a whole lot of Disney with some life sprinkled in

Author: Jasmine (Page 1 of 2)

TDR v. WDW

Hello, old friends! It has been a long time, but I have the absolute BEST reason for coming out of hibernation – THE TOKYO DISNEY LIFE! AHHHH! I am writing sitting at my favorite Tokyo Starbucks {#stillBasicInTokyo}, which of course has a bookstore attached {think B&N Starbucks combo}, just reveling in the fact that living in Tokyo and having the opportunity to frequent the Tokyo Disney Parks is our current, beautiful, wonderful story. And of course, I want to share it with all of YOU!

For those of you that don’t follow me on Insta {*wink, wink* @the_magikrull_life}, the fam and I went to Tokyo Disney Resort recently for our youngest’s birthday. It was the MOST magical time, and I have so much to share from the experience. I conducted a poll on my page and discovered that people were most interested in the differences between Tokyo Disney Resort (TDR) and Walt Disney World (WDW) {really think of this as WDW and DLR as well, as most of my opinions can really be seen at both domestic parks}. Now, keep in mind, this is my humble opinion and based on what I have experienced and as always, in no way, shape, or form affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or Oriental Land Company.

So with that out of the way…let’s get started!

1. Cast Members (CMs) & Guests

First, I want to say that I know this key point is a little out of left field, especially for being the first point out of the gate. But I just have to say that this may be what I loved MOST about visiting TDR {and that is saying something}.

Courtesy is ingrained into every CM from day one with Disney, but the CMs at the Tokyo Disney Resort truly go above and beyond. I have never experienced such a respectful, gracious group of employees, and it made our trip that much more magical. Of course, I’m not going to leave you hanging without details, so here are a few examples of why I think the TDR CMs outrank us all:

  • Acknowledgement. All TDR CMs wave to Guests the entire time they are idle in Guest view. I acknowledge that this is probably company policy there. However, when you wave back, they get so excited about waving to you {and your kids}, and it made me feel like a valued Guest, not just a ticket number.
  • Patience. Obviously, we are not from Japan and know little to no Japanese. However, the CMs {and really most Japanese people we’ve encountered} are so patient and courteous about our language barrier and really worked with us to navigate the language discrepancy.
  • Generosity. The CMs are generous with their time and willingness to help each and every Guest. They will truly go above and beyond to make each Guest’s experience excellent. Our “magic moment” on this trip was we bought W a small Buzz that required batteries. This, of course, meant a screwdriver was needed to install the batteries. The CMs took the Buzz to the back, opened him up for us, installed the batteries, and brought out the box {neatly packed for us in a bag} and fully-functioning Buzz for W. Seriously, above and beyond.

Side Note: I would also like to say that multiple CMs remembered me and our kids on the rides that we rode multiple times and went out of their way to say hi again. I didn’t mention this above because this could have been we kind of stuck out being American haha. But it did make my day. And a CM asked if we were Australian, which also made my day because who doesn’t want to be an Aussie?!

The other element of this key point is the Guests. American Guests are often entitled {including myself from time to time}. The vibe is often “I paid all this money; I deserve the best, most efficient, most magical vacation” and will run down other Guests in order to achieve that vision. TDR Guests, on the other hand, are gracious, grateful, and most of all, respectful. They keep their space and patiently wait in line; they wear their masks with compliance and without complaint, and they consider other Guests instead of just their party. This Guest difference truly made all the difference.

2. The Merchandise

IYKYK. TDR merch is AMAZING! The “stuff” TDR puts out is just SO FREAKING FUN! There are fuzzy stuffed animals, Duffy & Friends, the POPCORN BUCKETS?!?! Seriously, the merchandise is varied and fun and oh so cute. I have bought so many fun things and regret zero of them {Lucas may have a different answer on the regrets part….haha}. Here are some of the items I have loved at TDR and wish I could bring home:

  • Character/Shaped Purses
  • Sunglasses {Mickey shaped, Ariel shaped, Pooh Bear shaped, oh my!}
  • Popcorn Buckets
  • Ride Vehicle toys {think small toy car sized | W has enjoyed collecting these}
  • Ears {obviously these are in the States too, but there are different ones here}
  • Keychains
  • Pillows

I will say there are a few that I am good to pass on but are SUPER popular here. The two that immediately come to mind are the character headbands and these hats:

I have also found that I don’t love the clothing options. While my character collection has grown, my and the kids closets have not really expanded when it comes to Disney clothing.

Also, I do want to note cost on merch. I have found that there is a lot that is cheaper here in TDR when it comes to Disney merch than compared to the states. The big one for me is the Mickey ears. Most ears here are 1800 yen, which is currently ~$13.

3. The Food

This is probably the most controversial topic for me. There are pros and cons to both, and I also want to start by saying I have the palette of a small child. I acknowledge and accept that.

Pros for TDR:

  • Quality. The park food is actually GOOD food, including at the quick serves. It does not seem to be overpriced junk compared to other theme parks.
  • Cost. The food is cheaper. It just is, and it’s awesome.
  • Quick Serve Layout. A lot of the quick serves are CM-served assembly lines. I love it. I think it makes it so much faster and you can see all of the options.

Side Note: Most TDR restaurants {& Tokyo restaurants, in general} have picture menus and/or displays of the food options. For us non-Japanese speakers, this has been a LIFE SAVER.

Pros for WDW/DLR:

  • Snacks. TDR has snacks too, but I miss my Mickey pretzels, Dole Whips, and all the other standard Disney snacks. The TDR ones are just different and not my favorite.
  • Sit Down Restaurants. At TDR, I have found the “nice” restaurants on property do not have a ton of food options. I don’t know if that is a by-product of COVID or the normal operating procedure, but I miss my options.

4. Cultural Differences

Obviously, it’s a different country, so there are going to be some cultural differences. Some we love, others not so much…haha Let’s start with the not so much:

  • Trash Cans. WHERE ARE ALL THE TRASH CANS?!? {IYKYK} Tokyo/Japan in general has a VERY different view of trash cans than the States. You could walk for 20-30 minutes in the city and NEVER see a trash can. However, the city is immaculate because most citizens here are respectful and will carry their trash home. Tokyo Disney is no exception. There are only really trashcans by food places and not every 33 steps like in the American parks.
  • Line Closures. TDR does not honor that if you get in line 5 minutes before closing, you will get to ride. They will close the line early to ensure that the ride is actually closed down at closing time. So make sure to pay attention to that one!

Now, for what we love…

I have found that TDR does not feel as “profit focused” as WDW and DLR have become recently with buying the “extras” (Lighting Lane, Genie+, special DVC/AP experiences, VIP experiences, etc.) and pushing capacity. The best way I can think to explain this is OLC president’s recent statement about wanting to increase ticket prices to keep park numbers low in order to preserve quality Guest experience {I read this in WDWNT’s article}. I felt it on our trip, we were able to do around a dozen rides each day {with no wait time more than 30 min}, and we left for nap time. That is UNREAL with two young kids.

