Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween Everyone!  As we are getting ready to head out Trick or Treating, I thought I would share a few of my favorite Halloweens of the past.  As I was looking back through the photo albums, it was a nice little trip down memory lane.  Each costume was a clear depiction of what the kids were most interested in at the time.  Boy how time flies!

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party ~ We were a Family of M&M's 

C' as a Blue M&M ~ This was one of my favorites of him!  The M&M was clearly as big as he was!  

Our adorable little Pikachu ...

And of course, Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc.  ...

Like father, like son ~ L went through a Star Wars phase.  First I give you Darth Vader...

Then his lesser evil side, Anakin Skywalker.

And my all-time favorite one of L, Wolverine!!  Love the hair!!!  (It's amazing what a little hairspray and a lot of gel can do.)

Miss B as a our little black Kitty...

Tinkerbell...

And every little girl's dream, a cheerleader.  But not just for any team....Go Panthers!!

Here's wishing you a happy and safe Halloween!  Bring on the treats!  

Magic Kingdom & The Keys to the Kingdom Tour

As a life-long fan of all things Disney, I have to say that I was the most excited for this day of our trip!  I know I've mentioned many times how much I love all the extra details that Disney puts into everything it creates.  Today was the day that we were going to go behind the scenes of the Magic Kingdom and get a glimpse into the how & why all those special little details I love so much were created.  It's called the "Keys to the Kingdom" Tour and I could hardly wait!!!  (squeal!!)

First rule of the Tour, no cameras allowed.  And understandably so.  Not only did we go backstage in some areas but we also got a tour of the underground "Utilidor" tunnels.  Did you know that the Magic Kingdom park itself is actually on the 2nd floor, so to speak??  The tunnels below the park allow Cast Members, deliveries, garbage, etc to be "secretly" moved about the park with guests being none the wiser.  If you've ever visited the Magic Kingdom, have you ever noticed a Cast Member dressed in an outfit not fitting to their particular area? For example: a Jungle Cruise operator walking down Main Street USA or a Colonial dressed Cast Member strolling through Tomorrowland.  You haven't and you won't.  The "Utilidor" system was created to keep the Magic flowing at all times.  Walt Disney did not want his guest's experience "interrupted" by things that were "out of place"... like Cast Members dressed out of character or a large cart carrying hot dog buns to be delivered to Casey's Corner being pushed down the center of Main Street.  He created the park to represent a grand cinematic experience and those types of things were meant to stay behind the scenes. The tunnels were unbelievable!  I would have been lost down there for days if it weren't for the tips & tricks given to us by our amazing guide.  I'm not going to give to much away, just in case you are planning to take the Tour yourself someday.  I would highly recommend it!!

The Keys to the Kingdom Tour is a 5 hour walking tour.  At the time of this post, it cost $79 per person in addition to your park ticket.  It is for adults 18 and over only.  Due to the nature of the experience, no children are allowed on the tour.  Also, it is highly recommended that you book your reservation ahead of time as there are limited spots in each tour (our group consisted of 22).  Lunch is included.  Our group ate at the Columbia Harbor House in Liberty Square.  It was your basic quick service fare and our food was waiting for us the minute we arrived.  We also got a "Fast Pass" style tour of a few of the more popular rides, The Jungle Cruise and The Haunted Mansion.   Meaning, not only were we able to take a special back entrance to get on the ride but also saw and learned things that other guests are not normally allowed to see.  Now I could talk for days about the things we were told but I don't want to ruin it for any of you fellow Disney lovers.  However, I will say this as far as the Haunted Mansion goes, there is SOOO much more to that ride than meets the eye... Details, people ... Details!!  Oh my gosh!!!

I cannot begin to express enough how amazing this experience was!!  It made me fall deeper in love with the Magic Kingdom, if I ever thought that was even possible.  I mentioned our wonderful tour guide, well she told us the most beautiful story of the day the Magic Kingdom was dedicated.  Walt had passed several years before the completion of the park, so his brother Roy was set to "officially" open the park on October 25th, 1971.  (The park actually opened on October 1st, but they held off the dedication until that date.)  According to our guide, Roy was a very prompt man.  He was never late for anything ... ever.  So the day of the dedication came and Roy was set to take to the podium at exactly 2 o'clock.  2pm came...no Roy... 2:01...still no Roy...2:02 still no Roy.  People were starting to get worried that something was wrong until someone noticed him standing toward the back of the crowd.  A few moments later, Roy approached the podium with Mickey Mouse by his side.  After he delivered a beautiful dedication and stepped of the platform, people began asking if he was OK.  They were worried that something had happen to him.  According our guide, he simply said that he was waiting for his brother and since his brother couldn't be there... he called for the next best thing ... Mickey.  It's always been said that Walt Disney & Mickey Mouse were one in the same, so for Roy, his brother was standing right there with him on that Magical Day.  (yes, I had tears in my eyes as she told this story ... unbelievable.)

