Disney Archives - Page 2 of 14

Disney Activity & Autograph Book

October 3, 2018 by Danielle 24 Comments

By popular demand, we’ve updated our Disney-themed autograph & activity books! Now there’s even more pages for extended fun while you’re at any Disney-themed park, cruise, event or just at home for some magical fun. Here’s the major changes we made with our ‘Unofficial’ Disney Activity & Autograph Book:

Contains purchase/affiliate links. See our disclosure for more info.

Changes:

Now there is no park-specific option. Pages are all general Disney-themes, so will work at any of the parks, cruise line, etc.
54 Total pages of activities, memory sheets and autograph pages
Cover now says ‘My Magical Vacation’
Newer characters, such as Moana, now included in autograph sheets

Get the PDF HERE for just $2!

Get the new PRINTED version from Amazon HERE (coming soon)

Get the old PRINTED version from Amazon HERE

Check out our Facebook live showing of the OLD book HERE

Since our original book was released a couple of years ago, people are LOVING it! The favorites so far are the fun Star Wars autograph pages, jokes, and creating your own treehouse or superhero. With more than 54 pages in the new book, there’s plenty for everyone, whether young or old! Yes, us adults even enjoy them 🙂

Disney Activity Pages

To keep short attention spans happy, we included a large variety of things for them to do, such as:

Games
Mazes
Connect the Dots
Matching
Crosswords
Create your own map, super hero suit and treehouse
Coloring
Jokes
Trivia
and more!

Even THOR loved playing the games with my friend Lexi’s boy!

Disney Autograph Pages

Long gone are the days of boring, blank autograph pages – we’ve got more than 28 creatively designed ones to nab signatures from favorite characters! We’ve covered classics like Mickey & Minnie, Donald, and Goofy, princesses like Ariel, Belle and Rapunzel, and even Darth Vader and Avengers! Such a great Disney souvenir!

Donald Duck went CRAZY for his special page – it says #1 Duck, of course!

Even Minnie got in on the fun, along with Chip at Goofy’s Kitchen!

We’re excited to catch try and catch Kilo Ren next time – got the perfect page just for him!

Disney Memories

Creating memories together is a HUGE reason to do family vacations, right? I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been very good at writing them down before we forget many! Now you can keep track with our several pages designed exactly for that purpose – keeping the most important moments safe. You can list funny moments or things people said on the trip, favorite foods and rides, how old people were and who was with you, and even trace your child’s hand print so you can remember how big – or little – they were! Updated – no longer with dates, so you can use them any year!

To make it super easy to put in your bags or carry around at the parks, we sized it at 6×9. Our kids had no problem keeping track of theirs – they refused to let us carry them since they were having so much fun!

We have two options for the book, so you can get it in whatever way works best for your family:

Disney Themed – any park, trip, cruise, etc.

PDF Download: print and bind it yourself, especially nice if you have lots of children (via Gumroad)
Old Version Professional Printed Book: already bound with shiny cover (via Amazon)
New Version Professional Printed Book: already bound with shiny cover (via Amazon) – coming soon

So turn the lines at Disney from boring to fantastic with our newly updated ‘Unofficial’ Disney Activity & Autograph Book! More info available in our Store!

This is included in our Busy Mom Bundle, along with other fabulous printable packs!

Book your next Disney vacation with Get Away Today for the best deals – use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper for $10 off your vacation package!

Check out our other products HERE

Family Home Binder

2018 Planner & Calendar

Summer Camp Kits or Kid Activity Packs

A YEAR of Meal Plans plus Recipes – on a budget!

Other Disney fun you may like!

Tips & Tricks for Meeting Characters at Walt Disney World

September 28, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Our family loved meeting some fun characters on our recent trip. Whether meeting characters is your top priority or just a nice enhancement to your Disney vacation, it’s good to plan beforehand. You make reservations for food and secure your fast passes, why not put the same level of effort into the characters you meet? It’s easy to get wrapped up in the hunt and lose a lot of your vacation time finding and waiting for these characters, so here are some Tips & Tricks for Meeting Characters at Walt Disney World.

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Character Fastpass

Some character meet and greets offer Fastpass+. Save yourself a lot of time by securing your plans in line for popular meet and greets. Mickey and Minnie Fastpasses can be claimed for Animal Kingdom, Epcot and Magic Kingdom. Ariel and Belle have Meet and Greets in New Fantasyland. Rapunzel and others can be found in Princess Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland, and Tinkerbell has a location in Town Square.

