Things said to a Travel Agent #2

By Frances

By popular demand, here is a second installment of Things Said to a Travel Agent. As a travel professional, I pride myself on knowing details about a destination and lot of ins & out. These are some more comments or questions that have taken me off guard in my years in the travel business. You can imagine my responses. Please enjoy with a great sense of humor. 

~ I would like to stay at a clothing optional resort at Walt Disney World. (I did giggle a little when asked this)

~ Client:  I would like my 9 year old to have charging capabilities on his Magic Band. I would like for him to be able to purchase things when I’m not with him and to able to use the dining plan. Me: {knowing it’s a single dad and only his son on this trip} Oh! Will another family be joining you? Client: No, I will find a good spot to sit and let him do all of the rides by himself. I would prefer to read my book and people watch than to ride rides.

~ I can’t afford to pay off my trip. My kids are super excited. Can you pay the balance and I can pay you back with my tax returns?

~ Client: Could you please tell me some of the best places to hide and smoke at the parks? Me: You don’t have to hide, there are designated smoking areas at each resort and at all of the theme parks. Client: They let you smoke pot at Disney?

Seven Seas Lagoon

~ I would like the garden view room at the Contemporary please. I will then find something wrong during my stay and raise hell. They will upgrade me then to an atrium room and I won’t have to pay for it.

~ Client: How many bottles of water can I take into the parks? Me: I don’t believe there is a limit on how many bottles you can take as long as you can comfortably carry them. Client: So you don’t think 6 – 24 ounce bottles is too many? Me: For the 4 of you, I think that would be fine but you can get free refills of water at any restaurant. Client: Oh, they won’t be filled with water. I’m filling them with vodka.

~ {A woman} I will go into the men’s restroom with my 5 year old son. I don’t want him to feel uncomfortable going into one with out me?  Me: The men’s restroom?  Client: Yes Ma’am!

~ I know Stormalong Bay at the Beach Club is only for their resort guests but can you tell me how to sneak in there?

~ Can you please tell me how to cheat the magic bands? I want my friends staying at the Hilton to use our passes too.

 

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What should you budget for extras at Disney?

The Mouze Kateerz writers have been to Disney hundreds (if not thousands) of times. When I asked the group “How much do you spend on souvenirs?” The answers varied greatly. That’s one thing that I love about the writers. They are so diverse. What was very clear in all of the responses is that you have to set a budget that you can afford and stick with it. Here is what the writers had to say:

Lisa P: Too much! I usually take a couple hundred knowing that I am going to want a Dooney and Bourke purse and something from the Disney Vacation Club line.

Teresa S: Never enough!!! I always have my Disney VISA with me!

Lucinda: Before moving to Orlando, I’d buy most of my souvenirs online via the Disney Store or ebay…and spent very little at the parks during vacation.

Denny: Since I take so many pictures, I don’t buy much in the souvenir department. What better souvenir than a camera full of magical moments! I do like buying pins now and again when one is particularly fetching! Grins!

Andrea: We always go on a budget because we know we always get carried away. I’d say we always spend a couple hundred $$$ because we always get pins, an ornament and at least one thing for each of us.

Melissa R: We don’t budget it, we try to keep it within reason (and usually succeed). Usually pins. When the kids first ride a “big thrill ride” they will each get a t-shirt and pin to commemorate it. My husband usually gets me a Disney watch.

Didi: My kids were always very reserved when choosing to buy souvenirs, except for pins, that is!! My mom would get them each a $50 Disney Gift Card, and the choice was theirs. As of late, I’ve become very dangerous when passing Dooney & Bourke items.

Thank you for stopping by Mouze Kateerz. We value feedback from our readers and welcome your comments.
Magical Vacations by Distinctive Journeys is ready to help you plan your next magical vacation. Please visit them at Magical Vacations by Distinctive Journeys on facebook, on the web at Distinctive Journeys or 404-414-6198 or frances@distinctive-journeys.com

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Picturing a Disney Tattoo

By Frances

Over the past year, we have had some amazing Disney inspired tattoo pictures sent to us. We have featured them in a few articles. We thought that it would be neat to see pictures of some of them all in place. Please enjoy  these Disney Tattoos from Mouze Kateerz readers.

Photo courtesy of disneyink.tumblr.com.

 

Can Tables in Wonderland Save You Money?