5. Overall Park Experience

The big kahuna. Ending with a bang. The Overall Park Experience.

I do want to end with just some random thoughts and comparisons that may help you paint a better picture of what to expect when visiting the Tokyo Disney Resort.

  • Maintenance. I know at first glance this looks super boring haha, but the up-keep at TDR is spectacular! The architecture, ride vehicles, and show elements are preserved to perfection, and it makes the experience extra magical.
  • App Life. Just like in the States, everything is done on an app. Get it. Use it. Never Let It Go.
  • Fast Pass System. Tokyo has a “lottery system” where you can reserve one ride per day {Standby Pass} and try to get different experiences {can only attempt once per day – Entry Request}. To be honest, I haven’t fully figured it out haha, but some attractions will become “Standby Pass” only throughout the day so be aware of that. TDR also recently started the Disney Premier Access program, which is similar to Lightning Lane in that you can pay to get a FP for a line.
  • Tickets. Buying park tickets is a hassle for non-Japanese residents. We have used friends to buy tickets because we don’t have Japanese credit cards. So before visiting, make sure to do some research on how to buy.
  • Photos/Videos. Photography and videography are limited on some rides due to safety and courtesy to other guests. Do keep this in mind and pay attention to the pre-ride instructions. I will say it does depend on the attraction and quite frankly, the CMs in charge.

Overall, I loved visiting the Tokyo Disney Resort. Just like with any of the domestic parks {or parks across the world for that matter}, each park has something special and new to offer, and the TDR parks are no exception.

Until next time…

Stay Magical!

Jasmine

*Disclaimer: All opinions shared are in no way affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or Oriental Land Co., Ltd. They are completely my own and shared from a Disney Guest perspective.

Christmas Lights Search

Happy Christmas Eve! I hope you and yours are soaking up every last second of Christmas cheer today and enjoying your holiday traditions!

One of our Christmas Eve traditions is to hop into our holiday PJs and drive around to look at Christmas lights before bedtime. We love seeing all of the lights and decorations one last time as a family, and we find that it helps calm the kiddos before it’s lights out on Christmas Eve night.

In light of that tradition, I created a Christmas Lights Search to make our tradition a little more magical this year, and I wanted to share with all of you!

Here is a downloadable pdf of our seek and find that we will be playing tonight. Just download, print, and play!

{Pro Tips: Laminate for extra protection, and use stickers to mark what you find}

Whether you play today, later this week, or not at all, I hope you and yours have the most wonderful Christmas holdiay!

Until next time…

Stay Magical!

Jasmine

*Disclaimer: All opinions shared are in no way affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. They are completely my own and shared from a Disney guest perspective.

Christmas Book Ideas

I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for a good holiday book. Whether it be Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, I love to fill the kids’ bookshelves with holiday cheer and creating themed bookshelves {really themed anything} is kind of a hobby of mine. With the countdown to Christmas in full swing, I thought it would be fun to share some of our favorites, some of our new purchases, and some on our wish lists. So let’s get to it!

Christmas Past

These are some of our absolute favorites, tried and true, classic as they come, Christmas books. Most of these, you have probably seen {or even own}, and maybe they’ll bring a nostalgic smile or cause a yearning for some new print on those shelves.

Christmas Present

These are some books we have added to our shelves this year and are quickly becoming fan-favorites for the holiday season.

Christmas Future

These are books I have my eye on for after-season sales for all our Christmas holidays to come.

I hope these help fill your shelves and halls with holiday cheer! And if you have any recommendations, I would love to hear {especially any seasonal, non-Christmas/other holiday celebration recs. Our collection is sorely lacking in that respect}. Happy holidays to you and yours!

Until next time…

Stay Magical!

Jasmine

*Disclaimer: All opinions shared are in no way affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. They are completely my own and shared from a Disney guest perspective.

Holiday Gift Ideas for Toddlers & Kids {2 & 4}

Happy, merry, holly jolly, season’s greetings here! It’s has been far, far too long, but what better reason to climb out of my blog-writing funk than the holiday season? So…here we are. haha

For those of you that have not been following along on your advent calendars {or ate them all in a day, no judgements}, Christmas is ONE WEEK AWAY. That’s right, one week. So for all of those last minute shoppers {like myself}, I thought I would share some ideas that have sparked my interest this year.

Shall we start with the youngest? Lovely. {Ten points for Gryffindor if you can name that quote}

Toddler Gift Ideas {specifically 2yo}

W is your stereotypical two-year-old: a generous mix of curiosity, exploration, and tinkering all wrapped together in an extremely cute {& often loud} package. He loves loves LOVES cars {really any planes, trains, or automobiles will do} and, of course, poking at his older sister. Like most toddlers, he is discovering his full range of emotions, along with all the fun, vibrant, and diverse offerings of his great, big world. With this in mind, we focused on toys that would allow him to further explore some sensory offerings {streamers, sand/sensory bins, play kits, bubble wand}, learn more about emotions and family dynamics {books, family counters, leap start activities}, and expand on his passions {cars toys, luggage pieces, and themed gifts}.

All About Me Family Counters
Silks Rainbow Streamer
Kinetic Sand
When I Grow Up Busy Book
What Are Feelings?
Tomorrow I’ll Be Kind
Around the World Leap Start
LOVEVERY Play Kits
Bluey Camper Playset
Lightning McQueen Luggage
Lightning McQueen Bubble Wand
Cars Pullback Die Cast Set

Kid Gift Ideas {specifically 4yo}

L is a very assertive and inquisitive four-year-old. Her curiosity and fervor for understanding cannot be quenched and drives her daily life. She has an extremely creative mind and loves to dabble in range of creative mediums from drawing to building to fashion designing to daily theming. With this in mind, we focused on gifts that would challenge her thinking and creative prowess, as well as introduce some new ways to have fun at home.

