A talented field Headline the 42nd Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Golf Classic Field at Disney World

A talented field Headline the 42nd Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Golf Classic Field at Disney World

A talented field that includes past Disney champions Davis Love III and Robert Garrigus, and popular veterans Justin Leonard, Rocco Mediate and Camilo Villegas, highlights this year’s Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, held Nov. 8-11 at Walt Disney World Resort.

Along with the former Ryder Cup captain Love III, the field also features five past major champions, Stewart Cink, Ben Curtis, Trevor Immelman, Leonard and Mike Weir, along with two players in the top 30 of this year’s money list, Curtis and Garrigus.

Twenty nine players in the field have won on the PGA TOUR within the past two years, including Jonas Blixt, Curtis, Tommy Gainey, J.J. Henry, Leonard, Mediate, D.A. Points and Villegas.

A fan favorite, Gainey, nicknamed “Two Gloves,” is looking for back-to-back wins after capturing the McGladrey Classic in Sea Island last month. He knows the courses well at Disney, finishing second at the Classic in 2008.

Jonas Blixt, a rookie of the year candidate who became the eighth Swedish player to win on TOUR with his victory at the Frys.com Open, is looking to break into the top 30 money list. He is currently ranked No. 35.

Another popular name, Rocco Mediate, is making his 22nd start at Disney. Mediate has three top 10 finishes at Disney, including tied for fourth in 1999. His first start at Disney came in 1987.

Bolstering the field are seven total former champions who have claimed victory on Disney’s Palm and Magnolia courses, with Stephen Ames, Joe Durant, Jeff Maggert, Ryan Palmer and Duffy Waldorf joining Garrigus and Love III.

Waldorf, winner of the 2000 National Car Rental Golf Classic at Disney, and Weir, the 2003 Masters champion, received the final two sponsor exemptions. Durant and former Ryder Cup team member Boo Weekley were previously announced as exemptions in October.

“This year’s field demonstrates how competitive it is to be in the top 125,” said Kevin Weickel, tournament director. “We have a full complement of talented players battling it out around the bubble; players the caliber of Camilo Villegas, Billy Mayfair and Justin Leonard looking to fight their way in.”

The complete field can be found at pgatour.com.

A popular lineup of sports celebrities in the pro-am compliment the PGA TOUR field, including three-time American League batting champ and 2009 MVP Joe Mauer, Tampa Bay Rays players James Shields, David Price, B.J. Upton and Carlos Pena, Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski, and former MLB stars Fred McGriff, Heathcliff Slocumb, and Aaron Rowand. From the gridiron, future NFL Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks (Tampa Bay Bucs), is joined by former NFL vets Ryan Longwell (Packers), John Mobley (Broncos) and Robert Stevenson (Falcons). Former light heavyweight boxing champion Antonio Tarver and the NHL’s Scottie Upshall will also be teeing off at the Palm and Magnolia. Outside of the sports world, comedian Bill Engvall will be a part of the Disney Classic pro-am, held during the first two official rounds of the tournament on Disney’s Palm and Magnolia courses.

The Golf Channel will televise the tournament for the sixth consecutive year. The Golf Channel is scheduled to air live coverage each day.

Tickets for individual rounds ($20), badges for Classic week ($30) are available at www.CMNHospitalsClassic.com or through www.ticketmaster.com. Proceeds benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, including the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies in Orlando, and Shands Children’s Hospital in Gainesville.


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Mousekeeping Envelopes: Saying Thank You

Mousekeeping Envelopes: Saying Thank You

Towel Snail/Pixie Brenda

As the countdown to my family’s vacation ever so slowly creeps down, we are beginning to focus on our traditions for preparing for our trip. While some of our traditions are exciting, like movie nights and making T-shirts; some are simpler but equally as important to us. One of these simpler traditions is making special envelopes for the tips that we leave  for the Mousekeepers at our resort.

Like many people, one of my favorite things about being on vacation is that I get a break from my normal cleaning responsibilities and I am very appreciative of the people who take are of these things for me while we at Disney World. While tipping the Mousekeepers is certainly not required, my family and I like to sprinkle a little bit of pixie dust on our Mousekeeper’s day. We leave one envelope each day instead of just one tip at the end of our stay since we may have a different Mousekeeper each day and we want to be sure that each person gets a thank you for their hard work.