By Frances

Tables in Wonderland is a discount card that can be purchased by Florida Residents, Disney Vacation Club Members & Annual/Seasonal Pass Holders only.

BENEFITS INCLUDE

• 20% discount on all food and beverages at 99 participating Resort hotel and Theme Park restaurants (discount is valid for a party of up to 10 Guests).
• Resort and Theme Park parking for dining purposes
• Invitations to special member-only food and wine events, winemaker dinners and celebrity chef dinners
• Discount is also available on most adult & specialty beverages.
• And more!

Cost to you:

$100 for Florida Residents or DVC Members

$75 for Annual/Season Pass Holders

It’s good from the first day purchased for 365 days.

You can purchase it at Guest Relations at any Walt Disney World Theme Park or Downtown Disney. Annual/Seasonal Pass Holders can order it by phone or mail. Please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery.

There are a few Block-out dates for the Tables in Wonderland: Mothers Day, Easter Sunday, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The Tables in Wonderland discount cannot be used in combination with any other discount and is not valid for Fantasmic Dinner Package, Food and Wine Festival dinners, Candlelight Packages, or any other special events / special dining experiences.

An 18% gratuity is automatically added regardless of how many are in your party. A 20% gratuity is automatically added at Victoria & Albert’s.

Don’t lose the Tables in Wonderland Card. There is a $50 replacement fee.

For more information:

• Web Sites: www.disneyworld.com/tablesinwonderlandFL and www.disneyworld.com/tablesinwonderlandPH
• For Dining Reservations: 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463) and www.disneyworld.com/dining

Here is why, Mouze Kateerz writer, Lucinda purchased a Tables in Wonderland Card. She is a Florida Resident & Annual Pass Holder. “20% is a good discount…makes it easy to get your money back, so to speak. Meaning…that for our family, we only need to dine out four times a year for the card to be a good value. TiW makes it more feasible for us, as locals to dine on Disney property. I like that beverages are included as well…and I like that we can include up to 9 guests per visit. There’s a nice long list of participating restaurants.”

Here is my thoughts. If the Disney Dining Plan says that it will save you up to 20% off and this will save you 20% off plus you can save on adult beverages, I think it will save money.

Here’s a list of participating restaurants:

DISNEY RESORT LOCATIONS
All Star Movies Resort World Premiere Food Court All Star MusicResort Intermission Food Court All Star Sports Resort End Zone Food Court Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort Boma – The Flavors of Africa Jiko – The Cooking Place Sanaa Victoria Falls Beach Club Resort Beaches & Cream Soda Shop (excludes take-out shop) Cape May Café Martha’s Vineyard Lounge BoardWalk Resort Belle Vue Lounge Big River Grille & Brewing Works ESPN® Club Flying Fish Café Kouzzina by Cat Cora Caribbean Beach Resort Shutters at Old Point Royale Contemporary Resort California Grill Chef Mickey’s Outer Rim The Wave Coronado Springs Resort Maya Grill	Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground Crockett’s Tavern Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue (9:30 p.m. show only) Trail’s End Restaurant (Excludes take out shop) Grand Floridian Resort & Spa 1900 Park Fare Citricos Garden View Tea Room Grand Floridian Café Mizner’s Lounge Narcoossee’s Victoria & Albert’s (excluding the Chef’s Table & Queen Victoria Room) Old Key West Resort Olivia’s Cafe Disney’s Osprey Ridge Golf Course Sand Trap Bar & Grill Polynesian Resort ‘Ohana Kona Cafe Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show (Late show only) Tambu Lounge Pop Century Resort Everything Pop Shopping and Dining (excludes merchandise from shop)	Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory Scat Cat’s Club – Riverside Boatwright’s Dining Hall River Roost Saratoga Springs Resort The Artist’s Palette The Turf Club Bar & Grill Turf Club Lounge Vero Beach Resort The Green Cabin Room Shutter’s Sonya’s (Excludes Sunday Brunch) Wilderness Lodge Artist Point Territory Lounge Whispering Canyon Cafe Yacht Club Resort Ale and Compass Lounge Captain’s Grille Crews Cup Lounge Yachtsman Steakhouse Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort Il Mulino New York Trattoria Kimonos Shula’s Steak House Todd English’s bluezoo Garden Grove

