May 9 2014

Mother’s Day Disney Side Celebration

Me and Mom at the Magic Kingdom in 1974

Every year my Mom and I have a difficult time deciding how to celebrate Mother’s Day for a couple of reasons. First, my birthday is at the end of April and my Mom’s is at the beginning of May, so we’ve just had two big celebrations. And second, where we live in the US, we have no idea what the weather is going to be like this time of year. We could have anything from a sunny 80 degree day to freezing cold temperatures with several inches of snow falling! Looks like we’ll be getting the snow this time (ugh!).

So this year, we had the awesome idea to have a Disney Side Celebration in honor of Mother’s Day! We have two Disney World vacations coming up in the next few months that we are busy planning, so this get-together will just add to our excitement and anticipation! Since we have a big snow storm coming in very late Saturday night, we’ve scheduled our gathering for Saturday afternoon and early evening.

Here’s what we have on the agenda:

Disney Themed Dinner
Open Gifts
Disney Photos & Movies
Disney Themed Games

For dinner, my sweet hubby is going to help with the cooking by grilling some burgers. Grilled burgers are one of my favorite meals and I’m so glad we are going to be able to sneak this in before the snow begins!

Here’s my recipe for the best All-American Grilled Hamburgers:

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon black pepper

You just mix up all of the ingredients, form into six patties and grill them to your liking. Delicious!!

We are going to keep the side dishes fairly simple. It is Mother’s Day after all, so we want to relax and enjoy it. My Mom is bringing a salad with some cleverly arranged “hidden mickey” veggies and we’ll be serving up a variety of chips in bowls strategically arranged like Mickey’s head.

And for the best part of any meal, dessert, we are going to have a couple of different things. My Mom is making Mickey shaped mini cherry pies and I’m making some super chocolatey Mickey Mouse cupcakes. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!

After dinner, my Mom is going to open her gifts. Since she reads my blog, all I’m going to say is that her gifts and their wrappings fit with the Disney Side Celebration theme. (Sorry Mom, no hints for you!)

Once my Mom has opened her gifts, we are going to look through old photos of past Disney World vacations and watch the latest Disney World vacation planning DVD. As many times and we have been there, it is still fun to watch the planning DVD. It really gets us excited for the next trip!

Last up for the night are Disney themed games. Our entire family has always loved playing games and we actually have game nights quite often. I’ve already got Disney Uno and Disney Monopoly out and ready to go!

I’m really looking forward to our Mother’s Day Disney Side Celebration tomorrow! Happy Mother’s Day Weekend, everyone!

Do you have plans for a Disney Side Celebration this year? Please leave a comment!

May 9 2014

Friday Favorites – Best Epcot World Showcase Attractions

For today’s Friday Favorites, I would like to share with you my picks for best Epcot World Showcase attractions. Epcot’s World Showcase is my favorite place to just hang out and relax in all of Disney World. Usually while I’m in Disney World, I want to go non-stop and see and do as much as possible. I only stop to eat and sleep so that the rest of my family can survive! Epcot’s World Showcase is a nice balance of “going and doing” combined with the relaxed feel that my family so desperately needs. Our absolute favorite time to explore the World Showcase is after dark when all of the countries are brilliantly lit. The atmosphere is extraordinary and it is truly like being transported around the globe. Next time you are in Epcot, be sure to check out my choices for best Epcot World Showcase attractions. And here they are in no particular order.

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros This is a 7 minute indoor boat ride located in the Mexico pavilion. This attraction reminds me a lot of It’s A Small World with its catchy music and colorful details. This cute and relaxing ride is fun for the whole family!
Impressions De France This an 18 minute film depicting the beauty and diversity of France and its people. The movie is projected over 200 degrees widescreen in a cool, comfy theatre complete with soft, velvety seats. A great show to see when you are ready to cool off and relax to some stunning scenery and serene music!
O Canada! This is an 18 minute 360 degree Circle-Vision film detailing the exquisite natural beauty of Canada. Narrated by actor Martin Short, this movie is sure to keep you entertained! Keep in mind that the audience stands during this show.
The American Adventure This is a 29 minute compelling show that gives a brief history of the United States. This patriotic story is told through a combination of Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain audio-animatronics, inspiring music and film clips. This is a must-do for us on every trip!

So there you have it…my picks for best Epcot World Showcase attractions!

Do you have a favorite Epcot World Showcase attraction? Please leave a comment!

May 8 2014

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Tickets are now on sale for another of my favorite Disney World events…Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party!

The dates this year are:

November 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 20, 21 and 30
December 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 19

The party is held at the Magic Kingdom from 7pm to 12am.

Ticket prices range from about $66 to $79 for an adult and from about $61 to $74 for children ages 3 to 9. Pricing depends on the night you attend and if you have any type of discount.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a festive and heart warming experience for the entire family. There is a special holiday parade, entertaining shows, spectacular fireworks, hot chocolate and cookies, character dance parties and even snow on Main Street! My family and I had such a wonderful time when we attended the party and it definitely put us in the holiday spirit! Be sure to get your tickets as soon as possible if you plan to go, because they do sell out.

For even more Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party information including pricing, maps, photos and videos, please check out this link. To purchase tickets, please click here.

What about you? Have you been to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party? What did you think? Please leave a comment!

May 7 2014

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Tickets are now on sale for one of my all-time favorite Disney World events…Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party!

The dates this year are:

September 1, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26 and 28
October 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30 and 31

The party is held at the Magic Kingdom from 7pm to 12am.

Ticket prices range from about $62 to $82 for an adult and from about $57 to $77 for children ages 3 to 9. Pricing depends on the night you attend and if you have any type of discount.

I have been to this party several times and I would highly recommend it. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is a lively and light-hearted experience and it is truly a family friendly event. There are special parades, exciting dance parties, stunning fireworks and tons of trick-or-treating stations filled with candy for everyone! My kids and I have such a great time every time we go. Adults and children alike really get into the spirit of the event by dressing in costume, trick-or-treating and dancing the night away with all of the characters. Be sure to get your tickets as soon as possible if you plan to attend, because they do sell out.

For even more Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party information including pricing, maps, photos and videos, please check out this link.

What about you? Have you been to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party? What did you think? Please leave a comment!