Invest in Memory Maker

If you are making Character moments a big part of your disney trip, consider purchasing the Memory Maker package. You will get to keep all of the professional photos taken at character locations and on rides. It’s easier on you and you never miss a photo op. You can have the photographers snap a picture with your camera for free, but it’s better with the professional equipment.

Meet and Greet Locations

Study your maps and show schedules. They will let you know where characters will be, who they will be and when they will be there. Meet Greets are scheduled at permanent locations all over the parks.

Stay Alert for Rare Characters

While you are moving around the park, stay alert for characters that might just pop up. Usually these are rarer characters and quite often they will pop up in Epcot either in front of the American Adventure or between the UK and Canada Pavilions.

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Dance Parties

For more character fun without the lines plan on attending one or more dance parties. These are happening all over. There is an Incredibles Dance Party in Tomorrowland right now, Donald’s Dino Bash in Disney’s Animal Kingdom (with lots of great photo locations, too!), and the Disney Junior Dance Party Coming this Fall to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Dance parties are a free part of your guest experience in the park. However, you can also buy tickets to after hours parties like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. You can also buy an “Enchanting Extra” like Princess Tiana’s Ice Cream Social and Parade Viewing Party.

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Character Dining

Last of Course is Character Dining. You can eat and greet with characters at any of the parks and many of the hotels outside the parks, which saves the cost of park admission. The two best princess meals are Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom and Akershus at the Norway Pavilion in Epcot. Boardwalk, Beach Club, Polynesian,Grand Floridian, Contemporary, and Fort Wilderness all have character dining. It usually is “all you care to enjoy” family style or buffet, so don’t make another dining reservation too soon after a character meal.

Which character at Walt disney World do you want to meet?

Tour Guides for Families at Walt Disney World

September 26, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

We receive complimentary guide services from Michael’s VIPs to facilitate this post. All opinions are ours alone.

Phew, it’s been just a few weeks since our big family Disney World trip, and we’re already missing it. As we look back and remember everything we did, we’re reminded how much we were able to fit into our time there – and it’s all because we had our ‘magical’ tour guide to help us out! If you’re not sure if hiring private Tour Guides for Families at Walt Disney World is Worth it, check out our experience: you may realize that they’re worth every penny, and more!

First of all, your tour guide services don’t start just when you get to the park – with Michael’s VIPS, they help you plan from start to finish (or anywhere in between). They even will help reserve your dining and fast passes; it’s a full service to set your trip up for success! A few days before we arrived, our guide Renee contacted me to go over details. We discussed the kids ages and heights (in case you have littles who can’t do certain attractions), if there were any restrictions, any rides we wanted to avoid or ones we were hoping to do over and over again. We made a game plan, and set our time to meet that first morning. She was right there at the entrance of Magic Kingdom waiting for us, and the kid immediately loved her friendly personality and it was hugs all around! Then we were off on our adventure…

As a mom, my absolute FAVORITE thing about having a tour guide for families at Disney World is that she handles all the details – I didn’t have to check times or fast passes, or reservations. I was able to just go along and enjoy my time with my family, without the stress. What’s crazy is, you can’t really even tell she’s constantly checking everything! She’s right there with you, alert and in conversations, chatting happily with the kids – but she is constantly aware of the plan, ride wait times, upcoming parades or shows that could affect crowds and traffic, everything. Not only that, but we like to joke that Michael’s VIPs are ‘walking, talking maps’ because they know all the routes, where every ride and event is, and even where all the bathrooms are (and which are the best ones!).

That’s really convenient for families, because if you have kids you KNOW there’s plenty of ‘I need to go to the bathroom’ moments! I realized that, since every time we were near one she’d ask if anyone needed to go, we didn’t run into the issue of emergencies or inconvenient potty breaks. That was super nice! I remember so many trips to Disneyland where we’d be far from a restroom, or about to get on a ride, when a kid just HAD to go. Not this trip, though! It’s fun how many little stories of bits of information the guides have – such as why Animal Kingdom has bathroom doors, unlike most of the other parks’ bathrooms (answer: in the very unlikely event a wild animal got out, people could get to safety in a restroom!). And if you do get a chance with a tour guide from Michael’s VIPs, ask about the ‘poop trail’ at Magic Kingdom. The kids still bring that up!

