Disney Dream Pre Trip Report

The following is part one of a trip report from my Disney Dream/Walt Disney World vacation from this past November. Please leave your comments and let me know if you have any questions. 

My husband Tom and I love to cruise. Living in New York, we've had a lot of opportunities to go on really fun and affordable cruises. However, I had been itching for a very long time to go on a Disney Cruise. My last Disney Cruise was on the Disney Magic in 2000. I was in high school and while I enjoyed it, I don't think that I appreciated it as much then as I do now.

As many of you know, one of the biggest obstacles to a Disney Cruise is the expense. It costs a lot of money, especially if you're used to Walt Disney World value or moderate resort pricing, or even pricing for other cruise lines. Is it worth the money? That's a different topic for a different day. I would certainly argue yes, it is worth the money; however, it doesn't make it any easier to save.

This time, however, I was determined. We were purchasing a house and I knew that after we got in and project after project piled up, there would be too many obstacles in the way of our dream (Dream?) trip. Because of a strict budget we had to be a little creative, but we made it work and we had a trip of a lifetime.

After convincing another couple to come with us we booked our trip for November. We used our United Airlines miles to fly from Newark Liberty Airport to Orlando International. We got in an inside stateroom on a four night cruise. We used my parents DVC points for a Walt Disney World stay at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. We made our dining reservations. We were ready.

Or so we thought...

Less than a week before we left for our trip, while our bags sat in our apartment fully packed, our home of Staten Island, NY was slammed, smashed and practically drowned by Hurricane Sandy. We were lucky in that none of our family members were harmed, but it hurt us deep down inside to see our hometown in complete shambles.

Our families convinced us to go, so I painted my toenails with a flashlight and headed off to the airport. It sure was an adventure...

Stay tuned for a daily trip report on Fridays!

Wordless Wednesday: My Disney Dad

I have a lot to be thankful for in my life. My Dad is someone I don't know what I'd do without. He is a kind, wonderful man. Everyone who knows my Dad, loves my Dad. My Dad is also a big Disney fan!

So, this Wordless Wednesday is dedicated to him!

Dad (in green) with his two kids, future daughter in-law and son-in-law

My Dad absolutely loves the Christmas season. There is not one inch of our home that isn't decorated at Christmas. The first time he visited Walt Disney World at Christmas was on my College Program. He tries to go as much as possible now and enjoys every bit of it!

Posing at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village

One of my Dad's favorite stores at Walt Disney World

So, here's to my Disney Dad, a big, happy kid at heart! I love you! Thank you for blessing me with this Disney gift. Happy Father's Day!

What I SKIP at WDW

Welcome to those of you joining me from The Magical Mouse Pad and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the second stop on our Magical Blogorail.

I've been going to Walt Disney World for the past 27 years. There are very few attractions I haven't experienced over those years. And what I didn't do when visiting on family vacations, I made sure I experienced when I was on my Walt Disney World College Program and Professional Internship.

There are few attractions I tend to avoid, whether consciously or unconsciously. When I'm at Epcot, I tend to skip Mission: SPACE because it makes me a little queasy. At Hollywood Studios, I don't often go see Beauty and the Beast stage show because it's hot. At Animal Kingdom, I rarely go on Kali River Rapids because I am uncomfortable walking around in wet sneakers all day.

Yet if I'm with a group and they want to experience any of the above attractions, I'm always IN!

There is one attraction that inevitably starts a fight between my husband and I each trip, and it's at the Magic Kingdom. (He's rolling his eyes at me as I type this as well)

Believe it or not, I have NEVER experienced SWISS FAMILY TREEHOUSE!

By David Bjorgen (David Bjorgen) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Why? Well there are a couple reasons. When I was a child we always visited in August, and much like the Beauty and the Beast stage show (mentioned above, which is fabulous by the way) it was simply too hot to climb a tree. Now, my reason is much more practical. I panic when I feel slightly claustrophobic. Therefore, it never appealed to me.

My husband whines every single time we pass the attraction. I always offer to wait and outside and have a refreshing Dole Whip while he enjoys the Swiss Family Treehouse, but somehow that always results in the two of us eating Dole Whips!

Honorable mention: Stitch's Great Escape. (I just can't!) 

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is The Disney Chick.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad
2nd Stop ~ The Disney Point (You are here!)
3rd Stop ~ The Disney Chick
4th Stop ~ Manda’s Disney Blog

Playing by the rules

I've always played by the rules.

I'm not quite sure why but I have never been one to act out. My parents always used to laugh when my teachers used to tell them that I needed to stop apologizing when they were reprimanding other students and I did not do anything wrong. 

Here's the thing about rules: if they are reasonable, there's no reason to break them. They are there for a very important reason and they are fair.

Disney has a very reasonable system in place when dealing with guests with disabilities. Say you are traveling with your spouse, 10 year old child and 5 year old autistic child. If that autistic child cannot wait in line, you can go up to guest relations at the front of any Disney theme park. You can give them a description of your child's limitations. They will most likely issue you a Guest Assistance Card. The GAC will outline your child's limitations. Then the guest with disability can show the card to Cast Members at every attraction. The attractions have different rules, but for the most part, you will be granted special access for you and up to six members in your party.

Disney DOES NOT ask you what your limitation is, due to privacy laws.

The problems started most likely when the internet came around. Irresponsible bloggers and others got wind of this process. It has been billed as a "front of the line" pass online. It starts with whispers and now the whole world gets wind of it. "An easy way to skip the lines at Disney."

Here's the issue: there are people who actually need it, like "Make a Wish" kids and elderly guests. Here's the second issue: there are people who don't need it, just like you, who are now waiting longer due to your irresponsible behavior.

I have been annoyed by this since my days working at Space Mountain nearly a decade ago. However, I reached my tipping point a couple of weeks ago on my relaxing ferry ride to work on a quiet Friday. I usually don't go anywhere near the New York Post, but I happened to glance over at a fellow commuter reading this story:

Rich Manhattan moms hire handicapped tour guides so kids can cut lines at Disney World

 

There are so many things wrong with this scheme I didn't even know where to start. The steam started coming out of my ears. I took to my Facebook page. Then the Today Show came out with this "undercover" video, which made me even more sick to my stomach.

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"This is how the 1% does Disney." Really? If you were truly the 1%, maybe you should've thought about hiring a Disney VIP Tour Guide.  That's right, there are Cast Members who truly have a front of the line pass without exploiting people with disabilities.

This shameful scheme is now public knowledge. It is my biggest worry and concern that now that people know about it, Disney will change their policy. As someone with an invisible illness, I don't want to see guests who actually need the GAC ridiculed by the standby guests.

I know I've been on my high horse, but I beg of you to please think about your actions. Remember what you are teaching your children. If I complained about waiting in line when I was a child, my parents would say, "There are no lines at home." Your children should be grateful for your Disney vacation.

A Disney vacation is a great time to teach some important lessons:

• You are not better than anybody else. 

• There are no shortcuts in life. 

• You should be grateful for your health and good fortune.

• There are a LOT worse things in life than waiting in line at Disney World.

• What goes around, comes around.

 What do you think? Sound off in the comments below.