tips with us.

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Things You Really NEED To Let Your Planner KNOW!

There are lots of things your Disney Travel Planner will need to know before or during the planning process. These are things you may sometimes forget to mention and can make a big impact on your upcoming Disney vacation.

Trip Dates

Seems like a no-brainer, right? But it is an important part of booking your vacation! Are your requested trip dates firm or flexible? Your travel planner is always on the lookout for discounts. Everyone loves to save money and, often times, you can save big when your trip dates are flexible. Let your travel planner know if you can be flexible on dates.

The Whole Party – ages, too!

While this may seem obvious- it is SO important to include every person’s name and age that is travelling in your party when inquiring about vacation pricing with a travel planner. Children under 3 years of age do not require a park ticket, however, they must be included in your reservations to enter the parks and resorts. This is especially important to your travel planner when finding the best resort and room for your vacation needs. The last thing you want is to find out that you can’t actually fit your family of six into the room you booked.

Military Affiliation

Are you or your spouse active or retired U.S. military personnel? If so, you could receive military discounts on Walt Disney World resorts, park tickets, and Memory Maker PhotoPass products. Resort discounts are limited due to availability and excludes 3-bedroom villas, campsites, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. Military Discount Promotional park tickets may be purchased at any participating U.S. military sales outlet by an eligible U.S. military member or their spouse. Capture all of your special memories with the discounted Memory Maker at just $98 (pricing subject to change).

Transportation

How are you getting to your Disney destination? This is an important detail your travel planner should know. If you are driving, there are parking fees associated with your Disney World resort stay. In order to get an accurate quote, you should share this information with your agent. If you are flying, you can take advantage of the Magical Express. When your flight lands in Orlando, this free transportation service will drop you off at the front door of your Disney World resort. Forget those added rental car or taxi fees and enjoy the ease of Disney transportation.

Celebrations

Are you celebrating a first time visit, a birthday or anniversary, or another special occasion while on vacation? Tell your travel planner! Disney loves to know that you are celebrating. Tell everyone about your special day with a Celebration Button. You can get a button from the front desk of your Disney World resort, at Guest Relations in each park, at the Chamber of Commerce on Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom, and even in some stores on Main Street USA. Your Disney family will take notice of your celebration and often give you a friendly “Happy Birthday!” or “Happy Anniversary!” greeting as you pass by. And if you are lucky, you might just get a little sprinkle of pixie dust.

Disability Needs

Did you know that Walt Disney World offers multiple services for guests with disabilities? It is true and this is something you should ask your travel planner about should you have special needs specific to disabilities. These services include everything from accessible rooms at your Disney World resort to obtaining ‘return times’ for those who are unable to wait in the conventional wait queue for rides to renting scooters or wheelchairs. Your travel planner is trained to know what services are offered and how you can take advantage of them.

Dietary Needs

Many vacationers have specific dietary needs that travel agents should be aware of. Your travel planner can make a note of your specific needs in your reservations. This will let your resort and the restaurant staff at Walt Disney World affiliated restaurants know of these needs, helping you spend less time figuring out what to order and more time enjoying a delicious meal and making sweet memories.

Must See Activities

It is our joy as travel planners to plan the most magical vacation for you and your family. It helps us to know if you have any ‘must-see and do’ activities that you want to experience while on your Disney vacation. Are you a foodie who wants to experience a delicious trip around the World Showcase at Epcot? Is your toddler’s favorite character Mickey Mouse and is dying to see him at the Magic Kingdom? Do you remember the thrill of the drop when you rode the Tower of Terror back in ’99 and want your kids to experience the same thrill? Share those stories and memories with your travel planner so they can make those memories happen for your family.

These Things You Really NEED to let your travel planner know will help so much!

Your Disney Travel Planner is a great tool that will help maximize your Disney World (or other Disney Destinations) experience. These are things you really NEED to let him or her know before you begin the planning process. It will make things go so much smoother!

If you are on the hunt for an amazing travel planner, be sure to check out our friends at Walt Express Travel. Their services are always FREE when you book your vacation with one of their travel planners.

Be sure you are in the know about changes happening at Disney World right now. Just click that link! We would love for you to join our Facebook Group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE.

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Our Experience While Flying

What’s the first thing you notice when you walk into the airport? People right!?! Not this time. Here is our experience while flying back to Disney World during the “new normal”.

