Feeling thankful ~ for my 2 new military families this week! I’ve learned so much about the Disney Armed Forces Salute – offering qualified service members (or their spouse) both discounted theme park tickets (up to 6, or more if your immediate family is larger) and outstanding discounts on up to 3 rooms @ the Disney Resorts (campsites not included).

I also wanted to share more about the Magic Kingdom Flag Retreat Ceremony that takes place every day @ 5pm. I read about it long ago; however in all our trips to WDW, we had never made it to one. Thankfully, this last trip Jay & I took in Oct, we just happen to be walking in for Mickey’s Halloween Party and it was starting. The ceremony is incredibly moving; and, I couldn’t hold back tears while watching and hearing them lower our flag. It’s now a highlight and something I would recommend for every family to witness! 

For more details I’ll let this beautiful post, complete with pictures from "Uncle" Bob Elsie, fill you in. However, please note you can no longer sign up for this at City Hall, the veteran participant is now selected at random by the Magic Kingdom Entertainment Department.

Wishing you a magical Sunday ~ Christine

http://land.allears.net/blogs/guestblog/2011/04/magic_kingdom_flag_retreat_cer.html

What To Say To The Characters

*O* Disney Tip ~ It’s fun to have a little character interaction while getting an autograph; or, waiting for a picture. Here are a few ideas to get you started ~

• Alice ~ ask about her tea parties
• Ariel ~ ask about Sebastian, Flounder and her Daddy, King Trition
• Belle ~ ask what her favorite book is.
• Chip & Dale ~ ask if they are squirrels
• Donald ~ tell him Mickey is #1 OR you could tell him that Mickey is okay but he's the best and that it really should be the Donald Duck Club
• Hook ~ say tick tock
• Pluto ~ scratch him behind the ear and, his foot will paddle the ground
• Snow White ~ ask about the Dwarfs
• Stitch ~ ask what his badness level is
• Tigger ~ ask if he could teach you how to bounce
• Woody ~ ask to see the bottom of his boot

Why Use Tink's Magical Vacations?

Tink’s Magical Vacations is a vacation planning service specializing in Disney destination vacations.  The people who work for our company are highly qualified.  We are Disney travel specialists; all of our agents are College of Disney Knowledge graduates and regular Disney vacationers.  Our travel agency is CLIA certified, meaning that we have received specialized cruise line training.  Tink’s has direct access to all Disney promotions and specials, and we are notified the minute they are available.

We offer our concierge services to our clients for FREE; we don’t tack on extra fees to what Disney is already charging you for your vacation.  When you book with us, you will not pay a single cent more for your vacation than if you were to book direct with Disney.  In many cases, you will pay less once we apply little known discounts and promotions to your reservation.  How do we make any profit if our services are free to our customers?  We receive a small commission from Disney after you travel for taking good care of you.

What does concierge service by a Tink Agent actually mean?  At Walt Disney World and Disneyland we can assist you with dining reservations, help you select a resort to stay at that meets your exacting standards, advise you on crowd trends, give you information on the times for parades, fireworks, special events, and when extra magic hours are offered.  If you book a vacation at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Aulani, and Adventures by Disney, our agents will be offering some surprise pixie dust benefits.  For Disney Cruise Line, we recommend itineraries and ships based on your vacation calendar, advise you on complex stateroom options, and offer tips on excursions and sundry other matters.  We also offer onboard credits (based on voyage fare) to our cruise clients.

Making a vacation work financially can be challenging.  We completely understand that you want your dollar to stretch as much as possible.  We keep this in mind during every step of the vacation planning process.  As we tailor your Disney vacation, we are dedicated to finding you with the best price, including any available discounts, for your vacation.

We look forward to serving you, your family, and your friends.  When you have a craving for some vacation time with our pal Mickey, we hope you’ll contact us.

Harmony Barber Shop on Main St.

The magic of Walt Disney World (that has called us back so many times) are the hidden gems that make every trip a new memory! The Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street in Magic Kingdom is one of those hidden gems. It’s a real, working Barber shop where guests can get haircuts ($19.00 for adults, $15.00 for children age 10 and under) or for $5, you can change your hair color for a day with brightly colored gel.

The harmony Barber shop also specializes in First Haircuts. Both, Mallory and Vivian have had their First Haircuts at the Harmony Barber Shop; where, they received a complimentary Mickey Ears hat with "First Haircut" stitched on the back and a certificate of the unforgettable event to take home. The "First Haircut" experience is $18.

