Stay-At-Home Disney-themed Family Fun

Hello, my sweet readers!

I truly hope that you all are well, and that you are making the best of this situation and making fun memories with your families during these unprecedented times.

While we have absolutely no idea when the Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland, and Aulani will reopen, and when Disney Cruise Line (currently slated to resume operations on April 13, but I expect that this will not happen) will sail again, we can be thankful that the Walt Disney Company is keeping a close eye on this situation to keep all of us safe!

It is absolutely no surprise that Walt Disney World is my family’s happy place. I say this often. Knowing that the resorts and theme parks sit empty right now is absolutely heartbreaking to me. I am longing to see Instagram photos of guests enjoying the property, and watch new vlogs of my favorite Disney YouTubers exploring the parks. I hesitate to say this because I know that there is a much bigger picture to take in here, but at the same time, mental health and happiness are important, too. See, to me, Walt Disney World is not just a place on a map. It is a place in my heart that contains 36 years of happy memories. Memories with my grandpa and uncle, who are now in Heaven. Memories with my brothers, my parents, my aunt and cousins, and friends, who all live states away from me. And more recent memories with my husband and children, where we enjoy family time without the stressors of our jobs on our minds (my husband and I are both essential employees, and we both are working many hours outside of the home right now). I truly look forward to the day when we can safely return to our favorite place on Earth.

I would like to share a few ways to bring Disney into your home at this time- most of these are things that my family and I do on the regular while we anticipate our next vacation to the Most Magical Place on Earth:

1) Download the app ‘WDW Today’ to listen to the music that is currently on the main TV Channel in the resorts at Walt Disney World. This app features fun, whimsical music that is sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face! When the parks are open, you will be able to view park hours on this app as well.




2) Another family favorite is ‘Sorcerer Radio’. As you can see, there are different channels that you can visit depending on what you would like to listen to at the time!




3) I have been loving Scotty Kilwein’s live shows on his Facebook page (‘Scotty Kilwein page’) at 10pm EST many nights. Scotty is a regular performer at Jellyrollls Dueling Piano bar at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn. Scotty has been performing both Disney music and non-Disney music, and it’s a very enjoyable way to end your evening!





4) The Disney Family website has many cute crafts for your entire family at https://family.disney.com/. One of my favorite crafts is creating a Practically Perfect quote- use one of your favorite Disney quotes, print out a family photo and perhaps a photo of a character, and have your children paint and/ or color around the quote to create a beautiful and meaningful piece of art!





5) Use some of your favorite family photos from your last vacation to create a one-of-a-kind scrapbook. Or, if you have not yet visited Walt Disney World, create template pages so that when you are able to take that dream trip, you’ll just have to insert photos and you’ll then have a beautiful keepsake!




6) Decide which Disney attractions your family would most like to enjoy on your next visit. You can watch point-of-view videos for almost every Disney attraction on YouTube, and be sure to keep a list of your sure-to-be favorites for each park!




7) Create fun Disney-themed Jello jigglers with cookie cutters! I am sure you can find Disney-shaped cookie cutters online, or I found this Frozen-themed kit at Wal-Mart which includes Frozen character cutters and jello mix!





8) Make homemade Disney treats like Dole Whips, Mickey pretzels, and fun cupcakes! I have yet to perfect a Disney-style Dole Whip, but there are lots of recipes out there so you too can try your hand at making some of your favorite Disney treats!



I hope that these ideas create some fun inspiration for your family, and I truly hope that you all stay well and happy! With love, from the bottom of my heart,

-Dana

Disney Resort Fun Runs

Hey guys!

Happy Summer! I hope that you all enjoyed your Independence Day and are living your best lives, enjoying this heat we are having!

I wanted to write a quick post talking about the Fun Runs at some of the Walt Disney World Resorts that have been introduced within the past few years. Most of these runs are about 3 kilometers long, so short enough where even children will enjoy them! You are welcome to run or walk these. Currently there are Fun Runs (mostly weekly) at the following Resorts:

• All-Star Movies Resort

o Theme: All Stars and Icons

o When: Every OTHER Tuesday at 8+am (You may preregister at the Surf Pool at All-Star Sports for this one daily from 3pm-6pm)

o Where: The Reel Spot at All-Star Movies

o Swag: A finisher pin and refreshments

(The only photo of myself that I could find at the All-Stars Resorts- 2012 at the pool at All-Star Sports)

• Port Orleans French Quarter Resort

o Theme: Beignet Dash

o When: Sundays at 8am

o Where: Between Building 5 and Doubloon Lagoon Pool

o Swag: Free beignets and a Mardi-Gras themed finisher medal

(The beignets at French Quarter are out-of-this-world good!)