Our first day at Magic Kingdom, we had done every ride by about noon – and hadn’t felt rushed at all! We were trying to remember the longest wait we had any of the days we had Renee with us, and we don’t think that any wait was more than 5 minutes or so – but most of the rides were just however long it took us to walk up there! There’s so many reasons that having a tour guide with Michael’s VIPS is well worth the cost, but especially when you consider how much more you’re able to do in a much shorter amount of time with them. It means you can plan on less days, hotel nights, food, all of that because you don’t HAVE to go for as long – you’ll be able to get a ton done! Plus, less standing in line saves everyone’s sanity – especially moms 😉

Renee stayed with us each of the days up until we’d done pretty much everything, then let us decide if we wanted her to stay longer or if we were good to go redo things on our own however we’d like. I loved and appreciated the flexibility! These guys even go above and beyond so much – when one of our kiddos got a bit sick (from a ride or heat, we’re still not quite sure), and felt better sitting off one of the rides, Renee was happy to let her stay off with her so none of us had to miss it. She even bought her a drink to help her hydrate more. They TRULY care! Plus, they’re prepared – there were a few times she whipped out some pepto pills to help some of our more sensitive stomachs. At one of the lunches, we were happy to invite her to join us and the kids had a blast at the ‘fun table’ with her – so cute!

The guides love kids, and are so patient with them. It’s their job to make your family happy and help you have the best vacation possible – but you can tell it’s not just their job, it’s what they truly love and care about your family. If you’ve read our previous experiences with Michael’s VIPS – when it was just my mom and I at our first time at Disney World, or last year when hubby wasn’t sure a guide was worth it for couples – then you know how great each and every time with them has been, despite being different groups and circumstances. Families are very different, but after this I’m convinced that our trip wouldn’t have been even nearly as good or enjoyable without Renee’s amazingness. What’s funny – day two with her and one of our girls was like “is Renee magic or something? How does she make it so we can do so much without any waiting?” Yup, these guides are magical – and priceless!

It was a very sad ‘see you later’ when we parted ways at the end. The kids kept saying how much they missed Renee, and she was more than thrilled when we texted her a few days later letting her know that. When we WERE on our own, the kids kept commenting how it was a bit more frustrating and ‘boring’ because we weren’t as magical as her – there were more waiting in lines, and we may have gotten lost a time or two. We still had a wonderful time, but it was much easier, less stressful and we got to do a lot more with the help of our wonderful guide. You can read even more reasons to choose Michael’s tour guides here!

Contact Michael’s VIPs for YOUR next trip to Walt Disney World – or Disneyland!

My Kids’ First Visit to Walt Disney World

September 19, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

As many of you know, we went on a huge family trip to Disney World a few weeks ago. It’s been a couple years of planning and saving to take the whole crew, but it was completely amazing! I’ll be sharing a lot more details of our adventures, foods, shows, rides and more in the coming while, but today I wanted to tell you the overall fun from My Kids’ First Visit to Walt Disney World. Lots of pictures included, of course!

One of the things I was most excited for with this trip was it was mostly NEW to the kids. While they’ve been to Disneyland several times, this was very different. We got to see their reactions to new rides, foods, characters, sites – even the themed hotel (All-Star Music) was new, so that started the trip off with lots of smiles and eagerness. We flew in, so they even got to experience the Magical Express!

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Since we made sure to watch several important movies to prepare us for our Disney trip, such as Avatar, the kids were really looking forward to exploring Pandora at Animal Kingdom. From the floating mountains, drum shows, beautiful glowing ‘forest’ at night, to the huge MECH, they loved every little detail. And since there’s so much, I’m sure we didn’t even catch it all this time! As you can tell from several of our photos, it was certainly hot and BRIGHT in Orlando when we went, so sometimes squinty eyes were the best pics we could do 🙂

My favorite part – SO MUCH FAMILY TIME! Yes, we all got a little annoyed or impatient with each other at some point during the trip (with that much walking, plus little sleep because so much fun, it’s bound to happen), but we were together practically every moment for the trip. We got to talk about things – not just about the rides or the vacation, but random learning opportunities (like forced perspective at Pandora, or vehicle topics at Test Track) and other fun conversations. We took many pictures together (yes, even with mom in there – yay!), and even hubby and I made sure to get some time together on some rides or pictures.

With the Epcot Food & Wine Festival going on, the kids got to try several new foods – not only there, but at the various restaurants and buffets. I was impressed with how many new things they were willing to try. For example, Thor loved clams, which I never would have thought! Plenty of desserts and treats were enjoyed by us all, of course – and we learned that on your birthday, you can get a free slushie at Club Cool in Epcot. If it’s your birthday while you’re there – go and enjoy!