Zingo Bingo
Go Fish: 3-in-1 Card Deck
Dynamo Wooden Domino Set
Lily Huckleberry in Japan
How Do Flowers Grow?
The Smart Cookie
Read & Write Leap Start
Ruby Finds a Worry
Smart Farmer Board Game
Bluey Mega Bundle Home
American Girl Doll {Nanea}
Walkie Talkies

Stocking Stuffer Ideas

The stocking stuffers…I don’t know about you, but I always dread these and often leave them to the last minute {like this year…when I ordered them Tuesday and Wednesday…fingers crossed they come in time! lol} These are just those last minute gifts that I feel are often forgotten and neglected and, quite frankly, are usually junk trinkets or candy. The best advice I have received on kid stuffing stockings is to fill them up with useful craft supplies {aka advice from @busytoddler & where most of these ideas came from. Side note: If you have littles, you should follow her. Her craft/parenting advice is truly a blessing you should have in your life.}, and then I typically do add some Disney trinkets because it is Christmas after all…haha. Without further ado, my stocking stuffer suggestions:

Crayons
Water Bottles
Wishables
Wish Upon Magic Stickers
Crayola Washable Watercolors
Dot Stickers
Googly Eyes
Post-it Notes
Pipe Cleaners
Sticker Pages
Pom-Poms
Paint Brushes
Flashlights
Themed Play Sets
Liquid Droppers

A couple of tips:

  • Water Bottles + Wish Upon Magic Stickers = Hydration Perfection: I love to get new water bottles and nice stickers {Wish Upon Magic is my favorite for water bottles – don’t peel off with washing & just beautiful designs} and let the kids decorate them. They love it and actually want to use them then, which is a win-win for mom.
  • Wishables: I’m a Wishables fan {& let’s be honest, a bit of a collector}, and thankfully, the kids get excited about playing with them too. With the Wishables suggestion, it really can be anything “collectory” that you and your family enjoy. Some Disney examples that I think of right off the bat are Pins and Nuimos.
  • Themed Play Sets: I love to purchase the Disney figurine play sets and use them for themed sensory bins. The kids enjoy playing with them, and I like to have that Disney touch on hand for our sensory bins. Again, this is something that doesn’t have to be Disney themed, just small items that could be multi-purpose.

That’s all for today! I hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday season filled with love, laughter, and joy!

Until next time…

Stay Magical!

Jasmine

*Disclaimer: All opinions shared are in no way affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. They are completely my own and shared from a Disney guest perspective.

Tips & Tricks: Pixar Cars Party

Howdy! It’s been awhile, but I come bearing good tidings of party joys!

This past week, our little buddy turned two *cue the waterworks*, and to celebrate, we threw a Pixar Cars birthday bash, of course! He is into all things transportation – planes, trains, and automobiles – so this theme was right up his alley.

So racers, start your engines, and let’s get this party started!

1. The Inspiration

As always, I have to turn to my good pal Pinterest. She is always there when I need a party-planning helping hand, and this party was no exception. After some perusal, these are the pins that drove the overall vision of the day:

After deliberations and discussions with the husband unit, this is the pin that won the overall goal and drove the final creative intent.

2. The Prep

This is the part where I typically wait until the night before, stay up ’til 3AM painting and blowing up balloons, and tell myself I won’t do that next time…

Well…spoiler alert: I still stayed up until 2AM the night before, BUT I made it a little bit easier on myself this time and ordered some great items from Etsy that made my life so much easier and still brought all the crafty fun.

First, the invitations. I found this fun design on Etsy that matched the overall vibe that I was going for. The print itself was reasonably priced and printing them was no biggie. I printed them through Shutterfly because I wanted the matte finish, but if that isn’t a priority, you can also print from CVS or Walgreens for a faster turn around and cheaper price.

Disney Cars Birthday Invite Printable | Etsy, AmorDesignCo | $10

Side Note: I ordered the invites before I ordered the next set of party printables. The printable package also had an invite option.

Second, the party printables. Luck would have it that the very pin I chose to drive the creative vision just happens to be an Etsy printable package. AHHH! Yay! I get to make it look JUST LIKE THE PICTURE.

{gentle reminder to always work smarter, not harder}

Y’all. I cannot RAVE about this package more. I bought the customized banner {$15}, the oil can labels {$5}, and the license design party favor template {$3}, so for $23, I had all of the extra little decor templates ready to go. PLUS, SeawayStudio provides this AMAZING pdf that goes over how to print everything {sizes, companies to use, type of material to print on, etc.}, as well as shares any “additional items” {ex. what soup cans to use} to help recreate the given party. AND they gave me some extras {banner template, cake topper template, and pin the buck teeth on Mater game} for free. Cannot rave enough. Highly recommend. 6/5 Stars. Top notch.

Radiator Springs Vintage Cars Birthday Party Printables | Etsy, SeawayStudio | $35

Once I had all the design templates, it was time to print, cut, laminate, cut, repeat. This part did take some time, but it was mindless, Netflix-watching work and all came out simply extraordinary.

3. The Food

You know me. I can’t go an entire post without talking about food. Food is life. It is the sustenance that sustains me {I know, duh 😛 }. But really, let’s talk food.

So I’m lazy {& cheap…haha} and prefer to plan our kids’ birthday parties around times when a full meal is not expected, i.e., 10 AM. I like this time for a couple of reasons, namely:

  • Toddler Prime Time. This is a time of day where I can usually count on the kids being in a decent mood.
  • Mid-Meal Zone. This is between breakfast and lunch, so I can plan a menu that is mostly snacks and desserts {cheaper and more “Pinterest-y” food options}.
  • Florida Sweet Spot. We live in FL. It’s hot {especially in July}. 10AM is slightly more bearable. Slightly. Haha.

This party was no exception. Started at 10am, people began to leave at 12pm to go home for lunch, and I got to focus on my snacks. All was well.

Now, speaking of those snacks….the menu consisted of:

  • Sally’s Cozy Cones {aka Bugles}
  • Luigi’s Spare Tires {aka Chocolate Iced Donuts}
  • Lightning McQueen Birthday Cake {aka Publix vanilla cake with SeawayStudio Cake Toppers}
  • Radiator Springs Friend Cupcakes {aka Funfetti cupcakes with SeawayStudio Cake Toppers}
  • Traffic Light Fruit Kebobs {aka watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew}
  • Popcorn {aka Skinny Pop Popcorn – healthier and does not require popping}
  • Blue Oil {aka Hawaiian Punch Polar Blast}

Side Note: The cake topper and cupcake toppers were laminated

Side Side Note: Recommend NOT buying cut-up fruit for the Traffic Light Fruit Kebobs. If I were to do again, I would have bought the whole fruit and used a melon baller instead of a cookie cutter {s/o to Lucas and Paul for making those and figuring that out the hard way!}

4. The Decor

MY FAVORITE PART – THE DECORATIONS.

Ugh. I just love decorating for parties. It’s so fun and rewarding and just the best. So, without further ado, let’s talk about the main ticket items – dessert table, photo spot, party game, and party props.

Dessert Table. This was the main focal point of the party. It held all the food and the main theming elements. Decor-wise, the dessert table showcased the custom banner, balloon arch, specialty food containers, party printables, license & toy car party favors, and desert flora for that Radiator Springs vibe.

Here are all of the links to help recreate this tablescape at home:

Cone Cups | Amazon | $19
Blue Disposable Cups | Amazon | $7
Popcorn Boxes | Amazon | $10
Blue Balloons | Amazon | $7
Neutral Balloons | Amazon | $12
Green Balloons | Amazon | $10
Wooden Cars | Amazon | $15
Serving Platters | Amazon | $27
Cacti Pack | Lowe’s | $27

Photo Spot. This photo spot was a hybrid between the printables package and invitation. The invitation inspired the photo props {cardboard cutouts of Lightning McQueen, Cruz Ramirez, Sally, and Mater}, which I created myself. Then, I used the flag banner printout from the printables set and twine for the flags background.

