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Spotlight on Florida: Tips for …

January 14, 2020 By admin

Like soooo many New Yorkers, I spent a lot of winter vacations visiting my grandparents in Florida (Yes, I loved Disney). The sunshine state never got old for me and one of my all time favorite memories is visiting Lion Country Safari in West Palm Beach. When I visited with my daughter, (and my mom and great aunt) it was even more fun than I remembered. Read on for my tips for visiting Lion Country Safari.

PS, we visited on National Zebra Day so we dressed for the occasion.

Tips for Visiting Lion Country Safari

The drive-through safari comes first and its just like it sounds. In the comfort of your own vehicle, you simply roll up your windows, pop in the audio tour and drive. As you go through the four mile preserve, you’ll see free roaming animals up close and personal including Southern White Rhinos, Zebra, Giraffe, Lions, Llamas, Impala, Kudu, Ostrich, Gemsbok, Water Buffalo, Wildebeest and more.

There are seven sections representing different areas in South America, Africa, and Asia and you can go as fast or slow as you like. Yes, the animals stop right in front of your car just like I remembered and no the monkeys don’t climb on top of your car like they used to. If you don’t want to take your kids on that long flight to South Africa, this may be the next best thing.

Globetrotting Mommy - Spotlight on Florida at Lion Country Safari

Spotlight on Florida Tips for Visiting Lion Country Safari

The second section is the walk-through amusement park and its a nice manageable size with lots of benches, shaded areas, cooling stations, rides, attractions and animal encounters. My daughter loved the rides, best suited for younger kids, including the Ferris wheel, carousel, kiddie train and flying elephant. I loved the mini-golf, paddle boats, Safari Queen boat tour (perfect for all ages) and animal shows.

We took our time exploring, fed some of the animals, rode a camel, checked out some shows and had some ice cream. The Safari Splash water sprayground was closed the day we visited or we would have done that too.

If you’re looking for a low-key animal and attraction packed day that will keep your whole family entertained but won’t exhaust everyone, this is it.

If you go:

The park opens daily at 9:30 am 365 days a year. Admission is $39.95 for visitors 10-64, $35.00 for seniors and $30.00 for kids 3-9. Kids two and younger are free. Parking is $8 per vehicle.

Plan to spend about 4-6 hours visiting. Don’t forget your sunscreen and water park essentials but leave your pets and convertibles home.

Bon voyage!

Toy Story Land is Coming to …

March 26, 2018 By admin

Toy Story Land, a brand new 11-acre land based on the Pixar favorite, is coming to Disney World this June and this is huge news for kids and adults! I’ve been busy getting the scoop on this project and today I’m sharing everything you need to know about Disney’s latest Hollywood Studios addition.

Toy Story Land is coming to Disney World

I first heard about Toy Story Land at a New York City press event in February where I learned about the coming attractions (new rides, oversized colorful toys and innovative food, oh my!), met the Toy Story characters and took a virtual reality ride on the new Slinky Dog rollercoaster. So much fun!

Last month, I attended the Disney Social Media Moms Conference (#DisneySMMC*) in Orlando where I got a chance to meet Walt Disney Imagineering Art Director for Toy Story Land, Ryan Wineinger and learned all about the planning and details. According to Ryan, Toy Story Land will feature Andy’s toys spread throughout the park and visitors will be able to interact with the toys and yes, this means plenty of fun photo-ops! I also got a sneak peek of Mickey and Minnie’s new Toy Story Land outfits. Aren’t they cute?

Check out Mickey and Minnie in their new Toy Story Land outfits.

Toy Story Land Rides

Soon to be a family favorite, the Sinky Dog Rollercoaster is perfect for smaller kids (minimum height 38 inches) and adults alike. The colorful Slinky dog car zips around the track, offering great views of Toy Story Land.

