Disney water parks!! I swear so many people forget they even exist! Honestly, we were that family for many years as well. I lived in Orlando FOREVER, so once I moved away, I never thought about hitting up Disney’s Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon when visiting my old stomping grounds. I always had my eyes set on Cinderella’s Castle and eating and drinking around the world!

Now that my daughter is slightly older and has literally done EVERYTHING in the main parks, we decided to check out Blizzard Beach! She has been craving something new and Blizzard Beach was exactly that!!!

Now that I have been to Blizzard Beach with and without my child, I feel I can give you legit tips to help you plan your next trip to Disney’s Blizzard Beach!

Need a block of chairs?! Looking for prime seating at the “beach”? Driving yourself to the park?! You will definitely want to arrive early. The parking lot is pretty small, so the good spots get taken instantly. Also, those awesome lounge chairs right on the beach? Those will be taken within the first 20 minutes the park opens. If you do however show up later in the day, take a stroll down the lazy river. You will find additional seating. It’s just not a glam as sitting beachside.

Disney’s Blizzard Beach is actually a pretty fabulous looking park! So many cute photo opportunities!!!! Make sure you have a camera or have your smart phone fully charged!!! You may even want to splurge on one of those waterproof plastic phone cases you can scoop up at Walmart if you want more adventurous ride shots! You won’t want to miss the many Insta-worthy photo opportunities throughout Disney’s Blizzard Beach!

This is the question I’ve been asked for years! Even though this was my daughters first time hitting up a Disney water park, I would still urge my friends to hit up Blizzard Beach if you have little ones in tow. Blizzard Beach is known for it’s family rides where Typhoon Lagoon is more adventurous! My super honest opinion would be to skip the water parks all together until your kids are at least 5. The kiddie areas are pretty sweet, but not paying THAT much for a park ticket sweet. Unless there are older kids enjoying the park in your party, just don’t waste the money.

Yes, you can rent a locker, but on days when I hit up a park with the bare minimum, I usually decide against it. Lockers can be expensive and when all I have is towels, smart phones and sunscreen in my Beach bag, I don’t find a locker worth it.

Blizzard Beach is bigger than you would think! You will be doing A LOT of walking!!!! Taking flip flops on and off all day gets pretty old! Next time we hit up Blizzard Beach you best believe I’m going to Walmart or getting a pair of water shoes Primed to me so I can just keep those suckers on the entire day without taking them on and off in between rides!

Disney Waterparks DO NOT offer free towels to use! However, you can “rent” a towel for the day for $2 a towel. I would just pack your own towels, even if they are the plain ole white hotel towels! Better than paying for a towel if you ask me!

Disney is usually fantastic when it comes to food. Over priced , YES! Delicious, YES! However, Disney’s Blizzard Beach doesn’t offer killer food. For $10 I had a basic chicken stir fry. I wasn’t too impressed since I can make a better stir fry at home. I would definitely bring my own snacks next time. Yes, you can do that! And wait to eat our main meal later in the day. For the prices we paid for food in the park, we could have had a culinary experience somewhere fabulous at Disney Springs!

This is the one thing that is worth every penny!!!!! You can purchase refillable cups when you enter the park. The best $11.99 you will spend since you can get unlimited non-alcoholic beverages!!!! We purchased one and my daughter and I shared. I would get a drink and then she would get a drink!

I made a set of Mickey Mouse Cupcakes about a month ago and y’all went totally nuts for them!!! Such an easy peasy D.I.Y project using store bought cupcakes and everyone’s favorite cookies, OREO!!!

I couldn’t let Mickey be without his beloved Minnie, so the other day my daughter and I decided to give Mickey his other half. Wilton Bows and Wilton Polka Dot Cupcake Wraps from Hobby Lobby and we had ourselves the cutest Minnie Mouse Cupcakes EVER!!!

Enjoy!!!

Ta-Da!!! Just like that you have Minnie Mouse Cupcakes!!! So easy to make even your kiddos can do it themselves!!!

Rainforest Cafe!!! One of my childhood favorite restaurants!!! I swear this an OG staple. Rainforest Cafe has survived all of the Disney changes of the years. It was there during the Pleasure Island Days, Downtown Disney and now the Disney Springs Era! Love that one of the restaurants I looked forward to on Disney trips as a child is there for my very own daughter to experience.

You can make reservations on the Disney Reservations website!!! Just make sure to do this in advance. It is included in the Disney Dining Plan, so it does book quickly!