Party Game. The party game was Pin the Buck Teeth on Mater, which was included in the Etsy party package. The Mater poster was so easy to print {directions given to print through the 1-hour Walgreens poster print}, and then, I printed and laminated the teeth for a quick, easy party game!

Party Props. AKA the little, wearable cardboard box racers. Okay, these were probably my favorite decoration from the party. They turned out exactly as I envisioned in my head and looked so cute on the kids 🙂 The ideal purpose for them are kid races, but the kids didn’t really catch onto that concept. The photos sure are cute, though.

To recreate, all you need is a cardboard box, checkered ribbon, and some paint. 🙂

Side Note: S/O to my mom for bringing the right size boxes and staying up ’til 2AM painting them with me.

5. THE PARTY

The Florida rainy season {aka hot, FL summer} is upon us, so of course, our outdoor party turned indoor the morning of. Friends and family came, all wore masks {thank you! | Side Note: Lucas and I are vaccinated. However, since the kids aren’t old enough, we are still taking precautions. Stay safe, friends!}, and joy was shared all around.

And now, the pictures…

And yes, we did Disney Bound for the party as a family. And no, I have no regrets.

That’s a wrap on Buddy’s second birthday! We can’t believe he’s already two, but we had so much fun celebrating him.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed seeing the birthday fun!

Until next time…

Stay Magical!

Jasmine

*Disclaimer: All opinions shared are in no way affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. They are completely my own and shared from a Disney guest perspective.

60s Theme: Pixar Cars Round-Up

Happy Friday! The time has come for another week’s round-up. I must admit this is my favorite week of the series. The bound came out exactly as I imagined; Art of Animation is one of my favorite Disney resorts, AND I found another creative play option for our Wishables collection, which is just always such a bonus {and enabling} for my Wishables addiction. So without further ado, let’s dive in! 🙂

1. The Look

This week is all about the 60s, and who better to showcase than our peace-loving, eco-conscious Cars friend Fillmore?! I had so much fun pulling together this bound. I knew I wanted to showcase Fillmore for 60s week, but my closet lacked the necessary pieces, which meant I got to shop for my exact vision {yay!}. I wanted to make sure to portray that 60s vibe, which to me meant a flowy skirt and crocheted crop top.

I started with this green, flowy skirt from Amazon. I was a little nervous based on the reviews, but once I got it on, it was PERFECT. It is just so flowy and made these twirly pictures look so organic and just plain fun {which they were to shoot to 🙂 }.

Bohemian Long Maxi Skirt | Fruit Green | Amazon | $21

Next, came the crop top. Hollister had exactly what I was envisioning. This cutie little crocheted top, and it even had daisies on the bottom!! Unfortunately, this item has been extremely popular, so most of the sizes are gone. However, I found a cute alternative that was actually my second choice while creating the outfit.

Crop Crochet Cami | Hollister | $24
Crop High-Neck Crochet Sweater Tank | Hollister | $30

For the shoes, I used my trusty, tan Rainbows. If you know me, you know I live in my Rainbows {literally have a flip flop tan from them haha}, and they went perfectly with the vibe I was trying to achieve.

Rainbow Narrow Strap Flip Flop | Tan | DSW | $64

I finished off the look with this daisy crown. It was the perfect {& affordable}, final touch to the bound. This was a spontaneous, last minute purchase, but I’m so glad I clicked “Add to Cart”. It just goes to show that the perfect accessory can tie an entire outfit together beautifully.

Daisy Hair Wreath | White | Amazon | $8

2. The Location

Okay, so let’s talk about Art of Animation. First off, if you haven’t stayed at AoA {or at least visited}, you need to put it on the top of your Disney to-do list, especially if you have kids {or are a Disney-loving, big kid-at-heart}. The theming there is SO FUN and simply incredible. I’m blown away each time we visit and always have a fantastic time.

Theme. Let’s talk about the theme. It’s centered around {you guessed it} the art of animation. It brings to life the animation process behind creating four of our favorite Disney stories, specifically The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, The Lion King, and Cars. These four areas each showcase their story through the designs of the buildings, the pools, and, my personal favorite, larger-than-life icons. Normally, I would just give the highlights of the resort for a general picture, but I love this resort so much that we are going to talk about {& show pictures} of each.

The Little Mermaid. This area is considered the “value” area of the resort. Here you will find the traditional, hotel-style room but with a Disney touch. The rooms transport you to a magical stay under the sea with showers filled with thing-a-ma-bobs, shell beds complete with bubble lights, and underwater fish and friends found throughout. This underwater feel continues as you step into the area and are immediately greeted by a pool. And to make it even more magical, the entire area is filled with larger-than-life icons of your favorite Little Mermaid characters: Ursula, King Triton, Sebastian, and, of course, Ariel!

The Little Mermaid Standard Room:

The Lion King. Here starts the family-style suite that this resort is best known for. The rest of the areas offer suite-style rooms, and let me tell you, they are a young family’s DREAM. I think they are the perfect place to stay if are a family of four, especially if you have young kids. The suites are set up with a small kitchen, a separate bedroom {private room for mom & dad!}, two bathrooms, a pull out bed {over the table}, and a pull out couch. AND on top of just a great layout, the entire suite is expertly themed. I love staying in these rooms SO MUCH. Cannot recommend it enough. You should book the stay. Haha. Okay, I’m done. Rant over. Back to the fun {aka theming}.

Lion King Family Suites:

This area is really fun. As you walk in, you are greeted by Rafiki and then immediately meet Mufasa on Pride rock.

Timon, Pumba, and Simba make an Hakuna Mata appearance…

And then…you can play in an elephant graveyard! Some hyenas may come lurking, but it’s a pretty fun place to play 🙂

Make sure to be prepared because Scar may be lurking in the shadows, but don’t worry, Zazu’s keeping an eye on him. 😉

Cars. If you are a Radiator Springs fan, this is the spot for you. The Cars area immediately immerses you into the world of Disney Pixar Cars. As you venture through, you’ll see all your favorite characters and some of the famous storefronts from RS.

Sheriff, Doc, Flo, and Ramone welcome you to the area {on a sidewalk road, of course – how fun is that?!}

The buildings are themed as different RS storefronts, specifically Luigi’s Casa Della Tires, Tow Mater’s, and Wagon Wheel Motel.

And then my personal favorite, the center hub is the Cozy Cone Motel, which is this area’s pool expertly themed as the hotel. The cone cabanas are my favorite touch.

