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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!

Spotlight on Disney Live! …

April 14, 2015 By admin

If you’ve got little Disney fans in your house, Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales is just the ticket for a fun time. My daughter and I got to check out this fun show in NYC over Spring Break and here are my top 10 reasons you’ll love it…

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Spotlight on Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales

1 – The three plays – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast – are short and sweet which is great for kiddie attention spans. This show is ideal for new theater patrons and the intermission in the middle of the second act provides a nice break for questions, snacks and potty breaks.

2 – It is a great option for families with boys and girls since the plays are geared toward everyone.

Spotlight on Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales

3 – The characters get interactive so kids aren’t forced to sit quietly. This is key for little kids and when Snow White asks the crowd “Should I eat the apple,?” everyone is excited to shout “No!!”.

4 – Prices start at just $15 making this an affordable family outing.

Spotlight on Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales

5 – Three Classic Fairy Tales means three classic fairy tales. Everything about this show is traditional Disney from Cinderella’s fairy godmother singing Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo, to the dancing candelabra and utensils dancing around to Be Our Guest and Seven Dwarfs singing Heigh Ho. I think this is a nice touch for small kids just learning these stories and characters.

6 – Since the audience is 50 percent children, chances are really good your kids will be able to see the stage, especially with younger kids sitting on parents’ laps.

Spotlight on Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales

7 – Classic Disney characters including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy interact with the characters and audience throughout the show.

8 – Kids and adults will delight as the characters dance around in colorful costumes. Although the actors are lip-syncing, there is a lot of singing throughout the plays which helps keep the attention of smaller guests.

9 – Disney productions are known for their special effects and this show does not disappoint. The show’s special effects are magical – think glittery sparks and smoke – without being noisy or scary which is great for little kids.

Spotlight on Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales

10 – There are some frightening witches and scary moments but they are brief and not really too scary. By the time my daughter turned around and said she was scared, the scene was over.

The show is playing across the United States until January 2016. For more information about Disney Live!, visit their website.

We were invited to Disney Live by The Moms. I was not compensated and all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Top Five Kid Friendly …

March 20, 2015 By admin

This seemed to be the longest winter EVER so I’m really excited that spring arrives today. If you’re looking for something different to celebrate the arrival of spring over the next few weeks, here are my top five kid friendly activities to celebrate spring…

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Top Five Kid Friendly Activities to Celebrate Spring

1) Spring means colorful flowers and kids of all ages will be amazed by the creations at the 2015 Macy’s flower show Art in Bloom opening this weekend (through April 4). If you’re in New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, Minneapolis, or San Francisco you’ll definitely want to check out this free show. Last year’s show was amazing so I can’t wait to see it this year.

2) Hersheypark is a great spot for family fun and their Springtime in The Park weekends are set for April 3-5 and 11-12. We took a road trip there last spring and its a great time to go without major crowds or heat waves. Check out my Hersheypark Review here.

3) For adventure seeking families in New York, Luna Park in Coney Island’s season opener is Sunday, March 29. Festivities begin at the famous 88-year-old coaster, the Cyclone with an egg-cream christening at 11:45 am. The first 100 guests ride free so be sure to arrive early.

4) New York’s 2015 International Children’s Film Festival wraps up this weekend so come check out a kid friendly flick or attend the family friendly closing night celebration.

5) If you follow me on social media, you know my daughter and I attended a preview of Cinderella last week with The Moms and we LOVED it. If you’re looking for a must-see spring movie that will charm girls of all ages, this version of Disney’s Cinderella does not disappoint. The costumes are amazing, the actors and actresses are perfectly cast and even though you know the story, this live action film keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. And, if you’ve got a Frozen fan, the Frozen Fever short beforehand is super cute.

What are your plans to celebrate the arrival of spring?

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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.

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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.

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“Frozen” Inspired …

October 17, 2014 By admin

Do you have a Frozen fan in your family? I thought so. If you’re looking for a summer Disney getaway that doesn’t involve scorching temperatures and long lines, check out the new Disney cruises aboard the Disney Magic to the Norwegian Fjords.

Frozen, Disney Cruise, Norway, Family Travel, June

“Frozen” Inspired Disney Cruises to Norway Debut in June

This scenic region of Norway served as the inspiration and backdrop for Frozen and Anna and Elsa fans of all ages will recognize the beautiful fjords, scenic glaciers and storybook villages. You’ll enjoy a relaxing getaway while learning abut different cultures, traditions and cuisines. Just like Epcot, but better!

Options include a 7-night sail departing from Copenhagen on June 6, 2015 that makes stops in Stavanger, Alesud, Geiranger and Bergen, Norway. There is also a 9-night sailing out of Copenhagen on June 20, 2015 that adds visits to Molde and Olden, Norway. And if you’ve got some more time, there is an 11-night departure out of Copenhagen on June 29, 2015 with stops in Oslo; Kristians and Stavanger, Norway; Akureyri and Reykjavik, Iceland; Torshavn, Faroe Islands; and Dover, England.