The Airport Experience

The first thing I noticed was sanitation stations standing alone in an empty ticketing area. Both travelers and airport personnel were all wearing some type of face-mask, whether it be an N95 mask, neck gaiter, disposable or homemade mask. For a midweek flight on a holiday afternoon, the airport was empty. I may have counted 20 people in the Terminal D check-in area. Ticket agents seemed to be smiling underneath their masks as they were finally seeing some sort of personal interaction with travelers again. After being greeted with a warm welcome, it was business as usual: driver’s license and ticket please.

Security

Off we go to the security section. My wife and I both have TSA Pre-Check as we find it very convenient especially when traveling through our favorite airport in Orlando Florida. This helps speed up the security process. Upon arrival to the security check-in, we were notified that TSA-Pre-check has temporarily been suspended in terminal D at Philadelphia International Airport. If you decide to fly within the next few months you may want to check with your local airports. Orlando International Airport is currently accepting TSA Pre-check, so no worries there. After entering the security checkpoint area 6’ distance markers were placed on the floor to help with social distancing. An agent was there to remind guests to keep their face-masks on from their chin to their nose and to practice social distancing. Once we arrived at the TSA agent who checked our Identification and ticket, we were asked to lower our face-mask for visual confirmation.

• Please note that the previous TSA travel advisory of having to have a Real ID to travel beginning on October 1, 2020 has been postponed until October 1, 2021

After visual verification, you will proceed like normal to x-ray scanners and follow the standard security procedures that are already in place. You are allowed to bring a 12 oz container of hand sanitizer per traveler in your carry-on luggage at this time. Please be aware that this may cause a delay as it would need to be screened separately from your normal 3.4 oz. liquid allowance. Once through the security check-point there are sanitation stations located throughout the terminals and gates of the airport. We noticed this at both Philadelphia and Orlando airports.

So Far So Good…Into The Gates

Unfortunately, there are no social distance markers once you proceed to the gates. You will see people in every available seat at your departing gate. We chose to sit four gates down and kept an eye on our departing gate when people started to move when lining up. Yes, I said it. People still line up and block the entrance way to gates because, well, I don’t know why. Everyone has assigned seats and are going to the same place but old habits are hard to break. Some airlines have changed their boarding process. This may be a good thing for future traveling and will load from the back of the plane forward, clearing the aisle ways. This makes for a quicker loading procedure. Again this is some airlines. Not all have changed their boarding procedures.

Boarding The Plane

After you board your plane, you will definitely notice the cleanliness of it. Makes you wonder why did it take a Pandemic to change the health and safety of the travelers? Leaving on a holiday weekend, our plane was full which did cause a little anxiety with that many people in such a little space. However, we were lucky and had a germaphobe next to us that wiped their areas as well as ours with sanitizing wipes. If you travel on one of the budget friendly airlines, it might help to pay a little extra for the seats in the front. Those only have two seats per row and are more spread out.

The airline attendants did their best to make everyone feel comfortable with the announcements including the safety and cleaning techniques used on the planes. Once in the air, most services have been suspended, such as alcohol, soft drinks and snacks. The services provided will depend upon the airline you are flying with. All passengers are required to wear their mask for the duration of the flight and if an attendant does notice you sneaking it to the side or sliding it down your face they will remind you of the safety guidelines. Our flight was rather short at just over two hours and we wore the N95 masks. The masks were comfortable and had no issues with keeping them on for the duration.

Departing The Plane

Once we departed the plane, a hand sanitation station was located at our arrival gate. It seemed like everyone was using it in front and behind us as well. Again when we landed in Orlando, we saw sanitation stations throughout. Announcements over the airport PA system about keeping with social distancing and using proper hygiene. There is a disappointing part. The social distancing at the baggage claim was the same as the departing gate. There were no noticeable social distance markers in the baggage claim area, with the exception of a few aerial signs that no one paid attention to. We also noticed that some of the younger and teenage children were starting to pull their masks down. It seemed to become bothersome to them. Check out this blog for tips on how to get your child to wear their masks.

Overall we felt very comfortable and safe flying with all the new safety and health precautions the airlines and airports have put in. There will be certain situations that may feel uncomfortable at times, but be smart and use your head and know your surroundings.