This area also houses the family-style suite with the rooms that exude RS vibes. We are actually staying in this suite style later this year and cannot wait to see the kids’ expressions when we walk into the room!

Cars Family Suites:

Finding Nemo. Lastly, but certainly not least, the Finding Nemo area! This is the center of the resort and the theming is top notch. First, the Big Blue Pool is the larges on property and a fabulous place to play. There is a pool for the big kids, splash pad for the littles {or little at heart}, and playground for those not feeling the water {& a pool side bar for the biggest kids 😉 }.

Similar to the other areas, Nemo and all of his friends can be found in this area in the best, larger-than-life way.

And all the rooms are family-style suites with the best ocean touches.

Finding Nemo Family Suites:

Other Amenities. Some other amenities that can be found at Art of Animation are:

  • Walking/Running path with Animation trivia/tidbits
  • Movie Under the Stars
  • Pool Activities
  • Tie Dye {at PopCentury – can walk}
  • Landscape of Flavors: Mess Hall Quick Serve {mobile order available | only restaurant at this resort}
  • Animation Classes {currently suspended due to COVID}
  • Dog Friendly {information linked}
  • Pixel Play Arcade
  • Skyliner Access

3. The Activity

So…about this activity…I started off with an extremely manageable, easy-to-create craft: parking space car matching.

I saw this number matching car parking craft on Instagram {@cintaandco} and decided to create parking spaces for the new Pixar Cars Wishables {Cars were the June Wishables release and I LOVE them, as does Wally 🙂 }. Instead of number matching, I did color matching so both L {3} and W {almost 2} could play.

Supplies:

  • Cardboard
  • Paint
  • Cars Wishables {or some other toy cars}

It’s Sunday night. The craft is complete {finished in an evening}. I’m ready for the week.

Then…I start looking at the activity and decide it’s not big enough. So I decided to go bigger…

My vision takes on a life of its own, and here we are four days later, extremely sleep deprived, and with a full-blown cardboard recreation of the Art of Animation rendition of Radiator Springs.

Do I have some regrets on this one? I could have used some more sleep….Haha. But the kids got so excited to play with it this morning, which was rewarding to watch, and quite honestly, I’m proud of how it turned out. I will say that I will probably stick with the simple play the first time around in the future and recommend you do the same if you are crunched for time all the time like me. Haha. But until then, enjoy this Radiator Springs cardboard play!

That’s all for today! I hope you enjoyed the second week of the Disney Decades series! Be sure to check back next week for the 70s theme!

Until Next Time…

Stay Magical!

Jasmine

*Disclaimer: All opinions shared are in no way affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. They are completely my own and shared from a Disney guest perspective.

50s Theme: Peter Pan Round-Up

Happy Friday, everyone! It’s been awhile, but I’m so excited to share all about this week’s theme: Peter Pan!

If you’ve been following along on my Instagram account {@the_magikrull_life}, you’ve seen the bound {Wendy}, the resort {Riviera}, and the play {Treasure Map}. Today {& every weekly blog post for this month}, we are going to dig a little deeper on those posts to give more details and fun. So let’s get started!

1. The Look

This week’s DisneyBound is a 50s-style Wendy bound. This is one of my all-time favorite bounds {as you could probably guess since we even had family pictures with this look 😉 }. It combines my two favorite pieces from my wardrobe – a polyester blend periwinkle dress {The Limited} and long, white pea coat {Banana Republic}. Both have been since college, so unfortunately no exact links, but I found some nice alternatives.

Periwinkle Blue A-Line Dress | Lulus | $42
Women’s Solid Fit & Flare Dress | Belk | $28
Stradivarius long belted coat in ecru | Asos | $96
Wool Blend Wrap Coat | Nordstrom | $270

The shoes are black, vintage Mary Janes that I borrowed from a friend {thanks, Karin! 🙂 } that I think add a nice, dapper touch and really sell the 50s look. Again, no exact link, but I found some great look-a-likes.

Mary Jane Heel | Amazon | $35 – $40 {depends on size}
Black T-Strap Mary Jane Heel | Unique Vintage | $68

The background is part of the AMAZING mosaic tile murals at Disney’s Riviera Resort. There is this Peter Pan inspired creation, along with a Tangled mural. Both can be found walking from the main lobby to Riviera’s Skyliner station.

Speaking of Riviera…let’s talk about the resort!

2. The Location

Disney’s Riviera Resort is the newest Disney resort on WDW property. It’s theming leans into the traditional French Riviera feel with some Mediterranean touches. While I have yet to stay at this resort {it’s definitely on my list!}, I have had the chance to enjoy visiting as well as experience some of the dining options and want to share some of the amazing offerings this resort provides.

Dining. We have to talk about the food first, of course. The noms. They are the important factor. Always.

So let’s talk about the different dining options first:

  • Topolino’s Terrace {Table Service | Character Breakfast}
  • Le Petit Café {Lobby Café}
  • Bar Riva {Pool Bar}
  • Primo Piatto {Quick Service}

Topolino’s is one of my FAVORITE character breakfasts. It’s styled with an “artist’s flair” and that can be seen from the characters’ costumes to the food presentation. At this breakfast, Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, and Donald make appearances in their Riviera attire {Please note: Right now, COVID protocols are in place, so the characters wave from a distance, not come up to your table. However, this is one of the few character dining options actually open right now}. The menu is French-inspired cuisine, and my favorite dishes are the Sour Cream Waffle {for me}, the Mickey Waffle Dippers {for the kids – it’s like a Mickey Waffle lollipop 🙂 }, and the pastries and bread for the table {one looks like a paint brush, and all are DELICIOUS}.

Since it is one of the few character dining offerings currently available, reservations are vital and can be hard to come by. If you have your heart set on eating here, highly recommend booking as soon as opens.

The dinner offering is still French-inspired cuisine, however, it’s definitely a fancier dinner dining option. There is a dress code, and I probably wouldn’t take my young kids. Think more of mom and dad {or just couple or couple of friends 😉 } occasion for a nice night out.

Le Petit Café is this adorable coffee/pastry bar set up in the lobby. The café is right next to the Voyageurs’ Lounge, which gives the sweetest Beauty & the Beast library vibes with it’s cozy lounging options and extensive book collection. It’s one of my favorite places to grab a cup of coffee and snack.

Bar Riva and Primo Piatto are the two quick serve locations found in the lower lobby area. Primo Piatto offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as mobile ordering {hooray!}. The menu has something for everyone from the adventurous adult looking for something different at Disney to the picky toddler. While I haven’t had a meal here {yet}, I have been wanting to try their breakfast for a loooongg time. It looks so good, and I have heard nothing but great things.

Bar Riva is a lounge bar by the pool and offers a few meal options, along with drinks. It opens around lunch and stays open through the dinner and drink hours.

