Flashback Friday: Happy Birthday WDW!

Today's Flashback Friday comes to you from the year 1983.  We went to Walt Disney World as a family for the first time during spring break and visited the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.  Since both parks will celebrate birthdays tomorrow, I decided to show some old photos of these parks to help celebrate!  The Magic Kingdom will turn 40 on October 1, 2011 and Epcot will turn 29.   It's hard to believe both parks have been around that long! It seems like yesterday I was 8, almost 9, years old running around these two parks for the first time!  Time flies when you're having fun and that's exactly what happens in both parks on a daily basis!!

Both of these pictures crack me up!  At the Magic Kingdom we are centered with the castle but there is soooo much around us- street, people, wheelchairs, etc.  Dad could have zoomed in just a little more to get some of the distractions out of the picture!

Then moving on to Epcot... all I can figure is Dad had us standing by the water waiting until the monorail came by to snap the picture.  Even though there was a couple walking right between us and the camera, he still took it because the monorail was perfect!  Oh well... that's what makes these flashbacks so much fun!

Happy Birthday Magic Kingdom and Epcot!  I wish you many, many more happy years!!

Thanks Sara for hosting this weeks Flashback Friday! :)

Destination Disney: N

Today is the letter "N".  There weren't as many as I thought there would be, but I found enough!  Enjoy my Disney "Ns" and link up with Heidi if you want to participate in today's Destination Disney!!

Nemo

Napping

N Scavenger Hunt: Napkin and Nametag

Norway

Nostalgia at Pop Century

Naveen

New Construction 

Happy Foods at WDW

In honor of the start of the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot, today's blog hop hosted by Lisa at Babes in Disneyland is all about Disney foods that make us happy!

This is easy for me!  The only hard part is finding all the photos!!  Sit, back and enjoy a tour of my favorite foods at Disney!

See if you can spot a theme here...

Strawberry Shortcake from the
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue

Any and all ice cream- especially
with chocolate and sprinkles.
This is the Kitchen Sink
from Beaches and Cream.

Marble Cupcake from Starring Rolls at DHS.

This is the Butterfinger
cupcake from Starring Rolls at DHS.

Cupcakes on Main Street USA in the
Magic Kingdom

Cupcakes from Karamell Kuche in Epcot

Caramel, chocolate covered apple
shaped like Mickey from Disneyland.

Rice Krispy treat shaped like Mickey.

Waffles and syrup, Mickey shaped
at Tusker House in AK.

Meeting Magical Blogorail Members

Last week, my mom, my son and I spent a few days at Walt Disney World.  While we were visiting I had the pleasure of meeting TWO of my fellow Magical Blogorailers!  I knew Melissa from Disney on Wheels would be there at the same time, so we made plans to meet up, visit the Magic Kingdom and share a Kitchen Sink from Beaches and Cream.

Melissa and I at Beaches and Cream

Then, while we were in line to meet Gaston at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, Wendy from Your Highway in the Sky was in line behind us!!  It was such a surprise to see her and meet her in person.  

Wendy, Cman and I at MNSSHP

You'll be reading more about both the Kitchen Sink and MNSSHP in future posts!

Now, when will I get to meet the other Magical Blogorailers in person!?  :)

Stars Fell On: Main Street Memories

Today on "Stars Fell on Disney Fans from Alabama," I'd like to introduce you to Brittney and Susan.  They are both from the Birmingham, AL area an have the blog "Main Street Memories."  What a great name for a blog, since a lot of Disney blogging is all about memories we have made at the different Disney destinations!  These ladies share their own family memories on their blog and how they can help you make your own memories at Disney.  Welcome to Brittney and Susan!

Hello, fellow Disney lovers!  We are Brittney and Susan from Main Street Memories.  We are friends who share a love for all things Disney.  We both grew up going to Walt Disney World.  As adults, we’ve spent many memorable moments on Disney vacations with our families.  After many years of planning Disney vacations for our families and friends just for the fun of it, we were fortunate enough to make our Disney vacation planning “official” by becoming Authorized Disney Vacation Planners.  We’d like to share a little bit about exactly what that means and how you can benefit from our own personal Disney obsessions.

 

Let’s face it….planning a Disney vacation can be quite overwhelming.  It is our goal to take the worry and stress away from you so that you can enjoy both the anticipation of your vacation and the time you spend making memories with your loved ones.  And the best part is that there is NEVER a charge for our services…..another thing you don’t have to worry about.



We are not just "an agency".....we are authorized, and educated by Disney...for Disney...to book Disney....so that YOU can enjoy Disney!!!



Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, Adventures By Disney Vacation Packages, even the brand new Disney resort in Hawaii! All of these are our specialty!



We can do as little or as much as you’d like.  We can and will gladly help you choose which resort is best for you, help you decide if you do or do not need the Disney Dining Plan, make those dining reservations, set up your Disney's Magical Express, and soooo much more!!!  We want to help you save some money, and enjoy the money that you are spending! That's our "job"!



And we can give you those special touches that you can't get....just booking online, or through an agency that specializes "in it all.”  Are you celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, or just a "first trip to Disney"....we can help with that too!  We can offer recommendations based on your family’s specific needs and give you ideas on how to make the very most out of the time you spend on vacation.



So….now that you know a little about us, we would love for you to call us today and let us help you plan a truly memorable Disney vacation.  It is truly what we LOVE to do!