TIPS to enhance your experience while flying back to the magic!

• Bring hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes in your check-in luggage
• Move to an empty gate near your designated departure gate to help with the social distancing
• Check what services are available at your airport, including TSA Pre-check
• Check with your airline on what services are available in-flight
• Clean your area when entering the plane
• If you have an aisle seat, wait to enter till the end so you do not have to have all the passengers walking by you
• There are currently limited restaurants and shops open. It would be best to check with your local airport for what shops and restaurants are available

Do you have any tips to help everyone’s experience while flying back to the magic? Join our Facebook group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE and let’s talk!

Thank you to our friend Vince and his sweet wife Tammy for telling us all about their experience.

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After months of being closed due to Covid-19, we are all excited that Disney World will be opening soon! Disney World is doing their part to make sure the parks, resorts and other guest areas are as safe as possible. We have 5 things you NEED to bring with you that could help keep you and your family extra safe during your next visit. Honestly, you should be bringing these things with you on ANY trip! Welcome to the NEW NORMAL.

5 Things You NEED

• Easy to clean backpack: Bring a backpack that can easily be wiped down with a disinfectant wipe. Our backpacks really do touch a lot of things when we are in the parks. We sit them down on the floor or seats of rides, on tables, benches, on the buses, monorail, boats and even the ground at times. While we definitely need to be cleaning them down more now, we really should do this on any vacation. Think about it, there are always germs.
• Disinfectant Wipes: Sure, bringing disinfectant wipes in your backpack to Disney World seems a little strange, but it really is a great idea. Travel size packs are typically available, but we know that they have been hard to find right now. You could also place some disinfectant wipes in a zip lock bag if you have them available at home. Can’t find any wipes? Don’t worry you can DIY!.
• Hand Sanitizer: This is always good to have on hand so you can use it quickly. Disney World will have hand washing stations and sanitizing stations all through the parks & resorts. Of course there are the bathrooms, but having a travel size hand sanitizer in your backpack will come in handy. Especially when you cannot access one. You may be waiting in line at a ride or for transportation and need to sanitize the kids hands or even your own. Having a travel size sanitizer handy will give you peace of mind and keep everyone safe.
• Face Coverings: Make sure to pack plenty of face coverings for everyone in your travel party. Whether you are bringing reusable or disposable face coverings, be sure to bring several per person. You will want to change them out throughout the day. Place clean face coverings in a zip lock bag to keep them dry & clean until you are ready to use them. For reusable face coverings, bring extra empty zip lock bags marked “dirty” so you have a place to put them as you change them out. It is going to be HOT in Florida and a face covering is may be uncomfortable. We have some tips on how to make it a little more bearable.
• Wet Wipes: These are great to have for cleaning up the kiddos after a delicious ice cream! They will also come in handy when you want to cool down. You can use these to wipe your face, neck, arms, etc. Wipes will help you feel refreshed especially using them in between changing your face covering.  

The NEW Normal

These 5 things you need can help keep your family safe now during the “new normal” visits back to Disney World. All of these items can be brought with you at any time for any Disney World vacation! Let’s be honest, there are always a lot of germs at the parks. We must bring face coverings now but hopefully we will not have to keep these on our list for very long or for all our future Disney Vacations. Stay safe friends and have a magical time!

What are some things you bring in your backpack to keep you safe while visiting the parks? What would you like to add to our 5 things you need list? We would love to hear what you bring with you. Come join us over at Disney Express Lane to let us know!

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It is Worth Visiting Disney World

Let’s just admit this first thing. Over the years, Disney World has COMPLETELY spoiled us. Yes, I admit I am a spoiled brat when it comes to my Disney World vacations. We make our dining reservations in advance and get the most sought after dining experiences. At 60 days in advance, we fight for those fast passes that our family “just has to have”.  We have an app that acts as our own personal tour guide. Then, once you arrive for your vacation, the fun begins. The parades, the meet and greets and the shows. Of course, this is not even a fraction of the magic that awaits you when you visit Disney World.

Then Covid-19 Happened

This virus has changed the way the world looks right now and has put a temporarily halt on a lot of travel plans. But, but, but…things are heading into a brighter and more magical direction. Our favorite Orlando destination has announced reopening plans and they DO look a lot different right now. I like to say that Disney World is going back to the old school style. For awhile, there will not be any “extras” such as parades, fireworks, etc. That doesn’t mean the magic is gone. It just means it’s going to look different for a little while. The safety of the cast members and guests IS the most important thing right now. In my opinion, it’s very comforting to know that Disney World takes my health and safety seriously.

