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The rumor is true! Walt Disney World Resort is FABULOUS and has lifted select blackout dates for Silver and Weekday Annual Passholders. Beginning June 8, running through June 29, you can enjoy all four Parks (Disney's Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios), when your passes would've ordinarily been blacked out! Weekday Passholders still have Saturdays and Sundays blacked out.
This added benefit comes just before Disney's Hollywood Studios NEW Toy Story Land's Grand Opening on June 30. Don't worry, Annual Passholders will have the opportunity to experience Toy Story Land in an exclusive event in September 2018.
Now that you've heard the news, are you planning any trips in June? I am checking my calendar now, to plan for some day trips!!
Last week my friend, Marisa, sent me a text and told me to go enter a sweepstakes that Disney Parks Blog was hosting for a few short hours. My time was running out, I had to hurry and get to the website, AND let my husband know to go enter, too! Luckily, we both entered with time to spare. Then, it was time to wait. Did we get selected? When would they let us know? And then it happened, my husband got the email, "CONGRATULATIONS! -- Your name + one guest has been added to list of attendees for EPCOT's Food Festival on September 30th." HURRAH!! We WON!!! {I never received an email, and neither did my friend who told me about the contest. Sad face.}
As soon as we both entered, I was already working out childcare so that we could both go, if we got the congratulations email. So, when he got that email, we were all set to go!! The time frame was short...he entered on September 25, winners were announced on the 26, and we went on the 30. And we had a BLAST!!
Here's our fun Disney Parks Blog sponsored Date Night to Epcot's Food & Wine Festival!!
{while we waited for the doors to open for the event, Hubs and I shared a Lobster and Seafood Fisherman's Pie paired with a Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale. The pie was LOADED with seafood and delicious, the ale was light and refreshing.}
{We weren't in the park long enough to see much of the festival itself, but what we did see was beautiful!}
{this Disney Parks Blog event was held in the World Showcase Pavilion located in-between Canada and UK.}
{we're ready to taste all the yummy foods!}
{the World Showcase Pavilion was all dressed up for 500 of its closest friends...US!}
{the party was DJ'ed by none other than DJ Elliot.}
{as usual, Disney Parks Blog does everything 100% + some. This cake was unbelievable!! It looks like stacked cheese wheels. What you can't can't see in this picture is Remy, from Ratatouille hiding under one of the top wine glasses. No detail is ever missed at a Disney Parks Blog gathering!}
{so. much. food. this little plate held a tasty Beef Empanada and Pescado con coco: Seared Grouper, pigeon peas and rice with coconut sauce. Both entrees were YUM!}
{and then there was this tasty Trucker Burger. It was topped with a slice of boiled egg and a special sauce. Protein PACKED!}
{at the Epcot Food Festival there are a couple of specialty wines that you may not want to miss. This particular station was for a 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon made specifically for the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. I was told it was a delicious red wine.}
{we met a some new friends at the event, Amy and Amanda. They sat with us all evening and we shared all the yummy foods and drinks there were to partake in. Our table was PACKED with little plates and wine glasses. -photo credit, disney parks blog}
I have GREAT news for you!! I have an extra Disney Parks Blog Exclusive Epcot Illuminations poster for ONE lucky winner!! {Hubs and I each received a poster, and we only have one house...so I'm sharing with YOU!!!} Enter in the Rafflecopter widget below!
Watch this video to get a further glimpse into how much fun we had. You might even see Hubs and I at our table with new friends, and me towards the end!
If you know me in real life then you know I'm not the most prepared person for any situation. I've been known to be "that mom" with a baby with a full diaper and not a diaper bag in sight. Or, 25 minutes into my 30 minute drive to the beach I realize I forgot the sunscreen at home. It's just who I am, guys. I forget stuff...not my little people, though, so there's that. :o)
When preparing to pack for the Type-A Parent Boot Camp being held in Walt Disney World last week I actually made a list. And as I remembered things to add to it I stopped what I was doing and added them. I was NOT going to be unprepared for this conference or spending days with my family in the theme parks. I wanted a smooth trip for all of us!
Once I started to pack my new American Tourister suitcases, I marked things off of the list. People do this everyday...why is it so hard for me? Marking things off of the list helps when I get distracted, as I so easily do {SQUIRREL!}, and I can look back later and know what's already in the suitcase. It's the little things.