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Shopping with money they’d been saving for months was a highlight for the kiddos – the boys even shared in adopting a Banshee. We learned which kids have a tendency to spend as fast as they can, and which are more reserved and wait for the item that will make them happiest. Our wonderful guide Renee got us VIP seating at The Lion King Show, so the kids got to participate in some of the dancing and fun. (we received complimentary guide services for our trip) Seeing our kiddos interact with each other during the trip was also amazing – watching as they grew closer together and really enjoyed being a family was priceless!

Other highlights included: catching Songbird’s face the very first morning in front of the castle (she’d never been to ANY theme park before) and her pure joy. Finding the exact same guy that did a fun caricature for hubby and I last year to do one of ALL the kids, and having that keepsake. Having the chance to share our FIRST experience in Toy Story Land together, remembering all those incredible films.

We walked a TON, and slept a little. There were moments we’d catch some of the family sneaking in a quick nap – like hubby on the ferry boat. And yes, we made sure we tried ALL the transportation options at Walt Disney World, such as the resort shuttle, monorail and ferry boats.

I’m still almost giddy because of how much fun, joy and memories were made during our Walt Disney World vacation. The kids even made a new friend with our ‘magical’ guide Renee, who made our trip even more incredible than we could have possibly imagined. (Thank you Renee – we love you!)

Like I said, many more details for all we did are coming up – but for now, I had to share a bunch of the happy times with y’all!

What’s YOUR favorite thing about taking kids to Walt Disney World?

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Movies to Watch Before Disney World

September 5, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

If you’re planning a Disney vacation, you may be considering watching some movies leading up to it, just for fun or perhaps to refamiliarize your kids (or yourself) with the characters. The problem is that there’s SO MANY MOVIES to choose from! If you only have time for some, here are our favorite Movies to Watch Before Disney World.

Our family loves doing little activities or things to get more excited (and to help us be patient) leading up to a Disney vacation. Whether it’s decorating our MagicBands, decorating with our printable Disney banner, or doing a cool countdown chart, it’s a lot of fun and helps us make family memories even before we leave on the trip. Watching movies is a must, as well, to get us in the mood – and this year to introduce our kids to new things, such as Pandora land at Animal Kingdom by watching Avatar!

Whether you want to just want to watch a couple top picks, or as many Disney movies as you can fit in, here are the top movies to watch before Disney World we chose before our trip this year…

1: Avatar – with the opening of Pandora land a couple of years ago, I knew we had to watch this film just to give my kids an idea of the beautiful sights they have waiting for them there. Not only that, but the Flights of Passage ride will make much more sense!

2: Toy Story – With rides like ‘Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters’ and ‘Toy Story Mania’, this was already a good pick. Now with the opening of the whole Toy Story LAND, it’s a definite must-see!

3: Beauty & the Beast – of course there’s Belle around the parks, but especially if you’re going to dine at Be Our Guest restaurant (which I highly recommend!), this will give you a sense of nostalgia when you walk into the ballroom dining room, and definitely the West Wing.

4: Star Wars – We love ‘Star Tours’ and the like, but now there’s even more experiences and shows with this awesome series! Not only that, but Star Wars Land opens in a year or so, making this even more important to refresh on.

5: The Lion King – My favorite show at Disney World is the Festival of the Lion King, so I wanted to watch this childhood favorite with my family again before we take them to see it.

6: Finding Nemo – This wasn’t one of our TOP priorities, but with a ride for this film that I know they’ll enjoy, we added this to our list.

7: The Little Mermaid – Again, the ride in Magic Kingdom is a fun reason to watch this classic – but also because Ariel is a character you can find in many areas of the parks.

8: Alice in Wonderland – Maybe it’s just me, but I love remembering the film when riding the Teacups! Plus, since this one is a bit older, your kids may not have ever seen it before.

9: Peter Pan – Tinker Bell and Peter Pan are quite popular, as is the ride, so it’s fun to compare the sights you see during the ride to the film.

10: Cinderella – With that big beautiful castle at the center of Magic Kingdom (and particularly if you’re able to nab a reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table), this is ideal to watch again just for that magic.

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11: Frozen – The Frozen ride in Epcot will be much better if you remember the songs and friends in the movie.

12: Monsters, Inc. – Kids will get a big laugh at the Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor, but if they’ve recently watched the film then it’ll make it that much better.

13: Aladdin – Jasmine and our favorite street rat are quite popular, plus the entire area around the Carpet ride is themed after the film.

14: Tangled – Maybe it’s just me, but the little area by the Tangled restrooms is so pretty – plus those are some of my favorite restrooms!