Guests will whoosh along on a family-friendly roller coaster, Slinky Dog Dash (pictured under development), take a spin aboard Alien Swirling Saucers and score high on the midway at Toy Story Mania! (Matt Stroshane, photographer)

Alien Swirling Saucers

The Alien Swirling Saucers are modeled after the famed toy that Andy won at Pizza Planet. Guests ride rocket ships as fun alien toys ride space saucers while the claw looms above.

Updated Toy Story Midway Mania

Toy Story Midway Mania is one of my daughter’s favorite rides so she’s excited that it will be prominently featured in Toy Story Land. This is a very popular ride so I’m glad to report they are increasing capacity with a new third track. There is also going to be a new entrance, based on the Toy Story Mania game box.

Dining at Toy Story Land

Toy Story Land will feature Woody’s Lunch Box where guests can grab quick meals and snacks including Mini Babybel (the official snack cheese of Walt Disney World) and old-fashioned soda floats.

Woody’s Lunch Box will be a new quick-service window serving tasty meals and old-fashioned soda floats within Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios when it opens in summer 2018. (Disney) (PRNewsfoto/Walt Disney World)

Have you visited Disney World? Check out my 11 Best Things to Do in Disney World before you go.

To keep up with my inside scoop from #DisneySMMC be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

*Disclosure: I learned about Toy Story Land at Disney Social Media Moms #DisneySMMC. While I did pay a fee, I received discounts and complimentary experiences/items. All opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Spotlight on Disney Cruises: …

October 18, 2017 By admin

We’re big fans of cruises for multi-generational family trips. I mean, there is really nothing easier to plan or orchestrate where everyone (ages 7-70) can find something to enjoy day after day without complaining about tired feet or hungry tummies. Add in Disney’s famed entertainment and character experiences, pampering services, and family-friendly dining and you know you’ll have an awesome time.

Spotlight on Disney Cruises: Marvel Day at Sea

I’m excited to share the scoop on Disney Cruise‘s latest offerings that leave from NYC (so easy for tri-state residents) and feature a new Marvel Day at Sea. Available on select October and November sailings, the seven- and eight-night Disney Magic Bahamian cruises all include a stop at Disney’s private Castaway Cay and Port Canaveral, Florida, and a one-day Park Hopper ticket to be used at Walt Disney World theme parks. There is also a seven-night Canadian Coast cruise option from New York this fall and five-night Western Caribbean cruises departing from Miami in early 2018.

I attended a special luncheon to learn about the specifics of Disney’s Marvel Day at Sea and there is definitely something exciting for everyone in your family. From Marvel comics, films and animated series, to exclusive character interactions (including the debut of Black Panther and Loki), new shows, a fun-filled costume deck party, family trivia challenges, stunt shows, animation lessons, special youth activities and the first official appearance of Iron Man on a Disney Cruise ship, Marvel fans of all ages will be entertained.

Marvel Universe’s mightiest Super Heroes and Super Villains will appear in a brand-new, day-long event: Marvel Day at Sea. (Chloe Rice, photographer)

New on the Disney Dream, MARVEL’s Avengers Academy lets kids participate in themed arts and crafts projects, games and Super Hero training sessions. I’m pretty sure my daughter would be happy spending a good chunk of the day here.

Marvel Day at Sea kicks off this month. (Chloe Rice, photographer)

Additionally, there will be many opportunities for meeting-and-greeting with some of the most powerful Marvel Super Heroes and Villains such as an interactive show that will take place inside the Walt Disney Theatre with Doctor Strange. Guests will also be able to learn how to draw Super Heroes like Spider-Man, Captain, Iron Man, and Groot and even take a quiz to see which Marvel comic is the perfect one for you. Don’t worry about missing your favorite classic Disney Characters because they’ll be on board too. If you’ve got a princess lover and a Thor fan at home, booking this cruise will definitely win you the mom-of-the-year award!

Spotlight on Disney Cruises: Marvel Day at Sea Caribbean cruises stop at Castaway Cay in the Bahamas.