So, what essentials did I want to know for certain were in my bags? Aside from the normal clothing and undies and such? I'm gonna give you 10 Essentials to Pack for Disney. These are truly essential items that you would want to have somewhere on your person if you head out to any theme park. Here we go.
Sunscreen - seems like a pretty obvious item to have in your bag. Well, I've forgotten it a million times and we've paid out the wah-zoo at whatever place we were at to make sure we weren't fried at the end of the day. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen SPF 70 is our favorite for the adults and big kids. It goes on smooth and isn't greasy or oily. For the baby we bought the Neutrogena Baby Lotion SPF 45+. Again, goes on smooth and not greasy or oily. That's my BIGGEST pet-peeve about sunscreen...the greasy feeling after applying. Not at all the case with Neutrogena!
Rain Ponchos - I have NO idea what the weather is like in Disneyland, CA, but I can attest to the fact that if you come to Walt Disney World, FL you're going to see a rain shower or two. They're usually over in just a few minutes, but they're there. And without a rain poncho it might ruin your day. Or at least your next couple of hours. Before you leave for your vacay, run into the nearest dollar store and pick up a few. You'll be glad you did!
Snacks - Trust me on this one. You are going to want to have something in your bag or backpack to snack on while in the theme parks. Sure, you can buy snacks there. Treat yourself to a Mickey ice cream or an Olaf Caramel Apple! But, when you're standing in line and hunger strikes you'll be glad you have a little something tucked away. These KIND bars are the best. Few calories, high protein, dairy free...I could go on. Try them. You'll like them!
Baby Food - I mean, if YOU have a snack, be sure you packed them for the baby, too. Have you seen the new {well, new to me since Mabry is my first baby in five years.} squeeze pouches of baby food. GENIUS! They're {mostly} mess-free and baby loves them! Mabry's favorite right now is made by Plum in the Banana and Pumpkin flavor.
iPhone Charger - You laugh. I see you. I kid you not, I maybe pulled my DSLR from it's bag twice while in Disney this last week. I pulled my phone out for just about every photo op. Of course, I should've taken my own advice here because my phone was completely dead each night that we left the parks. Had I had my charger in my bag I could've found an outlet and recharged for a few minutes here and there. Better yet, if I had a Mophie Juice Pack Plus I wouldn't have even had to worry about my battery life. Now I know.
Extra Memory Cards - If you're going to be using your "big girl" camera more often than your iPhone then you'll not want to get the MEMORY CARD FULL message. Not gonna lie, it's happened to me more than once! Pack extra memory cards.
Extra Clothes for the Kids - Before last week I probably wouldn't have done this one. Even though I've been a mom for more than 12 years, I always forget the extra clothes. Always. Boy, am I glad that I had them this time. Don't ask me how, but Jett sat in poo somewhere between the hotel to Animal Kingdom. And it wasn't his own. I was so thankful to have an extra shirt for him!!! Aside from the poo incident though, you'll want extra clothes for drippy ice cream covered tees, a potty accident {of your own child's poo} or coming off of Kali River Rapids drenched!
Reusable Zipper Bags - Those extra clothes you're bringing? Put them in a reusable zipper bag to stay dry until you need them. Remember the rain showers I talked about? Well, if you forget the rain ponchos and you and your bag gets wet you'll still have a set of dry clothes if you follow this advice. Pop an empty bag or two in your bag/backpack for just in case reasons. You never know. {I discovered these 2.5 Gallon Hefty bags before our last trip. They were the perfect size! Big enough to fit a few sets of kids clothes!
Activity Books and Crayons - Do you love the parades at Disney? I do. I love to find my spot on the curb at least 30 minutes early and people watch. Er, I mean, wait for the parade to begin. My kids liking this?? Not so much. Activity books and crayons keep them busy so I can people watch wait.
Refillable Water Bottle - The very last thing you want to do while at a theme park is become dehydrated. Drink lots of water to prevent this. Duh, right?!? Take a refillable water bottle and just refill at any water fountain you run into. {Disney Tip: Did you know you can ask any Quick Service food location for a cup of ice water and they'll give it to you for free? Yep. You can.}
So, there's my list of 10 Essentials to Pack for Disney. What'd I forget? Anything? What would you add? Tell me in the comments.
Disclosure: The links within this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through and purchase one or more of these products I will get a small commission. :o)