15: Dinosaur – If your kids will be riding Dinosaur in Animal Kingdom, it may be good idea to have them watch the movie first. Knowing ‘Aladar’ in the cute film might help them not be so afraid in this darker ride!

Now, there are plenty more that could go in this list (like Lilo & Stitch, Winnie the Pooh, Sleeping Beauty, Cars, etc.) – because there’s TONS of characters and experiences! These were our top for this particular year, though, and because we had to prioritize due to time (as much as I’d love to rewatch every Disney movie ever made each year, that’s just not realistic).

What’s your favorite movies to watch before Disney World?

Helpful Tips and Tricks on What to Pack for Disney World

August 29, 2018 by Danielle 2 Comments

Save yourself some stress and be as prepared as possible for your Disney vacation. By following these helpful packing tips you’ll maximize your enjoyment and avoid some common drawbacks. Not only that, but knowing better what and how to Pack for Disney may even save you some money!

Wallet

Make sure you have cash in your wallet that you can use in a pinch to tip your driver, bell service, etc. This can save you from needing to use an ATM and possibly face those fees. In addition to that, bring plenty of Disney gift cards and the credit card you purchased your reservations on.

Clothes

It’s almost always hot, though it might get a little cooler on winter nights. There is a lot of walking involved, so comfortable walking shoes are a must. Please don’t be one of those people struggling in the parks in stilettos. To maximize comfort, wear shorts or a skirt (if you’re braver than me) and light breathable clothing. Formal wear is not a necessity if you are looking to pack light – however, for some dining reservations (like Victoria & Alberts!) you may need to get a little dressier.

Health and Beauty

Remember to bring sunscreen and use it every day – don’t forget the back of your neck if you have short hair or will wear a ponytail! Nothing zaps the fun out of a vacation in the sun like getting burned. Ya, I’ve learned that the hard way. Pain reliever is also good to have on hand, versus paying extra for it when you get there. Consider any other toiletries, ointments, or remedies you might need in advance so you can avoid the upcharge later.

You will need room in your suitcase to bring back souvenirs, of course. You can create that space and save money on water by packing a whole pallet of drinking water for the trip. It’s important to stay hydrated and you can get a 24 pack of bottled water for the price of a single bottle in one of the parks. By the end of the trip, water’s gone and there is room for all the t-shirts, plushes, and other awesome stuff you buy to commemorate your trip.

Accessories

Bring a cord and adapter for charging your phone overnight in your room. If you keep up on this you will not need to purchase or pack an external charger. The parks even have charging stations in case of an emergency. Small, travel-friendly backpacks can be your best friend – I don’t go to the parks without this one that’s been fabulous for 2 years!

Don’t forget an umbrella and some disposable ponchos, especially if you are going to Disney World in the Summertime. Ponchos are one thing you don’t want to be buying last minute in the middle of a rainstorm, trust me!

And definitely don’t forget your autograph books – these are the ones I made, complete with activities for during line waits. You can nab one here or on Amazon here!

Check out our previous post on What to Pack for Disney for more specific packing tips!

Everything You Need to Know about Tipping at Disney World

August 22, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Are tips accepted in Disney World? Absolutely – but with exceptions. While some Cast members are required to not accept tips for the most part, there are some positions at Disney where customary tipping is expected. Those cast members are paid by Disney as tipped employees, which means they can earn up to $3 less than minimum wage. When you vacation in Disney World, be sure to bring enough cash to cover tips for transportation, certain hotel services, and food servers. Here’s everything you need to know about Tipping at Disney World!

Who are “Tipped Employees?”

The following job types are classified as “tipped” and will gladly accept gratuity for their services.

Drivers: Obviously, the taxi service, or ride share app you use takes tips, but don’t forget about the Mickey’s Magical Express driver. They are your first point of contact on your Walt Disney World vacation and they work hard to make the experience magical. They’ll appreciate the gratuity. Generally, have $1 or $2 handy per piece of luggage they store and retrieve for you. The drivers on the internal buses do not take tips.

Hotel Services: Bell Service cast members are also tipped employees. Generally, anyone handling your bags will accept gratuity. The usual amount is $1 to $2 per bag. Salon and spa services are also tipped. Gratuity for massage, pedicure, etc. should be between 15% and 20% depending on the quality of service.

Food Service: Servers at table service restaurants do accept tips. It is also customary to tip at buffet restaurants, but not counter service or kiosks. The average tip for food service is 18% of the bill before tax. The minimum suggested tip is 15%.