Will this last through the end of 2020? We have no idea. Will things change as we progress towards a new normal? You can bet on it! Here are my thoughts on that change and how our family will proceed.

I am a travel planner and wrote this to my clients. This is truly how I feel.

Covid-19 has changed A LOT for all of us and our favorite travel destinations. One thing I have realized, is that Disney World has totally spoiled us over the years!! Big changes were released last night and although we aren’t very happy about them, it is what it is.

Will I stop going? NOPE
Will I stop feeling the magic? NOPE
Will I stop promoting Disney World? NOPE
Will I stop working for my clients? NOPE

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When arriving at our Disney World resort, we always look forward to hearing those special words, “Welcome Home!” The cast members definitely make us feel like family. It does feel like we’re coming home each time we visit. During the chaos we’ve been facing, our family has missed visiting the most magical place on earth and we can’t wait until it reopens. I bet you may feel the same way. There seems to be a light shining at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully, we’ll be able to enjoy a Disney vacation again very soon! There are plenty of things that we want to do when we get to go back “home”. Here are the 5 Things We Can’t Wait to Do When Disney World Reopens.

When Disney World Reopens

There are SO many things we want to do when Disney World reopens. These are just our top 5 as a family!

Hug Mickey And Minnie

As much as we’ve missed visiting our favorite characters, I’m certain that they’ve missed us too! I know we are missing the hugs, laughs, and joy the character experiences always brings. We can’t wait to get back to our character meet and greets, especially with Mickey and Minnie! It doesn’t matter how many times we see them, it’s special every time. But I’m sure our first time back, this meeting will be extra magical!

Eat ALL The Food!

We love food no matter where we go. But food at Disney World is extra special. We’ve definitely been going through withdrawals since we haven’t been able to enjoy the churros, pretzels, Mickey waffles and everything else they offer! You can have some of these snacks at home, but let’s face it, it’s not the same as having it while on your Disney vacation! I can’t wait to walk through the front gate and venture down Main Street just to take in the smells of everything sweet that’s baking! And we can’t forget the incredible food at all of our Disney World restaurants, especially Casey’s at Magic Kingdom!

Ride Everything!

We love the rides. There’s really not a ride that we’ve been on that we didn’t enjoy (well, except for a few that the kids didn’t care for that we dragged them on). While we can’t enjoy the rides in person right now, we find ourselves often looking up videos of our favorite rides to relive the fun memories we’ve made. But, watch out when the parks reopen. We plan to go from rope drop until they run us out at the end of the day! We have to make up for lost time by hopping on every ride we can fit into our schedule!

Take More Pictures When Disney World Reopens

It doesn’t matter how many times you visit Disney World, you have to take plenty of pictures. The pictures we’ve taken on previous vacations are what has reminded us of the incredible memories and kept the Disney magic alive for our family while we can’t be in the parks. So, charge your phone and get ready to take plenty of selfies. Take silly pictures together as a family. Invest in the Memory Maker package and let Disney’s Photopass Photographers capture those “must-have” shots. And seriously, if you don’t get your picture made in front of the castle, have you really been on a Disney vacation?

Soak Up The Disney Magic

Sure, there are plenty of vacations you could take as a family where you can make memories. I know there are parks and activities you could enjoy. But there’s something special about a Disney vacation. And it’s all because of the Disney magic! From the moment you step foot on Disney property until the minute you leave, you are surrounded by that magic! Every cast member around knows how to spread it too. So, in the midst of running here and there making sure you’ve done everything you wanted, don’t be so busy that you fail to look around and see everything through the eyes of a child. Soak up all of that Disney magic. Because when you go home, that’s what you’ll miss the most!

So, there you have it. It hasn’t been the same without the joy of a Disney vacation. But I can’t wait to experience all the joy and laughter when we’re back at the MOST Magical Place on Earth. What are the things you are looking forward to doing when Disney World reopens? Join our Facebook Group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE, and let us know!

Face Masks may be the “new thing” when visiting the Disney Parks. Learn how to make your own by clicking this link!

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