Type A Parent Blog Conference in Walt Disney World

I am so excited to share with you my first blog conference that was held by Type A Parent and what better place to start at than in Walt Disney World Orlando, Florida meeting new Type A Parent mentors! The conference had a lot of great topics and speakers, I especially enjoyed Julie Cole the opening blogger, her humor and learning about her company business Mabelslabels.com. Before the conference I had the chance to visit Epcot while staying at the Boardwalk Inns and Villas it was gorgeous! If you are thinking about a visit to Walt Disney World I would definitely consider looking into this hotel.

A few things that I enjoyed about the Boardwalk Hotel is the proximity to Epcot Center and Disney's Hollywood Studios. You simply take a nice stroll out of the hotel and walk along the beautiful lake, past boardwalk shops, and beautiful greenery and flowers along the way. It was a warm welcome to be there from the cold winter we had in NJ and it's always so nice to see spring blooming. Right now through May 18, 2014 is the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. With amazing Disney Character topiaries, a butterfly garden exhibit that is a tented garden of all things butterflies and flowers that butterflies love. There are displays of the life cycle of a butterfly and miniature green mossy butterfly houses, and you can let a butterfly land on your hand as well. Little kids and big kids love it as well. The Flower Power Concert Series is going on right now and I was lucky to see Lovin Spoonful and meet Jerry Yester afterwards. He was so nice saying hello to his fans. We had a nice chat and took a snap shot together you'll see the pics below. Music sounds so good to my ears! I love live music not the blaring I can't hear anymore whistle in my ear but the melody of live keyboard and guitar music I can't even tell you how great the sound system and lighting were on the stage. Perfect size stadium sitting outside on a warm Florida night in Epcot can't be beat for sure! You can grab a beer or glass of wine or coffee and pastry from France and sit outside and listen to the concert. Very enjoyable! There are a variety of vendors, like glass making designs for the outdoor garden.

Along our walk around Epcot I was so happy to find a food festival going on with healthy food choices! They had some mini plates of fresh grilled fish w/ veggies, flavored water and assorted other stops along the way with great food. Also, each country has a restaurant and shopping with some rides. I brought along my fit link from weight watchers and I really did good while down there. I didn't gain any weight from overeating and we did a lot of walking. So, I was MEGA prepared for the day a comfortable 70-75 degrees and wore my comfortable Nike sneakers no sore feet or blisters (try out your shoes before hand so you know they are comfortable for all day and all night walking) some capri exercise pants, T shirt, and a jacket that during the day I put in my Victoria Secret Hobo yoga bag which was nylon light weight big enough to hold what I wanted for the day like my camera, cell phone and mini battery charger & with the jacket I felt very happy, prepared and comfortable all day. My bag even had an outside pocket to store my water bottle in. You'll be sporty stylin!

I loved Italy make sure to stop in the perfume shop they have really nice hand bags, jewelry, perfume/cologne for men and women and masks if your in the market for a mask?!//?!. I picked up a gorgeous coral cross body small bag for my daughter and some handsome cologne for hubby so he smell good! The cast members that work in the shop were very helpful and let you smell a gazillion scents and in between you smell coffee beans so you have a fresh scent pallet in between each sniff! And no over powering parfume headaches for me-- Note to Nordstrom & Macy's I think they should try this at the counters it really works!

One of the biggest stops is Norway featuring the Frozen princesses from Disney's new movie Frozen. There was quite a long line of say three hours or so but, from what I understand they are going to start a fast pass for that or maybe they had one already I am not sure but, a little hint if you don't mind skipping the picture if you don't have any little princesses with you simply sneak a peak in through the gift shop and there you can sneak a peek at Princess Elsa and Princess Anna and guest exit there and go through the gift shop on the way out. I snapped a few pictures there not knowing that the wonderful Kelby Carr & company along with the Disney cast members had a magical evening planned for us with a winter wonderland set up and pictures with the princesses! It was complete with snow on the ground pine trees with snow on them a beautiful back drop and some wonderful themed dinner buffet menu with the Frozen Theme. All Disney style! It was so magical and perfect --they had mashed potatoes in martini glasses with bacon bits and a carrot for a nose and chopped black olives for eyes. Disney is so creative and I love being around all of these creative minds in one place can you imagine? They have to be the happiest people on earth I hope they are because what they create for others is a gifted talent of genius! Much admired and really many thanks for a beautiful evening to let it go and have fun!

