Last Friday, I boarded a plane with Charles in tow and headed for Orlando. A few weeks ago, I was invited (along with 15 other mom bloggers) to attend an expense paid trip to Disney World. Disney’s goal in hosting this event was to bring together “popular mom bloggers” and begin a dialogue that allows them to understand and support what mom bloggers do.
At first, I wasn’t sure what to make of being invited to go to the great children’s mecca without the family, but I figured it would be a good opportunity to meet some new people and spend a little one-on-one time with Charles. I didn’t know any of the other moms before the weekend and since the agenda was kept a secret until our arrival I also didn’t know what to expect.
Here are a few highlights from the trip:
1. Firsts. Charles had a few firsts this weekend. First (and second) plane ride. He slept through both of them like a champ. First (and second and third) limo ride (again, slept through the whole thing). First visit to a roof-top restaurant, California Grill (he slept right through it). First visit to Cirque du Soleil - La Nouba (yes, he slept through that, too). Do you see a pattern emerging?
2. VIP Way or the Highway. Arriving at the airport and being wisked away VIP-style by Tom from New Jersey who offered to stop and pick up anything I needed.
The first night, after dinner in Italy, we followed a man with a red light saber looking torch (my boys would have loved to play with that) and watched him part the sea of tourists and help us avoid obstacles “watch out for the planter” eventually leading us to a waterfront view of the Illuminations fireworks display which we enjoyed while sampling a coffee and dessert bar. 
The time when our schedule didn’t permit me to wait around for the Mickey Mouse ears which were being embroidered for my boys and my buddy Tom magically reappeared and made sure they were delivered to me. (It is the Magic Kingdom, afterall… and a Small World, too.)
As for the highway? I think that we mom bloggers had a few extra perks, but people seem to be treated pretty well at Disney, expenses paid or not.
3. The Moms. Aside from a few (hundred) group emails before the trip, I didn’t know any of the moms. But the excitement and camaraderie was evident from the first message. Stephanie of Adventures in Babywearing offered to bring a sling for me to borrow since I’d be nursing on the go (total lifesaver), I instantly bonded with Tracey, hilarious Suburban Diva that she is, and before our first event on Friday, I ran into Jo-Lynne of Musings of a Housewife in the elevator and Jennifer from Snapshot in the lobby who were both excited - like me - and so much fun! I also got to meet Christine of Boston Mamas and Posh Peacock who is also a regular contributor to Friday Parent Blog Roundup. There were two other North Carolina gals like me, Marybeth from Cheaper By the Half Dozen and Jennifer of the Mom Salon. Gabrielle of Design Mom and a (not-so) little website called sk*rt also kept us all entertained during that first evening meal in Italy (well, the Italy in Epcot at least). All 15 of these great moms are fabulous and meeting them was one of the supreme highlights of the event. (Awww. Group hug.)
4. Behind The Scenes. One of the fun parts of this Disney excursion was getting to see Disney as an insider with lots of ‘behind the scenes’ sneak peeks. Personally, I love to go ‘behind the scenes’. Maybe it’s the voyeurist in me, but I like being armed with the additional knowledge of how things work. If it happens to be something that most people aren’t necessarily privvy to, all the better.
From meeting and dining with the Executive Chef at Epcot, to chatting up two lovely ladies fresh off the stage at Cirque (which could have only been improved upon if we were to meet the hard body on lavish swaths of red fabric - something you’d have to see firsthand to comprehend), we had our share of behind the scenes experiences.
My favorite was a personal tour from the project manager of the newest soon-to-be open ride, Toy Story Mania, at the newly renamed Hollywood Studios (previously MGM Studios). Talk to Mr. Potato Head in the queue and he’ll talk back to you. Release some inner tension while on the ride by launching spring action shooters aimed towards 3-D targets (think throwing virtual pies and eggs and popping water balloons).
5. Disney Doesn’t Have to be Expensive. One of the things that surprised me most about my Disney trip is that you really don’t have to break the bank to make the trip. Between dining plans (that help you save about 30% on food) and economy hotels (did you know there are several on-property hotels with nightly rates less than $100?), a family of four can visit Disney for a week, stay on Disney grounds, eat all their meals and visit the parks for about $1600.
6. Disney Employees Love What They Do. One of the things that impressed me most about this trip was the sincerity in which people who work for Disney tell you about it. Ask a Disney employee for directions and they’ll walk you to your destination, ask for advice and they’ll give you the insider tips. Disney employees take their jobs seriously and really seem to love what they do. For a company that employs something like 60,000 people, that’s pretty amazing.