There will also be exclusive at-sea screenings of Marvel Cinematic Universe fan-favorites including new releases and old favorites, as well as viewings of the Disney XD shows: Marvel’s Avengers Assemble, Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

Check out this video featuring Marvel legend Stan Lee and get ready to pack your bags:

We’ve taken two Disney cruises that left from Florida’s Port Canaveral so leaving out of NYC would make things even more magical. Ready to go? Check out my 20 Things to Know Before Taking about Disney Cruise Line and visit http://www.disneycruise.com.

Have you sailed on a Disney Cruise? What was your favorite memory?

I attended a media luncheon to learn about Marvel Day at Sea. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

10 Ways Planning a Disney …

September 14, 2016 By admin

I used to think planning a wedding was stressful and then I had a baby! As a mom who recently took her first family trip to Disney World, I suddenly found myself having flashbacks to my pregnancy days. What do planning a Disney World trip and pregnancy have in common? For your sheer enjoyment, today I’m sharing some similarities I noticed along the way…

10 Ways Planning a Disney World Trip is Like Having a Baby

1) Planning, planning, planning! Just like you need to start planning for motherhood the minute you get pregnant, you need to start planning for Disney World months (if not years) in advance! It may take nine months to make a baby but if you want to get your first-choice character meals and fast passes for Disney World, you’ll need to start your booking at least 180 days in advance. If you’re looking for the best baby nurse in town, start asking around before you’re even pregnant. Remember knowledge is power so stock up on those parenting and travel books.

2) Your birth plan or touring plan may not go according to schedule. Just because you always envisioned a complication-free natural birth with your favorite music playing doesn’t mean it will go down that way and it is the same for a Disney trip. You may map out the most efficient touring schedule but weather, unexpected character greetings and kiddie tantrums can all affect the day’s outcome. Just remember to go with the flow…there is no “perfect” childbirth or “perfect” Disney trip so try not to obsess.

Your birth plan or touring plan may not go according to schedule so remember to stay flexible.

3) You will have a lot of last minute questions and concerns! You will find yourself calling, texting and emailing your OB and travel agent at all hours (Thanks Mary Daly at My Mickey Vacation Travel). They will understand, especially if this is your first pregnancy or Disney trip.

Matchy matchy outfits are a hit at Disney World and after childbirth.

4) You will spend hours obsessing over outfits… For childbirth you’ll need cozy and comfy outfits for mom and baby and for Disney, you’ll need to coordinate Mickey (or Star Wars, Princess, etc.) gear for the whole family. Buy some things before you go to the hospital or Disney but remember you’ll get lots of baby clothes as gifts and you’ll definitely want to buy some Disney souvenirs at the parks. If you’re the type who cares about taking a zillion color coordinated photos (new baby or Disney!), you’ll want to scour Pinterest months in advance for outfit ideas.

5) You will quickly realize everyone you know is an expert in pregnancy and Disney so be prepared for tons of unsolicited advice! Ohhhh how people love to give advice on what to expect during pregnancy…the same is true for planning a Disney trip. Be ready to hear about everyone’s favorite rides, restaurants, snack options and other Disney must-do’s. You can trust the advice of professionals and people who have similarly aged children but feel free to ignore everyone else…

6) When you ask for advice, you will get different answers. From parenting tips to Disney trips, opinions will vary.

10 Ways Planning a Disney World Trip is Like Having a Baby

Flight delays and other setbacks can happen so prepare for the unexpected.

7) Prepare for the unexpected! Some of the most sophisticated sonograms can predict the wrong sex in the same way some of the most experienced Disney crowd planners can be way off. If you find yourself surprised in either situation, take a deep breath. You can send a friend to exchange the baby clothes and you can always leave a crowded park for a little pool break. Flight delays, bad weather and birth complications can happen.

