“To try to keep an operation like Disneyland going you have to pour it in there. It’s what I call ‘Keeping the show on the road.’ Not just new attractions, but keeping it staffed properly… you know, never letting your personnel get sloppy, never let them be unfriendly. That’s been our policy all our lives. My brother and I have done that and that is what has built our organization.”
I think that one of the greatest things about Disney and one of the things that keeps me coming back over and over again. The customer service is outstanding. There are very few companies that maintain such high standards, and I am thankful that Disney does!
If you’re wanting to register for the events of the Disney Marathon weekend, today is the day!!!
Registration for the weekend’s events open at Noon! Be sure to check out http://www.RunDisney.com to get yourself registered
This is RunDisney’s weekend with the most events.
Kids Race
5k- Thursday January 7, 2016
10k- Friday January 8, 2016
1/2 Marathon- Saturday January 9, 2016
Full Marathon- Sunday January 10, 2016
This weekend is also full of challenges! If you compete in the 1/2 marathon on Saturday and the Full on Sunday you’ll earn the designation of “Goofy Challenge”. If you run the 5k, 10k, 1/2 marathon and full marathon, you’ll have completed the “Dopey Challenge.” (You must register for Goofy and Dopey to be eligible for the special medals… you can’t register for each race individually to get the special medals)
This race weekend is great because it has races available for all fitness levels.
2015 Medals from WDW Marathon Weekend
This past year they added yet another challenge. If you follow up your Marathon weekend by heading on a 4 day Bahamian cruise aboard the Disney Dream and compete in their 5k, you’ll get a special medal for the “Castaway Cay” challenge!
Castaway Cay 5k and Challenge Medals
Lots of bling to be earned!
If you’ve already registered and would like help booking your magical miles weekend, please contact Ashley@CharmingTravelsLLC.com She is a runner and would love to help you plan your Marathon Weekend!
Bear in mind as you read this, it is merely my opinion of my 10 ten favorites! Feel free to disagree! This list will also exclude Pixar. It’s not that I don’t LOVE Pixar (let’s be honest, I’m a mouskaholic, so DUH I love Pixar!). So here it is, my top 10 favorite animated Disney films.
10. Oliver and Company
I’m going with this one because I remember it being one of my favorites as a kid. I remember the little Chihuahua “Tito” smoking a cigar and saying “If this is torture, chain me to the wall”. It always made me laugh, and I loved the Billy Joel song “Why Should I Worry.” I would sing a long at the top of my lungs as a kid!
9. The Lion King
The only reason this one is towards the end of the list is because gosh darn it, it’s sad! I know everything ends up happy and Simba becomes who he is supposed to be because of the adversity, but yikes, can we say Shakespearean tragedy?!?!
The Lion King
8. The Little Mermaid
Of course this is in my top 10!!! What little girl growing up in the 90’s didn’t swim around her pool pretending to be a mermaid after seeing this movie!
7. Beauty and the Beast
I remember being just stunned with the beautiful animation in this film! Even though the plat may have various holes (like why would an enchantress punish a 10 year old boy for not letting a stranger into the house, and um where were his parents?!?!) Anyway, still a favorite. Plus Gaston is just one of those villains that I love to hate!
Beauty and the Beast
6. Wreck it Ralph
While this one is rather new to the Disney library of animated features, it in my mind is an instant classic!!! I loved the story line, the magnificent animation, and the heartwarming nature of this one. I thought the entire thing was clever, and the voice actors were simply brilliant!
5. Hercules
This one takes the number 5 spot for two reasons. I grew up with a slight obsession with learning about Greek Mythology (yes I know that this is a cartoon movie and that not all the myths are necessarily correct), and the song “Go the Distance” (The movie version, NOT the Michael Bolton version) This sticks with Disney’s rich tradition of musicals and I love love love the music in this film!
4. Emperor’s New Groove
I think this is one of my favorites just because it’s quirky, quotable, and just funny! So many great parts of this movie!
