PlanItDisney – A fast and easy way to plan your trip

PlanItDisney   A fast and easy way to plan your trip

PlanItDisney map-based planning

PlanItDisney.com, a revolutionary free Disney trip planning website, went live to the public today.  PlanItDisney allows users to build an online travel itinerary and budget from over 3000 Points of Interest in and around Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

Planning a vacation with PlanItDisney is a four step process:

The Map – An interactive map containing photos, details, descriptions, and reviews for every single attraction, show, hotel, service, food, and transportation location at the Disney resorts is the starting point to building your perfect trip. Browse the map, find things to do and add them to your itinerary queue.
The Planner – Select any point of interest and drag-and-drop it anywhere in your itinerary.  Shuffle events around until your trip is just right.  Color coding of events gives you a quick overview of what kind of activity is up next.  You can add custom itinerary items or attach a note (like ADR information) to any event.
The Budget – Once you’ve got your itinerary looking the way you’d like, with one click PlanItDisney will help create a budget based on your exact trip.  Common (but commonly overlooked) budget items like internet charges, parking, and other costs are noted for you.
Book It – Once your plan and budget are in place, PlanItDisney makes it easier than ever to book your Disney vacation online.  You can choose to share your itinerary and budget with one of a select group of Authorized Disney Travel Agents who can help finalize all the little details of your trip and make all the hotel, ticket, food, and theme park reservations at absolutely no cost to you.  Or you are free to make your own travel arrangements.

PlanItDisney   A fast and easy way to plan your trip

Interactive itinerary tool

PlanItDisney is the quickest and easiest way to learn about everything to do at Disney, remove the confusion and hassle of planning and budgeting a trip, and get on with enjoying the most magical vacation of your life!

PlanItDisney   A fast and easy way to plan your trip

"Smart" budgeting helps estimate the trip

PlanItDisney   A fast and easy way to plan your trip

dif

Favorite Disney Websites – Tips from the Disney Diva

Favorite Disney Websites   Tips from the Disney Diva  Ok, I may be a little biased, but one of my FAVORITE Disney trip-planning websites is Tips from the Disney Diva www.tipsfromthedisneydiva.com

The site, which really began taking off in December of 2009, was originally designed to help families in the planning process for their trip to Walt Disney World, but is expanding this year with the addition of multiple “Diva & Devo” writers who specialize in tips on:

- Disneyland trip planning – RunDisney Events – WDW & Dland dining, attractions, and resort reviews – Packing tips – Disney trips with Toddlers in your party – Disney on a budget – Disney trips with TEENS in your party (from a teen’s perspective) – Disney trips WITHOUT kids in your party – Traveling with people who have dietary or physical special needs  in your party – Traveling to Disneyland Paris – Disney Cruises – Traveling to Disneyland Hong Kong – Traveling to WDW and Disneyland from outside of the country – Disney Weddings and Honeymoons – Disney Vacation Club – Thrill ride lovers – Specialty Tours – Photography at Disney Parks and more!

Tips from the Disney Diva is EXCLUSIVELY a trip planning site. It does not discuss Disney news, Disney movies or television, ABC Family,  or any of the other great stuff that is covered here at Chip and Company, so we’re QUITE compatible with one another. Tips from the Disney Diva’s goal is for you to have the BEST POSSIBLE Disney vacation you could have , so information is sincere, fun to read, easy to understand for people who are planning their FIRST TRIP, and straight talk that will help you plan a trip even a DIVA would love!

If you’re looking for some great HELPFUL tips for planning your next Disney come meet me over at Tips from the Disney Diva (www.tipsfromthedisneydiva.com) and look around. You can get just a taste of the site by looking at some of the most frequently read posts and join us on FACEBOOK at www.facebook.com/tipsfromthedisneydiva and/or TWITTER @WDWDisneyDiva. Bring your friends and make sure you sign up get emails sent to you daily with fresh tips for planning the best Disney vacation EVER!

 

Favorite Disney Websites   Tips from the Disney Diva

dif

Top 10 Extreme Rides at Walt Disney World

Top 10 Extreme Rides at Walt Disney World

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

With four theme parks and two water parks, thrill seekers are sure to find their happy place at Walt Disney World. Let’s take a look at 10 of the resort’s top extreme rides.