8) Expect a few meltdowns from grown ups and kids. Moms, dads, big kids and babies all have a boiling point. Be warned.

Few moments can rival the thrill of entering Magic Kingdom.

9) You’ll experience a natural high and then the whole experience will thoroughly exhaust you. The thrill of meeting your baby for the first time will rival the thrill of watching your kids enter the Magic Kingdom gates but after a few days, exhaustion will kick in and you will want uninterrupted sleep for a good week!

10) In the end, all the pain of childbirth and agony of planning a Disney trip will fade and all you will recall are the happy joyful memories. Until the next trip or baby…just keep looking at those thousands of photos and don’t say I didn’t warn you…

In the end, Disney World and parenthood are worth all the planning.

There you have it. And remember, re-entrance is not easy. Mommyhood is whole new world and returning from Disney can feel like the biggest hangover ever. But in the end, those chubby cheeks and fun Disney memories are all worth it!

Be sure to check out the 11 Best Things to Do at Disney World before you go.

Do you have anything to add to this list? Tell me below in the comments.

Special thanks to Walt Disney World for providing two one-day park-hopper tickets for review purposes. As always, all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

11 Best Things to do at Disney …

June 7, 2016 By admin

A Disney World vacation is one of the most magical trips you’ll ever experience. From babies and toddlers to tweens and adults, everyone will find something they adore at Walt Disney World. If you’re heading to the happiest place on earth, here are my suggestions for the 11 Best Things to do at Disney World…

11 Best Things to do at Walt Disney World

1. Book FastPass+ in advance. Do your research in advance and be sure to plan your three daily FastPass+ selections as early as possible (60 days out if you’re staying at a Walt Disney World Resort or 30 days with a ticket or pass). Once there, remember to add more (with the app or at a kiosk) after you’ve used all three. I highly recommend advance booking for Anna and Elsa at Princess Fairytale Hall, Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train, Peter Pan, Test Track and any thrill rides you want to ride.

11 Best Things to do at Disney World. Be sure to book a character meal .

2. Enjoy a meal with your favorite characters. Take a break and enjoy a sit-down meal where you can meet and interact with various characters like princesses, Mickey Mouse and friends, Disney Junior cast members and other Disney favorites like Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland and more. Don’t forget your autograph books and cameras!

11 Best Things to do at Walt Disney World. Be sure to take a photo in front of Cinderella’s castle.

3. Take a picture in front of Cinderella’s Castle. There are so many fabulous photo ops at Disney World but don’t forget to get this iconic shot. The Disney PhotoPass photographers are located in prime spots so be sure to have them take one of the whole family with your camera (yes, they will gladly do this even if you don’t buy the Disney photo package).

11 Best Things to do at Disney World. Visiting with Gaston in front of his Tavern.

4. Interact with your favorite characters. If you don’t have time for a character meal, you can still meet the characters around the parks and at various meet and greet locations. You’ll find all the Disney classic favorites (think Mickey and Pals, Mary Poppins, Star Wars characters, Disney Princesses, Disney Junior cast members and more). Be sure to ask or check the daily schedule for details.

11 Best Things to do at Disney World. Don’t forget to take some “magic” photos.

5. Ask for a magic photo. If you’re booking the Disney Memory Maker (which I highly recommend), be sure to ask for some magical shots and videos. Depending on the backdrop, the Disney PhotoPass Photographers will insert Disney characters and other fun surprises into the pictures.

6. Dine in a castle. Guests of all ages will be impressed with the gorgeous castle interiors at Walt Disney World. If you can’t get into the famed Cinderella’s Royal Table, the Be Our Guest Restaurant at Belle’s Castle and Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Epcot’s Norway are both great options.

7. Catch a daytime parade or dance party. You won’t want to miss any of the colorful daytime parades and dance parties including the Festival of Fantasy Parade (at 3pm daily) and Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! Street Party (twice daily). Be sure to grab a viewing spot (at least 20 minutes in advance) and have a snack while you wait.

