A Vintage Goofy Cman

Mimi, Jonathan's mom, found a box of souvenirs from their family trip to WDW in 1980. This was before Epcot opened so all the souvenirs were from Magic Kingdom. We found a plastic back scratcher with Mickey on the top, a brown thermos style mug with photos of attractions from MK, a Safari hat from the Jungle Cruise and the vintage trucker style Goofy hat! Cman LOVES it! :) It may make the trip down in December!

Snow White and Dopey

I met Snow White and got her autograph at the same time! This was during my trip to WDW in February of 2005. What a great time to visit the parks! This was at the Judges Tent in Toontown in the Magic Kingdom.
Dopey was found during our trip as a family in June of 1996 following my college graduation. We were at Epcot. Apparently this was a great day for finding characters since I'm wearing the same outfit in the photos with Belle, Beast, Esmaralda and Quasimodo! If you look close enough in the background, you can see Pocahontas and Aladdin. This was when the characters would ride to the entrance of World Showcase on a double decker bus. You could meet at least a dozen characters at Showcase Plaza! I wonder when they stopped doing this? I liked the bus characters! :)

The Lion King

I met Timon and Rafiki while I was at Walt Disney World in January of 2003 to run the full marathon with Team in Training. I went with my friend Deb (far left) and the other girl, Karen, was in our training group. We were in the Magic Kingdom during our free days prior to the race when we met Timon on Main Street USA. I already had Rafiki's autograph from a prior trip (see below), but Timon was posing with Rafiki for our picture so I got the shot with both Lion King animals and Timon's autograph!

I first met Rafiki on a trip to Walt Disney World in 1998. This was in my former life- for those of you who know me, you can probably figure out who I was vacationing with... I met Rafiki at then, MGM Studios, right as you enter the main gate. I think his autograph is my favorite of all the characters! It has such "character!"
I've never seen Simba or Nala at Walt Disney World, or Disneyland for that matter. Do you know if you can actually "meet" them or can you only see them at The Festival of the Lion King at Animal Kingdom?

the binder

Here is the wonderfully dreadful binder- whichever way you view it. I think it's wonderful, hubby things it's dreadful! He knows when this binder makes it off the shelf, I'm working on a Walt Disney World trip- even if that trip doesn't really happen! I keep all our past trip details in this binder along with rates, budgets, park maps, etc. I can revisit these to relive old trips and memories or help with planning a new trip. This way I hopefully won't forget anything!

This is where I keep majority of my Disney "stuff." There are 8 colored tab dividers with pockets: Planning, Budget, Reservaitons, MK, Epcot, DHS, AK and Everything Else. In the pencil pouch I keep our Disney Bingo cards and dry erase markers with erasers attached. I also have Disney stickers for the kids, post it tabs, Disney pens (Cars) and pencils (Princesses), mini sharpie pens and paper clips. In the front pocket, I keep my window gels, old ticket/ room key cards, our monorail co pilot license, a photo pass photo in front of the castle, a "Where Dreams Come True" certificate from "Flights of Wonder" at AK, a sample packing list, google maps from our last trip and an old email from JAG's teacher letting me know what work he had to do on our trip!

In the planning divider I keep the "guide to the magic" brochure/ pamphlet from our 2008 trip, the Disney's Pirate and Princess Party Adventure Map from 2008, and a Timeline- to do list from our 2006 trip I printed from touringplans.com. I also have the Wild About Safety fun book the kids got, the All Star Resort Recreation Activities brochure for the week we were there and details printed off the WDW site about the Pirates and Princesses Party! Hooked into the 3 rings are reminders about protecting your home while on vacation, an "ultimate packing list", and details about our upcoming trip in December: projected weather, projected park hours, my free disney park maps, our itinerary and my conference details.

In the budget divider I have budgets from our past trips and our Disney Rewards Visa dollars acquired. I've also started a rough budget for our future trip along with the amount of Disney Gift Cards I've purchased prior to the trip.

In the reservations divider I have past plans, rates, reservations and hotel details. I also have current plans for the December trip: confirmation numbers, dining reservations, MVMCP details, and hotel plans/ rates.

In the MK, Epcot, AK, and DHS dividers, I have old park maps and times guides from previous trips, pocket guides for each park from The Mouse for Less, tips for each park printed from Guide 2 WDW, and tips I copied from message boards about each park.

