The Wonderland Tea Party

Looking for something extra for your little one during your next Walt Disney World trip? The Wonderland Tea Party is a fabulous party held Monday through Friday, 2-3 PM at the 1900 Park Fare restaurant at the Grand Floridian resort.


Children ages 4-10 attend a "tea party" with the Mad Hatter and Alice; they decorate cupcakes, drink "tea" (apple juice) and play games. PhotoPass photographers attend to the party to capture your child's fun. The price is approximately $42.60 including tax, and adults are not allowed.


We were lucky to attend this party in 2009. Things have changed slightly since we last attended, but it was a huge highlight of the trip for my daughter (Claire).


We checked in about 20 minutes prior to the party's start time. We also brought along our autograph book for the characters to sign. Parents were allowed to come in and make sure their child got seated and then the children waved us off. I actually lingered to take a few more pictures and my daughter told me it was time for me to leave!

My daughter told me that the party started when they suddenly heard banging on the doors and when they opened them, there was no one there....the Mad Hatter and Alice were playing tricks on them and running from door to door knocking!

They decorated their cupcakes and ate lunch (which is no longer provided) and play games with Alice and the Mad Hatter. Claire told me that the Mad Hatter had very bad manners and they had to scold him several times. At one point they were led out to the lobby for a parade. I was lucky enough to capture a few pictures. Claire was having a ball.

The worked their way around the lobby and out to a court yard where each child had a picture taken with the characters.

After the picture session they were led back into 1900 Park Fare and it got quiet inside. Alice and the Mad Hatter had left, but the games continued. The hour went by fast and soon it was time to go in and pick up our children. The Cast Members told us to walk in quietly, as they had gotten the children to take a nap. You could see them all with their heads on the table and shaking with giggles. They then yelled out surprise and held out flowers for us.

Claire talked about this experience non-stop. We do plan to do it again!


You can make this reservation 180 days out by calling (407) WDW-DINE or ask you Mouse World Travel Agent to do this for you. There is a cancelation policy and you will be charged a cancelation fee if you cancel less than 24 hours beforehand. Payment is due at check in, but a credit card is needed to hold your child's place.


We highly recommended giving this party a try. Boys and girls can attend, but I have found that it is usually mostly girls. Costumes are optional as well, but many do wear them.

by Jennifer Dowling
jen@mouseworldtravel.com
419-260-3510

Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure

In Walt Disney World's Epcot there is an interactive game known as the Kim Possible Showcase Adventure.  It takes place all around the World Showcase, and is tied almost seamlessly in...you might not even realize it exists! 

So how does it work?  You pick up a ticket (much like a FastPass) at one of the following locations: Innoventions, the bridge between World Showcase and Future World, or the International Gateway.  The ticket will tell you when and where to report in the World Showcase to begin your assignment.  The "recruitment centers" are clearly labeled, as are the areas to report to.

When you report to the location listed on the ticket stub where you receive your Kimmunicator, which is a cell phone.  The Cast Member sends you off to one of the countries in the World Showcase where you start your mission, teaming up with Kim Possible and her crew to save the country from the villains.

The Kimmunicator will lead you all over the pavilion, even if you've been to Epcot several times you might see some new nooks and crannies! 

As you go throughout your mission you use the KimMunicator to literally interact with elements that are part of window displays, statues, and even the buildings themselves.  You'd NEVER know what might light up, spin or talk without the Kimmunicator in your hands, the elements are not obvious in the least! It's truly amazing!

I won't spoil any of the missions, but here are a few pictures taken during a couple different ones:

And this 3-year old's review? 

It's a hit!  In our case we had to read the screen for our son, and really assist him with the clues, but he still HIGHLY enjoyed it.  Older children will get into it even more.

If you have a child who isn't so keen on the World Showcase, this is a great game to get them interested and involved, and to see the World Showcase in a whole new way!

If you have a larger group you can get two Kimmunicators tied together, running the same missions so you don't have a group huddled around one phone.