** Please confirm prices and schedules as Disney reserves the right to change them as needed. 

My Dream Job

I’m delighted to be a Tink’s Magical Vacations agent because my favorite part of a Disney trip is the planning.  Let me put to use my personal Disney experience and all of my resources to arrange a trip for you.  Call or message me today and, I’ll prepare you a Magical Vacation that can make your Disney Dreams come true!

Looking for Unique Disney World Souvenirs?

I believe there are a million different souvenirs (probably more!) you can buy at Disney World; however, I tried to gathered a few that separate themselves as unique.   

Mr. Potato Head Parts

You can fill up a container of Mr. Potato Head parts (many of them exclusive to Disney parks) for a set cost.

Locations: Once Upon a Toy in Downtown Disney
Price: $20 for the box, $50 for the large potato head container

Tips:

1. Be sure to get several sets of extra arms as they’re the only ones that can hold the Disney stuff – regular Mr. Potato Head arms don’t hold his: Mickey ice cream bar, camera, autograph book, or Mickey balloon once you get home.
2. Buy your actual Potato Heads at home. Space is at a premium and you don’t want to waste it with something you can get for next-to-nothing back home.
3. Pack the big pieces first. Little pieces can be crammed wherever there’s room.
4. Check your pieces to see if they’re a left/right set: arms, pirate ears w/earrings, Mickey gloves, etc. all have a left and right. 
5. Little goes in big. Ticket fits inside the suitcase. Mickey gloves fit in the bottom of Mickey’s shoes. Eyes fit in the underside of hats.
6. Don’t bother boxing the whopper pieces like the Dumbo ride elephant, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin ride car, Ariel’s tail, or the open Mary Poppins umbrella. They either won’t fit in your box or they’ll take up way too much room. You can pay about $2/piece or be sprinkled with pixie dust and get them for *Free.*
7. Look for sets like Tinkerbell (shoes, wig, wings, & wand), Darth Vadar (mask, feet, arms, & body), Maleficent (hat, wand), Donald Duck (bill, hat), Pirates of the Caribbean (hat, boots, parrot, scarf).

Super Secret Spy Tip: you can ask a Cast Member for help to fill your box.  Take a shopping basket, go around the bin and choose one (or whatever #) of every piece you'd like. Then ask a CM, with Tetris puzzle-solving skills, to help you fit all those pieces in. 

Personalized Disney Ornaments 

Remember your family vacation by buying a Disney-themed ornament that you can even get personalized if you’d like.

Locations: Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Days of Christmas in Downtown Disney
Price: Varies
Tips: Go early in your trip in case it takes days to get the personalized ornaments finished. The Downtown Disney location has a much wider selection than the Magic Kingdom location.

Pick a Pearl

Pick a Pearl allows you to pick an oyster from a tank, a CM will cut it open and inside and then you’ll get a pearl, or 2!  The pearl is then measured and put into a baggie or you can choose to have it set in jewelry right at the store to be picked up later. 

Location: Mitsukoshi store in the Japan section of EPCOT’s World Showcase
Price: $15 (settings are separate)
Tips: Pick the hairiest, ugliest oyster to increase your chances of getting 2 pearls

Silhouettes

 

Have a silhouette drawn to remember your trip.   The artists can do these in as little as 60 seconds. Check out this video from Disneyland of how they do it.  http://www.viddler.com/v/d491ab0d

Locations: Downtown Disney, EPCOT near France, the Magic Kingdom on Main Street (a cart in an alley about halfway down on the right as you enter the park) and in Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom
Price: $9/each (you can get it framed as well for an additional cost)

Healthy Snacks List

Healthy Snacks for Disney World bring fuel and hydration, but not artificial sugars.  They don’t need refrigeration, yet hold up well in the heat while rolling around in a back pack all day, being squished onto rides. J

Almonds

Frozen Grapes in Ziplock bags will gradually unthaw and taste perfect on a hot day.

Frozen Squeezable Fruit Sauce like GoGoSqueeze or Buddy Fruits

Granola /Protein Bars like Kashi or Nature Valley

Jif to Go peanut butter tubs paired with apple slices and/or celery sticks.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse All Natural Fruit Crisp are freeze dried fruit slices with no sugar added. They can be found in Walmart on the aisle with the dried fruit and trail mixes or ordered directly from Brothers-All-Natural http://www.brothersallnatural.com/disney-fruit-crisps/ where shipping is currently *Free* on all orders over $25 to all locations within the Continental USA, and to most US Military bases.

PB Crackers packed in sandwich-shaped Tupperware containers.  They’re small and flat enough to not take up a lot of room in your bag, but do a great job of keeping crackers from becoming crumbs.

Pretzels

Raisins

Trail Mix

Rest Escapes In The Parks

Air conditioned rides that rest our feet &/or

places to get away from the crowds for a few minutes.