In the "everything else in the world" divider, I have maps from previous trips (DTD, TL and BB), tips from message boards, tips for DTD printed from Guide 2 WDW, old Fort Wilderness campfire movie schedules and a map of all of WDW. I also have information on the water parks: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, La Nouba and the Wide World of Sports.

In the back pocket of the binder I have the first grade course of studies for the state of Alabama for when JAG missed school, copies of maps of the countries represented in World Showcase and our airline reservations and magical express info from our trip in 2006.

Maybe this will inspire you to create your own Walt Disney World binder for your past, present and future trips with your family!

Hunchback characters

Honestly, I don't remember which trip these autographs came from. If I had photos it would help trigger this old memory. I even asked my mother if she remembered when we got them and she wasn't any help either. I wonder if I went through her old photos if I could find some photos to go along with these autographs... If I had to guess, I think these came from the 1996 or 1998 trip and they were at MGM.

"Let the Memories Begin"

Official release from Disney Parks:

In 2011, Disney guests will become the stars of a nightly spectacular when photos taken in the park during the day become larger-than-life projections on Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort or “it’s a small world” at Disneyland Resort. This groundbreaking new experience will celebrate the family vacation memories created in Disney theme parks every day.

And this week, Disney guests will begin starring on television, too, as part of the new “Let the Memories Begin” campaign. For the first time, Disney Parks is featuring the home videos and snapshots of real guests in television ads and other marketing that will allow an audience of millions to share in true-life, heartfelt moments.

“A Disney vacation is the perfect way to create family memories that will last a lifetime,” said Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, at a media announcement Thursday in New York. “We’ll spotlight those ‘only-at-Disney’ moments with family and friends during our ‘Let the Memories Begin’ campaign.”

A just-released survey of U.S. and Canadian families conducted for Disney Parks by Ypartnership, a noted research firm that tracks consumer insights and trends in travel, showed that vacation memories hold a special place in family history.

Nine out of 10 parents said they planned their vacations with the express hope that they would result in a lasting family memory, the survey showed. And those memories stuck with them – nearly three-quarters said they think back “often” or “very often” on their favorite vacation experiences.

‘Memories in the Making’ to be Shared on Disney Park Icons

Beginning in January 2011, some Disney parks guests will find that the memory they just made has become a larger-than-life image during a “Let the Memories Begin” nighttime experience.

At Walt Disney World Resort, the guest photos will be projected on the soaring spires of Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom. At Disneyland Resort, the iconic façade of “it’s a small world” will be the canvas for the show.

In both locations, Disney PhotoPass photographers will capture guests caught up in the Disney experience – a memory in the making – and as many as 500 photos will be used in each location every day, producers estimate.

The nighttime show will use the latest in high-intensity projection technology to create vivid visuals that seem to defy the architecture of the building. A new song commissioned for the show will provide an emotional context for these images of the Disney guest experience.

For TV Ads and More, Disney Parks Issues a ‘Call for Memories’

Beyond seeing their own projected photos in lights, guests also could become the stars of Disney Parks television commercials, online campaigns and social media opportunities that will showcase to the world the power of memories.

The campaign kicks off this week with a TV commercial created from videos posted online in social media forums.

For future TV commercials and other advertising and marketing programs, Disney Parks is asking guests to share their memories by uploading photos and videos at a special “Let the Memories Begin” online hub at www.DisneyParks.com/Memories. From a first meeting with a princess to a laugh-filled watery touchdown on Splash Mountain, Disney Parks is looking for videos and photos that capture those never-to-be-forgotten experiences.

Some memories will be shared online, while others may be selected to share in print ads, brochures and other marketing – including television ads to air across the United States and Canada.

With real visitor images on iconic attractions and home video featured in commercials, the storytellers at Disney Parks are letting guests tell their own stories in 2011, Staggs said.

“We wanted to give our guests a powerful way to share the memories they create every day in our parks,” Staggs said. “Essentially, this becomes our first user-generated show and our first user-generated marketing campaign.

“A day at a Disney park is filled with magical experiences that become cherished and unforgettable memories – and now we’re helping our guests share those memories with the world.

More Ways to Make Disney Vacation Memories in 2011

To help make special memories last a lifetime, in 2011 Disney Parks is adding new theme park experiences in California and Florida, new vacation opportunities on the high seas with Disney Cruise Line, a new luxury resort on a breathtaking lagoon in Hawaii, and new ways to explore the world with Adventures by Disney.