DISNEY PARK LOCATIONS

Magic Kingdom® Park Cinderella’s Royal Table Liberty Tree Tavern The Crystal Palace The Plaza Restaurant Tony’s Town Square Restaurant Epcot® Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Biergarten Restaurant Bistro de Paris Chefs de France Coral Reef Restaurant Le Cellier Steakhouse Nine Dragons Restaurant Restaurant Marrakesh Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room San Angel Inn Restaurante The Garden Grill Restaurant Tokyo Dining Tutto Italia Ristorante Via Napoli Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ 50’s Prime Time Cafe Hollywood & Vine Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant The Hollywood Brown Derby Tune-In Lounge

Animal Kingdom® Flame Tree Barbeque Pizzafari Restaurantosaurus Tusker House Restaurant DOWNTOWN DISNEY® – Marketplace Cap’n Jack’s Restaurant Fulton’s Crab House DOWNTOWN DISNEY® – Pleasure Island Paradiso 37 Portobello Raglan Road” Irish Pub and Restaurant DOWNTOWN DISNEY® – West side Bongo’s Cuban Café House Of Blues® (Excludes Sunday Brunch) Planet Hollywood® Wolfgang Puck Café ESPN Wide World of Sports® Complex ESPN Wide World of Sports® Grill

Thank you for stopping by Mouze Kateerz. We value feedback from our readers and welcome your comments.
Magical Vacations by Distinctive Journeys is ready to help you plan your next magical vacation. Please visit them at Magical Vacations by Distinctive Journeys on facebook, on the web at Distinctive Journeys or 404-414-6198 or frances@distinctive-journeys.com

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Photographing Walt Disney World: How to Bring the Magic a Little Closer to Home

One of our Mouze Kateerz writers, Amanda Major (www.cheapskateprincess.com), is one of the best Disney photographers that I’ve seen. She captures Disney Magic with every picture. She is one of the largest picture contributors to Mouze Kateerz. Here is an article that she wrote several months ago that I thought was worth rerunning for more readers to enjoy. ~ Frances

By Amanda M.

Every photo has a story.

One reason I am so enamored with Walt Disney World is the wide range of photographic opportunities I find when I vacation there. Photography can be both a tremendously rewarding experience and a maker of memories, but on the other side, it can be a journey into frustration and disappointment. Images don’t always turn out in print like you see them through your eyes.  Sometimes, I look at my photos and think, “Ugh!! It didn’t look like that!”  What to do…

Picture this…As photography has moved away from print film to digital, we now have the opportunity to clean up and fix a lot of images that would look better with a little nip and tuck. One of my most useful photo editing tools, Picasa in my case,  is the crop button. Simple. Handy. Crop.

Mouze Kateerz fan Randy Ash from Bloomington, IL,  dropped a photo off on our wall at Mouze Kateerz on Facebook, and it was so beautiful, I had to see if there was an original.  Apparently Randy didn’t need to crop his photo a for a closer view- he just zoomed up on his subject. In keeping with my theme of every photo has a story,  there was indeed a great Disney tale attached with his photo…romance, relaxation, and vivid colors.  Here’s Randy’s photographical memory:

This past May, my wife and I celebrated our 25^th wedding anniversary with our first trip back to WDW since our honeymoon … without the kids. We decided during the planning for the trip that we would set no schedule, eat when we wanted to…not just when we could spare a moment between attractions. We took the time to look for the details that we so often rushed past in search of a character signing or fast pass.

Every trip for us to WDW includes a morning at Animal Kingdom. First destination… The Tree of Life to see A Bug’s Life. As we worked our way towards the tree, we stopped to take this pic with the tree in the background.

The vivid color of the simple pink flower struck me so I decided to take a close up. “

“This close up has become one of my favorites from this trip. It is a good reminder to me to slow down and look for the detail, it is all part of the Magic!

Mouze Kateerz fan Randy Ash from Bloomington, IL

The personal thing about photography is that sometimes a photo will have no meaning or emotional attachment to anyone other than the photographer. The picture belongs to you; the special meaning is all your own. But this doesn’t diminish the beauty you can find in photographs, even if you really have no idea where the photo was taken.

Here is a photo I took in 2011 at Windham Bonnet Creek Resort on the other side of the highway from Disney‘s Hollywood Studios.Our first stay here was fabulous, and included hot dogs for Christmas Eve dinner (a new annual tradition) and a swim in the heated lazy river on Christmas Day.

