Disney After Dark – Capturing Dazzling Images with the Panasonic ZS40!

Disney World, with its iconic characters and landmarks, is a mecca for photographers, amateur and professional alike.  Millions of photos are snapped in the Disney parks and resorts each year, most by parents hoping to capture that perfect, adorable picture of their kids hugging the famous Mouse or standing in front of Cinderella’s magical castle for the very first time.  Snagging those quintessential Disney vacation photos is lots of fun and sharing them with friends and family back home via {Read More}

10 Ways to Make Your Disney Vacation More Magical!

You’re going to Disney World!  Congratulations!  You have a very exciting trip ahead of you!  The Walt Disney World Resort is chock-full of extra magic that many visitors don’t even know about.  One of the benefits of working with me is that I can help you to discover the special events and experiences that will add a sprinkling of pixie dust to your time in Disney World and that will be a perfect fit for your family.  Here are my {Read More}

Fireworks with Pirates!

One of my favorite parts of our trips to the Walt Disney World Resort is treating my girls to a special event–last time this meant a visit to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (if you didn’t know that the Bibbidi existed, just wait until I tell you about all the other unknown Disney magic that’s out there!). On our  most recent Disney World vacation I decided to surprise them with a sail on the Seven Seas Lagoon to view the spectacular {Read More}

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique 101

You see them all over Disney World–little princesses sporting a glittery, tiara-adorned up-do and a rosy-pink sash, the telltale accoutrements of a visit to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.  My youngest daughter stared after these children longingly throughout our first two trips to the World.  They’re hard to miss as they skip through the parks, all sparkly and glamorous.  I managed to placate her temporarily with what I called the “Mommidi Bobbidi Boutique,” pulling her hair high onto her head and {Read More}

Allowance, Disney Style

We are not a very material family.  So much so that my eldest daughter spends a lot of time telling us all of the ways in which we are not “normal.”  We have an ancient, box of a television set that was my husband’s during his bachelor days.  I refuse to buy individually packaged lunchbox items, insisting instead to buy in bulk and fill up our cute, reusable, stainless steel containers.  Toys and such are for birthdays and holidays, not {Read More}

The Dapper Dans

Our family loves everything that has to do with music.  My husband is a professional piano player and band teacher.  The girls play violin, piano and cello and participate in a kids’ musical theater troupe.  We play “Name that Tune” around the dinner table at night and most of the songs we choose are from old musicals.  And you can add to that list that we all LOVE barbershop. A colleague of my husband’s is a member of the Westchester {Read More}

Miyuki the Candy Artist

Time spent touring the World Showcase pavilions at Epcot is one of my absolutely favorite things to do while at Disney World.  Each pavilion is home to delicious food, a beautiful atmosphere, fanciful shopping, talented performers, and exciting shows.  With 11 “countries” to visit, you are sure to discover something new on every Disney vacation!  One of the best resources for Disney entertainment schedules is Steve Soares’ fantastic website Walt Disney World Entertainment which he updates weekly.  Today, let’s check {Read More}

The Magic of DIS-igning!

  You may have noticed that in several of the family photos I have on this site my kids are in some sort of matching, Disney-themed attire.  I must admit, I’m a total corn-dog when it comes to our Disney trips.  It was while planning our first trip that I discovered Creative DISigns on the Disboards, one of the most active Disney trip planning forums on the web.  The folks on the Creative DISigns board are there to help you add all {Read More}

YeHaa Bob!

I had the idea to start a series of posts titled “Everything but the Parks” that focuses on, well, everything the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts have to offer outside of their fabulous theme parks. There are a million and one activities in which to partake while on Disney property and so often families become park commandoes and forget to take the time to explore some of Disney’s other magical offerings. It’s also just hard to tear oneself away {Read More}