Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Happy Friday! I survived my first week P.V. - post vacation. The last two days have been complicated by having a small invalid nearby. Which brings me to…

Lesson #5: Illness happens - even at Walt Disney World! Out of our party of nine, five of us were ill at some point in our trip. My husband and I both got a stomach bug towards the end of our trip and the rest of them all shared a sore throat/cold combo. Having been sick on vacation before, I travel with a veritable pharmacy but was in fact, lacking cold medicine. Turner Drug to the rescue! Turner Drug will deliver over the counter medication as well as prescriptions directly to your resort. But I recommend that all travelers bring basic painkillers and stomach remedies with them.

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Happy Friday! I survived my first week P.V. - post vacation. The last two days have been complicated by having a small invalid nearby. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Lesson #4 - A mid-day break is not ALWAYS necessary! I have been recommending mandatory mid-day breaks for years and they are still a good idea. But perhaps a better recommendation would be to be flexible and pay close attention to how your group is doing. My son stunned me this year by going full on park commando from the first Safari of the day to viewing Illuminations at night without so much as a whimper. There was one day where I needed a nap and so made him take one too but that just meant another viewing of Illuminations and some night time fun on the Boardwalk! In fact, the people most in need of mid-day breaks turned out to be my parents.

So be flexible! No need to drag yourself away from the rides if other members of your party need a break. Split up and make plans to meet up later. This worked perfectly for our group which was a constantly rotating make-up of grown-ups and kids.There were times where we traveled as a complete pack and other times when I found myself alone with a child not my own. It was great!

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Lesson #4 - A mid-day break is not ALWAYS necessary! I have been recommending mandatory mid-day breaks for years and they are still a good idea. But perhaps a better recommendation would be to be flexible and pay close attention to how your group is doing. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Lesson #3: Don’t be afraid to enjoy kid’s activities! Now I am the world’s biggest 5 year old and am happy to wear Mickey Ears, a princess tiara or any other Goofy looking thing (Ha!) and can shed my adult image in a heart beat but in a million years it would never have occured to me that I would enjoy some of the things intended for younger guests. This trip I had the chance to do Kim Possible with my son and my niece and it was SO much fun! I had always bypassed these kiosks located around the World Showcase thinking it was "for kids." Au contraire mon frere! 

While the Kim Possible missions are designed for kids there is plenty of intrigue for the most "jaded" adult. (Only those of you who have done KP get the jaded reference. The rest of you - ) Disney went to extremes including interactive details in each of the World Showcase pavilions. Trust me, you will never look at the World Showcase the same way after completing these missions! 

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Lesson #3: Don’t be afraid to enjoy kid’s activities! Now I am the world’s biggest 5 year old and am happy to wear Mickey Ears, a princess tiara or any other Goofy looking thing (Ha! < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

So continuing with our lessons learned theme… Lesson #2 - Don’t be afraid to try something different!

I am a creature of habit. I have my favorite rides, my favorite resorts we return to time and time again. I have my favorite restaurants and my favorite meals at those restaurants. But this trip was a trip of firsts - new resort (Boardwalk Inn - loved it!), new restaurants (Tutto Italia - loved it!) and new experiences!

I took my first backstage tour, the Simply Segway Tour at Epcot. It was fantastic! My father and I were the only people in the class so we had plenty of attention from our teacher Robbie. Within moments of stepping on our Segways for the first time we were zipping around Innoventions around cones and up and down ramps. Before we knew it we were being led out the door through Future World to a rose garden that they closed off and let us loose in. It was a blast! The Segways are the newer version that have handle that you lean from left to right to steer as opposed to the old twist handle versions. The Segways are very intuitive and easy to use. I will definitely be back!

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

So continuing with our lessons learned theme… Lesson #2 - Don’t be afraid to try something different!

I am a creature of habit. I have my favorite rides, my favorite resorts we return to time and time again. I have my favorite restaurants and my favorite meals at those restaurants. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

I’m back - didja miss me? We had a wonderful time on our family trip. But this week’s blog theme is "Lessons Learned." Yes, even I, your trusty Disney "expert" learned a few lessons on this trip! 

Lesson 1: Kids Are Different - I know this seems obvious but it’s so true. No two kids are alike and more often than not, their tastes and their comfort levels can be WAY off. Our first park day was a Magic Kingdom Day. My 5-year-old niece, a Disney first timer, is pirate obsessed. Now, I’m not stupid enough to throw a first time 5 year old on Pirates of the Caribbean right away but we did start off with Peter Pan. Safe, right? A fun flight through one of her favorite movies? Yeah. Not so much. She came off in tears, a theme we were doomed to repeat through part of the trip. Too dark, too loud. My 5 year old on the other hand, a veteran Disney park commando, loved almost everything including Mission: Space but was terrified on Big Thunder Mountain for the first time ever. Go figure! Lesson learned. Start on It’s A Small World and work your way up!

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

I’m back - didja miss me? We had a wonderful time on our family trip. But this week’s blog theme is "Lessons Learned. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

48 hours from now my family is hitting the road for Walt Disney World. I am completely overwhelmed with trying to get all my Donald Ducks in a row before we leave. I really have to get those suitcases down! Time to check the weather….