Each mission takes about 30 minutes to complete.  You can take your time with it, your are not timed.  At the end of your mission, the phone will either prompt you to drop it in a hidden box, or it may ask if you'd like to save another country and you can keep going.  Again, you can always stop halfway through a mission, or between missions, for rides or a meal.  It will not disrupt the game.

Rumors are saying this game will soon change to the popular Phineas & Ferb, which I think will make it even MORE appealing to the kids!

Have you tried the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure?  What did you think?

Run Disney

This weekend is the Princess Half Marathon (and Family 5K) at Walt Disney World.  We wish all the runners a big "GOOD LUCK!"

Have you ever run a Disney Race?  Not a runner?  Check out the story of our agent Nikki's first race and just maybe you'll find yourself signing up!




To most people, vacation means some well-deserved rest and relaxation and for many, that is exactly what you get on a Disney vacation. To other people, a Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation can be like running a marathon. And for a some people, it can literally be just that!

Whenever I have a trip to Walt Disney World planned, one of the first things I do is find out what special events happen to be going on while I'm there. In a recent short four-day trip, there were many! On top of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, opening weekend of the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, and the Magic Kingdom's 40th anniversary, it also happened to be the Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend. Hmm......

Now before you start thinking, "I am not a runner and have no need for such an event," hear me out! I am, what I like to call, a "seasonal runner." That means after sitting on the couch and eating all Winter long, when the weather reaches a consistent temperature of  least 60 degrees, I start jogging....slowly. There is no way I could ever do a Half Marathon but the fact that it coincided with my trip had me intrigued. So I did a little more research and found something perfect for a "seasonal runner" who would also like to partake in much of the festivities of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival...particularly the "food" and the "wine!" As part of this marathon weekend, there was also a Disney Halloween 5K. After googling a metric to U.S. customary systems unit converter, I learned that a 5K is just slightly over 3 miles, which is still more than this "seasonal runner" usually jogs. But I was determined to take advantage of this unique opportunity and, as soon as registration opened, I signed myself up! This year, the 5K was taking place in Disney's Animal Kingdom park.

After talking my sister-in-law, Erin, into signing up as well, I extended my seasonal running a few more weeks and even though I still had not once made it 3.1 miles, I felt like I had built up enough stamina for the 5K. The day before the "race," Erin and I spent most of the morning and early afternoon eating and drinking around World Showcase during the aforementioned Food and Wine Festival. That afternoon, we made our way to the Wide World of Sports Complex to the Wine and Dine Expo to pick up our race packets.


Just the experience of coming here was worth signing up for the race! Who knew this entire complex existed? I was impressed! It was quite big and after a little confusion, we found the building where we were to get our race packets. It was some sort of indoor arena where, I image, tennis matches or basketball games are played. It was all very well-organized and marked so we found where we were supposed to go quite easily and were given our information.Being the kind of person I am, I was of course, in the 1-250 line because of singing up so early but it didn't much matter. Erin was 9 hundred-something and our lines were just as short!

This huge room was filled with Wine and Dine Half-Marathon Weekend merchandise.


That evening was filled with a delicious dinner at 'Ohana followed by a late-night at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. So I was not especially thrilled when I got back to my room at Port Orleans Riverside around midnight and found out, from reading the information in my packet, that we should plan to arrive at the Animal Kingdom at 6:15am. After a quick call to Erin to confirm a 5:50am departure time (yuk) I unsuccessfully attempted to have a good night's sleep.

When 5:50am rolled around, I hadn't had much sleep at all but was excited to participate in this 5K. We drove, and pulling into the park and finding a spot in the lot was very easy. It was still so dark, the stars were still shining but a large crowd had already formed. Many people were dressed up and the excitement was very noticeable!




We were to be grouped by running time and I thought the 11 - 13 minute time best reflected my seasonal running abilities! I think in the long-run, I ended up moving back a bit but once we got started, it didn't seem to matter much. There was a DJ who was very chipper for that early in the morning and did a great job getting everyone pumped up! Before the race began, we sang the Star-Spangled Banner and pretty soon, we were off!!