After our tour finished, we grabbed a snack and headed to find a spot for the Festival of Fantasy Parade.  This is a amazing parade that pays tribute to Fantasyland and is full of favorite characters, beautiful music and fabulous costumes!!

The clouds were beginning to come in, so we thought we would hit up a couple rides before the rain came.  Important Disney packing tip:  Always bring a rain poncho!  We have rarely had a trip to Disney where it didn't rain at some point.  Whether it's an all day drizzle or a brief afternoon shower, you want to be prepared.  I have had several people ask what do you do at Disney if it's raining?  Well...you put on a poncho & keep going!  Most likely, you have invested a lot of time, effort and money to get here.  So why let a little rain get in the way of your fun, right ?!?  Ponchos also come in handy for those water rides that you want to ride but really DON'T want to get wet on, like Splash Mountain for example.  :)

I love these signs ... MAY get wet??  Yeah right?!

I love Splash Mountain!  It has some of the coolest Audio-Animatronics around!!  You can't help but smile while riding along through scenes of Br'er Bear & Br'er Fox trying to catch Br'er Rabbit (from Song of the South).  Now everyone knows what's coming at the end, because you can see it from the outside ... a 5-story drop into the Briar Patch below.  Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah!  Honey & I thought we would be smart and put on our ponchos for the ride to minimize how wet we would actually get.  Little did we know, that while we were safely enjoying the music & characters INSIDE the ride, that OUTSIDE the clouds had opened up & released a downpour of torrential proportions.  So as we were plummeting down that 5-story drop, not only were we getting hit with water from the ride but also from the monsoon happening outside!  That should explain the expression on our faces in this lovely photo.  No poncho on earth could have saved us then! LOL!!

While the rain continued to fall, we headed over to battle the evil Emperor Zurg in Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin.  Like Toy Story Mania, we like a little healthy competition on this ride.  Using our space canons, our goal is to earn points by firing invisible lasers at "Z" targets.  No matter how many times we ride this attraction (4 times on this trip alone), Honey ALWAYS reigns supreme!  (Yes, we take our gaming seriously, as can be shown by our deep concentration.)

Eventually the rain eased up a bit and we were able to have a visit with Merida from the movie Brave.  She is hands down one of the best character representations ever at Disney! Her voice, thick accent, mannerisms, and of course the hair are exactly as portrayed in the film.  We absolutely adore her!!  

Pirates of the Caribbean was closed for refurbishment while we were there, so in order to get our dose of all things pirate, we decide to try our hands at a new interactive game called "A Pirate's Adventure ~ Treasure of the Seven Seas".  Arrg!

The premise is, Captain Jack Sparrow needs our help to find 5 treasures hidden throughout Adventureland.  Our journey began at the The Crow's Nest, where we received our first map. As I said the game is interactive so with the use of your Magic Band, you are given a talisman to find that will lead you in the direction of the treasure you seek.  It sounds more complicated that it is.  :)

Each map (there are 5 in all) leads you to different areas of Adventureland.  We quickly learned to look for the lanterns to find the talismans as some of them were hidden inside the shops.

Once you find the talisman you seek, you simply touch your Magic Band to it & listen for instructions as to where to head next.  Often there were little "extras" that occurred while searching for the treasures.  You see, we are not the only ones searching for the loot...beware of Captain Barbossa and his crew as they are seeking the treasure as well.  Savvy?  :)

This one cracks me up!  We were listening intently to directions when from behind the gate bamboo poles rise up from the ground and started shooting "darts" (aka short blasts of air).  It scared the heck out of us!  Honey was immediately thrown into a fit of laughter.  It reminded him of a scene from the movie The Naked Gun, which he then felt the need to re-enact. LOL!

Here's an example of when a new talisman appears to lead you to your next adventure.  

The only complaint I have about this game was that you had to line your Magic Band up to the talisman just right in order to continue on.  Since our game was linked to my Magic Band, it was up to me to struggle with the correct placement.  Often while waiting for me, Honey would gaze around at the scenery.  Because one of the things we learned during our Keys to the Kingdom Tour was that NOTHING was put ANYWHERE without a specific reason, whether it be functional or decorative.  EVERYTHING has a meaning.  Here is an example of that philosophy at work.  Hidden among the case of this pirate's nook was none other than ...

The key to Davey Jones' chest!

We had a blast running around Adventureland like crazy people for the better part of an hour and a half searching for these treasures.  Each time you completed a map, you returned to the Crow's Nest for the next one.  We successfully completed each mission and hence became official members of Captain Jack's crew.  So much fun!!  Definitely doing this again with the kids!!

