Magic Bands

My boys and I are excited about the new Disney Magic Bands which came out just a few days after our last trip in July.   The beauty about the magic bands are that they are waterproof wristbands that virtually are your room key, park tickets, charging, and fast passes all on your arm. And you can even link your Disney photo pass to them!

You sync your wrist bands with Disney's new smart phone app My Disney Experience.   And from what I understand with the app you can schedule your fast pass times and even schedule up to 4 a day!   Can't wait!!

The bands can be customized.  From the the Disney Experience app we chose our band colors and names that will be imprinted on them.  We all have vacation nicknames so we used those.   They will be shipped to our home within 10 days. 

I can't think of how many times I have fumbled for my room/ticket key card out of my bag at a park entrance or even left it in the resort room!   

If this works as well as hoped I think it will be one of the best "new" and handy gadgets for park goers of all time.  

Please Stand Clear of My Vacation

Holy Tinkerbell!   I just got an email reminding me about my upcoming trip to DW in 8 weeks.  8 weeks??  8 weeks!!   Wow, this annual pass makes it so much more fun!!!  I mean, you have to go right??  That little card makes it a law that you need to go to DW as many times as you can to make it worth it.

So, I've planned out my strategy.   Just went in July.  Going for fall break in October  (hello free dining plan!! whoop whoop!!)  Then we have never seen the spectacular holiday lights that everyone raves about.  So probably a shortie trip over the boys Christmas/Holiday break.   Then, as some of you might not know I am a HUGE  Atlanta Braves fan.  This means a trip over spring break for Braves spring training at ESPN Wide World of Sports.  Gotta see my man McCann and Freddie Freeman aka Fre Fre and that cute little Gattis boy......

After all that then it's up in the air.   But, I can't wait.  Now just need to let my knight in shining &^%$#  (Scottie) that we need to incorporate all of these trips into the budget.  Me:  "But Baby, our tickets are covered"  Him: eyeroll.   (sigh)  reality vs. whimsy.   My daily struggle  :)

Annual Pass Let Down

I am rather disappointed in the lack of hoopla that comes with my new Disney World Annual Pass.  

After years of debating and longing it for it I finally have it.  

For some strange reason I thought that maybe I would be sent some sort of welcoming package to the annual passholder club.    You know, like glitter or pixie dust falling out of an envelope with all kinds of secret hush hush information in it.   Nope.  Nada.   C'mon Disney!!  Throw this gal some magic.

Don't Be Scared of Disney In Summer

July can be a brutal month weather wise for Disney World fanatics.  This is why my family and I tend to stay away from Disney during the summer months. And for a heat lover like me it can still take a toll!!

Well,  this year my husband surprised us with annual passes!!!  In July!!  (probably got tired of me wondering if we should ever get them year after year!)   Of course, he got us 3 passes (him excluded of course! Prince Charming can only handle so much "magic" with us!)   So, without further ado the boys and I took off.  As in the very next day.  No reservations. Nothing.  And let me tell you it was one of the best trips ever!!!

Let me start by saying yes, it was hot.  Sweaty hot.  Put on your sunscreen before leaving room at 7:30am hot.  But, if you knew what you were doing it was fantastic.

This is our tip:

Get to your designated park upon opening.  Grab a fast pass for popular rides.  Hop on your fav rides.  By noon we had ridden all we wanted in that particular park.  

Then it was back to the resort.  Pop Century again for us.  My teenage boys caught up on computer and PlayStation time or napped while I played mermaid in the almost empty pool.  Every single day this was our routine.  The games and music around the pool were so fun to watch and participate.   Then once the sun went down it was off to the parks again.   The humidity dissipates and you are left with a wonderful evening to play.

One thing I did notice were that the strollers and scooters were very few and far between. I'm assuming due to the warm weather.  As in, not a lot of dodging strollers or feet being run over by scooters...... Not that I mind them.  (Hey, I've done my stroller time with 3 boys and I love that more elderly and disabled are more mobile than ever :)

Which was so cool for me because my least favorite thing is having my magic busted by listening to hot, cranky yelling parents and poor tired hot kiddies crying.  

So, it's also a good time of year with your older kids!

And the nights were so much fun!   Instead of being exhausted from park hopping at other times of the year we actually saw the fireworks and nightly shows and parades.  

Don't forget the water parks.  Which were the busiest "parks" this last week of July.  But the lines and crowds were handled perfectly.  Plenty of seating in shady areas.  Plus, I got a great view of the Teen Beach Party!!  And my boys were quite surprised that dear old Mom was up to riding any of the water rides!   Hey, I was willing to do anything to stay cool!!

So, don't let those hot summer months scare you off.  With realistic expectations it can be a blast!