In all honesty, it was evident right away that being a great "runner" was not what this event was all about at all! We were not being individually timed and most people were just there to have a good time. Good thing I brought my camera!



Don't get me wrong. I did jog and quite well, if I do say so myself! Erin and I even separated for a bit since we did not have the same pace. But we made sure to soak it all in. We were going through backstage sections of the Animal Kingdom, which was very exciting! There were also unique characters along the way, which we stopped to take pictures with. We even stopped to use the bathroom at some point!

We ran...but we also laughed a lot and have an overall great time!

I take lots of pictures on all my Disney World vacations and I am so happy to have these unique pictures to commemorate this trip and special event.












In addition to the unique character experiences like the three hyenas from The Lion King and Donald dressed like a dinosaur outside of the Dinosaur ride, there were also several cast members stationed along the route. Not only were these Animal Kingdom cast members at work much earlier than usual, they were genuinely excited for us and really helped to keep our spirits up!




After the gravediggers buried us, we had to dance with them a little!



Clearly, we did not stay true to the 11-13 minute time!


When we finished, we were all given medals!


(And even after the 5K, we still made it to the Magic Kingdom in time to catch the 40th Anniversary festivities!)

RunDisney is a growing division of Disney Parks and has events throughout the year. Whether you are a seasoned runner or a "seasonal" runner like I am, this might be the perfect new and exciting experience to add to your Disney vacation.


RunDisney Events

January: Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

February: Disney's Princess Half Marathon (Walt Disney World)

May: Expedition Everest Challenge (Walt Disney World)

September: Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend

October: Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend (Walt Disney World)

 To find out more about these events, visit RunDisney.com.

For more information about planning a Disney vacation, contact your agent at Mouse World Travel or visit MouseWorldTravel.com


By Nikki Glinski
nikki@mouseworldtravel.com

What are your Spring Break plans?

Have you already made your Spring Break plans?

Do you have visions of

and

dancing in your head?

But your wallet is screaming and you are praying for a deal?

Well, check this out: You can get up to 30% off your Walt Disney World Resort room!  Our Agents will help you find the perfect package to fit your budget and assist you in getting the most out of your vacation!

Book by February 28 for travel dates throughout the Spring.

Contact us today for a no-obligation quote!

Mouse World Travel Newsletter February 2012

Have you subscribed to our newsletter yet? If not, you can do so by clicking here, the sign up is at the bottom of the page.  The February issue went out yesterday, and in case you missed it, here is what we covered!


Magic in Athens, Greece
Recently Disney Cruise Line recently announced most of their 2013 itineraries, including sailings from the Port of Miami for the first time, and it’s much anticipated return to Europe!

This Winter and Spring of 2013 the Disney Magic will be departing on 8-night Western Caribbean cruises from Galveston, Texas. In May she will move to Barcelona, Spain for the European sailings (4-12 nights) with destinations including Venice, Italy, and the Greek Isles.

The Disney Wonder will relocate to the Port of Miami in late December 2012 for 4-5 night Western Caribbean and Bahamian cruises through the Spring of 2013. Summer months bring the Wonder back to Vancouver, Canada for the popular 7-night Alaskan coast sailings.

Throughout the year the Disney Dream will be visiting the Bahamas, including a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay (3-4 night cruises).

The newest ship, the Disney Fantasy, makes its debut next month with 7-night sailings to the familiar Eastern and Western Caribbean destinations like Key West, Grand Cayman, St. Thomas, (with excursions to St. John) and Cozumel—and a unique stop in San Juan, Puerto Rico. All the Fantasy sailings also include a stop at Castaway Cay.

Booking is now open for all these amazing itineraries, contact us today for more information!


Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival

Spring is in the air! Epcot’s beautiful Flower & Garden Festival will be held from March 7—May 20, 2012. The festival will again be featuring some of your favorite HGTV celebrities, in-depth garden discussions and demonstrations, along with the “Flower Power” concert series running every weekend. This event is also perfect for the smaller set—playgrounds are set up, there is a Butterfly House and larger-than-life topiaries of Disney characters decorate all of Epcot.