Pools & Recreation. Okay, let’s talk about the grounds. First, the pools. The pools, and specifically the splash pad, are top notch here. The Splash pad is Fantasia themed and is so stinkin’ cute. It is a huge draw for me wanting to stay with the kids here.

I mean LOOK AT IT. So cute. Okay, that is all on that.

The pool attached to the splash pad is Mediterranean themed with this fun slide and cute picturesque area. And then there is another more “classic French Riviera” themed pool in the main lawn space.

As for the recreation, the resort itself is U-shaped and in the center is this huge green space that has a bocce ball court and chess lawn. I love this space so much! It is perfect to just let the kids go and run out all that energy. There are also porch swings in this area, which is exactly where I park myself while the kids run free.

Beyond the lawn, there are paths to walk around the resort that have beautiful water and Skyliner views, a beach space, and the Rapunzel and Peter Pan mosiac murals. These paths connect to the resort’s Skyliner station as well as the Carribbean Beach Resort, which has an awesome playground {so great for littles}.

Skyliner Access. Speaking of the Skyliner, another huge plus of staying at Riviera is the Skyliner access. Riviera has a station right on the grounds that connects to Epcot and the Caribbean Beach Resort {main hub}. It has quickly become one of our kids’ and my favorite mode of Disney transportation. The kids even treat a trip on the Skyliner as a ride, which is a major bonus for us.

Another noteworthy aspect of the Riviera station is ambiance. The the walk from the lobby to the gondolas is simply magical due to these beauties:

The Imagineers outdid themselves when they dreamed up the Tangled and Peter Pan mosaic murals. They are truly stunning and one of my favorite photo spots on property.

3. The Activity

Last, but certainly not least, THE PLAY. This week’s activity was a Peter Pan Inspired Treasure Hunt. I created a treasure map that identified icons from around our home and each location held a different musical instrument {some actual, some “home made” | ex: a pan with a large wooden spoon}. Once all collected, the search ended outside, where we had a “follow the leader” parade.

This was an easy activity to throw together, and L {3.5} absolutely LOVED it. She wanted to continue doing more scavenger hunts, so I started using different Wishables and alien figurines for her to find. I think she did it 3 or 4 times. haha. W {almost 2} was a little indifferent, but it may have been the time of day we chose to play {right after breakfast}.

To create this activity at home, you’ll need:

  • Treasure Map
  • Searchable Items
  • Adventurous Spirit

The beauty of this play is that there are so many possible variations. I want to touch on each a little bit to help you find your vibe.

Treasure Map. I drew ours to customize it to our home. However, I fully acknowledge that drawing is not everyone’s thing, or even if it is, you may just not have the time {kids, they are a handful haha}. Some other alternatives to a hand-drawn map are:

  • Riddles {forgo the entire map and just do riddles}
  • Printable Map with Stickers or pictures {print out a Neverland map from online and just use stickers or actual snapshots of different areas of your home}
  • String {use string to connect the Searchable Items that the littles follow to find all the hidden pieces}

These are just a few that I thought would be faster to create but still keep the fun and flavor.

Searchable Items. I began with musical instruments because I wanted to end with a parade. However, I quickly turned to stuffies {specifically Wishables – another fun use!} and figurines {specifically Toy Story aliens} when L wanted additional search & find options. These items truly can be anything. Scavenge your home and find what works for you.

Another option is also to just do riddles at each station or potentially even keys or trinkets that would later open a treasure chest with goodies. The ending could have a real treasure chest with prizes {or even pixie dust! – if you are a glitter friendly home…haha} instead of ending with a parade. So many possibilities!

Adventurous Spirit. Well, you could have a playful spirit, childlike spirit, spirit filled with wonder…but I recommend the spirit part. Because how else would you venture to Neverland!

That’s all for today! Thanks for stopping by and following along all week long! I hope you enjoyed the Peter Pan theme this week, and next week will be a brand new week to celebrate the 60s! Any guesses…???

Until Next Time…

Stay Magical!

Jasmine

*Disclaimer: All opinions shared are in no way affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. They are completely my own and shared from a Disney guest perspective.

Tips & Tricks: Mother’s Day Craft

Happy almost Mother’s Day! In honor of Mother’s Day this Sunday, I wanted to share a fun and easy kid craft that is the perfect last-minute gift for mom. L and I had a blast preparing and making this activity, and I hope you do too!

1. The Supplies

What you’ll need:

  • Fresh Flowers
  • Paper towel or 100% cotton rag
  • Heavy microwave safe container
  • Microwave
  • Hanging Display Frame

For the display frame, I used the one below {and liked it}, but there are a lot of options on Amazon, including a range of sizes, colors, and styles.

Hanging Display Frame | Amazon | $13

2. The Prep

Honestly, this was my favorite part of the craft. Instead of buying a bouquet of flowers, L and I picked up flowers from around our neighborhood {Note: We never pick flowers, always pick up fallen flowers}. It made for a fun afternoon walk, and I loved that she was able to help with this part of the craft.

That being said, if you’re in a pinch, a bouquet of flowers {or even a bag of dried flowers} will also work great!

3. The Drying

You now have your flowers. If they are dried, you can skip this step and go straight to arranging them in your display frame! Whoo! If they are fresh, this step is for you.

To dry the flowers, first, pull out your paper towel or cotton cloth. We used a paper towel, and I found it left an imprint of the towel’s design while drying {unideal, but not heinous}. I would recommend the cotton cloth instead if you have one.

Next, cut and arrange the flowers flat on the towel. Make sure they are arranged the way you want them to dry. Fold over the towel/cloth to cover. Then, place in the microwave.

Before you close that door and press start, place the heavy microwave dish on top of the paper towel/cloth. Microwave at half power for 60 seconds. Check to see if the flowers are dried. If yes, hooray! Move to the next step. If not, continue to microwave in 30 second intervals until dried.

A couple of notes:

  • Flowers that are more “flat” will be easier to dry {ex. daises}, while fuller flowers will be more difficult {ex. roses}.
  • The pigment of the flower may change slightly during the drying process so don’t be surprised if this happens.

4. The Craft

Now, here is the fun part…arranging! Grab your flowers, frame, and kiddo and let them have at it!

I will say not all flowers or frames are created equal, so there may be the occasional will to slide by the flowers when picking up the frame. If that happens, use a dot of hot glue or small piece of double sided tape to keep the flowers in place.

Pro Tip: Add a picture with the flowers to give it an extra personal touch.

5. The Result

And there you have it! Now you have the perfect gift to give mom or grandma that she can hang and admire forever.

That’s all for today! Thanks for following along!

Until next time…

Stay Magical!

Jasmine

Disclaimer: The Magikrull Life and all its counterparts are not responsible for any damages or injuries incurred while attempting this craft.

Tips & Tricks: Epcot Flower & Garden. With Littles.