Recognizing the Exceptional Efforts of Non-Tipped Employees

Non tipped Cast members include: ride operators, custodial cast members, outdoor venders and basically anybody not mentioned above. They cannot accept tips unless they have refused up to three times. Even then, the tip is taken to management. The best way to recognize these people for doing an exemplary job is to request a Great Service Fanatic card. You can also call or email Guest Communications: 407-824-4321 wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com You can even tweet @WDWToday with #castmembercompliment to show them some extra love and recognition!

Tell us your best experience with a cast member!

Free Printable Disneyland Height Requirements

August 15, 2018 by Danielle 1 Comment

Y’all know that we’re one of those crazy, Disney-loving families that have taken our kids during all sorts of ages and heights. I was so excited when my youngest finally reached 42″, because we could then go on ALMOST every single ride! Woot woot! For those travelling with younger ones that may require extra attention to what they can and can’t go on, here’s some super fun Free Printable Disneyland Height Requirements – plus a sheet for California Adventure, as well! And yes, they’ve been updated with the changes to Pixar Pier 🙂

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Disneyland Height Requirements

As we get ready for our Disney trips, we have fun with our DIY Disney Countdown, as well as prepare our kids for what rides they can or can’t go on due to any height restrictions. I think that by being prepared, we can help avoid more meltdowns at the parks, making it the best Disney vacation ever! On these printables, you’ll find some favorite characters from each of the parks – like Mike & Sulley for the California Adventure sheet! I couldn’t resist also including Dusty, since he’s one of my boys’ absolute FAVS!

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I tried to make this as convenient as possible, with the MANY rides that don’t have any height requirement at all listed right at the top. You can pair this with our amazing ‘Unofficial’ Disney Activity Book, but even alone it’s still the perfect printable to fold into your pocket or fanny pack to use for quick reference at the parks.

You can download and print off your FREE printables here….

Download the Disneyland Height Requirements Here

Download the California Adventure Height Requirements Here

Check out Get Away Today to book your trip today! Use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper to save $10 off your package!

Don’t forget to save some money (every few dollars saved is another Dole Whip – woot woot!) and book your magical vacation -whether it’s Disneyland, Walt Disney World, or even Legoland or Universal Studios – through the awesome folks at Get Away Today! Use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper to save $10 on your package!

Check out the fun changes to Pixar Pier (formerly Paradise Pier) like the Incredicoaster!

And did you know – ur ‘Unofficial’ Disney Activity Book is available as a PDF download OR you can nab a printed one from Amazon! Woot woot!

Check out Get Away Today to book your trip today! Use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper to save $10 off your package!

Top Back to School Picks for Disney Fans

August 3, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This post made possible by shopDisney. All opinions are mine alone.

Parents are in full-swing school shopping mode lately, and I have to admit that I absolutely LOVE seeing all the fun new items that come out every year – especially if they’re Disney themed! Whether you like Star Wars, Princesses, Superheroes or any of the classic characters, these Top Back to School Picks for Disney Fans list has something for practically everyone!

I could go a bit extreme here if I listed out my favorites in every single school category, so I decided to just do a handful of incredible things that I think kids of all interests and tastes would enjoy the most – and that would work well in getting them through the school year. Luckily shopDisney.com has everything we need, in the many different characters we love!

Backpacks

First of all, I couldn’t resist putting this Stitch Rolling Backpack first because – well, look at it – it’s so stinkin’ adorable!

And for my fellow moms out there who know that those cute ears Stitch has may get ruined in certain situations (airport, I’m looking at you), THEY COME OFF! It’s like the Disney backpack creators have kids of their own so know what us parents want in an awesome bag for our littles.

Not only that, but can you just picture your kiddo opening and closing Stitches mouth going ‘ack, ack, ack’ over and over? I know mine totally would!

You know I had to add some Star Wars fun in here, right? I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t. Our other backpack selection is this not only Star Wars, but also fits in the theming of a classic video game, based off of the one of the originals “May the Force Be With You”.

It looks like it can hold everything your child needs for back to school, plus there’s an optional matching lunchbox you could also get – things are better in sets anyway, right?

Lunchboxes & Totes

Speaking of lunchboxes, here’s a super cute one for any child who has a love of a classic – Ariel! I remember pretending to be mermaids (in a backyard full of grass, our swimming wasn’t too graceful lol) with my friends when I was younger, so this brings back fond memories.

It’s even shimmery, making it a delight for any little princess or mermaid!

