Erin sells high quality, water-safe, vinyl decals for your MagicBands in a whole host of themes! Whatever your Disney passion, she has something that will make you squee! Our family and friends (and my travel clients) have been using these for over a year and we just love them! They are durable and adorable. I hope you will enjoy getting to know Erin as much as I have. A big thanks to her for taking the time to interview with us and offering a special coupon code exclusively for my readers! And be sure to visit her shop for a great selection of Disney themed decals for your MagicBands.Disney By The Numbers (with apologies to Harper's)
# of trips you have made: As an adult, four I lived in Orlando for about 3 years as a child, and had a few day trips during that time.
Date of first trip: February 2007, The Husband Unit and I were 28 and I was pregnant with our first daughter.
Date of next trip: Undecided, sometime in 2017 I hope!
# of Resorts stayed in: Five (Pop, Art of Animation, All Star Music, French Quarter, Caribbean Beach ... my top 3 of these are AoA, French Quarter, and Pop)
Usual # in your travel party: 4 or 5, we had a neighbor friend who has come with us twice, but we have moved away from her now. :(
Pairs of mouse ears in your cottage: 3 headband ears, 4 or 5 ear hats.
WDW or Disneyland (or other)? I have never been to Disneyland :(
How do you usually travel to Disney? We have driven twice and flown twice. I prefer to fly!
Do you have any tips for trips? Don't try to plan every moment of your trip. Sometimes the best memories are ones that happen spontaneously.
Do you have a favorite place to eat while in Disney? I love the Rose and Crown at Epcot, and Wolfgang Puck's Express at Disney Springs. There are many table dining locations we have not experienced yet. We usually have the Quick Service dining plan.
What is your absolute DON'T MISS attraction? Magic Kingdom is my favorite park, so all my favorites just happen to be there. My top 3 rides are Peter Pan's Flight, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and oddly enough, the People Mover. I could ride the People Mover all day. Some people think it's boring, but I find it relaxing and enjoy the vantage point of the park from the elevated track.
My don't miss attractions for other parks: In Epcot I love Test Track and SOARIN (although I have not experienced the new revamped SOARIN), and I enjoy the hydroponic tour ride at Living with the Land. At Hollywood Studios I enjoy Toy Story Mania, and the Rockin Roller Coaster, and the Little Mermaid show. At Animal Kingdom I love the Kilimanjaro Safaris, the Finding Nemo show, and the Kali River Rapids.
Stage shows, yes or no?
Parades, yes or no? For both of these, it depends on crowds and weather. If we are able get to a parade or stage show early with a good vantage point, we will. We really play it by ear. If the parks are crowded or the weather is hot, we avoid parades and try to stay on the move and hit more ride attractions. Indoor stage shows are a great way to escape the heat. If crowds are lighter and weather is mild, we might slow down to watch a parade or outdoor stage show. We try to attend a fireworks show at least twice during our vacation, often more.
Best Fast Pass to get: SOARIN, Mine Train, Toy Story Mania.
Favorite park: Magic Kingdom!
One piece of advice you'd give a novice about WDW/DL: Don't try to see and do EVERYTHING, it's impossible. Make a list of your must-do attractions, and prioritize. Also, be prepared for the unexpected, and try not to be too bummed at the end of your trip if something didn't happen. Remember that you were at DISNEY WORLD and your trip was probably pretty amazing even if you didn't see that one show or ride that one ride.
How do you create extra magic for your family: I casually shop around for months ahead of time gathering little Disney-themed trinkets from clearance sales and dollar stores. I pack them in a secret bag to give my girls gifts throughout our vacation, and also have left "Mickey Mail" in our resort room for them to find. This saves on spending big bucks on park souvenirs. Each family member has a gift card to spend on a few special items in the parks.