We decide to stay and watch "Wishes" one more time.  (Sigh)  After the fireworks were over, instead of heading for the gates with the rest of the masses of people, we lingered in the shops for awhile.  I had read about a little thing called the Kiss Goodnight.  You are not alone, if you've never heard of it.  It's the Magic Kingdom's way of saying "goodbye" to its guests at the end of the day.  It starts anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes after the park closes.  You'll know it's beginning when the castle starts to twinkle as the music from "When You Wish Upon A Star" plays.  Then the narrator says, "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, on behalf of everyone here at the Magic Kingdom, we thank you for joining us today for a magic gathering of family, friends, fun and fantasy. "

"We hope your magical journey with us has created wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.  Walt Disney said that the Magic Kingdom is a world of imagination, hopes and dreams."  

"In this timeless land of enchantment, magic and make believe are reborn, and fairy tales do come true.  The Magic Kingdom is a place for the young and the young at heart.  A special place where when you wish upon a star, your dreams can come true."

"Until we see you again, have a safe trip home.  Thank you, and goodnight."  

Breathtaking  ...

Aloha Animal Kingdom!

Most people like to start their day while on vacation with a relaxing cup of coffee or a good book while lounging by the pool... not us.  We (I) prefer screaming at the top of my lungs while aboard a train barreling down the side of a mountain then screeching to a halt only to be shot backwards at lightning speed just barely escaping the clutches of the mysterious Yeti that inhabits said mountain.  It was one heck of an early morning wake up call, for me.  As you can see, Honey was completely relaxed & enjoying the scenery.  (Seriously?!)  

Expedition Everest is the only roller coaster at Animal Kingdom & an obvious favorite of ours.   However, I swore to Honey that they must have updated the ride because it seemed to go faster this time and I was absolutely sure that the Yeti was WAY closer to grabbing me than in the past.   He assured me it was the same ride we rode in January, so apparently I'm losing my edge.  WHAT?!?

Being lovers of the ocean & all things aquatic, it should come as no surprise that we are huge fans of the movie "Finding Nemo".  So when Animal Kingdom introduced the stage show, Finding Nemo - The Musical ~ we instantly fell in love!  It's a 40 minute show where the actors use puppets to portray the story we all know and adore.  The art of Disney comes to life yet again in how they are able to camouflage, so to speak, the puppeteers so that you almost forget that they are actually there.  

Hello Dory!

"Fish are Friends, not Food!"

The "Tank Gang"

And of course, my favorite ~ Crush!  DUDE!  Be still my turtle-lovin' heart!  Not only is he the coolest one by far (his puppet is actually the size of a car), but he sings the most amazing original song ~ "Go With the Flow".  It's sticks in your head for days (kind of like, "It's a Small World", but in the "good" way  LOL!).  We love it!!

"Totally" can't forget, Squirt!  

According to the website, this is the first time that Disney has taken a non-musical animated film and turned it into an original musical production.  Boy, are we glad they did!!  It's definitely a must see!!

If you've seen the movie "Up", then you know all about the adorable little boy Russell who is doing his best to become a Senior Wilderness Explorer by collecting his final badge ~ Assisting the Elderly.  He meets Carl, and their extraordinary journey begins.  It's a beautiful, heart-warming story that I would highly recommend if you haven't seen it. Disney Magic at its best!  On our trip in January, we were able to meet Russell & his faithful dog, Dug.  They were so much fun as they interacted with the kids, that they requested that we make a special stop to see them again this trip.  We were happy to oblige!  (Oh, and don't forget to yell "Squirrel!" Dug is hilarious!)

As I mentioned before, visiting the parks without kids allows for things to be done at a different pace and style.  However, you can still let your inner child shine through... which is exactly what we decided to do when approached by a Troop Leader to become Wilderness Explorers ourselves.  :)  We were each given a Wilderness Explorers Handbook and asked to say the pledge..."I, _______, pledge: that I will uphold the Wilderness Explorers Motto: A Wilderness Explorer is a friend to all, be it plants or fish or tiny mole.  CAW CAW ROAR!"  Then we were sent on our way to explore the park, collect badges and learn tons of interesting & amazing facts along the way.  It may sound silly & an activity more for the kids but we had a blast!!  

We decided to start at the beginning and earn the Animal Find Badge and the Safari Badge by exploring the African Savannah on Kilimajaro Sarfaris.  This is a ride that we never miss while visiting Animal Kingdom!  It's an expedition aboard an open air safari vehicle that takes you on a guided tour of the Harambe Wildlife Reserve where you have the opportunity to see over 34 different species of exotic animals in their natural habitats.  We have been on this "trek" many times & always seem to encounter different animals each trip.  