Here’s a snapshot of what’s in store:

• “World of Color” (Disneyland Resort): “World of Color,” the new nighttime spectacular presented in Disney California Adventure park, brings classic Disney and Disney•Pixar animation to life with nearly 1,200 powerful fountains, larger-than-life projections, lasers, fire, music and special effects.
• Disney California Adventure Expansion (Disneyland Resort): Next up for the continuing expansion of the park is the first major attraction based on the modern Disney classic, “The Little Mermaid.” The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure will treat guests to a musical retelling of the classic motion picture as the best-loved songs come alive in magnificent scenes all around them.
• New Star Tours 3-D Adventure (Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort): Bridging that “long time ago” between the two “Star Wars” trilogies, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue will take flight in 2011 and take voyagers to thrilling destinations throughout the “Star Wars” galaxy. And it will all happen in brilliant, 3-D technology.
• Disney Cruise Line: The Disney Dream, the newest ship of the Disney Cruise Line, launching January 2011, will bring to life grand innovations and more, offering a cruise experience from stem to stern that caters to preferences of the entire family. The Disney Wonder cruise ship will “go west” in early 2011; and new West Coast itineraries for Disney Cruise Line will include, for the first time, Alaska cruises sailing from Vancouver.
• Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina Hawai`i: A first-of-its-kind Disney resort in Hawaii creates a perfect setting for family fun. The new resort, which includes traditional hotel rooms and Disney Vacation Club villas, is being built on 21 acres of oceanfront property, 17 miles from Honolulu International Airport and approximately 30 minutes from Waikiki.

Here’s how you can be a part of a Disney Parks ad:

You’ve made Disney vacation memories and captured them in photos or video. Now you intend to share them with the world by posting them online.

Disney Parks has created a place where you can share those memories and view the Disney memories of other vacationers – with the possibility that they’ll be shared with yet more people in a Disney television “spot” or in print or online communications.

As Disney Parks launches “Let the Memories Begin” with communications that acknowledge making memories as “the masterpiece of parenthood,” the company also has launched a website for sharing and viewing memories. Guests can upload their photos, videos and text-only memories at DisneyParks.com/Memories. They can even categorize their memories by theme, emotion and location.

The DisneyParks.com/Memories website (also available soon in Spanish and French) has a simple-to-use interface for uploading, viewing and searching Disney memories. The functionality also will be part of the Disney Parks pages on Facebook, YouTube and MySpace.

Memory submission is as easy as 1-2-3:

1. Choose to share your memory on DisneyParks.com/Memories;Facebook.com/WaltDisneyWorld; Facebook.com/Disneyland;Youtube.com/DisneyMemories; or Myspace.com/DisneyParks.
2. Describe your memory. Memories can upload as photos, videos or text-only.
3. Then all it takes is hitting the “submit” box and, once reviewed, a lifetime Disney memory is stored and shared.

On the heels of a series of television commercials created with brief home video segments, Disney Parks is looking for more “user-generated content” for future TV commercial spots, print advertisements, newsletter articles and vacation-planning video segments relating to “Let the Memories Begin.”

Wordless Wednesday...kinda

Cman and I were playing in his room and I snapped this photo... which reminded me of...

Willie the Giant from Mickey and the Beanstalk... however this photo was from a DVR'd episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse- "Minnie's Pajama Party!"

Test from my new app

So, I downloaded a blog app that was on sale for my phone. I doubt I'll use it, but I have it if I decide I do want to use it... If it works!

Have a magical day! :)

Harmony Barber Shop

If you have never been to the Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, you need to add this to your "to do list" for your next trip!!

Thanks to Travels2Florida.com for this image.

In 2008, our son, JAG needed a haircut prior to our trip, but we didn't have time to make that happen. So, we made the decision to go to Harmony on our first day so we wouldn't have to worry about it a week later when we returned home! This quickly became something we will do on all future trips! I'll make sure someone in the family doesn't get their haircut prior to the trip so we will have to swing by Harmony! We were disappointed at Disneyland this year to find out you can't get a haircut on property...

Getting suited up for the cut!