​No reservation?! My tip would be to get to the restaurant on the early-side for dinner. We arrived a little before 5pm on a weekday during February Break and walked right in with zero reservation. When we left however, there was a line to even talk to the hostess to put your name on the list.

The good old news is, Rainforest Cafe gives you a wait time and you can go wander Disney Springs while waiting for your table. Just head back to the hostess stand at your “call time.” Perfect opportunity to do that last minute shopping you were holding off doing!

The food at The Rainforest Cafe reminds me of every other chain restaurant since the menu includes items like salads, pasta, sandwiches, seafood, burgers and poultry dishes, as well as a variety of vegetarian selections!

The food is exactly what you would expect from a chain restaurant. Yummy, but nothing out of this world! My steak was delicious, but not steak house delicious. We were there more for the atmosphere anyways, so I wasn’t expecting a culinary masterpiece.

However, Rainforest Cafe does get two thumbs up on the kids menu. My daughter is an extremely picky eater. So picky she wont even eat chicken nuggets. So it was nice to see other kid-friendly items such as pizza and apple sauce.

Also expect to pay a tad bit more to eat at this specific location. You are on Disney Property, so everything is a tad bit more pricey!

The main criticisms that The Rainforest Cafe gets is the steep pricing for a restaurant you can find in malls around the country. I guess this all depends on where you live. We live in a small town in NY where the Rainforest Cafe is a special treat. We would have to drive a few hours and cross the Canadian boarder to dine at one.

My opinion is if you have small children, the Rainforest Cafe is an absolute must! So much entertainment while you eat. How can you not love a meal where you don’t have to come up with ways to keep the kids entertained while you try to finish your meal? Older kids will get a kick out of the gift shop. So much cool memorabilia!!!!

The Rainforest Cafe also has fun drinks that come in adorable reusable mugs. My daughter always gets a kick out of these. She feels so special getting to order a “fancy” drink off of the menu.

Rainforest Cafe will always get two thumbs up from our family! I will continue to dine there as long as my daughter finds it “cool”. Heck, I may even drag her there as a teen because I myself will always be a fan. #KidAtHeart

Ahhhhh Chef Mickey’s!!!! One of the Walt Disney World cult restaurants. I swear even non-Disney fans have heard of Chef Mickey’s. It’s all the rage for Disney nuts! The question I get asked by EVERYONE going to Disney for the first time is “is it worth it?” Does Chef Mickey’s live up to all the hype? I figured since this is a VERY popular topic, I would give you all the details you could ever want and my own opinion! That way you can make your own decision!

Chef Mickey’s is located inside the Disney Contemporary Resort! You will have to take an elevator to get to the restaurant, so be prepared to do some walking. If you’re staying at one of the Disney monorail hotels, you can easily access Chef Mickey’s by hoping on the monorail and heading to Contemporary Resort. If you’re staying somewhere else, you can drive on over since parking is free or take a Minnie Van or Lyft!

The food is served buffet style, which I’m always a fan of. Perfect to hit up right before heading to the parks. Stuff your face so you won’t be hungry and want to splurge on expensive park food!

​The quality of the food is exactly what you would expect for a buffet that caters to kids. You get the famous Mickey Waffles. Bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, sausage etc.... Don’t expect a 5 star meal, but it’s definitely a tasty one!!! I love Disney buffet breakfasts!!! So yum!!!

• If you can’t get a reservation, start checking the Disney dining website the week before your trip. You will most likely score a reservation due to others canceling theirs!

• Bring entertainment for little ones. Just because you have a reservation for a certain time, doesn’t mean your reservation will be ready. You will most likely have a good 20 minute wait before being seated. Having a tablet or toy on hand will come in handy!

​• Be ready for a chaotic meal. Eating at Chef Mickey’s is not relaxing and since the characters visit you at your table, you have to constantly watch for them and get up so you can take pictures. In addition, it is always crowded and loud.

​• Make sure you budget your time good! Chef Mickey’s is not a restaurant you can easily get in and out of. Expect to spend around two hours for the whole waiting for your table, dining and photo experience.

In all honesty, I have a love-hate relationship with Chef Mickey’s. It is very loud! Just because a character is at your table does not mean other kids and their parents with cameras will not raid your table for a picture. So many Disney newbies in one place that there is no such thing as etiquette! It’s literally everyone for themselves. I get so much anxiety just thinking about Chef Mickey’s.