3. Tangled
This like Wreck it Ralph to me was an INSTANT classic! I loved to see Disney returning to it’s musical roots. I know that I may be speaking blasphemy but I honest to goodness feel that Tangled is WAY better than that movie about the two icy sisters… If you disagree, just let it go! This was another Disney film that gave us a new unique princess who wasn’t afraid to take matters into her own hands! She knew what she wanted and she pursued it! I love it all! (Oh and hello… the smolder!!!)
Rapunzel and Flynn during the 2012 WDW 1/2 Marathon
2. Mulan
Okay, I’m pretty sure that Mulan might be the most kick butt heroine that Disney has ever put out there. She loved her family, and stood up to protect them, knowing full well that if she was caught she would be put to death. She made a huge sacrifice, and not only saved her family, but her entire nation. Oh and the music is great, and the comedic value is pretty spectacular as well!
1. Lilo and Stitch
I cannot say enough good things about this movie. I love that it’s quotable, I love that it’s funny, and I love the incredible story line. Even though it’s a story of a struggle of a broken family, it shows the importance of sticking together. And even though I’m not a young orphan, I relate to Lilo. Somehow we both have a slightly twisted sense of humor!
Lilo
Want to plan your own trip to Disney to meet your favorite movie characters? Email ashley@charmingtravelsllc.com for your free quote!
Everyone has their favorite Disney snack to grab when they’re in the parks! I usually don’t even think about calories when I’m at WDW or DL because I know in my heart that I’ve walked enough to “earn” that treat lol… either that, or the magic of pixie dust makes calories not count at Disney :-p
So here are a few of my favorite Disney snacks and the favorites of some of my friends!
Premium Mickey Bar
Premium Mickey Bar
330 calories
22g fat
Dole Whip
Dole Whip soft serve
80-120 calories (depending on size)
0g fat
Mickey Pretzel
Mickey Pretzel
480-520 calories (I couldn’t find the exact calorie count for the Mickey Pretzel… this is an estimate based on the average calories in a soft pretzel)
4g fat
Churro
Churro
170 calories
5g fat
Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich
Mickey’s Ice Cream Sandwich
280 cal
12g fat
Strawberry Cupcake at Be Our Guest Restaurant
Strawberry Cupcake from Be Our Guest Restaurant
390 calories
Mickey Rice Krispy Treat with Chocolate
Mickey Rice Krispy Treat
390 calories
16g fat
AND THE GRAND DADDY OF SNACKS
Turkey Leg
Andrew Zimmerman chowing down on a Turkey Leg with Goofy
Ready to plan your next Disney vacation and get your snack on? Be sure to email ashley@charmingtravelsllc.com for you free quote. Her planning services are free of charge!
“Everyone needs deadlines. Even the beavers. They loaf around all summer, but when they are faced with the winter deadline, they work like fury. If we didn’t have deadlines, we’d stagnate.”
I know that I need deadlines to be productive, even if I procrastinate and put something off until close the deadline. I agree with Walt. Without a deadline I would be a lot less productive!
Are you interested in trying out one of the Magic Kingdom’s newest and hottest restaurants? Be Our Guest Restaurant is definitely popular, and if you wait too long, it can be difficult to get those dinner reservations! Disney for a while was doing a fast pass reservation system for lunch at Be Our Guest restaurant, but has recently switched over to lunch reservations! In addition to switching to lunch reservations they’ve also added breakfast at Be Our Guest! So if you’re having trouble getting those coveted dinner reservations, see if there is any availability at lunch or breakfast! Another perk of doing breakfast or lunch at BOG rather than dinner is that it counts as a Quick Service meal on the Disney Dining plan, where as Dinner counts as a Table Service meal.
Oh, and if you go at lunch, try the grey stuff… it’s delicious!
The Grey Stuff
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Are you interested in booking your own magical vacation? Want all of the magic without the stress of planning and making dining reservations?!? Contact ashley@charmingtravelsllc.com for your free quote!
Raglan Road has a very special place in my heart. I ate at Raglan Road after running my very first marathon back in January 2011. My husband and I had only been to Disney twice as a married couple, and were not quite as Disney savvy as we are now. While we did stay on property for this trip, we didn’t know much about the Disney dining plan. Our very first time we did just order appetizers, buy WOW WOW WOW were we impressed! (Seriously, try “Smokie City”). One could assume that after running 26.2 miles that just about anything would taste wonderful, and that is probably some what true, but the food was definitely awesome
Raglan Rd after 2011 Disney Marathon
The comfy chair was a post race blessing!