MK:
Hall of Presidents
Carousel of Progress
Monsters Inc Laugh Floor
TTA Peoplemover (no AC, but the breeze is fantastic for a quiet ride above the park)
WDW railroad (same as above)
Country Bear Jamboree

Tiki Room

CS: Columbia Harbor House has indoor seating

Epcot:
Spaceship Earth
Nemo Ride & Turtle Talk in The Seas
Club Cool (no seats, but *FREE* Sodapop)
Living with the Land
Circle of Life
Captain EO

DHS:
Animation Building (do the drawing class for a 20 minute seat)
Great Movie Ride
Muppetvision
American Idol
One Man's Dream
CS: Backlot Express has indoor seating and *FREE* drink refills

AK:
Festival of the Lion King

Finding Nemo the Musical
Tough to be a Bug

Boma

Boma - Flavors of Africa
Animal Kingdom Lodge

Boma is a family restaurant serving breakfast and dinner. It will capture the essence of vibrant life in the African marketplace. This family-fun buffet restaurant provides guests the ability to savor the African experience, which has multicultural influences. The restaurant showcases an exhibit kitchen, wood-burning grill and rotisserie.

This is an all you can eat experience, but unlike traditional buffet lines, where you start at one end and work your way across...Boma offers "pods". Each pod has a selection of food and generally a chef nearby to answer questions.

Adult $42.59; Child (ages 3-9) $20.23
Tax is included; gratuity is not included.

A standard, non-alcoholic beverage is included in this price.

This listing gives you an idea of the types of foods that may be offered

as the dinner menu rotates daily with over 60 items on the buffet.

African Breads

Watermelon Rind Salad
Pasta Salad
Chicken Salad with Chili Cilantro
Kool Slaai
Tunisian Cous Cous Salad
Ghana Tomato Salad
Tabouleh
Pearl Cous Cous Shrimp Salad
Spinach and Quinoa Salad
Artichoke and Preserved Lemon Salad
Apple Jicama Salad
Avocado, grapefruit and papaya salad
Lentils and Hearts of Palm Salad
Fresh Fruit

Butternut Squash Soup
Zanzibar Crab Soup
Carrot Ginger soup
Mulligatawny
Harira Soup
Lentils and Sausage Soup
Chicken Corn Chowder
Coconut Chicken Curry Soup
Curried Coconut Seafood Stew
Mushroom Soup
Curry Cauliflower Soup
Seafood Gumbo

Pap and Chakalaka
Pork Shoulder
Bobotie
Whole Durban Style Roasted Chicken
Mater Paneer
Spice Crusted Beef Striploin
Slow Roasted Pork Ribs
Fufu
Whole Roasted Salmon

Desserts may include: Zebra Domes, Kenyan Coffee Tarts, Cinnamon Chocoloate Mousse, Bread pudding, cookies and brownies.

Zebra Domes

Printed from: http://allears.net/menu/menu_bomadin.htm

Today is Jan 28th and…

that means we leave for Walt Disney World in just 2 months and 1 day!!!

 

I’m ready to order the tickets as soon as you all let me know to go ahead.  We knew it was coming however, I also know it’s a Big chunk of change!  Therefore, as soon as everyone is able to get me a check with their family’s total, I’ll place our order.  According to Disney we need to reserve our tickets “a minimum of 14 business days” in advance.  Therefore as long as it works for everyone I’d like to place our order by 2/8 (or sooner if everyone’s ready) keeping us well within the Disney timeframe.   

Just a reminder we decided on the 3 Day Premium Kingdom Keepers Quest Tickets.  These are the self-guided tour tickets so we did not have to commit to any early morning classes.  Each ticket is $184.75 (total including tax & shipping) and offers 3 Days of admission to all four Disney Theme Parks and includes the Park Hopper privileges (freedom to visit multiple parks on the same day) with 3 additional visits to: Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, and/or DisneyQuest® Indoor Interactive Park.

The countdown is now on!  In an effort to keep you informed and all information in one place I’m going to post this on our blog and will work diligently to keep the information flowing.   

Have a magical day,

Christine

P.S.  The Park Hours have been updated. 

Mon. 4/1 Animal Kingdom opens @ 8a and EPCOT stays open until 11pm

Tues. 4/2 Hollywood Studios opens @ 9a and stays open until 10pm

Wed. 4/3 Magic Kingdom opens @ 7a and stays open until 1a! 

J Don’t Panic I know these are long hours!!  However, actually good news for us and will help with our plans of taking an afternoon break to avoid some of the holiday crowd.