There are 7 Disney Spectacular running race events check on the website for dates at http://www.rundisney.com Running/walking trails at your resort are available to keep you in shape. Luna Park Crazy Play area, and arcade, tennis courts, a boat ride to Epcot and the Disney Yacht and Beach Club, Fitness center, Bakery on the boardwalk, a walk up pizza window, The famous Kouzzina by Cat Cora (highly recommend for breakfast and dinner.) Kouzzina is the best breakfast option when staying at the Boardwalk Inn however, it is a seated dining room so you would have to allow time or you could get room service while everyone is getting ready for the parks. The Boardwalk restaurant lounge has a quick service breakfast with pastries/danishes some fruit(like banannas and appples and rice krispies and fruit loops, coffee, juice, water. A small not the best or healthiest selections but adequate for a quick grab and go near the lobby. Make sure to try the Flying Fish Restaurant on the Boardwalk, Watch the chefs cook on an open wood burning grill in an open kitchen. They have a wine food pairing menu that you can sit at the counter in front of the chefs cooking at the grill which exciting. cozy and great food, and service.

Special Note: If you are in Disney during May and June 2014 you can see Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The International Food and Wine Festival is coming up in late September through mid November 2014. Mickey's not-so Scary Halloween Party are on select nights September through October 2014 at Magic Kingdom park with trick or treating galore with Disney Characters, Mickey's Boo to You Halloween Parade and the Happy HalloWishes fireworks spectacular.

Ok so some of the BEST news I think that Disney has implemented are the new Disney magic bands. The magic bands are now more popular and can replace the Disney magic pass admission cards and season card passes. It is optional of course. I loved having the magic band, it is a light weight colorful bracelet that can be used with the My Disney Experience to access your Disney plans you have made like dining reservations, and fast pass rides which can be made up to 90 days in advance before your trip(Which I did not know so make sure if there is a popular Disney character breakfast or dining spot you can book iahead of time!), unlock your hotel room, entry for the Disney parks and water parks with paid admission, use your bracelet to check in with fast pass at the ride entrance, and conveniently charge any food and merchandise purchases to your room all with your wrist band while staying at one of the Disney Resort Hotels. At the registers they have a machine that you match up your Mickey outline on your band to the Mickey outline on a checkout pad and when it lights up green you are good to go and your admitted to the park or your purchase is paid for , or you are allowed to enter through the fast pass line with your magic band. It was very convenient to have on all day and not have to fumble around looking for the card in your pocket or worrying if your fast pass ticket blew away like happened to us in years past or got soggy in your pocket from a water ride. It is great for kids too It make everything so easy to get in to the park with. In the gift shops they sell character decorations that can go on your magic bands they snap into little holes similar a watch band. What is cool about staying in a Disney resort is that each person will receive a free magic band! Or, if you are a Walt Disney World Passholder. If you are not staying at a Disney Resort hotel and are not a Passholder, you will receive a card when you purchase park admission—and you have the option to purchase a MagicBand at Disney theme parks and Downtown Disney area.

You can also download the Disney app on your smart phone on Android and Iphone or Ipads and Ipods. So you can checkout ride wait times and make dining reservations and hotel reservations all from your phone. I used it while I was in Epcot and Downtown Disney and it worked great. No complaints.
You can take sign up here for the My Disney Expereience

When you enter the parks with your magic bands there are cast members standing by with their tablets to help you with any questions or to help you make any fast pass reservations.

I can't wait to go back again and look into the Disney Vacation Club!

Cheers!