However, the characters are wearing the cutest outfits ever!!! The location is pretty sweet as well. The monorail runs right threw Contempoy Resort, which takes you right to Magic Kingdom! You also do not need a park ticket to dine since the character dining experience is located outside the park. Perfect for larger parties where half the group is headed to the Park after breakfast and the other half back to the resort or maybe to the golf course!

I will most likely never be heading back to Chef Mickey’s. I have been a handful of times and my daughter finally went where she will be forever old enough to remember the experience. I will be dining at one of the other, more relaxed character dining options such as Minnie’s Beach Bash at Cape May on future Disney trips! My anxiety just can’t take the chaos.

If you’re a Disney newbie however, I don’t want my opinion to totally sway you from going. If it’s literally a dream dining location, check it out! The photos will be fabulous. If you’re on the fence however, I would choose a different dining experience since you need to be a die-hard fan of Chef Mickey’s to enjoy the meal! I’m Disney obsessed!!! I have a whole Disney section on my website & the only time you will hear me talk crap about something Disney is when it comes to Chef Mickey’s Lol... sorry Disney ;-)

I posted a photo on my personal Facebook page of the Disney Disability Access Pass rules as an FYI to all my special needs mama’s and holy moly! So many likes & so many questions sitting in my inbox! The Pass known by Disney cast members as DAS Pass, is something no one has really heard about before! People were intrigued. Who can use such a pass? How do you get one?!? Keep on reading to get the 411 on Disney’s Disability Access Pass!

Just take the child you’re wishing to obtain a DAS Pass for to Guest Relations at any of the 4 main parks! Cast Members will not ask for proof of a disability, but will inquire about the type of accommodations you are requesting because of your child’s disability or condition. Eligibility for a DAS pass is based upon a child’s need, not their diagnosis. The kiddo with the disability must be present to obtain the pass since they will have their photo taken.

While it makes my heart happy to see companies trying to accommodate special needs kiddos, the DAS Pass system does need work! While it was a blessing to use this trip. We were able to stay at the parks way longer than usual since discovering DAS! Meltdowns were at an all time low since we were able to constantly move and not sit still in a line!!! However, there were a few instances that the DAS Pass really didn’t prevent the issues it was created to avoid.

When your return time comes, you head to the fast pass line. This is my main issue with the DAS Pass system. If you’re a Disney junkie like myself, you then know that sometimes those fast pass lines are pretty long. This happened to us not once, but twice! When our return time came to see Cinderella & Elena of Avalor, the FastPass line was still a 25 minute wait. My daughter was so excited to see Elena and by the time it was our turn to see her, my daughter was beat red and covered in almost hives from being so excited she was in tiers. I was hoping a cast member would notice and maybe help a mama out since we were DAS Pass people, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. My daughter was worn out and almost over the whole experience by the time she was able to see her newest idol Elena.

Why not let DAS Pass people use handicap lines to return? That way these kiddos waited just like everyone else time-wise, but can get ushered in to avoid the excitement meltdowns the pass was created to help prevent?

Besides that, like I mentioned above, the DAS Pass really was a blessing. We were able to stay until we did everything on our bucket list for the day with zero hotel breaks! Disney in one shot! The way I personally like it!

While waiting for your return times, just got snap all those insta pics or grab a bite to eat! Maybe catch a show or parade! I had zero issues with the whole everyone still waits regardless of disabilities. That’s fair!!! No special treatment! The DAS Pass just needs a little bit of tweaking when it comes to returning to those attractions!

Ahhhhh Character Breakfasts!!!! An absolute must at least once every Disney trip!!! As someone who called Orlando home for many years, I take pride in the fact that I had dined almost everywhere at Disney. One character breakfast I never made it to however was Minnie’s Beach Bash at Cape May Cafe inside Disney’s Beach Club!

On our last Disney Trip we spent a few nights at Disney’s Beach Club and decided since Cape May Cafe was right down stairs, we mind as well check it out!!! Keep on reading to find out if this character dining experience is for you!

Cape May Cafe is a New England, beach-themed restaurant located in the Beach Club. Cape May definitely has a beach vibe that’s for sure. Honestly, I felt the vibe was more Florida than New England, but hey! A beach is a beach and beaches make me happy!!! The characters are also decked out in beach gear, which is a character exclusive to this character dining experience. You can only land those Minnie Mouse beach attire photos if you dine at Cape May, so it’s definitely one of the perks of dining at Cape May! As with all character dining situations, be prepared to be seating very close to other people. Disney tends to cram as many tables into their character Breakfasts as possible and Cape May was no different.