We took a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas and it was a great family-friendly getaway that kept everyone entertained and pampered.

Pricing for the new cruises starts at $1,757 per person for the 7-night all-inclusive journey. Visit Disney Cruise Line for more details.

If you’d rather explore the area on land, check out Adventures by Disney’s Norway Family Vacation.

Have a great weekend!

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Globetrotter Dining with …

May 12, 2014 By admin

If you’ve got a globetrotting tot, check out these adorable Disney It’s a Small World meal sets. Each three-part set includes a cup, bowl and plate that stack together to form a cute boy or girl from around the world. How cute would these be for your next play date?

Disney It’s a Small World India Girl Meal Set:

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Globetrotter Dining with Disney’s It’s a Small Word

Disney, It's a Small World, Kids, Meal Set, Globetrotting, Kids Dinnerware, Mealtime, Travel, India, Globetrotting Mommy

Globetrotter Dining with Disney’s It’s a Small Word

Disney’s It’s a Small World England Boy Meal Set:

Disney, It's a Small World, Meal Set, Globetrotting, Kids Dinnerware, Mealtime, Travel, England, Globetrotting Mommy, Kids

Globetrotter Dining with Disney’s It’s a Small Word

Disney’s It’s a Small World American Boy Meal Set:

Disney, It's a Small World, Meal Set, Globetrotting, Kids Dinnerware, Mealtime, America, United States, Globetrotting Mommy, Kids

Globetrotter Dining with Disney’s It’s a Small Word

Disney’s It’s a Small World France Boy Meal Set:

Disney, It's a Small World, Meal Set, Globetrotting, Kids Dinnerware, Mealtime, France, Globetrotting Mommy, Kids

Globetrotter Dining with Disney’s It’s a Small Word

These would make a great birthday or baby shower gift. They’re so cute I think they’d be fun to include as decoration in a baby nursery or playroom.

Bon appetit!

How do you say “Let it …

March 5, 2014 By admin

Does your daughter sing Frozen’s “Let it Go” hit all day long like mine???

Frozen, Let it Go, Disney, Elsa, Globetrotting Mommy

Globetrotting Mommy – How do you say “Let it Go” in 25 Languages?

Well, I showed her this video of Elsa singing her signature song “Let it Go” in 25 languages and it blew her mind. Check it out and sing along. You might even learn some new words along the way…laissez-le aller,låt det gå, laat het gaan, dejarlo ir…

Let It Go in 25 Languages on Disney Video

If the movie has inspired you to plan a trip to Norway, check out Adventures by Disney’s Norway Family Vacation.

Bon voyage…

Discover Norway, the …

December 3, 2013 By admin

Did you see Disney’s Frozen movie over Thanksgiving weekend? Us too! Did you just love it? Us too!

Globetrotting Mommy – Discover Norway, the inspiration for Disney’s Frozen movie

If you were impressed by the movie’s animated version of Norway’s majestic wintery landscape and traditional folk costumes why not check out the real thing?

If you’re the type who wants someone to plan all your vacation details check out Adventures by Disney’s Norway Family Vacation. The 8-day/7-night getaway includes visits to Bergen (the inspiration for Anna and Elsa’s kingdom of Arendelle), Flåm, Geiranger and Oslo. You’ll enjoy fun-filled family activities like river rafting and boating adventures on the fjord, trout fishing, a private Glacier Safari (hello Seven Sisters Waterfall!), visits to cultural attractions (UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Stave Churches and more), folk dancing, culinary activities (cheese-making, yum…), one-of-a-kind meals (dinner in a museum!) and other adventures. Recommended for families with kids age six and up.

If you’re the plan-it-yourself traveler, check out Visit Norway where you can book Norwegian flights (nonstop from New York, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando Los Angeles and San Francisco) and arrange activities like riding a reindeer sled (just like Sven), Fjord excursions, Oslo tours and other activities where you just might catch the area’s famed northern lights, officially known as Aurora Borealis.

I’m adding Norway to my travel bucket list right now…

Bon voyage.

Holiday Wish List: Great …

November 20, 2013 By admin

Time for tots on the holiday gift list today! Check out the latest round of great picks in my Globetrotter Wish List: Top 10 Holiday Gifts for Little Kids…

Globetrotting Mommy – Holiday gifts for little kids

Stay tuned for upcoming gift guides for big kids, moms, dads and more and if you missed my previous gift guide, check out the Globetrotter Wish List: Top 10 Holiday Gifts for Babies.

This wooden Airplanes Box Set from the MoMA Store reminds me of a toy I had years ago. I love how clean and modern this looks and that all the pieces store neatly in the airport box when playtime is over.

Globetrotting Mommy – Holiday gift ideas for little kids

Little ears will stay toasty warm in these cute faux fur earmuffs. Available in fun pinks, white and neutral tones, they are perfect for sleigh riding in Central Park or sightseeing in Kiev.