• Boardwalk Resort

o Theme: Seaside Sprint

o When: Fridays at 8am (You may preregister at Community Hall for this one)

o Where: Between Jellyrolls and Atlantic Dance Hall

o Swag: A finisher pin and a free Goofy’s Glacier

(My husband and I on the Boardwalk one evening)

• Yacht & Beach Club Resorts

o Theme: Regatta Run

o When: Thursdays at 8am

o Where: Bayside Marina at the Yacht Club

o Swag: Nautical gift bag filled with Resort-branded sunglasses, ear buds (a rubber ducky and candy instead for the kids) and a finisher pin

(A late-afternoon Beach Club photo from February 2019)

• Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

o Theme: Derby Dash

o When: Thursdays at 8am

o Where: Outside of Community Hall

o Swag: Refreshments and a horserace-themed finisher medal

(The view from our patio during our last stay at Saratoga Springs)

• Old Key West Resort

o Theme: Southernmost Point (aka Key West, Florida)

o When: Wednesdays at 7:30am (You may preregister at Community Hall for this one)

o Where: At the Family Tree near the Sandcastle Pool & Playground

o Swag: Medal and a water bottle

(This resort is GORGEOUS- I took this photo before our dinner here in November 2017)

You do NOT have to be staying at the resort in order to run that race! Even though my family will be staying at the Boardwalk in September, I think that we will probably run the Fun Run at the Beach Club instead. You simply show up in the morning at least 30 minutes before the race start time, and the Cast Members will get you registered (there is a $15 per person fee to run, children under 3 are free).

Besides the run-specific swag, runners will also receive a race bib, and most resorts have fun photo opportunities at the Finish Line!

Please note that there is no guarantee of the above information- please check with the resort prior to making concrete plans, as Disney may change things at ANY time. Please also note that on runDisney race weeks, there are no fun runs at the resorts.

I hope that this was helpful for my fellow run/ walk lovers, and that some of you take advantage of these great events that the Cast Members work hard to put on. Thank you for reading, and Happy Travels!

5 great reasons to visit Walt Disney World this year

Hey guys! There are a million great reasons why I think you should visit Walt Disney World at any given time, but there are some really exciting things springing up lately! From new attractions and lands, to new restaurants and stores at Disney Springs, there is always something new popping up here! In the recent years, I’ve had the pleasure of being able to visit twice a year, and every time I’ve gone, I’ve found something new! Walt Disney himself never wanted Walt Disney World to be complete, and his vision is truly taken to heart! Let’s visit some of the most exciting new additions to hit Walt Disney World in 2019!

1) You need to check out Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

I am OBSESSED with Toy Story Land. It is perfect. It’s so visually pleasing to the eye- I love the bright colors and interesting shapes everywhere you look. My family enjoyed breakfast at Woody’s Lunchbox back in February, and it was easy and delicious. And the three attractions in Toy Story Land are all standout attractions- Toy Story Midway Mania, which first opened back in 2008, remains a family favorite, and the new attractions Alien Swirling Saucers and Slinky Dog Dash are amazing as well! Toy Story Land was a highly anticipated land for my family, and it has 100% not disappointed!

(Having fun at Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios)

(My son and our friend's daughter outside of the ride exit for Toy Story Mania)

(In line for Toy Story Mania, one of our family's favorite rides at Walt Disney World!)

2) Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

You’d have to live under a rock not to have heard about the new Star Wars-themed lands opening this year at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. The agency owner at the Travel Agency I work for was invited by Disney to the preview of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland, and from what she has shared with us, it’s astounding! You can not only pilot the Millennium Falcon in Smugglers Run, but you can enjoy a concoction and listen to music at Oga’s Cantina, and even build your very own lightsaber, which I believe is going to be VERY popular (my son and husband would already be waiting in line for this experience if they could!). Galaxy’s Edge opens August 29 at Walt Disney World!

(Concept art for Galaxy's Edge)

3) Disney Springs is introducing new shopping and dining experiences all the time

Disney Springs has gone through a MASSIVE redesign, and it just keeps getting better and better! The past two trips to Walt Disney World that I’ve been on, I have spent a better part of the day here, and honestly, I could have spent even more time! Some of my favorite new stores include Lilly Pullitzer and Vera Bradley, along with my old favorites Under Armour and The World’s Largest Disney Store, which also just received a remodel! Some of our family favorite restaurants are here as well, including Morimoto Asia (my husband loves the Wagyu Beef!), Earl of Sandwich (our favorite sandwich restaurant EVER!), and Chicken Guy!, which was created by Guy Fieri himself! The two Port Orleans Resorts, Saratoga Springs, and Old Key West are great resorts to stay at if you plan on frequenting Disney Springs, as all four of these resorts feature fun water taxi transportation over to Disney Springs daily!

(Enjoying lunch with my mom and aunt at Chicken Guy! in April)

(My son LOVES checking out the merch at World of Disney!)

(Trying on a fun hat at World of Disney)

4) Skyliner Transportation system

I am really looking forward to this one, I think because it makes me so nostalgic for the old Skyway at the Magic Kingdom (this used to be an attraction back when the park opened that would take you to Tomorrowland from Fantasyland, or vice versa). The Disney Skyliner Transportation system will run from Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios to the following resorts: Pop Century, Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, and Riviera (which has yet to open). My family loves checking out other resorts, and so having 4 resorts within easy access of one another is going to be amazing!!

(Skyliner concept art)

5) Two words: Family vacation

I will do whatever I have to do to be able to take a family vacation. I will eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a month straight to be able to save enough. You can NEVER go wrong with spending this precious time with your family- as my husband and I always say, tomorrow is never guaranteed. Making memories with family is my number one goal in life, and Walt Disney World is the perfect place to visit to make a million memories that will last for a lifetime.

Family time at Disney's Hollywood Studios

(Family dinner at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa)

(My family LOVES our Walt Disney World vacations!)

Thank you so much for checking out my blog- feel free to email me at dana_w@wishingonastartravel.com with any Disney-related inquiries! Happy Travels!