Temps for our trip range between possible lows in the high-50’s and possible highs in the mid-70’s. Guess we’re packing layers! I’m a firm believer in the power of fleece. Light weight, keeps you warm. All I have to do is figure out where my favorite fleece is…

Sara’s Snippets will be on vacation until Monday, January 25, 2010. I’ll tell Mickey you say "Hi!"

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

48 hours from now my family is hitting the road for Walt Disney World. I am completely overwhelmed with trying to get all my Donald Ducks in a row before we leave. I really have to get those suitcases down! Time to check the weather…. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

This trip is less than 72 hours away. AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!! There, I feel better now. :) 

But seriously, I’m beginning to understand that old saying about the cobbler’s children going barefoot. I am literally still planning this trip having just made a reservation for the Simply Segway Tour at Epcot. 

But on to Animal Kingdom. What do I need to make sure my family and especially my first timers see there? Ok, ok, all of you that just said "Animals!" - very funny. But you’re also right. It’s actually possible to overlook the live animals at Animal Kingdom! But I won’t make that mistake. I am especially looking forward to the train ride out to Rafiki’s Planet Watch to see the kids at the petting zoo. Not to mention that I have learned to stop and look at any Cast Members who appear to be just standing around. Look carefully and you may notice that they are holding a cage or carrying a snake! I also want to spend more time on the Pangani Forest Trail. Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo: The Musical are musts. But mainly I need to remember to not sprint directly to Expedition Everest, to slow down and watch the faces of my loved ones as they enjoy this beautiful park.

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

This trip is less than 72 hours away. AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!! There, I feel better now. :) 

But seriously, I’m beginning to understand that old saying about the cobbler’s children going barefoot. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Ahhhh - MGM. I mean Disney’s Hollywood Studios! (Does anyone else still call it MGM?) The park I am most conflicted about. This park has just never gelled for me. While home to one of my favorite attractions - Rock N’ Roller Coaster - I have never felt as "at home" in this park as in the others. So how to introduce this park to my first timers? This is a tough one. 

My plan is to start with Playhouse Disney Live On Stage - familiar characters, fun show. Then maybe a little Beauty & The Beast, and on to Toy Story Mania. Star Tours is a must for my obsessed son and something tells me much money will be spent in Tattoine Traders. (Mental note, send Ryan to the grandparents with the big pleading eyes. Same goes for my husband…)

Then it’s Muppets Time! Beyond that, it’s bit of a mystery. Five year olds are tricky, you never know what is going to be too scary or too loud. I’m tempted by Lights, Motors, Action! but am concerned about noise levels. Same with Indiana Jones. Ah well - we’ll just have to see how it goes!It is for these reasons we will be skipping Fantasmic. (Ducking tomatoes…)

Finally - Animal Kingdom!

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Ahhhh - MGM. I mean Disney’s Hollywood Studios! (Does anyone else still call it MGM?) The park I am most conflicted about. This park has just never gelled for me. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

First off - congrats to all our friends who ran in the Walt Disney World half-marathon and marathon this past weekend!!! Way to go Team ALL EARS who raised $22,000 for Breast Cancer Research!!! 

Ok, it is now crunch time. We leave in just 5 days for Walt Disney World! Guess I should get out the suitcases, huh? But back to itinerary planning since that is more fun than contempating what to pack for Florida’s currently fluctuating temps!

Epcot - my personal favorite! I absolutely cannot wait to take my family on Soarin. I just know my niece and my Dad are going to love it! And I am dying to see my niece interact with Crush at Turtle Talk with Crush. I hope we can convence her and my son to sit down in front! Journey Into Imagination is always a big hit but sadly, one of our family favorites will be closed for rehab - The Land. No mickey-head tomatoes for us!

My husband is thrilled to finally be traveling with men who will go to the Biergarten with him. (I am not only allergic to beer but lederhosen just isn’t my thing.) I, on the other hand, am counting down to my Grey Goose Citrus Slushie. I’m also definitely planning on letting the kids stop at the Kidcot stops for some crafts.

Up tomorrow - Hollywood Studios!

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

First off - congrats to all our friends who ran in the Walt Disney World half-marathon and marathon this past weekend!!! Way to go Team ALL EARS who raised $22,000 for Breast Cancer Research!!! 

Ok, it is now crunch time. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Nine days and counting… So what are the must do rides for any first-timer? Keeping in mind that the first timers are all of 5 years old and 17 months old. We’re starting at the Magic Kingdom so we’ll check off all the obvious ones - Dumbo, Winnie The Pooh, the Race Cars (ok, so that last one is only on my son’s must-do list), It’s A Small World, etc. Haunted Mansion is up in the air as is Pirates due to uncertainty regarding my niece’s tolerance for spooky. All I know is I am NOT leaving without riding the new Space Mountain! Splash Mountain is closed for rehab so at least I don’t have to convince my family to brave the rapids with me. But bring on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad! But I also would feel I was shirking my duties as Planner if I let my niece leave without a ride on the Jungle Cruise. (I’ll cover her eyes in the tunnel!)

On to our Epcot day…

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Nine days and counting… So what are the must do rides for any first-timer? Keeping in mind that the first timers are all of 5 years old and 17 months old. < more... >