The work begins! While JAG was intently watching the haircut happen, dad and I were listening to 2 older women discuss the hundreds (literally) of embroidered Disney characters on their denim long sleeve shirts!

A very pleased boy!

The finished product, complete with a blue gel mohawk and Pixie Dust shaped like Mickey's head!

The gel and pixie dust lasted through the day as we ended with one last round of Buzz Lightyear's Spaceranger Spin!

Harmony Barber Shop is a quaint "old timey" barber shop located on the left side of Main Street between the horse barn and the Emporium. The barber pole out front is a definite give away! Inside you will feel like you are back in the early 1900s waiting to get a haircut. If you are lucky, you'll get to hear the "Dapper Dan's" barbershop quartet perform while you wait. The atmosphere is great, the conversations are fun and the haircut results are fabulous!

If you bring your baby in for their first haircut you will get special treatment from the barbers including a pair of "first haircut" embroidered Mickey Ears and a certificate! If you choose, you can have the barbers sprinkle Mickey head sprinkles in your "do" when they are finished cutting and styling your hair. They also have colored gel to add some flair to your "do" and I've even seen an airbrushed Mickey head on the back of people's heads!

The Harmony Barber Shop is open from 9-5, 7 days a week. When we were there last we walked up and waited for the chair to open. I've heard recently that you have to have an appointment now to get a hair cut. I don't know if that is correct or not. I also don't know how early you have to make this appointment or who you need to call to do this... can you help answer these questions for me?

a host of tips

Today I'm making a list of some of my favorite tips for families going to Walt Disney World.

1. If you rent a stroller at any of the parks, remember your stroller will look like ALL the other strollers families are using. Bring something from home to set your stroller apart from the others. When you get off an attraction to find your stroller, you will be thankful that you know to look for the bright green ribbon, red bandanna, or yellow balloon tied to the handle amongst all the strollers parked in rows! When you leave the park or turn in your stroller don't forget to take your item off the handle bar so you can use it at the next park!

2. If you like to chew gum, bring it with you! Disney does not sell any gum in any of their parks. I guess it helps cut back on the amount of squished gum on the sidewalks and roads that cast members have to scrape up!

3. If you wear a women's medium, try buying a child's XL instead! They are a lot cheaper and basically the same size. I was able to buy a fleece pullover in a child's XL instead of a women's M and saved almost $20!! The tshirt I bought in Disneyland was $7 cheaper than the women's size!

4. If you spend a lot of time at your resort and drink a lot, you may want to buy a refillable mug at your resort. You can spend $12.99 + tax on a mug and refill it with coke products, tea, coffee or hot chocolate as often as you want as long as your stay lasts. In the past, we would fill up our mugs on our way to the bus stop and drink it on the way to the parks. When we left the parks to go back to the resort we would stop by the food court and refill again. You can click the link above to read a great review of the mugs from the mouse for less.

5. While you are visiting Downtown Disney, visit the Ghirardelli store for a free sample of chocolate! This is a must for me! :)

6. If you collect pressed pennies, make sure you pack an empty mini M&M tube. These tubes are the perfect size for quarters and pennies. We load up our M&M tube in this order, 2 quarters and 1 penny, 2 quarters and 1 penny, 2 quarters and 1 penny, etc. That way when we spot a penny machine we can easily access the exact amount of money we need quickly!

You can see the pink M&M tube circled in red in the photo!

7. As your trip approaches, go to Walgreens each week or month and buy a Disney gift card. These can be used at your resort, parks or in the gift shops, for food and souvenirs. This way you aren't spending or charging money during the trip. You have already spent the money at Walgreens!! You can also give each child 1 gift card with $20 or however much you want them to have before the trip. This way each child knows how much money they have to spend on souvenirs and they can budge their "money."

8. If you are interested in pin trading on your Disney vacation, check out ebay before your trip. You can buy Disney pins off ebay a lot cheaper than you can buy them in the parks. Then when you get to the parks, trade the ebay pins with the cast members for the pins you really want to have in your collection! But remember, cast members will only trade official Disney pins... so I've heard!

I'll think of more later. I'm going to watch football! :)

War Eagle!

thanks.

Dear Ryan at Main Street Gazette,

Thank you so much for mentioning my post on Esmeralda and Quasimodo! It made my day and hopefully got my blog some attention!