We make preparing our envelopes a fun, family activity and our designs have changed over the years as my Disney Addicts have gotten older and craftier. Design possibilities are almost endless; really only limited by your creativity. Ranging from simple too much more crafty and elaborate, there are design choices for everyone to choose from. A quick Google search can easily get you started with ideas for your envelopes. We prepare one envelope for each day of our trip and usually choose images that relate to our activities for the day or our resort.

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6 Ways to Get Internet Access at Disney World

6 Ways to Get Internet Access at Disney World

Let’s face it – the Internet these days is indispensable for some parents and families, even those who are going on vacation. Whether you’re a father working in the marketing industry who uses HughesNet Internet to administer websites, or a mother who has to check email to ensure that her office staff is running things smoothly, it’s hard these days to get away from it all. So when you go to Disney World with your family, it’s pertinent to know the ins and outs of Internet availability.

Here are the major options:

Disney Business Centers

If a few brief stints of Internet use is all you need on the trip, Disney Business Centers are likely sufficient. The centers are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and charge $10 per 15 minutes of Internet use.

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Have you tried these fun things to do OUTSIDE of the WDW Theme Parks?

Have you tried these fun things to do OUTSIDE of the WDW Theme Parks?

Walt Disney World has four theme parks to offer guests which are all amazing and special in their own ways. But it doesn’t stop there. The vision extends beyond the parks in so many ways, and there are tons of activities you can do that don’t require a park admission, like:

  • Watersports- Sammy Duvall’s Watersports Centre at the Contempotary Resort has waterskiing, parasailing and wakeboarding, and you can rent all kinds of boats from canoes to jetskis to motorboats at many of the resorts. And if all that isn’t enough, you can go on a bass fishing trip with a professional Disney fishing guide who will have you reeling them in no time.
  • Resort hopping – After a morning at one of the parks, I love to hop on a monorail/boat/bus to different resorts to take in the scenery and atmosphere there. The Polynesian is a great place to soak in that tropical feeling while enjoying a delicious Dole Whip, and Port Orleans French Quarter and the Grand Floridian are both great places for a romantic stroll with your better half. The Animal Kingdom Lodge is a great place to animal watch, and to grab some lunch or dinner.
  • Food – While the Parks have some great eats, I would argue that as a whole, the food is better outside the parks. The resorts as well as Downtown Disney have some incredible restaurants with a huge variety of foods, there is a place for everyone, from the more formal Victoria and Albert’s at the Grand Floridian, to the more mellow House of Blues in Downtown Disney (where the live music is almost as good as their chicken wings!). If you’re looking to be entertained while dining, then try a dinner show (think wild west fun at Fort Wilderness or a hula theme over at the Polynesian), or a character meal, where the food is usually endless and the characters come right to your table. I highly recommend venturing away from the parks for meals, as I have found the quality and taste higher and there are often fewer crowds to contend with.
  • Downtown Disney – This area is an open market type of setup full of stores, restaurants, and entertainment options. From an exclusive to Disney Cirque Du Soleil show, to a Lego store, to a Ghiradelli dessert shoppe serving up amazing sundaes, to an authentic Irish Pub, to a……well you get my point, there’s a lot to see and do! Downtown Disney is a place where you can spend a whole day (or even longer for me, since I love to shop and they have some of the best stores, including the huge World of Disney)

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In-room DIY Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Makeover

In room DIY Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Makeover

I have LOVED make up ever since I was a little girl.  I remember my boyfriend in Kindergarten gave me a faux makeup kit.  With no actual makeup payoff , even down to the fake nail polish, I was slightly offended.  I remember pretending to put on the pressed shadows.  Even as a little kid, I wanted the real deal.  Imaginary blue and pretend pink didn’t stand a chance against real glitter and glam!

You can guess that I was more than irritated when the Bibbidi Bobbidi  Boutique made its debut after my childhood.  There has been many a day where I have considered asking if they carried adult sizes.  But, alas they do not.  So now, I am forced to sit and anxiously await the day when I have  a little girl of my own to experience the magic of a Disney makeover with!  I was recently talking with a friend whose daughter has had the whole experience including the princess gown, accessories, hair, makeup, and nails.  While they enjoyed the experience, they hesitated doing it again for the cost.  There are lots of great ideas on doing  the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on a budget.  From choosing the right package to bringing your own dress from home, there are a lot of ways to do the boutique without breaking the bank!

Today, I propose for your consideration the idea of doing a little “in room DIY boutique makeover”.  If you are like me and LOVE all things makeup or if you just really want to save a dime, then this is the solution for your Bibbidi Bobbidi needs.  It all starts with a little magic that goes something like this…Sala-gadoola-menchicka-boo-la bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!

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