I took several shots of a sunset as the clouds were rolling in on Dec. 26th, the day before we returned home. Most people will not recognize this as Bonnet Creek.

There are no Disney characters in the shot, no iconic Disney architecture or logos, so you won’t recognize the location, but you are drawn in all the same.

The beautiful thing about this photo is that I didn’t do a thing to change the color. I just cut out the distracting clouds and focused on the closer beauty of an Orlando sunset. I then fought off depression by telling myself in that every sunset does notlook like this when you are three miles from the Magic Kingdom. I remain unconvinced; I somehow suspect actually they do.

So if you can’t zoom, then crop. A little nip here, and a little tuck there can take a good photo and bring it a little closer to home, both to your eye, and to your heart.

Thanks for coming along for a photographical ride, and we’ll see you around the Disney parks with a camera!

Amanda

Love Disney World photography? For a virtual Disney vacation in pictures, join Mouze Kateerz on Facebook and Mouze Kateerz on Pinterest.  If you have some fabulous Disney photographs you’d like to share, send an email of your favorite Disney location to mouzekateerz@chipandco.com.

See ya soon!

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Be Our Guest Restaurant= More Magic

With the official grand opening of the Fantasyland Expansion being December 6, 2012… Disney magic has been gearing up for a some test runs. The much anticipated Be Our Guest Restaurant will be opening to the general public officially on November 19th. It will be open with a Quick Service menu during lunch and a Table Service Menu for dinner. If you are on the Disney dining plan, it is one Quick Service credit during lunch and 1 table service credit during dinner.

One of the magical touches will be that you will order your ‘fast food’ lunch on touch-screen similiar to the ordering system at Pecos Bill’s. After you have paid, the cast member will give you an enchanted rose petal that you take with you to where ever you want to sit in the dining room. The server will magically find where you are sitting thanks to the enchanted rose petal!

Here is a glimpse at the dinner menu!

Dinner Menu

Signature Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Served in a Light Up Castle-themed Souvenir Goblet 18.99
Beverage only 4.19

All-Natural Fruit Punch
sweetened with Organic Cane Juice and Wildberry Extract topped with
Lemon-Lime Foam
-OR-
All-Natural Lemonade
sweetened with Organic Cane Juice and topped with a Wildberry Foam

Appetizers
Assorted Cured Meats and Sausages
served with Cornichons, Pickled Onions, and Toasted Baguette 14.99

French Onion Soup
topped with Crouton and Gruyere Cheese 6.99

Mussels Provencal
with White Wine, Tomato, Garlic, Onion, Basil, and Butter 10.99

Potato Leek Soup 5.99

Garden Salad
with Champagne Vinaigrette 4.99

Seasonal Salad Trio 6.99
Three individual bowls of:
Roasted Beet, Gold Raisin and Orange Salad
Green Bean, Tomato and Roasted Shallot Salad
Watermelon, Radish and Mint Salad

Entrées
All entrees include choice of dessert.

Thyme-scented Pork Rack Chop
with Au Gratin Pasta, Seasonal Vegetables and Red Wine Au Jus 21.99

Rotisserie Rock Hen
with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables 15.99

Pan-seared Salmon on Leek Fondue
served with Creamy Saffron-crushed Potatoes 15.99

Grilled Strip Steak
with Garlic Butter Spread and Pommes Frites 29.99

Sautéed Shrimp and Scallops
with Seasonal Vegetables served with Puff Pastry with a Creamy Lobster Sauce 22.99

Layered Ratatouille
Oven-baked Zucchini, Eggplant, Mushrooms, and Caramelized Onions sliced and layered on Quinoa served with Bell Pepper Sauce 15.99

Desserts
Presented and served table side! 3.99
Strawberry Cream Cheese Cupcake
Vanilla Sponge Cake, Strawberry Mousse Filling, and Cream Cheese Icing

Triple Chocolate Cupcake
Chocolate Sponge Cake, Chocolate Mousse Filling, and Chocolate Ganache

Lemon Meringue Cupcake
Vanilla Sponge Cake, Lemon Custard Filling, Flamed Meringue Icing, and Crunch

Chocolate Cream Puff
filled with Chocolate Mousse topped with Whipped Cream

Passion Fruit Cream Puff
filled with Passion Fruit Mousse topped with Whipped Cream

Lemon – Raspberry Cream Puff*
filled with Lemon Custard
*Dessert is Gluten Free and No Sugar Added

