PARK HOPPER PICKS- WEEKLY DISNEY NEWS AND TIPS

So I've decided to start blogging each week with some updates on all that is new at Disney Parks (and sometimes beyond).   I'll try and do this each Friday.   So here we go:

TIP OF THE WEEK
It's pretty basic, but I think the key to any good WDW vacation is starting with a great travel agent!   I recommend you try and find one that specializes in Disney.  I used to book all my trips my self, I figured I knew the intricacies of getting the best deal, but boy was I wrong.    I've used  Dreams Unlimited Travel a number of times now and they've been able to find us fantastic deals beyond what I ever could.   Being a control freak, it wasn't easy to hand off my vacation to someone else, but it worked.    I was able to have whatever level of involvement I chose, in fact, Dreams offers to make all your Advance Dining Requests (ADRs) for you, but I decided I wanted to do that myself, so if a certain date/restaurant wasn't available, I could juggle the schedule around.   They were able to get us discounted rooms by putting us with another room block for a special event going on one time- savings us hundreds of dollars.   It saved me the headache of having to be on the phone all the time to make any adjustments or changes or inquire about new discounts.    So even if you think you know it all, give a specialized Disney travel agent a try- you might be surprised.    Give it a try, you might be glad you did!

DISNEY NEWS

• They've released the artwork for the 2010 Star Wars Weekends at Hollywood Studios -  Disney's Star Wars Weekends start in late May and continue through June for four weekends.  

• Disney's beloved Main Street Electrical Parade will be making its return to Walt Disney World this summer.   I don't believe it will be permanent, but you never know.  It is part of the new Summer Nightastic.   It features a new Tinkerbell float too and updated LED lighting.  It will premeire in early June. 
• Toy Story 3----Can't wait for this one- the new trailer was just released this week- be sure to check it out.  TOY STORY 3 MOVIE TRAILER.  It includes 14 new characters, including "Peas in a Pod", "Ken" (Barbie will be so thrilled!), "Unicorn" and more.   Toy Story 3 hits theatres June 18th!
• McDonald's Shutting Down- the McDonald's located in Downtown Disney Marketplace area is closing down, to be replaced by a Pollo Campero (Latin chicken chain- i know, strange pick?).  This is just one of many changes going on as Disney reinvents the Downtown Disney area.  
• New Pizzareia in Italy- Epcot will be opening a new pizzareia in the Italy pavilion and is scheduled to open later this year.  Let's hope they make real pizza and not the crap that is often served throughout all the various counter service in WDW.  
• Disney's Give a Day, Get a Day program is a huge success with over 600,000 volunteers already!  By signing up for one of their selected volunteer opportunities, you receive a free voucher for a one day ticket to a Disney park.   This voucher can be used to apply the value of a one day ticket ($79) towards a disney park hopper pass, annual pass or other length of stay ticket. 
• Beginning February 7, guests dining at Cinderella's Royal Table at the Magic Kingdom in WDW will have a new dining experience.  The Fairy Godmother will no longer be available, but many 'princess' friends will join Cinderella instead. 

COMING SOON TO WDW
* Disney's 17th Annual Flower and Garden Festival- Epcot- begins March 3rd
* Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend- March 5-7th- now in it second year!

A Real Boy's Boy

Well it's true, he's all boy.   Now in the terrible twos, William is starting to display the climbing, jumping, roughousing and car loving little guy that he is- all man!  We attended our friend Dwight's birthday party at My Gym this past Saturday and William had a ball.   It was a great place, but you know what, I have one complaint about all these wonderful gyms and kids activity centers.......they do NOT cater the 9-5 working mom like me.    While they do offer a few weekend classes, they fill up quick and are pretty limited or more expensive.  And some places I have checked out only offer 'free time' during the weekdays.  What good does that do me?   Thankfully Will is in a great montesorri school that he loves, but I wish these type of places offered more availability on the weekend for us working moms of the world.   Gripe over.

My First Wordless Wednesday

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY
Every Wednesday, I'll post a pic withOUT a lot of senseless chatting.....impossible?  Maybe.  I am long winded.  See, I already stretched this out!

Practicing sitting on the potty. 

Let it Snow- oh no?

well us Texans got more snow today and Will absolutely goes gaga for it. He can't get enough of the stuff, unless of course, you ask him to actually touch it, then well, it is just a little too frosty for him. I did make him a mini snowball and he took it in the car with him to day care. I am sure they will just love that. good mom, good mom!

In other news, we also have officially become DVC members- we have purchased 200 points at Bay Lake Towers at the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World (for all you non disney folks out there). so this basically guarantees we will travel to my favorite place in the world at least every other year, if not every year! We are taking our first trip as DVC members, Dec 4-11th, 2010! We are going to stay in a one bedroom suite that has a fully appointed kitchen, two bathrooms and more. pretty nice digs! Plus we can just head downstairs and WALK to the Magic Kingdom- how cool is that?

Will is very excited too- I am getting him prepped by asking him if he wants to go to Disney World and he answered last night and said "eat with Pooh Bear". We did eat with Pooh Bear on our most recent December trip, so I guess he wants to do it again and let's face it, the boy gets what he wants! So stay tuned for more adventures as I slowly mold my son into the disney-freak that I am! Heck, even Dad is slowly converting- he agreed to shell out the big bucks for DVC, so i must be doing something right? that, or tinkerbell just dumped a little pixie dust on him when I wasn't looking?

Fun on the Merry Go Round

We spent some time at the mall recently riding the Merry Go round- Will loves rides!!

He also got a hair cut that morning and was so good- he didn't even cry this time!

Random moments

So William and Alan have a game they play- William likes to 'sit' on his daddy's legs and have him lift him up and down like riding a pony. He laughs and has a ball! not sure how 'daddy's' legs hold up!

He also is loving to draw more lately. He has his big etch a sketch and also his new easel with chalkboard. Of course there was some chalk on the walls, the couch and a few other places.
He also is getting into the terrible twos- throwing random tantrums for no real reason. Here is one!

Drawing on the new easel!

Petting the dog- he likes to chase them around and likes to give them their doggie treat when they come in each night.

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas!

Well for the first time in many years, we had a white Christmas in Texas! After the whirlwind of our 10 days away at disney and me ending my old job and starting a new one- it has been very hectic! We spent Christmas eve at my mom's house, as is tradition. We enjoyed our traditional mexican food dinner and opened way too many presents! Will enjoyed picking up all the trash (I told you he is obsessed with trash).

Here is the front of the house on Christmas Eve with all the snow!
Getting home Christmas Eve as a bit treacherous, but we managed. Christmas morning, we both went upstairs and got Will up. Santa brought him a train for Disneyworld, tons of cars (big and small), a play tent, a tunnel, books and a lot more. Here he is having a good time Christmas morning!

Later in the afternoon- we headed up to Oklahoma, just north of Ardmore to see Alan's family. We knew the roads could be bad up that way, but we had a big 4wheel drive truck. So we loaded up William the dogs and presents and headed out. The roads were fine until we crossed the border, then they started getting worse. by the time we reached the Turner Falls area, it was really bad- we counted about 55 stranded cars. 35 was down to one lane in many areas and the road was covered in like 6 inches of ice. It was a pretty scary ride. Once we exited for my MIL's neighborhood, it was even worse, since it is a small town and the neighborhood streets hadn't been travelled much. We watched a car spin out right behind us. We finally made it and there was a good foot of snow on the ground. There was a huge snow drift behind her house too. The dogs seemed to enjoy it though!

We had a good Christmas with Alan's family- enjoying opening gifts, eating and sharing time with family. Here is a precious picture of William in time out- crying! LOL