MAGIC KINGDOM:
Space Mountain—This classic Magic Kingdom coaster is an all-time fan favorite. Climb the 180-foot mountain then blast off into deep, dark space through twists and turns and past shooting stars and black holes. Two separate tracks, the Alpha and the Omega, mirror each other as they hurl rocket ships through the cosmos at 28 miles per hour. *Height requirement: 44 inches*

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad—Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was originally designed to be The Western River Expedition, a boat ride through the American West with hiking trails and pack mules featuring a runaway mine train and housed in a large complex called Thunder Mesa. Though Walt Disney World did receive its own attraction in 1980, Big Thunder Mountain was installed at Disneyland first in 1979. The “wildest ride in the wilderness” reaches speeds of 25-30 mph, matching that of the monorail, as it rumbles past actual gold mining tools on two-and-a-half acres of desert canyons and caverns. *Height reqirement: 40 inches*

ANIMAL KINGDOM:
Expedition Everest—Expedition Everest—Legend of the Forbidden Mountain adds a second “wienie” to Animal Kingdom Park with its 199-foot “snow”-covered mountain. A runaway tea train careens forward and backward around and through this breathtaking Himalayan Mountain peak in effort to escape the mountain’s guardian: the Yeti. The phenomenal Audio-animatronic beast stands more than 18 feet tall and has an arm thrust equivalent to the force of a 747 jumbo jet. *Height requirement: 44 inches*

Dinosaur!—Dinosaur! is housed inside the Dino Institute, a large building toward the rear of DinoLand, USA. Dino Sue, a 40-foot long, 20-foot high exact replica of the largest, most complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever unearthed, stands charge by the entrance. Once you eek past her, proceed through the ride queue, strap into your Time Rover and hang on as you travel back in time to fetch a dinosaur before it and you become extinct. *Height requirement: 40 inches*

Top 10 Extreme Rides at Walt Disney World

Dinosaur!

EPCOT:
Mission Space—Designed in consultation with 25 NASA experts and five astronauts, Mission Space is a flight training simulator that allows passengers to experience space travel without ever leaving Earth. Each team member has a specific role in commandeering the cosmic vessel. Passengers may choose their intensity level: Green for a milder ride and Orange for full throttle. *Height requirement: 44 inches*

Test Track—Ever wonder how a car is tested before it reaches your driveway? Epcot’s Test Track takes six Guests per vehicle through a series of quality tests that cars undergo before being released for sale to the public. Test braking systems, environmental factors and crash through barriers…er, um, maybe stop before you collide. Take a lap around the track outside at 65 mph, the fastest ride at Walt Disney World, before exiting to a showroom floor. *Height requirement: 40 inches*

DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS:
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror—According to legend, the once glamorous Hollywood Hotel hosted stars of the silver screen during Hollywood’s Golden Age. But then on Halloween night, 1939, a violent storm struck the building, whisking 5 unfortunate souls “beyond the fifth dimension.” The hotel was left untouched after that disastrous eve. Guests board the “fright elevator,” which goes up, then down, then maybe up again…or down. Random drops depart the 13th floor and are determined by the Tower itself. Now if that doesn’t spook you, I don’t know what will! *Height requirement: 40 inches*

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith—A tour of G-Force Record Studio is cut short when the band Aerosmith takes off for a show. They take Guests with them, though, in a super stretch limo. Each “car” pumps 32,000 watts of onboard audio through a 125 speaker, 24 sub-woofer sound system and accelerates from a zero to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds with the force of a supersonic F-14. Three inversions offer a unique view of Los Angeles: upside-down! *Height requirement: 48 inches* 

TYPHOON LAGOON:
Crush ‘n’ Gusher—The theme parks aren’t the only place to find thrill rides at Walt Disney World Resort. Head on over to Typhoon Lagoon for the white knuckle excitement of Crush ‘n’ Gusher. This water coaster defies gravity as its powerful jets pump water at 1,350 gallons per minute, propelling Guests down and up 420 feet of slide. Hold tight to your inflatable raft as you twist and turn through the chutes at speeds reaching 30 feet per second. *Height requirement: 48 inches*

BLIZZARD BEACH:
Summit Plummet—Take the plunge! The 12-story, high-speed drop from the top of Mount Gushmore, that is. The ride towers 30 feet above its mountain base and is built to resemble a ski jump. Riders do not really fly off the jump, though they do catch some air. The 8-second zoom down the 360-foot flume sends riders slightly over vertical then straight down and through a short tunnel under the jump at 50-60 miles per hour. It’s so exhilarating many “skiers” jump right up, adjust their wedgies and take the chair lift right back to the top. *Height requirement: 48 inches*

Top 10 Extreme Rides at Walt Disney World

Summit Plummet

Whew! Now that ought to get your blood pumping.


dif

Magical Mouse Schoolhouse, where Disney IS school!

Magical Mouse Schoolhouse, where Disney IS school!