Here is how you can contact us:

Brittney Smith                                                                               

205.369.2399

brittney@classictravelconnection.com

http://mymainstreetmemories.blogspot.com/2011/06/will-you-let-brittney-be-your-travel.html

Susan Flebotte

205.229.9830

susan@classictravelconnection.com

http://mymainstreetmemories.blogspot.com/2011/09/will-you-let-susan-be-your-travel_27.html

Find us on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/MyMainStreetMemories

And here’s our blog:  www.mymainstreetmemories.blogspot.com

Wordless Wednesday: Drizella

Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade
Magic Kingdom, September 2011

Thanks for hosting Deb!

Tuesday's Tip: Toddler Distractions at WDW

Last week I was lucky enough to spend 4 nights at WDW.  No, it wasn't long enough and I didn't get to do everything I wanted, but I was at Walt Disney World!  Any day at WDW is better than a day not being there! :)

Fab 5 plus Daisy
(tilt your head to the right)

Being at the parks with a 2 1/2 year old can be challenging.  What I learned is that it's good great to be prepared!  While C-man did an outstanding job and exceeded my expectations, there were several times we needed distractions: waiting in line, riding the bus, waiting for food, and riding in the stroller.  I had packed several things to play with but the things he enjoyed more were not planned!

Toy Story

I had a mini mangadoodle that was a lifesaver.  I also had candy, juice, snacks and light up toys ready to go in my backpack.  I thought that would be enough- wrong!  Two of the best things I had were silly bandz in the shape of characters and a full 8x11 sheet of character stickers in the back of the Disney Character Encyclopedia (which is another great resource to have as a distraction).  We spent so much time looking at the shapes of the characters the silly bandz were making and talking about them.  By the end of the trip, he was making up stories to go along with the silly bandz "guys!"  We also used the stickers to put on the park maps.  He loved peeling them on and off the maps!  This would be a great way to make up stories about the characters going to the parks or marking off the attractions you visit.

So, remember to pack small things such as silly bandz and a sheet of small stickers to decorate your maps!

Faith and Disney: The Lion King

Last week, I posted a devotion I found that mentioned Disneyland.  I made the comment that I loved when two of my worlds (God and Disney) come together!  Through some of the comments I received, I decided to tie my two worlds together more!  I'm going to start posting some of my thoughts and youth lessons on Sundays that bring God, Faith and Disney together.  I hope you enjoy- and if you don't just skip over this part! ;)


Each Wednesday night this fall, I'm doing a "Disney Bible Study" with my Jr High youth.  Each week, we watch a clip from a Disney movie and have a lesson based on the clip and the moral or lesson it teaches.  The first week, we watched part of The Lion King.  I'll encourage you to watch this clip and think of the answers you would provide to some of the questions.

• What is your least favorite rule your parents have, or had when you were a youth?  Why?
• What is your least favorite "rule" in the Bible?  Why?
• Are there good reasons for rules?

Watch The Lion King starting at 29:10 "This is it.  We made it." and end at 35:33 "Cause nobody messes with your dad.  Come here, you!"  This is the part where Simba and Nala sneak off to the Elephant Graveyard and Mufasa has to rescue them from the hyenas.

• Simba and Nala deliberately disobeyed their parents and found themselves in danger.  Have you ever been in a dangerous situation because you’ve disobeyed your parents?  Have your parents ever had to rescue you?  Share experiences
  
• Do you think the rules your parents have for you are fair?  Do you think rules need to change?  Why?  When?  What are some things you can do to see if your family’s rules are fair and appropriate?
  
• Read Ephesians 6:1-3
  ¹Children, do what your parents tell you. This is only right. ²"Honor your father and mother" is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, ³"so you will live well and have a long life."
  
• What does honoring your parents mean to you?
  
• How does being obedient show that you love your parents and you love God?
  
• Mufasa confessed his fear to Simba.  Have your parents ever told you their fears?   If yes, how did knowing their fears change you?
  
• Have you ever felt indestructible?  What made you feel that way?  Were you with your friends or by yourself?
  
• Has anyone ever talked you into doing something you regretted later on?  Were you with your friends or by yourself?
  
• Do friends make a difference in how you feel about yourself and what you say and do?  How?
  
• It’s easy to be obedient when your parents are watching.  Do you obey their rules when there’s no chance of them ever knowing whether you are obeying?
  
• Read 1 John 2:3-6
   ³Here's how we can be sure that we know God in the right way: Keep his commandments.
      ⁴If someone claims, "I know him well!" but doesn't keep his commandments, he's obviously a liar. His life doesn't match his words. ⁵But the one who keeps God's word is the person in whom we see God's mature love. This is the only way to be sure we're in God. ⁶Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.
  
• How does following God’s laws actually make us more free?
  
• Why does God require our obedience?
  
• What change might you see in your life this week if you really followed God’s laws?

Blessings to you all!

~Beth

Destination Disney: M

We're halfway there!  Today is brought to you by the letter "M"!  There were SOOOO many "M" words, that I actually cut back on my pictures... sorry it's still so long!  Thanks for hosting Heidi!

Map

Minnie Mouse

Mike Wazowski 

Mushu and Mulan

Meerkat 

Matterhorn 

Mickey Mouse

Mr. Smee

Mary Poppins

Mr Incredible

Mr. Incredible  

Marathon Start

"M" Scavenger Hunt: maps

Meeko

Mater

Mad Hatter