11 Best Things to do at Walt Disney World. Don’t miss Disney’s Electrical Parade.

8. Stay up late for the electrical parade, fireworks and shows. Chances are your kids will be staying up later than they do at home so try to keep them up at least one night for the famed Main Street Electrical parade, Electrical Water Pageant, signature shows like Fantasmic! or IllumiNations, Wishes fireworks and other evening shows.

11 Best Things to do at Disney World. Trading Disney pins is a great activity for kids.

9. Trade pins. Buy some pins in advance and let your kids trade with cast members or other collectors. This is a great way for little kids to show test their independence and bargaining skills. My daughter loved seeing all the different pins and was especially excited about the secret pins that were pinned backwards.

10. Come early for the Magic Kingdom opening ceremonies. If you’re traveling with young kids, chances are you’ll be up early. If you can arrive 30-60 minutes before Magic Kingdom’s opening, you will see an adorable Magic Kingdom Welcome Show with all your favorite Disney characters.

11 Best Things to do at Walt Disney World. Don’t forget to wear your Disney ears.

11. Wear your ears! For the full Walt Disney World experience buy or bring your favorite set of mouse ears. From the monogrammed classic hat to the glitzy character inspired headbands, I could not believe my eyes when I saw all the fun ears so be sure to grab a pair or two.

Ready to plan your trip? Be sure to check out 10 Ways Planning a Disney World Trip is Like Having a Baby before you go…

Have you been to Walt Disney World? Tell me your favorite activity in the comments below.

Special thanks to Walt Disney World for providing two one-day park-hopper tickets for review purposes. As always, all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Museum Day Live! – …

September 10, 2015 By admin

Mark your calendars! This September 26, 2015, Smithsonian Magazine is offering free museum day visits to more than 1,500 museums across the country with Museum Day Live!

Museum Day Live! – Smithsonian Magazine Offers Free Museum Day Across the US

Families can check out hundreds of children’s museums, art institutes, science centers and other cultural institutions for free when they register for Museum Day Live! online. One ticket admits two guests so plan accordingly if you have a big family. Note, many museums admit young children for free.

Check out the list of the participating museums in your area. Here are a few of my favorite ideas for a family-friendly museum day across the country. Whether you’re planning a road trip or staycation that weekend, there are plenty of options.

Families can visit The Hershey Story Museum for free with Museum Day Live!

New York City, NY – The Skyscraper Museum

Macon, GA – Georgia Sports Hall of Fame

Springfield, MA – Springfield Museums (Four museums and the Dr. Seuss sculpture garden)

Boston, MA – Museum of Fine Arts

Hershey, PA – The Hershey Story, The Museum on Chocolate Avenue

Portland, ME – Portland Museum of Art

Chicago, IL – Swedish American Museum

Miami, FL – Zoo Miami

Boca Raton, FL – Children’s Science Explorium at Sugar Sand Park

Charleston, SC – The South Carolina Historical Society

Baltimore, MD – The Baltimore Museum of Art

New Orleans, LA – Louisiana Children’s Museum

Where will you be that weekend and which museum would you like to visit?

If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Top 10 Tips for Seeing …

November 20, 2014 By admin

When I was little, my mom took my sister and I to see Ice Capades during a Florida vacation and soon after, we both had Chicken Pox. Since then I’ve never had much desire to see any sort of mass-market, massive kiddie audience production but when I heard Disney was debuting a Frozen on Ice show, I started to reconsider. My daughter is Frozen obsessed and we were already fantasizing about seeing Frozen on Broadway but this Frozen on Ice sounded even better. I quickly snatched up four tickets in May and six months later, the big day was here.