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!!!! Mickey Mouse!!!! Who doesn’t love this iconic character?!?! One of my daughters favorites. Every Disney trip, we always have to track down both Mickey & Minnie before searching for anyone else.

With Disney trip #1 of 2019 just weeks away, Disney is pretty much the only thing on our minds!!!! So what better way to get even more in the Disney Spirit than to make Mickey Mouse Cupcakes!!! So easy to make and the best part?!? Everything comes from Walmart. Even the red glitter Wilton cupcake wraps!!! Love when everything for a project can be scooped up in one stop! Enjoy!!!

Just because you live thousands of miles away from Disney World, doesn’t mean you can’t spend the evening with Mickey Mouse in your home town!!! At least once a year a Disney on Ice show will make it’s way to your neck of the woods and I urge you to go!!!! Young or old, these shows are a hoot!!! I swear I have just as much fun as my 6 year old.

This is past weekend we had the chance to attend Disney on Ice Worlds of Enchantment and the show did not disappoint. We are still on a Toy Story high from our last Disney Trip and riding Slinky Dog Dash, so it was fun to be reunited with our favorite Toy Story characters along with other favorites from The Little Mermaid, Cars & Frozen!!!

If you’re anything like me, you want to be overly prepared for anything you attend!! That’s why I have jotted down 4 tips for attending Disney on Ice Worlds of Enchantment! Keep on reading to check them out!

The best way to describe the plot of Disney on Ice Worlds of Enchantment is a Cliff Notes version of all 4 movies. You will get a highlight version of Toy Story 3, The Little Mermaid, Cars, and Frozen. If you have little ones, watching these four movies before you attend the show will make it so those movies are fresh in your kiddos mind! They will sing and dance the show away since they know the storyline. They just watched the movies so chances are they can predict what will happen next, so they will be extra excited when there favorite characters hit the ice.

Every show I give myself a little pep talk about not falling for it and purchasing my daughter a ridiculously expensive light up toy. They get used for an hour and then end up buried at the bottom of the toy box never to be played with again. Every show, every last kid is running around with said light up toy and I end up caving and purchasing one. Disney on Ice Worlds of Enchantment wasn’t any different. Thankfully I had cash on me to purchase the light up toy since these toys are cash only. They do have a few at the merchandise table that you can swipe that card for, but the good ones are cash only from the people walking around selling them. You don’t want to end up paying crazy atm rates for taking cash out during an event! Come prepared to cave to peer presser & have that cash ready.

Honestly, there isn’t a bad seat in the house! I personally love sitting in the 200’s at the Key Bank Center in Buffalo since those are Club Seats. (Awesome bar and awesome snacks). The view is pretty sweet as well!!! We have sat in the 100’s for other shows and honestly, the view wasn’t any different so I always go for the club seats so I can feel extra boujee these days. If you have the cash, go ahead and splurge, but it’s not necessary to sit on the ice to have a fabulous time!!

I’m sure your child will want to dress up. My child sure does. Honestly, your kiddo will be in the minority if not decked out in Disney gear! I don’t care if it’s a hot August day, bring those jackets and hoodies to toss on over those dashing outfits!!! The show takes place on ice so the event is a chilly one. Take those pictures and put that jacket back on! You will thank me later!

Not going to lie, I’ve been waiting for The Nutcracker And The Four Realms to hit theaters FOREVER! I’ve been obsessed with The Nutcracker Ballet since I was a child. Disney is also another obsession of mine. So the two together?!? A dream come true! Would Disney’s take on The Nutcracker live up to my expectations? Find out below!

My six year old has been attending The Nutcracker Ballet annually since she was a baby! So she was pretty stoked when she spotted The Nutcracker AND Disney in the same title. Every time she watched a preview for the movie, she made sure to tell me it was “D”! D is how she says Disney. While she may have been excited, I honestly think 6 years old was young to fully understand the movie. She watched the entire thing and seemed to enjoy it, but I doubt she understood the movie completely. I would recommend this movie for older kids. Perfect date night movie! Perfect Mommy/Daughter night out flick for the tweens and teens. I would just recommend leaving the younger kids at home unless they are persistent on going like my daughter was. If you do take the younger kids, hit up a matinee, so if they do get lost in the plot, you didn’t spend a fortune on tickets!