Planning Tips

Colleen’s Top 10 Disney World Must Dos

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In no particular order, these are my Top 10 Disney World Must Dos. These are the places, attractions and things I HAVE to hit when I visit the Happiest Place on Earth.

  • 1. Dine at the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue
    • Clap your hands, stomp your feet and sing along to this dinner and comedy show with a Wild West twist! Audience participation is highly encouraged, and you won’t regret it. Some of the best food at Disney is served here (think: fried chicken, ribs and cornbread).
  • 2. Walk through the lobby of the Beach Club
    • Getting off the Magical Express and walking into the Beach Club lobby is the most magical feeling – the sites, the sounds, and the smells are the BEST! It truly is one of my Disney happy places and worth a quick pass through if you’re in the area. Read my full review HERE.
  • 3. Listen to the music
    • You may not even realize it, but Disney does an incredible job with the music everywhere you go. Whether it’s in the parks, the resorts or restaurants, the music selection always fits the theme perfectly no matter where you are. I love just stopping and listening to the sounds, which is why I love Sorcerer Radio so much!
  • 4. Watch Happily Ever After from up close
    • The castle projections during the Happily Ever After fireworks show at Magic Kingdom are so magical! All of your favorite Disney classic movies are projected onto Cinderella Castle and set to your favorite Disney tunes. Get a spot up close so you can fully appreciate the beauty of the show! (The main song is the best, too!)
  • 5. Enjoy the Soarin’ Around the World pre-ride video
    • Disney does any incredible job of “theming” its queues. From the moment you enter the line to the moment you board the attraction, you’re fully immersed in that attraction. The Soarin’ pre-ride video is one of the best out there. Patrick Warburton nails it with his dry sense of humor. (For those of you who have seen it…”these little beauties.”)
  • 6. Grab a tropical drink at Trader Sam’s
    • I LOVE the Polynesian Village Resort for so many reasons, and this new tiki bar is the perfect addition. The moment you walk into this bar, you are transported to the Polynesian islands, complete with an active volcano. Without spoiling too much of the surprise, each drink ordered triggers something different inside the bar. Read my full Review HERE.
  • 7. Get dessert from the Werther’s Shop in Germany
    • If you have a sweet tooth, then this stop is definitely for you. In World Showcase, Germany has a shop with Werther’s caramel treats – everything from caramel popcorn to brownies to sea salt caramels – it always smells delicious in here!
  • 8. Ride the monorail
    • Who doesn’t love to hear the phrase “Please stand clear of the doors. ¡Por favor manténgase alejado de las puertas!” The monorail is a ride in itself.
  • 9. Rock out to British Revolution
    • This cover band performs in the UK in Epcot and is one of my all time favorite things to watch in Disney. The guys are so talented and fun to see, so grab a drink at Rose ‘n Crown pub and enjoy some head banging to “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
  • 10. Ride Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster front row
    • You have to get all the way across town for the Aerosmith concert, so the band manager got you a really fast car! 0 to 60 in two seconds? Yes please!

Planning Tips

Top 5 Must Do Attractions at Hollywood Studios

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Disney’s Hollywood Studios is always changing, but one thing that’s constant is that it offers some of the best thrill rides and shows in all of Walt Disney World.

These are my Top 5 Must Do rides and attractions when we visit the park!

5. March of the First Order

As Star Wars slowly takes over Hollywood Studios (who is else is excited for Galaxy’s Edge?!), this show is by far one of the coolest. Line up on Hollywood Boulevard to watch the First Order come storming through the park. It’s exhilarating to watch, even if you aren’t a huge fan (I wasn’t initially and still loved seeing this). The march takes place every hour in the afternoon, so lots of chances to catch it!

WDW Park Planners Recommendation: for all ages and levels of Star Wars fandom!

4. Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage

Who doesn’t love this tale as old as time?! This Broadway-esque stage show is just a feel-good attraction for the family and one of my favorite shows in WDW. Sit back and relax as you are whisked away into the classic story of Beauty and the Beast. Singing along is always encouraged 🙂

WDW Park Planners Recommendation: for all ages!

3. Tower of Terror

This Hollywood Studios icon is a must do, if you’re feeling brave! Step aboard if you dare into the Twilight Zone, where you will experience drops and darkness like never before. For an even more thrilling experience, we love to ride this one at night!

WDW Park Planners Recommendation: for the “big” kids and adults

Height requirement: 40 in. or taller

2. Toy Story Mania  

This 4D interactive game is so much fun! It’s a step up from the Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom, which we also love. Ride through different games, all featuring your favorite Toy Story characters and scenes. Scores are tallied along the way and a winner is announced at the end. If you’re competitive, you won’t want to miss this one!

WDW Park Planners Recommendation: for the whole family!

Height requirement: None

1. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

My all-time favorite ride at Hollywood Studios is this famous coaster featuring the one and only Aerosmith band. Everything about this ride is awesome – the theming, the queue and the ride itself. Shoot off in your super-stretch limo from 0 to 60 in about 2 seconds. You have to make it all the way across town for the big show!

WDW Park Planners Recommendation: for the “big” kids and adults

Height requirement: 48 in. or taller

Reviews

Disney Must Do: Matching Shirts

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Featured Etsy Shop: The Mouse Boutique

It’s okay to wear matching shirts in Walt Disney World. Actually, it’s highly encouraged!

For those of you who have been to WDW, you’ve probably noticed the startling amount of families and groups wearing matching shirts around the parks and resorts (some families even start on the plane ride to Orlando). It seems that every year we go there are more and more people that wear them, and they get more clever too!

Mary’s Magical 21st Birthday shirts

My family has worn matching shirts for years, but our shirt selection has evolved. Initially, we started by making custom t-shirts for celebrations (“Mary’s Sweet 16,” “Mary’s 21st,” etc. – her birthday is in August when we always go to WDW, so she’s had a lot of birthdays there!). Then, we moved into purchasing actual Disney shirts, and we would all get the same one (Disney usually offers men/women versions of the same shirt).

Now, we’ve stepped up our game. Ben and I went to our very first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and had the cutest shirts ever from The Mouse Boutique (see the pic above). This Etsy shop has TONS of character and seasonal options, and one is just better than the next.

They have everything from Star Wars to Frozen to the Lion King to Epcot Drinks Around the World to the Hitchhiking Ghosts to the Disney Cruise Line. They have shirts for every size group for every type of event, and they’ll customize them just for you! The shop owner, Michele, is wonderful to work with and is always coming up with new, clever ideas.

If you haven’t been to WDW and are planning a trip there, this is a Disney Must Do. It’s a fun way to get your family excited for your magical vacation and even more fun to wear them in the parks. And as a bonus, it helps keep track of everyone in your group in the crowds!

Check out The Mouse Boutique on Etsy

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