April Showers bring May flowers, and springtime in Disney World means Flower and Garden! The Flower and Garden festival is my absolute favorite Epcot festival. I just love all of the flowers and the topiary designs. I also love sharing the experience with my littles because with each new festival means new activities to explore with the kiddos! Today, I wanted to share some of our experiences at the festival this year and give some pointers for you, especially since F&G goes until July 5th this year {hooray!}. So let’s get started…

1. The Topiaries

The Flowers. Okay, to say the horticulture team goes all out almost feels like an understatement. The topiaries are just SO GREAT, and the horticulture team does a fabulous job of rotating locations, creating new scenes, and debuting new characters each year. Some of my favorites this year are the ostriches from Fantasia {and really all of the Fantasia display at the park entrance}, Woody and Bo Peep {located by the Land}, the fairy garden with Tinker Bell {located in the UK pavilion}, and Pluto {located near the World Showcase entrance}.

Side Note: A full list of all the topiaries can be found on the Walt Disney World website.

When it comes to the topiaries, the kids enjoy seeing their favorite characters, and L is a BIG fan of flowers right now. It is so much fun to share these beautiful creations with them. 10/10 would recommend. haha.

Beyond the topiaries, there are extra flowers everywhere! One of my favorite photo spots during F&G is this floral display added by the lake entrance into World Showcase. Make sure to snag a pic here. You won’t regret it.

2. The Butterfly Garden

The Goodness Garden Butterfly House is such a fun {and educational – bonus!} addition during F&G. It’s a little walk-through tent that is filled with butterfly-friendly flowers {read: bountiful and beautiful} and hundreds of butterflies! L and W really enjoyed walking through this and seeing all the butterflies up close and personal. L was trying really hard to stand very still so one of the butterflies would land on her. The walk-through also showcases the metamorphosis process and has active cocoons for the littles {and you} to see.

Side Note: CMs are monitoring the number of people in the tent at all times to keep the number low enough for COVID safety protocols to be followed.

3. The Scavenger Hunt

Another festival, another scavenger hunt. For F&G, Spike the bee makes his big debut! Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration is such a fun scavenger hunt. Similar to other hunts, you are given a sticker map and earn a prize at the end {started as plates and is currently travel mugs}. However, unlike other seek and finds, he is hidden throughout the gardens and topiaries to showcase a particular flower for each sticker. As an added challenge, Spike can be found throughout Future World in addition to the World Showcase. The kids love finding him hiding in the gardens, and it’s such a fun way to learn about and how to identify new flowers.

For those that want to give some loving “guidance” to their littles, WDW Magazine shared a how-to guide to find Spike.

4. The Butterfly Wall

The butterfly wall is back! The butterfly wall installment from Festival of the Arts not only stayed but expanded! Eeep! There are now even more fun butterfly wing options, so you too can feel like a beautiful butterfly. L and W both love taking pictures with them, and I honestly have a blast with them too. I mean, look at these new beauts.

These walls can be found between the Land and the Seas and at the main entrance to the World Showcase. Be sure to stroll past for some butterfly fun.

5. The Play Area

Since playgrounds still aren’t open in the parks, F&G is trying a new alternative The Health Full Trail. This is a grassy area with some fun, painted circles to inspire play, as well as a small garden trail perfect for a quick exploration. The playgrounds are definitely missed, but I appreciate Disney trying to find a safe alternative for the time being.

6. The Food

What’s an Epcot festival without the food? The menu, as usual, is fantastic but can also get pretty pricey very quickly. As I’ve mentioned before, my preference is to bring lunch for us and the kids and just get desserts. Keeps the price down and you still get to try some of the amazing food! Some of our favorites this year have been the Violet Lemonade {an old goodie} and the new Large Chocolate Macaron Lollipop {this was seriously amazing, highly recommend}.

The full menu can be found in the Disney Parks Flower and Garden Outdoor Kitchen Menu Guide.

7. The Old Faithfuls

As I will always say when it comes to the Epcot, there are some really awesome attraction options for kids, with or without a festival. Our must-hits are:

  • The Seas with Nemo & Friends
  • The Seas {have to see all our fishy friends!}
  • Gran Fiesta Tour starring The Three Caballeros
  • Living with the Land
  • Journey Into Imagination with Figment
  • Spaceship Earth
  • Frozen Ever After {this is an occasional attraction for us | highly recommend going straight there at opening as this one stays busy all day}

That’s all for today!

Until next time…

Stay Magical!

Jasmine

*Disclaimer: All opinions shared are in no way affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. They are completely my own and shared from a Disney guest perspective.

Tips & Tricks: Animal Kingdom. With Littles.

Happy Earth Day, y’all! In honor of Earth Day, I wanted to talk about my favorite Walt Disney World theme park: Animal Kingdom.

I know. You’re probably saying, “Really, Jasmine? Animal Kingdom? But you have kids. Aren’t you Magic Kingdom all day, everyday?”

Don’t get me wrong, Magic Kingdom is great, but Animal Kingdom will always have my heart and is one of my favorite places to take the kids! I think it gets a bad rep sometimes, but today, we change all that….

1. The Rides

Animal Kingdom is first and foremost a Disney theme parks, so we HAVE to talk about the rides! As far as kid-rides are concerned, Animal Kingdom does have fewer than the other parks. However, they are great rides, and it just leaves more time for all the other fantastic attractions and adventures available!

The kid-friendly rides include:

  • Na’vi River Journey*
  • Kilimanjaro Safaris* {Note: Pregnant women are advised against riding this attraction}
  • TriceraTop Spin

Those three are the “ride rides” that do not have a height requirement. I put an asterisk on Na’vi River Journey and Kilimanjaro Safaris because both are extremely popular and are “rope drop activities” in my opinion, so I recommend choosing which one is the priority for your group and do that first. We always prioritize Kilimanjaro Safaris because it’s a longer attraction; the kids love the animals, and it’s wait time rarely ebbs and flows during the day {usually only gets longer}. Na’vi River Journey, on the other hand, has more of an ebb and flow during the day, so if you watch the wait times, you can often find this one down to a 30{ish}-minute wait time.

2. The Trails

Honestly, this is my favorite part about Animal Kingdom: the animal trails. The trails make it the most unique Disney park and gives you two awesome kid-friendly activities {theme park + zoo} for the price of one.

The main animal trails include:

  • Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
  • Maharajah Jungle Trek
  • Discovery Island Trails

Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail. Gorilla Falls can be found next to {or at the exit of} Kilimanjaro Safaris. It’s a great addition to see more animals right after riding Kilmanjaro Safaris, or the perfect alternative for those wanting to skip the bumpy truck ride. Here, the main attraction is the Gorilla Falls area {obviously haha}, but you can also spot Meercats, Zebras, African birds, Invertebrates, and other animals indigenous to Africa.