Frozen on Ice, Disney, Elsa, Anna, Disney on Ice, Ice Show, Disney Frozen

Top 10 Tips for Seeing Frozen on Ice

Here are my top 10 tips for seeing Frozen on Ice:

1) When booking your tickets, don’t sit too high or too low. There are no big screen TVs (at least there weren’t at the Nassau Collesium where we went) so if you’re too high, you’ll miss a lot of the character interactions. But, if you’re too close, you won’t be able to see the skaters’ feet and you won’t be able to appreciate all the special effects (snow, illumination and pyrotechnics, oh my!).

Top 10 Tips for Seeing Frozen on Ice

2) Plan your outfits accordingly. Practically every single girl at our show was in full princess mode. Mostly Elsa but a good number of Annas and I even spotted some toddlers dressed as Olaf. Keep in mind that the show is ON ICE and that means its COLD! Have your princess layer under her gown or don a sweater or you will be doing the “keep your coat around your shoulder” shuffle the whole time. Whatever you do, leave the plastic princess shoes home and don’t forget the tiara.

3) Bring easy to eat snacks (granola bars, etc.) or prepare to buy a $7 box of stale popcorn. Expect things to fall on the floor so be sure to bring extras.

Top 10 Tips for Seeing Frozen on Ice

4) Get there early. This show is crowded and that means long lines for parking, security, bathrooms and souvenirs. If you think it will take 30 minutes, give yourself an hour.

5) Go to the bathroom before the show starts no matter what! If this is your daughter’s first time wearing her Elsa or Anna dress for a long time, practice lifting up the gown to pee at home so you don’t have any bathroom meltdowns. FYI, the intermission bathroom lines will be worse than you are imagining.

Top 10 Tips for Seeing Frozen on Ice

6) Plan to buy something plastic, bring your own toys from home or both. There is a LOT to buy and your little kids will start screaming “I want that” as soon as they spot the $15 Frozen on Ice programs. Agree on how many special treats you will buy in advance to avoid meltdowns. There were snow cones in an Anna/Elsa and Olaf mugs, plush dolls, light up snowflake wands, photo ops, coloring books, toys, face painting and more. If you have more than one kid, you might want to refinance your home before the show.

7) All the Disney characters make an appearance in the beginning and end of the show so if your kids love a certain character like Woody, Cinderella or Nemo, be sure to point them out.

8) The best costume changing moment is when Elsa throws her cape off and the suddenly appears in the sparkly blue dress with her long blond braid. Do not look away for one second as this happens. Your daughter will ask you 300 times how she did that and you will need to give a full description every time. FYI, when Elsa pulls off her tiara, the braid is underneath…

Top 10 Tips for Seeing Frozen on Ice

9) Enjoy the singing or bring earplugs. Thousands of little girls singing “Let it Go” at the top of their lungs can be overwhelming if you’re not expecting it.

10) Sit back and enjoy the show. The fun songs, endearing characters and magical moments from the movie are all here, on ice, and it really is wonderful. The skating is pretty impressive too.

After New York, the show plays in the following cities.

Newark, NJ, Rutherford, NJ, Rosemont, IL, Chicago, IL, Boston, MA, St. Louis, MO, Auburn Hills, MI, Dallas, TX, San Antonio, TX, Minneapolis, MN, Houston, TX, Hidalgo, TX, New Orleans, LA, Baton Rough, LA, Tampa, FL, Birmingham, AL, Florence, SC, Huntsville, AL, Memphis, TN, El Paso, TX, Tucson, AZ.

To find dates and tickets visit Ticketmaster online.

If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Spotlight on Florida: A Day in …

April 30, 2014 By admin

Thanks to this winter’s Polar Vortex, I got an to enjoy an extended Florida getaway with my mom and daughter. After four (yes four!) flight cancellations, we decided to just stay put and went to spend some time with our cousins in Palm City.

We set out to explore one day and landed in the Treasure Coast town of Downtown Stuart which was so cute I wanted to share our adventures with you. Stuart is celebrating their Centennial this May with a week of Celebrate Stuart activities so if you’ll be nearby, check it out.