Disney Love,

Beth

WDW Mom's Panel

9/10/10

Dear Mickey Mom:

As a member of the Mickey Moms Club, you are most likely someone with a passion for “all things Walt Disney World®”! Well, it’s that time of year when Mickey is on the look-out for the best, the mousiest, and the most pixie-dusted vacation planners the world has ever seen to join the Walt Disney World Moms Panel. Launched in January 2008, the Moms Panel website is an online forum led by real, park-savvy parents who assist other guests with the vacation-planning process. The site became an instant success that has tripled in the number of questions answered and thus tripled the number of panelists since its inception.

Disney is looking for new people to become members of the 2011 Moms Panel. In September, we will be taking applications for the panel. Once the new panelists are chosen, they will travel to Walt Disney World® Resort in December for training. The 2011 panelists will begin answering vacation-planning questions in January. If chosen, you not only could receive a Walt Disney World ®Resort vacation for you and three other guests and/or a monetary gift card depending on their term- but, even cooler than that, you also could be helping families across the nation plan their best Disney trip ever!

Visit the Walt Disney World Moms Panel website where applications will be taken from 9 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on September 13, 2010, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time September 17, 2010, or when we have reached 20,000 applicants, whichever comes first. You just might besharing your love of Disney Parks with the world!

Laura

So, I got this email because I am a member of the Mickey Mom's Club. What this means is, I was not chosen to be a part of the Walt Disney World Mom's Panel when I applied in the fall of 2008 for the 2009 year. I get occasional emails from the Mickey Mom's Club and have access to a "private" site within the Disney web site to share my ideas, tips, etc with other mom's who have the same passion as I do.

In 2008, these were the questions asked in the first round online:

1. Tell us about you and your family.

2. Why are you a great Walt Disney World vacation planner

3. Your favorite Disney vacationing tip

Well, fast forward 2 years and these are the questions you need to answer to be on the 2011 panel:

1. A) When was your last vacation to Walt Disney World® with your family? B) Do you work in an industry that is in competition, would benefit from being associated with the Walt Disney World® Moms Panel or be in conflict with Disney’s family friendly brand? If yes, please explain. C) True or False - World Showcase is a collection of pavilions representing 14 countries that border the 5 miles surrounding World Showcase Lagoon.

2. In 100 words or less, explain when and how you helped a non-family member plan their first trip toWalt Disney World® Resort.

3. In 100 words or less, tell us about what resources you use to find and share interesting park facts and vacation planning tips with others.

I applied again, even though I'll be disqualified because I haven't been to WDW within the past 12 months. I went to Disneyland.... oh well! Maybe they'll like my answers so much they will overlook that small detail! Does it count that I'll be at the world in December of this year?? ;)

If you are going to apply, you need to do so quickly! They will stop accepting applicants on Friday, September 17 or after they reach the 20,000 mark, whichever comes first.

For some tips on answering the questions visit these web sites:

Walt Disney World blog tips from previous "moms"

Current WDW Mom's Panel site

Tips from Zannaland, a previous mom from the mom's panel

Good Luck! I can't wait to see who our new moms will be for 2011!!

Disney Dreams

Her Disney Dream came true! What an inspirational story about a girl who followed her dreams... all the way to Disney!

Ways to keep it going for Cman...

Remember when I did this post on "ways to keep it going"? I shared ways to keep the magic alive once you return from Disney. We have Disney magic hiding all through our house. After I posted the pictures I even found additional magic that I forgot about! In that original post, I didn't post Cman's room because he was sleeping. So, recently I remembered to photograph his room to share some of the magic that is in there.
Here are some of the Disney stuffed animals in Cmans room. You can see a big Mickey head pillow I got on sale for $3 at a toy store going out of business! There is also a Mickey and Minnie "beanie baby" that was found a Walgreens for half the price of the same stuffed animals in the parks! Notice the Mickey pirate from the Pirates and Princess Party at the Magic Kingdom. There is also a Dori fish from Finding Nemo, a classic Pooh bear hiding in the back and a Donald Duck hand puppet in the front. However, I think my favorite animal hiding in the bunch is Figment! He was a purchase I made on our trip in 1983! I had just been on Journey to Imagination for the first time and FELL IN LOVE with Figment!!
These are just a few of the books we have on Cmans "piano" that we read on a daily basis: Disney's Friendly Tales about the Fab 5 going to the beach with a mini Mickey stuffed animal attached (this was JAGs when he was a kid), several Baby Einstein books with Violet and Jane, and some Tigger and Pooh books found in the dollar bins at Target. These were the only ones that made it into the photo. Cmans favorite book is the Birnbaum guide to WDW! He loves to look at the photographs of the characters and name them... or at least find them when I say the name of each character!
This is Cman's favorite character~ Donald Duck! Mostly because he can say "duck" so clearly and everyone knows what he's saying! This was in JGs room when he was a child. Mimi made it in the 70s!

