Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

How the heck did it get to be the last day of November already? It’s now a downhill ride to 2010. But first - the Mouse Fan Reunion! Will you be joining the Mouse Fan Travel team on land or on the Disney Wonder? You can find the schedule of events here: http://reunion.wdwtoday.com/ We hope to see you there!

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

How the heck did it get to be the last day of November already? It’s now a downhill ride to 2010. But first - the Mouse Fan Reunion! Will you be joining the Mouse Fan Travel team on land or on the < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Continuing with the thankfulness theme… Today I am thankful for my Disney communities. It has been one of the greatest gifts to be a part of the PassPorter and Mouse Fan Travel communities. Getting to interact with fellow Disney-philes on a daily basis and share in their planning, trip reports and passion for all things Disney gives me such joy and satisfaction.

I hope you all enjoy your holiday tomorrow! May it be filled with family, friendship and of course, yummy food!

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Continuing with the thankfulness theme… Today I am thankful for my Disney communities. It has been one of the greatest gifts to be a part of the PassPorter and Mouse Fan Travel communities. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

This is my week of gratitude, in honor of Thanksgiving. Today’s is slightly frivolous but if you are reading this, you understand. 

I am grateful to the evil genius who created the ice cream cookie sandwiches made fresh at the Main Street Bakery in the Magic Kingdom. Three scoops of vanilla ice cream sandwiched between your choice of fresh baked cookies. Choose from oatmeal raisin, sugar and chocolate chip. My personal favorite is one chocolate chip and one sugar cookie! Then proceed to the outdoor seating. If you time it perfectly (and this has only happened once) you can get warm cookies and eat your sandwich outside while watching the parade go by. Heaven on Earth!

It’s the little things but that’s what Disney does best - the tiny details that make the whole so much better!

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

This is my week of gratitude, in honor of Thanksgiving. Today’s is slightly frivolous but if you are reading this, you understand. 

I am grateful to the evil genius who created the ice cream cookie sandwiches made fresh at the Main Street Bakery in the Magic Kingdom. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans! Did you miss me? 

I was lucky enough to attend Disney’s conference for Authorized Disney Vacation Planners last week - the Earmarked Conference. It was so much fun and left me more enthusiastic than ever about Disney in general!

I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to attend and what with Thanksgiving being this week, I thought it appropriate to make this week’s blogs about gratititude.

I am thankful for many things but one person in particular I am thankful for is Walt himself. His dreams have made magic for people worldwide. His life and his creations provide inspiration for me every day and I am grateful to play even a small role in creating that kind of magic for people every day.

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans! Did you miss me? 

I was lucky enough to attend Disney’s conference for Authorized Disney Vacation Planners last week - the Earmarked Conference. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Friday the 13th… I’m on the superstitious side so I’m posting this a day early just in case! 

I’m off to Walt Disney World next week for a conference and while I’m looking forward to many things, I have to admit, I am most excited to attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP)! So I thought I would share my personal MVMCP tips.

- Arrive early. MVMCP ticket holders can enter the park any time after 4:00 pm.

-Plan to eat early - around 6:00 - during the switchover.

-I ride rides early in the party until about 30 minutes before Wishes. I start in Adventureland and work my way counterclockwise, ending in the Rose Garden in front of the Castle. A perfect spot to watch Wishes! Then I head to Frontierland to grab a spot to watch the second parade.

-Make sure to take advantage of the hot chocolate and cookies! And if you stop by the cookie spots towards the end of the party, don’t be surprised if Cast Members give you extras to take home.

The snippets will be on hiatus next week but in the meantime…Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Friday the 13th… I’m on the superstitious side so I’m posting this a day early just in case! < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

The holidays seem to be coming earlier and earlier every year. I’m calling the new season Hallowthanksmas! And Disney is no exception. Holiday decorations are now appearing all over the Walt Disney World Resort but sadly, one of my personal favorites will not be returning. Epcot’s Lights of Winter - the lit arches over the walkway between Future World and the World Showcase - have been retired! According to Disney, the technology used for the lights is obsolete. I’m hoping that perhaps an updated version could be in the future. Siemens, anyone? LED dancing lights?

