January 2016 – Love That Mouse

18
Jan
2016

Celebration cakes

To all that come to his happy place: welcome — Walt Disney

My husband has a summer birthday, and it just so happens we’ve been at Disney TWICE during his birthday. Disney does a great job of helping people celebrate all kinds of celebrations…weddings, anniversaries, adoption, family reunions, and especially birthdays. In fact, we had the most wonderful cake at our on-site wedding. It was a beautiful, two-tier chocolate cake, with white chocolate raspberry filling, and buttercream icing. The staff decorated the cake with little Mickey heads and of course, a Mickey & Minnie cake topper. This was part of the wedding package, so costs are different, but any cake from Disney is pretty yummy.

Our wedding cake with Mickey & Minnie topper

A few years ago, we rented a specialty cruise (pontoon boat) from the Contemporary Resort and ordered a special Mickey birthday cake. It was a beautiful chocolate ganache, which is absolutely delicious. The pontoon driver took us around Bay Lake, then found a great fireworks spot to enjoy Wishes, with the music piped into the boat. It was a very memorable (and higher priced) experience, which requires at least 90 days advance reservation (407-wdw-play).

On our most recent trip, my husband and I decided to have a special dinner for two at Kona Cafe in the Polynesian resort. Most restaurants will have a basic 6-inch cake available, however it seemed like a lot of dessert for just the two of us. Instead, our waiter was able to bring him a special birthday cupcake plate, which was just right. There is no guarantee that a cake will be available when you walk up, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

Happy Birthday cupcake plate at Kona Cafe, Polynesian Resort

If you want to make sure a cake is available or to something more than a basic chocolate or vanilla cake, call the Cake Ordering Hotline at (407) 827-2253. Since the bakery at the Grand Floridian makes the cakes for the on-site weddings, they have the most options as far as flavors. I highly recommend calling the main line for ordering a cake 2-3 weeks in advance to get the most options.

If you are looking for more information on ordering cakes, AJ from Disney Food Blog has a great article.

Have fun exploring the World!

12
Jan
2016

Christmas cards

categories: Creative Items, Daily Life, Inspirational Quotes

The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique — Walt Disney

Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey at Hollywood Studios, June 2015 — Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey at Hollywood Studios, June 2015

During our last visit to WDW, we took a GREAT family pic with Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey. As soon as I saw the pic, I knew it would be our Christmas card, but it was missing something…Santa hats. Since we went in June, I didn’t think about Santa hats and I doubt my husband would have carried them in his backpack all over the parks anyway. So, how do you take a GREAT pic and make it even better? Check out PicMonkey.com

PicMonkey is a free online photo editing site. You open the pic, add some details,save to your computer, then send out for printing (especially if you need more than 1 or 2). Super easy, right?!

Item needed:

Pics
Computer with online access

Instructions:

Open PicMonkey

Choose ‘edit’ to open the photo editor

Open the pic you want to edit from your computer

Choose the snowflake at the bottom of the list (themes). Then choose ‘Santa Land’ theme at bottom of list.

Open ‘Kringle caps. Choose cap, size and color.

Make sure to save on your computer when done.

Have fun being creative!

*This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a (very) small commission if you click a link and purchase something. It does NOT result in additional charges to you or cost you anything extra.

11
Jan
2016

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom

categories: Inspirational Quotes, Travel Tips

Why do we have to grow up? — Walt Disney

When people ask me what they should plan to do on their trip to the Magic Kingdom, I try to help them choose one or two absolute must-do items and usually it’s one of the ‘e-ticket’ events…Anna & Elsa meet & greet, 7 Dwarfs Mine Train, the mountains (Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad), but rarely do I include Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom (SOTMK). In fact, I had never slowed down enough to actually participate in this fun, FREE event until our last trip this past summer. Anyone who knows me knows that I love to collect Disney things, especially FREE Disney things, so it is surprising that I’ve never taken advantage of this before.

First, a little background information…Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is an interactive game that began in 2012, and is played only at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Merlin (The Sword in the Stone) recruits park guests as apprentice sorcerers and sends them out to battle various Disney villains led by Hades (Hercules). The game takes place throughout the various themed lands throughout the park, except for Tomorrowland, using special spell cards.

There are two areas in the Magic Kingdom where you can get your FREE pack of SOTMK spell cards each day. The first area, and typically the busiest area, is at the front of the park, in the Firehouse next to City Hall. The second area is a little more hidden, behind Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square, across from the meet & greet for Princess Tiana.

On your very first visit, the Cast Member will get you registered using your magic band or park ticket, then give you a tutorial on how to play, as well as get you started on the adventure with Merlin. You also receive a map with the locations of the SOTMK ‘magic portals,’ however feel free to ask a Cast Member for help if you can’t seem to locate a specific portal.

Each ‘magic portal’ is marked by a symbol like the one pictured above. When you find the correct portal, wave your card and the portal opens up to continue your adventure. You can only get one pack of cards per ticket per day, however special events have special cards available, too.

If you complete the game by defeating Hades, you can get an extra set of cards for that day (and also bump up to the next level game). If you attend the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party or the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party, a special ‘bonus’ card is available, so don’t forget to stop by for your FREE bonus spell card.

We haven’t reached the end of the game yet, so I’ll have to post an update once we do.

Have fun exploring the World!

Month: January 2016