Beverages
Fountain Beverages 2.99
Coca-Cola®, Diet Coke®, CokeZero®, Barq’s® Root Beer, Fanta® Orange, Sprite®, Minute Maid® Lemonade

Fresh-brewed Coffee (regular or decaf) 2.59
Fresh-brewed Iced Tea 2.99
Hot Tea 2.59
Hot Cocoa 2.59

Milk or Chocolate Milk 3.09

Orange Juice, Apple Juice, or Cranberry Juice 3.19

Evian 750 mL or Perrier 750 mL 6.75

There still are special packages available for the Grand Opening of the Fantasyland Expansion. Please contact our preferred travel agency Disney Vacations by Distinctive Journeys.  frances@distinctive-journeys.com  or 404-414-6198

Disney Vacations by Distinctive Journeys will be in Springfield, MO

Monday October 22, 2012, Disney Vacations by Distinctive Journeys will be at an Early Bird Holiday Shopping Event with multiple other vendors in Springfield, MO. If you are near by please stop by and plan your next magical vacation to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Disneyland Resort in California, Disney Cruise line or Adventures by Disney. If you RSVP to frances@distinctive-journeys.com by Monday morning October 22nd, you will receive a special gift.

Event Location:

Panera Bread Company

500 South National Avenue

Springfield, Missouri

6pm-8:45pm CDT

Several vendors with lots of giveaways, including Thirty-One gifts, Tupperware, Mary Kay, Usborne Books, Celebrating Home, Party Lite and your Disney Travel Specialist. Bring a guest and get an extra entry into giveaways!

Disney Vacations by Distinctive Journeys will be giving away a model of the Disney Dream.

There are some appointments available prior to the event and the morning of Tuesday October 23rd. Please contact Frances @404-414-6198 to make your appointment.

 

 

Walt Disney’s Famous Words …. Quotes by Walt Disney

By Frances

I consider Walt Disney a mentor in some ways. I may not have ever met him but I have read multiple biographies about the good & the bad things that happened in his life. He was told “No” more times than “Yes” in his youth. He had a passion for art and drawing that included painting on his parents house with his sister Ruth. He had more than one business that went bankrupt or was closed down. He had to learn how to be a better manager so he could create loyalty. Here are a few quotes of his that I have really shaped my life!

Walt Disney painting from Downtown Disney’s “Art of Disney” store.

All quotes are by Walt Disney

“When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way,  implicitly and unquestionable.”

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to  pursue them.”

“I have been up against tough competition all my life. I  wouldn’t know how to get along without it.”

“All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and  obstacles, have strengthened me… You may not realize it when it happens, but a  kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.
I do not like to repeat successes, I like to go on to other  things.”

“If you can dream it, you can do it.”

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.”

“I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I  am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter.”

“When you’re curious, you find lots of interesting things to  do.”

“I believe in being an innovator.”

“Of all the things I’ve done, the most vital is coordinating  those who work with me and aiming their efforts at a certain goal.”

A Free $100 Disney Gift Card = Awesome

There are many things that you can purchase with a $100 Disney Gift Card! Here are a few that we thought of and would love to hear from you as well!

~ 1/2 of your Disney Vacation Package Deposit (It’s only $200 to make your deposit)

~ Most of a Bippity Boppity Boutique Dress and accessories

~ About 10 different drinks while you “Drink Around the World” at EPCOT

~ A Round of Golf, A Cart & Clubs at the Oak Trail Golf Course

~ Go towards dinner at Victoria & Albert’s

~ Customized Christmas Stockings

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE $100 Disney Gift Card drawing!

What would you do with a $100 Disney Gift Card? Vol. I

By Frances

There are so many things that you can do with a $100 Disney Gift Card. Here are a few things that our Mouze Kateerz readers would do. Please comment on this post and you just may see your comment in a blog:-)

Kristen says: I am going to Disney in April, so I would use the gift card to pay for a character meal for my 3 toddlers, husband and I!!!!

Amanda says: I would love to be able to take my little girl to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique so she could be her favorite princess Rapunzel!

Lois says: I have a surprise trip planned in January (it’s going under the Christmas tree), so an extra $100 would really help!!

Julia says: I would buy all of the baby Tinkerbell and baby animals that I could afford for my daughter.

Click here for your chance to win the $100 Disney Gift Card.

Best of Luck to everyone!