Playing with Fire--Spirit of Aloha at Disney Polynesian Resort

Saying there are options when vacationing at Walt Disneyworld in Orlando, FL is a serious understatement. There are plethora of choices throughout the parks including parades, characters, exhibits and fireworks.

But one person's "Disney must-see" can be inadvertently overlooked by another. For years our family opted to go to the Hoop-De-Doo Musical Review as a special treat. Dinner and a show...fabulous dinner at that with Ribs, Chicken, Corn on the Cob...all you can eat family favorites and a very entertaining family venue in Disney's Fort Wilderness & Campgrounds.

It is a fun filled night but after seeing it a few times, we thought we would venture outside of the Polynesian to see that dinner show instead. For several trips our favorite Polynesian Resort restaurant was inside at Ohana but once we tried the Spirit of Aloha we were hooked. While the dancing is fun to watch and the food is not just tasty, it is awesome, the big thrill of the show is the fire dancers. They want everyone to remain seated during these performances and for good reason. They are playing with fire! Amazing tricks that I would expect to see only at a luau in Hawaii.

If you are on the Disney Dining Plan, you are in luck! The Spirit of Aloha show is an option on the plan if you use 2 table services. The dinner and show are included and as a bonus, your tip is included as well! This is only one of a very few restaurants where you will not have to tip separately on the Disney Dining plan. And if you think you might work up a thirst watching the dancing, enjoy a beer or glass of wine as that is also included in the price of the ticket.

The food is as good as Hoop de Doo...we still have awesome chicken and ribs but the pineapple bread fantastic! Be careful not to fill up on the bread appetizer or you won't have room for the chocolate volcano dessert! Yum!

Copyright 2011 Magical Mouse Tales

Splurge a Little and Stay at the Beach Club Resort!

We have had the opportunity to go as a family to Walt Disney World several times. Our family of four fit very nicely in the children and budget friendly value resorts, the All Star Movies and All Star Sports on our first visits to Orlando. By staying onsite we were able to take advantage of perks like the extra magic hours and Disney's dining plan. However, once they opened Pop Century, that became our family favorite place to stay! But as our kids hit their teens, we found it impossible to cram 4 people into the rooms...and so on one trip we opted for two rooms and discovered there was no way to guarantee adjoining rooms! Not an ideal situation as we pack to share many supplies like shampoo and toothpaste.


So we were forced to upgrade...and found our new family favorite: Disney's Beach Club Resort! About a month before our trip, I received a promo key code to upgrade our reservations to the concierge floor! Boy were we spoiled. The view of Epcot from our room's balcony was epic! I was able to get shots of the fireworks from right outside the sliding glass door!

So now thoroughly spoiled our family is planning our next Orlando trip. We are going to give Animal Kingdom Lodge a try as the bunk beds might be a better option than the wooden day bed that left a few bruises on my 6 foot plus teens. No concierge this time since it was overkill for food and treats considering we were on the Deluxe Dining Plan. We will miss the proximity to the parks...It's awesome to walk into Epcot from the Beach Club.

The thing is, every Disney resort has it's perks and drawbacks. It takes a bit of trial & error to discover which will work best for your family. And what a fun idea it will be to "TRY" by visiting over and over again!

Copyright 2011 Magical Mouse Tales

Help! I'm Addicted to Disney Pins and Need a GREAT Trading Pin Source!

There is nothing as exciting for a Disney Pin Collector than getting a new fabulous trading pin. This is an easy thing to accomplish if you are at Walt Disney World as there seems to be a pin seller around every corner. If you are a trader, there are dozens of cast members wandering through the park, so it won't take long to find a treasure, if you keep your eyes open. You don't even have to enter the parks in Florida as their is a wonderfully, overstocked pin store right in Downtown Disney. Heck now you can stop in a the Orlando Airport and pick out a favorite Disney character or two before your flight takes off!

But for the Disney pin collector that lives outside the Orlando, a good pin can be hard to find. Living in the Midwest, it is truly a treasure hunt when looking for bargain Disney pins. I have been able to get some affordable pins that are not scrappers.

Here are a few of my favorite Disney Trading Pin resources:

1. Craigslist--I search the local listings to find others wanting to sell their Disney collectibles and place posts that I will pay cash for Disney pins.

2. Thrift Stores--Every so often, I find a donated pin for sale at a great price. Most of the ones I have found have been older too. So it is quite a "SCORE" to get a sold out limited edition for a buck.

3. The Disney Store--Occasionally, I can snag a bargain on pins sets that are on sale online. I buy several when I find a good deal for traders!

4. Amazon & Ebay--Like thrift stores, there are bargains on Amazon & Ebay from time to time. But read the ads carefully to avoid scrappers.)

5. Promotional Pins--Every so often a large company will partner up with Disney and create a pin; Kodak and Smuckers have both participated in past promotions . When they do, I make sure to get at least one or two as these are usually sought after once the promotion is over.

Copyright 2011 Magical Mouse Tales