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

The holidays seem to be coming earlier and earlier every year. I’m calling the new season Hallowthanksmas! And Disney is no exception. Holiday decorations are now appearing all over the Walt Disney World Resort but sadly, one of my personal favorites will not be returning. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Today is Veteran’s Day and I would like to thank all the men and women who have so bravely served and helped to protect our country. Disney has been offering a special Salute to the Military promotion this year as a way of showing their gratitude. Active or Retired military personnel are eligible to receive a FREE 5 day "Disney’s Armed Forces Salute" pass which includes the park hopper and water park options, as well as up to a 40% discount at WDW resorts. Eligible personnel can also purchase up to five additional five day park passes for $99 each. This ticket does not inlcude the park hopper or water park option but they can be added for $25 each. The tickets must be used by December 23, 2009.

For more information, contact your Mouse Fan Travel Planner or visit www.disneyworld.com/military

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Today is Veteran’s Day and I would like to thank all the men and women who have so bravely served and helped to protect our country. Disney has been offering a special Salute to the Military promotion this year as a way of showing their gratitude. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Flu season is upon us and the Walt Disney World Resort is doing it’s part to keep it’s guests healthy. More than 200 automatic hand sanitizer dispensers are being installed in public areas including resort lobbies, character greeting areas and theme park entrances. But it’s really our responsibility to practice proper flu prevention.

No one wants to get sick while on vacation, or even worse, right before you are supposed to get on a plane! Frequent hand washing, sneezing or coughing into your elbow instead of your hand, getting enough rest and keeping your hands away from your face will all help you stay healthy this cold and flu season.

Be (and stay) well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Flu season is upon us and the Walt Disney World Resort is doing it’s part to keep it’s guests healthy. More than 200 automatic hand sanitizer dispensers are being installed in public areas including resort lobbies, character greeting areas and theme park entrances. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Finally! After much anticipation and waiting, the day has arrived. Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship - The Disney Dream - is now open for booking! And have you gotten a look at this ship? It is simply stunning. After swearing off inside staterooms in May, the Virtual portholes on the new ship have me dying to sail in an inside stateroom again! And come on - you KNOW you are dying to try the AquaDuck, the world’s first shipboard water coaster.

Contact your favorite Mouse Fan Travel Planner today to book a magical voyage on this spectacular ship!

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Finally! After much anticipation and waiting, the day has arrived. Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship - The Disney Dream - is now open for booking! And have you gotten a look at this ship? It is simply stunning. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Where were we before the blog went by the wayside for a couple days?  Ahhhhhhhhh yes… itinerary planning! Ok, so here is my recommendation.

I recommend using the park hours from the DisneyWorld.com site to plan which park you plan to be in on which day. Then plan which sit down meals you would like to have each day using your park plan as a guide. Choose restaurants that are in or near that day’s park. Then decide a few attractions that are "Must Do’s" - meaning that if you leave WDW without riding them, you or your children will feel incredibly disappointed. Make sure to check what attractions will be closed during your stay to avoid choosing these as your must do’s and guaranteeing disappointment! You can find this information on www.AllEars.net.

Personally, I do not recommend deciding what rides you plan to ride in what order. This does not leave room to deal with the ebb and flow of crowd levels, queue wait times or Fastpass return times. I also suggest having an idea of which counter service places you are interested in in each park but suggest you choose whatever is closest and most appealing when you get hungry. 

From there, decide if there are any extras you plan on: Cirque du Soleil tickets, rounds of golf, etc. Be sure to plan for these when creating an itinerary. Then, sit back and enjoy the magic!

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Where were we before the blog went by the wayside for a couple days?  Ahhhhhhhhh yes… itinerary planning! Ok, so here is my recommendation.

I recommend using the park hours from the < more... >