Pencil Cases

The Incredibles 2 just came out recently, so of course kids (of all ages – it’s one of hubby’s favorites, too!) are loving everything Incredibles-themed, such as ‘The Incredible Pencil Case‘! It looks just like Mr. Incredibles car, so not only is it handy for carrying pencils, sharpeners, scissors, crayons, and the like, but the kids will look SUPER cool carrying it around.

A Collection for a Princess

I’m a sucker for cute princess things, because it makes me feel like a little girl again. This beautiful & handy Disney Princess Back to School Collection has everything you could need – from bags to notebooks, water bottles to clothing, even markers and patches!

The lunch tote is my personal favorite, featuring the faces of many of the Disney Princesses. Isn’t it cute?

Whatever you’re looking for as you tackle the back to school shopping, don’t forget all the amazing items at shopDisney.com – the hard part is choosing between so many cool things!

Which Disney character would YOU want on a backpack?

Toy Story Alien Craft

August 1, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Y’all know how much our family loves Disney, right? Well, putting together a fun Disney craft for kids was a great way to celebrate the opening of the new Toy Story Land at Walt Disney World. In anticipation of our visit there later this year, we made this Toy Story Alien Craft – a great activity for a lazy afternoon!

Aren’t they cute? We’re all excited to check out the new Toy Story Land during our trip – the Alien ride looks really fun, but we’re especially eager to try out Slinky Dog Dash! I’m sure y’all know how patient kids are when leading up to a vacation (note the sarcasm there), so why not give them a little Disney creating while they wait with this awesome Alien craft?

Eager for your own Disney vacation? Check out Get Away Today for the best deals! Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper

Supplies

Directions

Take your green paper plate and cut it in half with your scissors. You will instantly have an Alien shaped head. Grab that glue stick and glue three eyes onto each Alien.
Now take another green paper plate and draw/cut out an Alien antenna. When you have two Alien antennas, take your glue stick and glue an antenna onto each Alien.
While your eyes and antennas are drying, take your black sparkle foam paper and cut out four Alien ears. Glue those ears onto your Aliens
Now for the fun part! Take your black marker and draw a mouth on each Alien. I suggest practicing on a blank piece of paper to perfect your technique before drawing on your plate.
Enjoy your two fun new Alien friends!

Told you it was super easy – and it’s likely that you have at least some of the supplies on hand already. Maybe not BIG googly eyes or green paper plates, but you can easily buy or order those. Then you’re all set for some Toy Story Alien crafting.

Eager for your own Disney vacation? Check out Get Away Today for the best deals! Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper

Printable Disney Aulani Activity & Autograph Pages

July 18, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Y’all know how much I love everything Disney – but I’ve never yet had the privilege of visiting Disney’s Aulani in Hawaii. It’s definitely on the wish list! I do have some friends that go frequently, though, so I thought it’d be fun to make some awesome printables. Whether it’s your first trip or tenth, these Printable Disney Aulani Activity & Autograph Pages are sure to make your trip even more magical and memorable!

Don’t forget to check out Get Away Today for the best vacation package deals! Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper

Since Disney’s Aulani is more of a tropical resort – and not a theme park – this booklet doesn’t have quite as many pages as our regular Disney Activity & Autograph book, but it’s still full of colorful, themed fun! There’s a stylish cover (front and back), plus an inside page for your child to put their info from the trip.

There’s then 4 pages of activities and jokes for them to have a bit of Disney-themed fun. These can be great for giving them something to do for a few moments during the flight, waiting to travel, or just some down time at the resort.

Following the activities, there’s then 12 pages for autographs, with a wide variety to cover the types of characters that you’re more likely to see at Disney’s Aulani resort.

There’s some for the classics, like Mickey and Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto and Chip and Dale.

Then we’ve created some brand new ones for characters such as Moana and Maui, Lilo and Stitch, Ariel (she’s definitely tropical/beach-themed, so might be there!) and even one for the ‘Cucamonga’ – the little coconut-like creatures from the film!

Don’t forget to check out Get Away Today for the best vacation package deals! Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper

A total of 20 pages, sized at 6×9 to be a better fit for littler hands – plus more easily to travel with! You can print them out onto normal paper (I recommend cardstock) and staple or bind together. Or take them to professional printing center to have them printed very good quality and bound to last for a long while. The choice is yours!

These amazing Disney Aulani Printables are one of our fun subscriber-exclusives, so be sure you sign up to join our newsletter to gain access to this free printable and more!

What’s YOUR favorite character that may be at Disney’s Aulani resort?