Magic in Every Bite!
by Stephanie Coon stephanie@mouseworldtravel.com

In the two years since the Wishes Dessert Party made its debut at the Tommorwland Terrace buffet area, it has become a hot ticket event! The experience offers two things Disney does best, sweet treats and fireworks, together in an unbeatable package.

The ticket includes admission to the buffet usually an hour prior to Wishes. Guests are seated at assigned tables that are sprinkled with castle shaped confetti and a placard with the family’s name. The buffet is stocked with just about every dessert imaginable, all in miniature, which allows for tasting numerous treats. My favorite is the mini Pistachio Crème Brulee while my son is partial to the enormous chocolate covered strawberries. They also serve water, coffee, tea, lemonade, and hot chocolate, and while you are waiting you can have a PhotoPass photographer get perfectly placed shots in front of the castle, lit up in all its glory.

While the desserts are phenomenal, the viewing for Wishes is what really makes this experience magical. The tables are all set back from the edge, and when Wishes starts, everyone moves towards the railing to watch the show. It’s possibly one of the best views in the kingdom.

Adult prices run from $21.99- $25.99, children (3-9) run $11.99-$13.99, before tax or gratuity. This event does tend to sell out, to book call your Mouse World Travel Agent or (407) WDW-DINE.


The Elusive PIN Discount Code
How in the world do I get a PIN?! There is no real formula, all the die-hard Walt Disney World fans still haven’t figured this one out...but try the following:

-Create an account at www.waltdisneyworld.com
-If you get prompted to take a survey, take one
-Request a Planning CD
-Make personalized maps

I hope you see some money saving pixie dust in your mailbox or inbox soon! (Remember to check your spam folder!) And be sure to call us for your best Disney deal, with or without a PIN code!

Take the monorail to Epcot for an extra magical treat! The monorail runs a loop through the park before making it’s stop for passengers. The view from above is fantastic!

Princess Merida, from Pixar’s Brave, will be coming to Hollywood Studios at
Walt Disney World®!

DISCOUNT CORNER
Walt Disney World®
Save up to 30% on your Disney resort hotel room! Book by Feb. 28, 2012, for stays most nights April 13 – May 24 and May 28 – June 14, 2012.

Disneyland®
Save up to $500 when you book a 4-day, 4-night vacation package that includes a 4-day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper and a 4-night stay at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels. Book by February 26. Travel must be completed by March 1, 2012.

Save up to 25% on most Sunday-Thursday night stays at the Disneyland hotels for arrivals March 1-29. Save up to 25% at Paradise Pier® Hotel March 30-April 14. Book by March 11 for stays through April 14. Travel must be completed by April 15, 2012.

Aulani
Book 6-nights or longer and you will get your 6th night free, and free continental breakfast for everyone ages 3+. Book by February 29. Travel dates between March 1-17 and April 15 – May 31, 2012.

Adventures by Disney®
When you book departures of the Once Upon a Fairytale (Germany), Viva Italia (Italy) or Bella Italia (Central Italy) itineraries receive an extra night in yoru destination free. Book by February 29. Travel dates between May 20 – December 22, 2012.

Receive $250 off per person when you book select departures of the Eastern Costa Rica itinerary. Book by March 15. Travel dates between June 30 – December 29, 2012.

Get Your 6th Consecutive Night FREE and Enjoy Free Breakfast!

When you book 5 consecutive night's at Disney's Aulani Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai'i you get the 6th night FREE.  In addition you get a complimentary continental breakfast in The Olelo Room for each night of your stay.

Contact us today for more information or  a no obligation quote!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

How are you spending this day with the ones you love?  Here are a few simple ways to bring our favorite Mouse into this day of love!

• Make toast or pancakes into heart and Mickey head shapes
• Send a Disney Enchanted Call having their favorite character wish them a Happy Valentine's Day. (choose Holiday, then on the next screen choose Valentine's Day)
• Purchase a gift from the DisneyStore.com that they have been eyeing
• Surprise your love by booking a trip to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or Disney Cruise Line!