Magical Mouse Schoolhouse, where Disney IS school!

MAGICAL MOUSE SCHOOLHOUSE is a unique blog that plusses the homeschool experience and prompts home educators to think outside the textbook. Our bi-weekly posts expose teachable moments in Walt Disney entertainment, from the history of Walter Elias Disney to Audio-animatronics, from theme park attractions to Disney conservation efforts. Each article leaves readers creative ways to learn while they play when Disney IS school.

Here’s a sampling of what you might find:

  • Watch Dumbo and learn about aviation. Build a paper airplane with an elephant’s proportions. Discuss fuselage size and shape. Ask students if large wings (or ears) help or hinder flight.
  • Ride Disneyland’s Mad Tea Party. Stop the math frustration spinning in your child’s head and have a Mad Math Fractions Tea Party!
  • Observe Tinker Bell’s flight from a castle turret during Wishes Nighttime Spectacular fireworks at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in person or by Youtube video. Following instructions at the Science Buddies website, measure the intensity and duration of light produced by glow sticks.

Non-homeschoolers are welcome too! Supplement children’s schoolwork to keep kids from stagnating during summer break or holidays. Classroom teachers, enhance lesson plans or offer additional course work.

Stretch the boundaries of your home classroom!

Magical Mouse Schoolhouse, where Disney IS school!

Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!

MAGICAL MOUSE SCHOOLHOUSE hosts the weekly blog hop, Tiggerific Tuesday, a linky social to network with fellow bloggers. We also run GIVEAWAYS on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month, and we hop aboard the Magical Blogorail Yellow Line every 1st Friday.

For an additional learning experience and educational incentives, sign up for the monthly Earn Your E.A.R.S. (Enriching Academic Reward Series). Registration opens October 1, 2011. Click the link to learn more.


dif

Blizzard Beach- A Family Friendly Water Park!

Blizzard Beach  A Family Friendly Water Park!

If you are considering going to Blizzard Beach at Walt Disney World but are wondering how family friendly it really is, let me tell you that out of all the water parks I have frequented this is by far the most family oriented I have found!   Disney does a great job of remembering kids of all ages (even big ones like me) at Blizzard Beach.  They have created a really fun park where families of all sizes can make ever lasting memories!

First off, let me say that safety is Disney’s main goal at the water parks.  In fact, they offer FREE life jackets to everyone in the park who needs one!  Only you know your child’s swimming ability, if you think they should have a life jacket there is absolutely no reason not to get one!

Tike’s Peak is a really fun kids area at Blizzard Beach.  It is geared more toward preschool age children and there is a height limit of 48 inches.  But of course, you may accompany your child anywhere you please! In this area, there are many fun play areas to choose from.  There is a tube slide, a body slide, racer slides, a wadding area and some really fun fountains all scaled down to the kids size! There is plenty of seating in this area and even some picnic tables.   We try to get to Blizzard Beach early to get seats in this area.  It is kind of tucked away and rarely crowded!

If you have older kids they can make a splash over at the Ski Patrol Training Camp.  This area is specially designed for big kids and preteens!  This area features several attractions very close together, so the kids can float from one ride to another with you still being able to have a watchful eye on them!  The funnest attraction in this area are the giant floating icebergs in the main pool!  Nets are suspended above so you can hop from one iceberg to the next!  There is even a zip line, where kids 60″ or shorter can speed down into the water!  There are also several slides in this area that are still tamed down for children who may be too intimated by the bigger attractions.

Looking for a few things to do together as a family?  Blizzard Beach offers several options that the whole family can participate in together!  My favorite ride at Blizzard Beach is the family raft ride, Teamboat Springs!  It is actually one of the longest raft rides in the county.  Teamboat Springs holds up to 6 people making it big enough for the whole family (or close to it)!  But be warned, it is fast and water can get into the little one’s faces.  So make sure Mom or Dad is sitting next to the smaller kids for a quick wipe of the face if need be!  Are you a competitive family? Then “race” over to the Toboggan Racers where kids and adults of any age can take a turn racing on the slopes!

Blizzard Beach is so family oriented that they even make a treat for the whole family to share, The Garbage Pail!  This chilly treat includes chocolate and vanilla ice cream,  waffle and cookie pieces, chocolate and strawberry sauce, whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry served up in an actual pail!  This treat was definitely made to share!

All of this and so much more really does make for some great family memories at Walt Disney World.  If you are considering trying out Blizzard Beach, I say go for it!  It is really fun to experience Walt Disney World in a whole new way, and this water park is just the way to do it – family style!

Blizzard Beach  A Family Friendly Water Park!

dif