Nab our other Disney Activity & Autograph Books here!

Don’t forget to check out Get Away Today for the best vacation package deals! Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper

Ant-Man and Wasp: 5 Reasons it’s Even Better Than the First

June 27, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

With so many great Marvel films coming out, you may be tempted to skip out on one or two. Trust me, though, you’ll regret it because the newest one – Ant-Man and Wasp – is not only hilarious, but downright touching and full of adventure. Today we’re sharing it all with you (no spoilers!)! Ant-Man and Wasp: 5 Reasons it’s Even Better than the First! And since I completely loved the first film, you know this one must be great 😉

#1: The Cast is Phenomenal

If there’s no other reason you want to see this movie, just go for the cast. Seriously! With amazing talent like Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer and more, it’d be hard NOT to turn out with a wonderful movie experience. Each character is displayed and performed so well, it’s like they were each MADE for these parts. I mean, wait until you see Paul Rudd (aka: Ant-Man) spending his time while under house arrest (his consequence from his part in Civil War) – talented guy!

#2: You Might Cry

Or at the very least, get all the feelings – from hope and despair, to excited and afraid, not to mention all the relationship-type feelings such as between Scott and Hope, Scott and his absolutely adorable daughter, or between Hope and her parents. I had tears in the first five minutes, so needless to say this pulls you in right from the start!

#3: You WILL Laugh

If you don’t, then something might be wrong. Among all the emotions and adventure, there are a TON of hilarious antics, conversations and the likes that you would expect from such an incredibly funny guy like Paul Rudd. And don’t forget his best friend Luis, you definitely brings a whole new level of humor to the screen!

#4: Adventures of Epic Proportions

Guys – there’s car chases with MINIATURE vehicles! Add to that a huge PEZ dispenser (Hello Kitty, of course) and Lang’s suit that just isn’t working quite right, and this will be one wild ride. Not only does Scott need to repair his relationship with Hope and Hank, stay out of trouble (and ‘in his house’) for 3 more days until his sentence is over, but also help them attempt a rescue for Hope’s mom, who may still be alive – but lost for the past 30 years – in the Quantum realm. Oh, and did I mention a Quantum-phasing woman with her own agenda, an eager-for-a-win FBI agent and a black market dealer eager for a big paycheck? Yup, you’re in for a crazy time with all these folks trying to beat the clock – and each other!

#5: Because ‘Peanut’ is the Coolest Kid Ever

We got a feel for Scott’s cute daughter in the first film, but she really shines in Ant-Man and Wasp so we see much more of her personality – which is AWESOME! Seriously, more kids need to be this level of fun, supportive, understanding AND unknowingly wise. Just wait until you see more of Cassie in the film, and you won’t be able to help but love her, too.

Bonus: All the ‘ANT’ Names!

Okay, so maybe this doesn’t make this one BETTER than the first film, but it sure was hilarious hearing the names Scott picks for his several ant friends. My favorite is probably ‘ANT-onio Banderas’!

Disney Activity Pages

Disney Autograph Pages

Disney Memories

Disney Themed – any park, trip, cruise, etc.

This is included in our Busy Mom Bundle, along with other fabulous printable packs!

Check out our other products HERE

Other Disney fun you may like!

Which character at Walt disney World do you want to meet?

Contact Michael’s VIPs for YOUR next trip to Walt Disney World – or Disneyland!

What’s YOUR favorite thing about taking kids to Walt Disney World?

What’s your favorite movies to watch before Disney World?

Wallet

Clothes

Health and Beauty

Accessories

Check out our previous post on What to Pack for Disney for more specific packing tips!

Who are “Tipped Employees?”

Recognizing the Exceptional Efforts of Non-Tipped Employees

Tell us your best experience with a cast member!

Disneyland Height Requirements

Other Disney themed posts you may like…

Backpacks

Lunchboxes & Totes

Pencil Cases

A Collection for a Princess

Which Disney character would YOU want on a backpack?

Supplies

Directions

Eager for your own Disney vacation? Check out Get Away Today for the best deals! Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper

What’s YOUR favorite character that may be at Disney’s Aulani resort?

Don’t forget to check out Get Away Today for the best vacation package deals! Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper

#1: The Cast is Phenomenal

#2: You Might Cry

#3: You WILL Laugh

#4: Adventures of Epic Proportions

#5: Because ‘Peanut’ is the Coolest Kid Ever

Bonus: All the ‘ANT’ Names!

Ant-Man and Wasp hits theaters July 6th, 2018 – so grab your tickets and enjoy!