Maharajah Jungle Trek. This is my favorite trail. I love visiting the bats {specifically the Malayan Flying Fox} and the tigers, especially when there are babies out and about! This area is really beautiful and such a fun place for kids {and adults!} to explore and experience the animals, and if you’re like me, it is also a FANTASTIC spot to snap a few pictures. 😉

Side Note: This area was actually one of the photos stops during our wedding photos at Animal Kingdom {And yes, I chose Animal Kingdom as the park for our wedding photos. I wasn’t kidding that Animal Kingdom is my favorite park. haha}.

Discovery Island Trails. Okay, talk about photo spots…this is the place to go. These trails are dab smack in the center of the park at the Tree of Life. The paths wind in and around the tree, with animals tucked into the nooks and crannies {large one, don’t worry}. The roots of the tree that curve and branch through the area are beautifully carved with animals from the entire Animal Kingdom. Exploring the tree alone is such a fun and rewarding activity with the kids. Beyond the tree, the animals there are so fun! There is an otter grotto, a flamingo flamboyance, vulture committee, fish friends, kangaroo mob, and so much more. Highly recommend visiting this area and just letting the kids run free {Added bonus: this area is usually pretty quiet on the crowd front}.

Side Note: This area is where we took pictures to announce that I was pregnant with W. 🙂

3. The Secrets

Well, these aren’t so much secrets as they are areas/experiences that often get missed or skipped, and it’s such a shame {they deserve more credit}! The three that I want to highlight are Wilderness Explorers, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, and Fossil Fun Games {additional cost}.

Wilderness Explorers. This is a must do for us when we go. It is based on the Wilderness Explorers {similar to Boy/Girl Scouts} from the Pixar movie Up. For this experience, you to take the oath of the Wilderness Explorer and then go out and explore that Wilderness! The concept is that you are given a Wilderness Explorer guide book at Headquarters {at the front of the park}, and throughout the park, you can stop at Wilderness Explorer stations {there are signs to signify a location and all are searchable in the mobile app} to learn about animals and the wilderness in general and earn badges {i.e. stickers} to place in your handbook. We always grab one {or bring the ones from previous trips} and earn a couple of badges each trip. The kids enjoy learning and earning those stickers, and again, it’s another option that is a little less crowded, which I appreciate.

Side Note: Our littles are young {3 and 1}, but I will say the CMs do a great job of gauging their audience and will adjust the lesson based on the age of the kids.

Rafiki’s Planet Watch. I kind of get why this one gets skipped; I used to be a skeptic too. It can take a good amount of time to get there and back and seems like little gain. BUT after having kids, it is one of our go-tos. First, there’s a train ride {Bonus ride!}, which both of my kids absolutely love. Next, once you arrive, there’s room to explore, Wilderness Explorer badges to earn, and more animals to see {usually a petting zoo but the petting aspect has been closed during the pandemic}. And then lastly {but far from last}, Conservation Station. Conservation Station is part lab/veterinary facility {have seen a surgery on a turtle there before!} and then part drawing fun! The Animation Experience at Conservation Station is one of my favorite Disney experiences ever. I love learning to draw different Disney characters, and the animators do such a great job that it is rare to leave with an unsatisfactory drawing. I will admit, I have not taken the kids there before. It’s usually a treat for myself, but they do set aside a couple of smaller tables for the younger artists to keep them more engaged.

Fossil Fun Games. Unpopular opinion alert: I love Dinoland. I think it’s so fun, and I just love the old-timey carnival feel and all the dinosaurs. And I love spending time with my kids there. I enjoy bouncing between TriceraTop Spin and the Fossil Fun Games and will be the first to admit that I have spent way too much money on the Fossil Fun Games {#noregrets}. The Games are typical carnival games and for years I never paid them any mind, but with the reopening in 2020 during the pandemic, the prizes were updated to these SUPER CUTE dinosaurs, and now, I’m obsessed {as are my kids}. There are 3 games – one is complete chance {toss a ball – L has won as much as I have on this one haha}, one is a group game {the classic water gun game}, and the last requires skill {basketball}. The first is perfect for littles, and our kids love playing. Bonus: it’s really great practice for working with kids on how to handle not winning a prize. The one downside is that it is an extra cost. It’s $5/ticket, but, especially if you win, I think it’s a fair price.

4. The Shows

Normally, this would be at the top of my list. However, with COVID, some of the shows were suspended until they could reopen safely, and while the remaining shows are great, they aren’t as phenomenal as the closed ones {looking at you Lion King & Nemo}. However, Festival of the Lion King is slated to reopen in May {hooray!}, so I wanted to touch on these since more will be an option soon!

The Shows:

  • Feathered Friends in Flight*
  • It’s Tough to be a Bug*
  • Festival of the Lion King
  • Finding Nemo – The Musical

*currently available

Starting with the two currently available: Feathered Friends in Flight and It’s Tough to be a Bug. Feathered Friends in Flight is an exotic bird show and a great way to see, learn, and experience our bird friends strutting their stuff. It’s Tough to be a Bug takes you into the world of insects, where you adventure with Flik and his friends {and possibly some of his enemies}. {I personally hate It’s Tough to be a Bug, but that is from a traumatizing experience when I was younger}.

Now for the two currently unavailable {and the best shows on property, in my opinion}: Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo – The Musical. Both are pretty self-explanatory on their content {one is about Lion King and the other Finding Nemo}, and they are amazing. Both have outstanding performers, unforgettable musical numbers, amazing theatrical puppets {and special effects, in general}, and are just spectacular overall. They are on the longer side {30 minutes and 45 minutes, respectively}, but we’ve never had an issue with the kids sitting through it. They stay engaged the entire time.

5. The {Loose} Schedule

I wanted to end with sharing what our typical Animal Kingdom day looks like to give an idea of how to easily hit all the highlights with littles. First off, Animal Kingdom has the earliest opening time, which is GREAT for the kids. The park opens at 8AM, but Disney has been letting Guests in up to an hour early so recommend getting there at 7AM. Early time means we can do more before nap time hits, and we peace out. haha. Anyway, here is our loose Animal Kingdom schedule:

  • 7-8: Enter the park and head straight to Kilimanjaro Safari
  • 8-9: Either hit some trails or ride TriceraTop Spin, depending on what the kids are feeling
  • 9-10: Rafiki’s Planet Watch {train time!}
  • 10-11: Wilderness Explorer badges
  • 11: Eat lunch
  • 11:30 – 12:30: Either ride TricerTop Spin again, play a Fossil Fuel Game, or explore some trails
  • 12:30: Head home for nap time 🙂

Side Note: Don’t forget the character appearances! Characters ride around Discovery River in boats so make sure to keep an eye out as you travel the park!

That’s all for today! Thanks for reading and hope you have a spectacular Earth Day!

Until next time…

Stay Magical!

Jasmine

*Disclaimer: All opinions shared are in no way affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. They are completely my own and shared from a Disney guest perspective.

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