We had such an amazing time on that short trip for the marathon weekend that we went again that summer. This time around we were on the dining plan, and certainly enjoyed the entrees!
Starting out at Raglan Road you’ll be served Irish brown bread with an amazing Guinness reduction. (My mouth is watering as I type)
Raglan Road Irish Brown Bread
While the appetizers are not included on the dining plan I do have to recommend two appetizers because they’re just too good not to mention. Smokie City (as I mentioned before) and the Mighty Mussels. Smokie City is creamy smoked haddock & Dubliner cheese dip with potatoes, tomatoes & crostinis. Don’t let the fact that it has smoked fish throw you for a loop, it’s totally cheesy and totally worth it. It’s definitely big enough to share too! The Mighty Mussels are 1/2 lb. of fresh Blue Hill Bay mussels in a coconut infused curry broth, and are absolutely amazing. The coconut curry broth really has a unique flavor that will leave you craving more!
Smokie City
Now for the entrees, I don’t even know where to begin as far as making a recommendation. The entree menu is quite large. Generally in the restaurants they offer 6-8 entree options. Raglan Road offers 21 entree options as well as 6 entree sized salads. The average price for an entree is between $16 and $30, depending on what you’re in the mood for.
The Disney Dining plan is accepted here, and counts as a table service credit (includes a beverage, entree, and dessert).
The last WONDERFUL thing that I will mention about Raglan Road is the live entertainment! You may catch a live band while you’re there like we did during our first experience, or perhaps an Irish dance performance!
There are lots of amazing restaurants to choose from at Downtown Disney, but Raglan Road is definitely worth the time!
For help planning your own Disney trip be sure to contact Ashley with Charming Travels LLC. She can help you with all your planning needs and dining reservations! Email ashley@charmingtravelsllc.com for your free quote today!
Trader Sam is the “Head Salesman” located at the end of the Jungle Cruise. When they say Head Salesman, they’re not meaning one who is in charge of other salesmen and women… they literally mean the one who sells heads (of the shrunken variety). The Jungle Cruise one of the original rides at both Disneyland and Disney World.
Depending on which Disney park you most often frequent Trader Sam may look a little different. Below are photos of the two different Trader Sams.
Trader Sam at Disneyland
Trader Sam at Walt Disney World
Why would I bring up who Trader Sam is? I bring it up because of the recent opening of “Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto” at the Polynesian Village resort. This bar (which also serves appetizers) is based off of the storyline of Trader Sam from the Jungle Cruise. With the opening of the Grog Grotto, you can now visit Trader Sam’s both at Disneyland (Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel) and at Walt Disney World.
Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar @ Disneyland
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto @ Walt Disney World
In 2012 when I was at Disneyland we visited Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar for beverages and a snack and we fell in LOVE with it! I was very excited to find out that WDW was adding their own version of Trader Sams, and I can hardly wait to visit! If it’s anything like the one at Disneyland, I know it will be incredible! The theming is outstanding, and I love it when they use a tie in from the parks into their resorts!
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If you’re interested in planning your own magical Disney vacation and would like to take the worry and stress out of planning, contact Ashley@charmingtravelsllc.com for your free quote!
Did you know that if it’s your first time to Disney, your birthday, your anniversary, a family reunion, just married, just engaged, or a general celebration you can request a celebration button? They are free of charge, and sometimes come with perks! My husband and I usually plan our trips around our Anniversary in June and we probably have at least 6 “Happy Anniversary” buttons laying around the house. We even were given a free dessert for our anniversary at a restaurant on the boardwalk!
This isn’t to say that you will get something special 100% of the time while wearing a button, but cast members genuinely go out of their way to make your celebration special. They will be sure to tell you happy birthday, or ask what your special celebration is!
Trying to plan your special celebration trip? Let Ashley take the worry and hassle out of your planning! Email ashley@charmingtravelsllc.com for your free quote!
Confessions of a Mouskaholic 