Disney World | Product Reviews by The Experimental Mommy

Disney Social Media Moms: Pimp my Trip!

Between the Saints Superbowl win, the Disney Social Media Moms Conference trip, and Mardi Gras, it’s been a hard road back to reality! If you missed it, I posted round ups of Day One and Two at the Disney Social Media Moms Conference but what happened on Day Three was more than I ever expected and completely rocked my world! That is why I am calling it:

Pimp My Trip!

The day started out with a delicious breakfast in the Pavilion of the Americas followed by an informative talk by Alltop founder, Guy Kawasaki. His seminar was the most productive for me, as I learned so much about how to better utilize Twitter (not to mention my blog is finally listed on Alltop now! YAY!). We were then treated to an inspirational talks by Maxine Clark (@ChiefExecBear on Twitter), Marissa J Winokur (Tony award winning actress), Kathy Ireland (former supermodel and business owner) and Chris Brogan (who was hysterical).

Throughout the seminars, door prizes were given away including some purses, gift baskets and even Build A Bears! But when my friend (and co-founder of Double Duty Divas) won the Grand Prize, we were all stunned (as you can see in the picture courtesy of 5 minutes for Mom)! We were actually going to spend the night in CINDERELLA’S CASTLE! And to think I was excited to stay at the Polynesian! We were told to pack an overnight bag and be ready to be wisked away at 4pm sharp.

Ready and eager to go, we packed our bags in 10 minutes flat and ran to the hotel lobby to await our escort. A white car pulled up and Jennae, our personal concierge, stepped out to greet us. We were taken through the back lots of Disney and parked in a special space just for us. We were greeted by more cast members who held umbrellas for us as we waited to see what would happen next. Jennae asked if we wanted to ride any of the attractions to which we responded, “Haunted Mansion!” Jennae took us through the “celebrity entrance” and got us on the ride immediately! So cool! We were able to ride several of Disney’s main attractions without waiting for one second! Finally, our room was ready and we were escorted to the Castle!

All I can say is…..WOW! Cinderella’s Suite is the epitome of pampering for these four Moms! Fresh flowers, fresh fruit, robes, slippers, bubble bath, whirlpool tub, fireplace, real 14K gold in the floor and mirrors than turn into televisions left us speechless. We were told that you CANNOT rent this Suite as it is reserved for invited guests only. Someone once offered $1.5 million dollars for ONE night stay in the Castle and Disney rejected the offer! Oh My! Rather than hear me ramble on about it (you can see Cissy’s recap here), I put together a slideshow of the entire trip including exclusive pics from the Castle.

Check out photos from the event and inside the Castle!

We were treated like royalty and the Jennae and Suzanne (the second shift concierge) were there to grant our every wish. Of course, we had a great time coming up with things to ask (that’s a whole other post for a different day) but we never really asked for them. Jennae was a good sport and humored our phone calls to her office. We were treated to dinner at The Liberty Tree Tavern and escorted to a special viewing area for both the fireworks and the Electrical Light Parade. When the park was closing, we stood on the steps of the Castle and waved at the guests leaving. It was eerie to see the park so empty, but not more than five minutes after the last guests had exited, an army of orange clad workers swarmed the streets to begin a cleanup routine like nothing I have ever witnessed! No wonder Disney is pristine!

After taking baths or showers, we donned the provided plush robes and went outside for a picture in front of the Castle. I have honestly never laughed so hard. There is just something about Disney that rejuvenates the soul. While I was sad that my daughters were not with me, I can’t think of three better women to share this once in a lifetime event. Cissy, Jennifer and Renee: we are sisters in Princesshood forever! Can you fetch me some cornbread?

Thank you so much to all those that put on the fabulous conference! We truly had an incredible experience both in AND out of the Castle! Till next year…..

Thanks again to my wonderful sponsor, Doodlebug Dezigns! Make sure you check out her great selection of custom photo invitations for all occassions!

Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers: Giveaway!

In just a few short weeks, I will be fortunate enough to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Conference in Orlando! I am looking forward to the trip, but a little sad that my two girls and husband will be unable to attend.

In 2000, my husband and I went to Disney for our honeymoon. I spent lots of time researching the adult activities and romantic things to do in the various parks. We were able to sleep late, dine at fancy restaurants, enjoy the fireworks and experience the thrill of the roller coasters. Six years later, we decided to bring our daughter (who was almost two) to experience Disney for the very first time. While we had an amazing time, and it was indescribable to see Disney through the eyes of a child, it certainly was a whole different ball game!

Before we left for our trip, I researched the best strollers, the kid-friendly restaurants, the baby care stations, and the best routes to take back to the hotel for naps. It took FOREVER for me to feel like I was truly prepared. I would have LOVED to have the new book, “Beyond the Attractions: A guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers” to help me plan!

A little about the book from Amazon.com:

“Plan an unforgettable, fun-filled Walt Disney World vacation with Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers (2010). Written by a parent for anyone who wants to share the magic of Walt Disney World with small kids, this niche travel guide offers readers child-focused information, tips, and insights from a parent’s perspective. Beyond the Attractions includes everything parents care about and need to know when planning a Walt Disney World vacation with toddlers and preschoolers including lodging preferences for budget, location, theming, and amenities; attractions including must-dos and which to avoid; hidden activities that are perfect for kids, ages 2-5; dining options; transportation; parades and character greetings; recreation for small children; playgrounds and pools; safety; and seasonal events. Family-friendly features such as strollers, Baby Care Centers and child care options, which make vacationing with preschoolers more relaxed and convenient, haven’t been overlooked. This guidebook has been completely updated and expanded for 2010; it will save hours of research and place all of the specialized information at your fingertips.”

First of all, I love that this book can be purchased as a hard copy ($15.99) or for your Kindle. Beyond the Attractions is very easy to navigate as it is broken into categories such as Preparing, Lodging, Transportation, Dining, etc. I also found the many appendices to be very helpful. You can quickly access information such as the “Must Do Lists” in each park (totally agree with Festival of the Lion King in Animal Kingdom), Character Greeting Locations, and Dining Rates which will help you easily pinpoint child friendly restaurants. Along with phone numbers to park services such as Lost and Found and Disney’s Cake Hotline, the author, Lisa Battista, even goes beyond the actual parks and gives you information on local pharmacies and medical care.

While Beyond the Attractions is written to help you plan your trip when traveling with small children, I found it immensely helpful in planning my trip sans kiddies!

Are you taking a trip to Disney? The author has generously donated a copy of her book, Beyond the Attractions, to one lucky Not-So-Blog reader!

How to enter:

1. Visit the Beyond the Attractions, look at the left sidebar and tell me one of the Top 6 Walt Disney World Tips for Traveling with Kids.

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog (10 extra entries).

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited! (You must have over 50 Twitter followers to qualify for unlimited entries!)

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog on Facebook.

5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

6. Subscribe to my Feed.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on February 6th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. and Canadian Residents only.