These figurines were passed down from Uncle Mark. I guess he outgrew them!! Cman loves Tigger. He calls him 'grrr' which is his word for Tiger! Thanks Mark!

Disney on TV this weekend!

Walt Disney World and Disneyland on TV... set your DVRs! Watching these shows is a great way to 1) learn more about the parks, 2) prepare your family for the adventure you are about to go on or 3) to get a Disney fix between vacations! Disney on a Dime- Sept. 11 from 12:00pm- 1:00pm on the Travel Channel. This shows how 3 different families travel to Disney World on different budgets. Walt Disney World Resort: Behind the Scenes- Sept. 11 from 1:00pm-2:00pm on the Travel Channel. This show goes behind the scenes, duh, to see all 4 parks at Walt Disney World. Undiscovered Disney Parks- Sept. 12 from 7:00am-8:00am on the Travel Channel. This show takes you on a tour of WDW and Disneyland showing some hidden secrets and how the parks operate day to day. Undiscovered Walt Disney World- Sept. 12 from 8:00am-9:00am on the Travel Channel. This show will show you out of the way parts of the parks including Hidden Mickeys and a view of the area from the air. Disneyland Resort: Behind the Scenes- Sept. 12 from 9:00am-10:00am on the Travel Channel. This show will show some hidden secrets at DL and the club for members only while exploring the park that started it all!

Esmeralda and Quasimodo

Meeting these two characters happened right after we met Belle and Beast. We were touring the World Showcase at Epcot in June of 1996 following my college graduation. We were spending time in the France pavilion when we stumbled upon Belle, Beast, Esmeralda and Quasimodo. I haven't seen these two characters since that trip. I wonder how often they make appearances now? Speaking of Esmeralda and Quasimodo, I sure do miss the Hunchback stage show at MGM. That was one of my favorites!

Game Time!!!

I'm going to start this post with a big WAR EAGLE!! It's college football time and I couldn't be more excited! Well, maybe I could if Auburn were playing at the ESPN Wide World of Sports and I was there to see them play and my husband were an AU fan to cheer them on with me!!

This week on the Disney Parks Blog, there was a post on Rivalry games and the pins Disney has made over the years to commemorate these big games. I had NO idea they had this line of pins. How exciting to see that the Auburn/ Bama game has made the series twice in 2007 and 2009. I already contacted Disney about ordering these, but they are no longer available. They only made 1000 of each and I'm sure they didn't last long!

This year, on my parents anniversary, they will release the 2010 pins. However, this year it's not Auburn/ Bama, it's Auburn/ Georgia!!! I love the Auburn/ Bama rivalry, but the Auburn/ Georgia game is probably my favorite game of the season. It's the oldest college rivalry, I believe, and such a fun game on the plains! I hope I can order this AU/ UGA pin on time to add it to my collection!

Belle and Beast

This photo was in June of 1996 when my family went to WDW for my college graduation. Too bad nobody ever told me the overall shorts look was unflattering! They almost look like maternity clothes! Anyway... Mark, my baby brother, and I were touring the World Showcase with the rest of the family at Epcot when we met Belle and Beast at the France Pavilion. Obviously I could get Belle's autograph, but poor Beast's hands were too big to hold a pen! I wonder if he has an autograph stamp now??

dining tip

Here is a great tip from the weekly All Ears newsletter email.

... from Gretchen: If you are making dining reservations and have a baby with you who will not be sitting in a seat or ordering a meal, you still have to include them in the number of people on the reservation. This is due to fire codes and the actual number of people in a restaurant. We showed up at our dining reservation and were told that we could have been turned away if they were full. Luckily they weren't and were able to accommodate us.

What a great tip! I had not even thought about the fire codes before! Keep that in mind when you are making your advanced dining reservations at any Disney restaurant in the parks or resorts!