Author: Chuck Fitzgerald

I am a not your typical Disney fan. I am mid 20's, with no kids, and not married but that does not stop me from having a fantastic time every trip I take to the world. Each trip I take is always planned, meticulously, making sure every detail is planned and ready to go. However, once I get there I make impulsive decisions, such as buying an annual pass... On a whim.... On the last day of the trip, so even the best laid plans get thrown out the window once I get there. And I am more than okay with that.

So, Now What?

Alright, the easy part is done. You have:

Picked your trip dates
Found the perfect hotel
Decided on using Disney’s Magical Express

What else could be difficult?
Other than paying for it. You are on your own for that one! (but donations can be made to my vacation fund, see me for further details)
The waiting, without a doubt, is the most excruciating part of the build-up to the vacation. So, my feathered friends, how do you pass the time? I may have a few ideas to speed up the process*.

Countdown timers

There are a ton of countdown timers on any app store to mark your special occasion. Are you looking for a way to keep track of you next birthday? There is an app for that. Wondering how long until your wedding? There is an app for that too. Curious how long it will be until your next Walt Disney World vacation? You guessed it, there is an app for that also. Personally, on my phone I use Days to Go WDW which is readily available in the app store. You can customize just about everything: pictures, font, and most importantly, the date you are going (this is the important one).

Music

One of the best things about the parks is listening to the music that is played throughout the parks (a.k.a. background music). Thanks to our new modern day marvels, we can listen to music anywhere in the world (probably). Magical Mouse Radio is my go to choice when it comes to in-park audio, it has everything! The commercials you remember from being a child…oh they are there. The best background music in the world, they have you covered. Even some on ride audio is available.

Videos

Thanks to YouTube, sights and sounds of a day in the park are only a few clicks away! This one is my personal favorite because seeing the warm weather and warm people are a great way to escape the doldrums of every single day or, as MickeyDude Tim puts it, “the frozen tundra of Southern Canada.” There are a ton of personalities on the internet so, without a doubt, there is someone that will be your perfect fit. I recommend looking up See Ya Reel Soon for Disney videos, sadly (for us) they have stopped uploading videos but that is because they are starting a family, good for them!

If you want to look at all of Orlando life, take a look at The Tim Tracker videos. Tim and his wife Jenn are two fantastic people that bring us into their everyday life and give us a peek inside what it is like living in Orlando, from what I can tell it is hot.

So, there it is, at least a starting point on things you can do to pass the time until you’re on your way back to the vacation kingdom of the world. In the mean time…might I suggest some Joffrey’s DisneyParks and Resorts Specialty Coffee Collection, it’s the next best thing to being there!

*Time is a finite measurement and I have been told it is not possible to move it forward…. Yet.

Take My Money, Please

Disney is very good at separating us from our money, there is no question about that. From tickets, to park hoppers (which despite what people think should not be included), to hotels and tons of fantastic food (have you had a cronut today?!). But, what could Disney do to get MORE of our money, specifically merchandise wise?

MAGICBANDS:

Love them or hate them, they are here to stay and Disney has what would probably equate to a metric ton of options, I personally still enjoy my Limited Edition Olaf. But I feel that Disney is missing a huge option for this and that is: resort specific Magic Bands! Think about this, everyone staying at Disney needs one of these why not make them unique to each resort, and to make it even better, you could make that an option for an extra cost (of course) as your default magic band. It would just add another reason to try to stay at every resort to complete your collection.

Special Events:

Before you get your pitchforks out, I am fully aware Disney has plenty of these in existence. Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween party (which is one of the best parties in existence) Mickey Very Merry Christmas party, the now extinct Frozen Summer Spectacular at Hollywood Studios are all available for you to do. But what if you don’t go to the parks during the holiday seasons? Why should you be left out of these extremely fun parties? My suggestion is to add a semi-regularly scheduled after hours hard ticket event kind of like Disney After Hours Event but nowhere near the cost, the event started at $150.00 before Disney realized that was far too much and most certainly with a hard capacity.

Park Specific Merchandise:

Now I realize that Disney has been getting better with this than they had been however, the generic merchandise needs to stop. This is one of the most magical places in the world and easily one of the most unique, so why is all the merchandise the same? Even the resort mugs are all the same and those are more different than all of the options that you can find at a Starbucks. It cannot be too hard to find some more options than just the generic Walt Disney World ‘insert year here’ t-shirts, sweat shirts, and sweat pants (but apparently it is).

What merchandise would you like to see Disney add? Let us know in the comments below and don’t forget to subscribe to the show and the blog

Finding Your Disney Side

“You’re going to Disney AGAIN?!” –everyone who doesn’t get it. (probably)

How many times have Disney fans heard this question when they are asked where they will be spending their time on vacation? More times than I could care to count (for me at least), but it always leads me thinking, “What made me find my love of Disney?” Some people treat Disney as an escape from the real world. While you are there, and while you are in the bubble, you can choose to not have to worry about anything…no traffic, no roads, no directions. The only choice you have to make is whether to get a dole whip or a cronut (or both as I suggest).

I have found that it is much more than just a vacation. It is easy to be immersed in the entire world while you are there. You don’t have to cook, you don’t have to drive, and you don’t have to make decisions. Everywhere you turn in ‘The World’ is a new place to escape and throw yourself. Unlike most amusement parks, Disney has a fantastic ambiance that starts with the music. If I ever find myself missing the world too much, the easiest way back is to listen to the park music. There is nothing quite like it in the world, and I would argue that the world would be a much better place if there were background music everywhere.

Some people strictly go to Disney for the food, and I cannot say I blame them! There are so many fantastic options that you can consume while you are in Disney. You can get any type of junk food that you could imagine, and the fact that it is shaped like Mickey Mouse makes it taste that much better (THAT is a scientific fact*). If you want it, trust me…you can find it in Disney world without a problem. Want burgers and fries? They have that…lots of it actually. Want a 5 diamond rated dinner? Don’t you worry sir, they have that too. Want to eat a dinner while you’re dressed as Mr. Peanut? Not sure why you would, but you can do that too. Want to stretch your palate to more “exotic” foods? You can do all that while never leaving the same area!

In an ever-changing world, it is nice to have a place that you can have a little bit of control and be around people who are just nicer and happier…especially if you want to take a vacation where you can be totally immersed and find your own Disney side.

*Neither science nor fact.