Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The Top 5 Must Dos for Disney Transportation (and a GIVEAWAY!)


Believe it or not, I LOVE Disney Transportation! For our family Disney Cruise and Walt Disney World vacation this November, we're staying off property for the first time since I was a wee child, and we'll have a rental car. One of the things I'll miss most is the ease of Disney Transportation.

Yes, I know you're most interested in the promise of a giveaway, but before I go there, here are some of my favorite modes of travel at Disney World:


1. Disney's Monorail: This favorite should come as no surprise since it's made an appearance in my previous countdowns as a way to tour the Deluxe Resorts as well as a great way to get some neat photo opportunities.

2. Disney's Magical Express: The free transportation from the airport to your Disney Resort (and back again) is how Disney fans know they're finally near the magic!  The best part about the DME is that they get your checked bags for you and deliver them to your room.  All you have to do is sit back, watch the fun show on the TVs on the bus, and let the excitement build as you get closer and closer to Disney World.

3. Boats: Another of my favorite ways to travel at Disney is by boat.  In fact, I'll take a boat or the Monorail over a bus any time that it's possible.  Some boats go from Resorts, like the Port Orleans Resorts, to Downtown Disney. There's a boat that enters EPCOT at the International Gateway in the World Showcase. Some boats go from Magic Kingdom to other Resorts, and there's even a boat from the Disney TTC to Magic Kingdom! I'll get to take that one on our next trip. Other boats move you around within the parks like the one in EPCOT that crosses the Lagoon. Boats are a peaceful and cool way to travel the World.

4. Busses: Yes, Disney busses are honestly a GREAT way to travel around Disney World. Some people slam them, but on each trip, I usually only have one bad experience with busses taking forever to come.  In the evenings after nighttime shows, you will have to wait in a long line, but it beats trying to drive yourself in unfamiliar traffic. The busses are air-conditioned and come fairly regularly. One quick note: when a bus has standing room only, ask yourself "do I want to stand here and wait for the next bus knowing I'll be going nowhere for the next 20 minutes or so, or do I want to keep standing but be on a mode of transportation that gets me closer to my destination (typically your warm bed)?" I always choose stand on the bus over stand there going no where.

5. You Decide!: Last night when I was thinking about this post, I asked Twitter to tell me 5 modes of Disney Transportation.  These are the replies I got, and I must say that I think "pixie dust" was my favorite! Check them out:

@P19letUK was first to answer with encouragement from @gailyw.

My brother-in-law, @keeperofbooks34, is always one of my favorite contributors!
This is a Motor Launch just in case you're wondering.

My friend, @theBESTjames21, joined in the fun and later
agreed that pixie dust was a good 5th mode of transportation.

Then my brother-in-law added some more themed fun lists! I especially
loved the top 2 lists!

 Ready for the giveaway yet? Well of course you are! It's small, but I adore these auto magnets that I found at the Disney Store Outlet this summer. It doesn't hurt that they feature my favorite mode of Disney Transportation! They can be yours if you follow the Rafflecopter directions below! 

Wouldn't these look neat on your vehicle?

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good luck to all my lovely readers! You can tweet daily to win, so keep coming back. Giveaway ends 9/26/2012.

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

Being Belle

Who hasn't dreamed of "being friends" with a Disney character? I've always thought that being a Disney Princess would be one of the best jobs out there! You would get to make people smile all day long all while embodying your favorite Disney character!

Ignoring my incorrect body-type, I'd love to spend a day in Belle's shoes!
January 2009: Sis, Niece, Belle, & me
While I love Belle's two Park costumes as well as her Christmastime attire, the reason I'd most love to be her is because she stands for what I most believe in.  She is an avid reader and uses her imagination to take her to far off places but can still come back to reality. Belle stands firm on what she believes in, and she won't be bullied into doing something that's not right for her or compromises her morals. Her love and kindness extends to those that others may not notice or look at twice.  Never have I doubted that she is genuinely concerned for and has a deep understanding of all around her. Somehow she accomplishes all of this with perfect hair and beautiful clothing! She wasn't born a princess, but she stepped into the crown with grace. Belle is a role model for little girls and women alike. Even if I wasn't really her, I'd like to share that joy and those ideals at least for a day.

January 2009: Belle with my nervous niece at Akershus
On a side note: Anyone else still get nervous as an adult when you meet a character in the parks? I try to take my niece or nephew along with me for a photo or quick hello because without them, I clam up a bit and get super shy! I know it's not really that character, but something about it makes me feel like a 5 year old again.