This particular trip seemed to be the one of newborn animals.  There had been several births since January and each baby was as adorable as the next.  

That cute little puff of white is a baby pelican.  Aww!

I love the way this mother & baby white rhino are relaxing in the exact same pose.  It reminded me of the pictures that we take as parents of our children sleeping only to be looking through a scrapbook of our own childhood to see that we slept the exact same way.  Precious!

We also saw cheetahs, flamingos, giraffes, mandrills and zebras, to name a few.  I was especially excited to see the male lion out on his rock.  This is by far the best view we have ever had of him!

I should mention that we went on this ride in the early afternoon during a light rain.  There were many animals out enjoying the cool mist.  We have learned that the best time to see the most animals is first thing in the morning however there is never a shortage of species out roaming the terrain no matter when you choose to ride.

 We continued our badge collecting while we walked on Pangani Exploration Trail.  Pangani Exploration Trail is a self guided tour that not only brings you up close and personal with some amazing animals but also provides interesting facts and environmental tips along the way.  There were several Troop Leaders and Badge Guides waiting along the path to help us earn our Tracking Badge, Habitat Badge, Hiking Badge, Birding Badge (my least favorite!) and the Gorilla Badge.  We had a lot of fun watching this family of gorillas interact with one another.  These adorable little twins had been born in February!  You'll have to excuse the blurriness of the picture but they were have too much fun wrestling around and playing that they didn't feel like posing for a snapshot.  :)

Here's Daddy just hanging out while keeping an eye on the family.  So serious!  

Our next set of badges had us boarding the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch and the Conservation Station.  Disney is very active in wildlife conservation and this area gives guests the opportunity to see first hand all the ways that they are promoting awareness.  It's chock full of animal encounters, interactive exhibits as well being a functioning veterinary facility.  We visited the Conservation Station for the first time on our last visit and deemed it a must see!

There were several adorable animals in Rafiki's Planet Watch, but none as cute and cuddly as these two!  Chip and Dale!!

As you well know, they are my FAVORITES!!!  I will never turn down an opportunity to see "my boys".  :)  I'm just NUTS about them!!

By the end of our day at Animal Kingdom, we had collected 18 of the 30 Wilderness Badges earning us the rank of Minnow.  :)  The beauty of this adventure is that if you don't finish it, you can bring your handbook back on your next visit.  I guess our Senior Wilderness Explorer ranking ceremony will have to wait until next time.  :)

Animal Kingdom closes early so that gave us plenty of time to head back to our resort to change for our special Anniversary dinner.  We had made reservations for the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at the Polynesian Resort.  For those of you who are familiar with the Disney Dining Plan, this show is a 2 point Table Service Meal and it is highly recommended to book 180 days in advance.  :)

We were greeted at Luau Village by our hosts, given our leis for the evening, and ushered to the most beautiful little waiting area.  The atmosphere was breathtaking with its little twinkling lights and flame torches.  We truly felt like we were in Hawaii!  There was also a small bar area set up for guests to purchase drinks while we waited to be seated.

At promptly 8:15, we were shown to our seats where our 1st course was already waiting for us.  A scrumptious display of fresh salad with mango-poppy seed dressing, honey-lime slaw, and pineapple-coconut bread.  I couldn't get enough of that bread!!  YUM!!

It wasn't soon after we were seated that the show began.  The best way to describe it is in 2 parts.  The first part of the show was more of a theater performance where Auntie Wini is hosting a going away party for one of the island girls.  

It was filled with lots of fun music and of course dancing.  At one point, they asked those couples celebrating something special to join them on the dance floor.  Our fabulous server grabbed my camera & took what is by far one of my favorite pictures of us.  So much fun!

At intermission, our main course was delivered.  I should mention that this is a family-style, all-you-care-to eat meal.  There was more than enough food for the two of us!  It consisted of Island pulled pork, BBQ ribs, roasted chicken and a vegetable medley.  I wish I could say that the food was as delicious as it looks, but unfortunately it was a little lacking in flavor. We were a little bummed.  :(

However, dessert was by far one of THE BEST I have ever tasted!!!  Say hello to the delectable warm pineapple bread pudding with caramel sauce.  Oh... My... Gosh!!!

The second part of the show was more of what I would call a traditional luau.  It consisted of several dances and traditions from not only Hawaii, but Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand and of course, Polynesia.  The costumes were amazing and the dances were absolutely beautiful!

Of course no luau would be complete without a fire-knife performer.  I think the pictures speak for themselves at how truly astounding he was!

I don't think we could have asked for a more unique and special way to celebrate our anniversary.  Mahalo Disney for another evening filled with Magical Memories!

Until next time . . . Aloha!