So all in all, the Disney trip was fabulous. I came, I saw, I bought the t-shirt, errr, mouse ears. Big thanks to the wonderful Maria Bailey of BSM Media and to Michelle and Joyce at Disney. I can’t wait to visit again and bring the family. If Disney’s purpose was to make us more impressed with Disney than we were when we arrived, mission accomplished.
By Kris on 04/22/08 in Featured, Columns, Clever Living, Travel
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April 22nd, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Kris, this is a fabulous post! Charles was the big hit of the weekend, I think it’s safe to say! : ) You are such an inspiring Mom and I am so glad to have the opportunity to spend time with you!
Steph
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:55 am
Wish we could have had more time to chat! There just weren’t enough free moments, you know? Argh. So, when are they going to invite us back? I say let’s do it next month. Oh, Disney?!
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:27 am
Awesome review! And so concise. I envy that, sigh… :-) It was DELIGHTFUL meeting you, Kris, and of course baby Charles. Honestly, I could not believe he slept thru Cirque. What a trooper! I thought I had easy babies until I met him. I’m so glad I got to meet you.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:24 am
Great review. You were a delight and Charles was fabulous.
Let’s go again tomorrow…
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Steph - It was great to meet you. Thanks again for the sling, it’s been so nice to have a hands-free option around the house the last couple of days.
Lori - I know, the time flew by and it’s hard to chat with so many people and with a baby in tow. I’m on board for another trip!
Jo-Lynne - Great to meet, you, too! I was pretty surprised that Charles slept through Cirque… I think he was still tired from his late night on Friday. :-)
Tracey - I’m up for trip #2. Bags are still packed. ;-)
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Hi Kris —
It was great meeting you and Charles, aka the sweetest baby on the planet!
I’m ready for another trip, too. It’s funny…I sort of miss Disney…maybe because everything went so fast. I’ve been listening to the La Nouba CD and I’m right back in the theater again.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Great recap! I was scrambling some eggs this morning and thought of you and your daily egg white breakfast. Inspiring!
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:32 pm
How awesome it is that Disney got a group of mom bloggers together to experience first hand the MAGIC of disney in the parks while supporting your efforts. Your observation
“I think that we mom bloggers had a few extra perks, but people seem to be treated pretty well at Disney, expenses paid or not” rings true. Now imagine as a mom having a child with special needs who would risk putting their health in jeopardy to visit the parks. Why? Because kids with special needs are treated well at disney and its the only place they can be a kid just like other kids. Now imagine a virtual place just like this where everyday a child (or even an adult) can experience the magic of disney and “play” in a safe, family environment without the risk of getting sick. In case you didn’t know it, there is such a place and it’s called Virtual Magic Kingdom or VMK. VMK will however shut down on May 21st leaving thousands of children without an acceptable outlet to imagine, create, learn and socialize with their families or other kids just like them. For these kids it’s not the tangible every day “things” that they love but the ability to interact on their own and gain a sense of love and accomplishment. As a mom you want only the best for your child and VMK gives any child the “best” in a virtual world. Kudos disney for making magic in the parks and for creating such an even more magical place on the web for 3 years. Many children however will loose their closest friends and contact with far away family members like even with a parent in Iraq. Dreams do come true even in VMK!!!
April 25th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Kris - sounds like a truly incredible trip. How fabulous that you were also able to bring Charles. I have so many wonderful memories at Disney from my own childhood and I really look forward to taking my family there someday! Kenzie has hit the princess stage so hopefully we’ll make it there in the next year! Hope to meet you at an event soon!
April 25th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
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May 1st, 2008 at 12:58 pm
What an amazing trip! You provided a great review on everything you did and the atmosphere on Disney in general. Being a mom to be, my baby will be too young for awhile before we can make Disney a family trip, but we are leaving in a week with my niece as she wants to spend her 4th birthday with the Princesses. I found some other great, first hand reviews of Disney at Expotv.com. I just searched for Disney and just about every park, attraction and restaurant came up with a review. Now I know where to take my niece and where to stay away from with her for now!
May 5th, 2008 at 12:13 am
I’m FINALLY making my rounds to all of the Disney recap posts! Still working on our little “movie”. It was a pleasure to meet you and I’m still talking about how good Charles was the ENTIRE time. What a pleasant little boy.
Here’s hoping they invite us again! They just HAVE to have a reunion with us, don’t they? :)