Hey everyone,
It has been a long time since I have posted a blog here! It has been a somewhat stressful year, went through some job changes and completely ran myself ragged between work and volunteering, so much that my health was compromised. I took a step back from many things in life, unfortunately this was one of them. I have since made things more stable and am progressing back into the things I am passionate about, and Disney is one thing I am very passionate about.
Together my wife and I have teamed up and started a blog together! We have started Exploring The Kingdom and our blog can be found at explorethekingdom.blogspot.ca! We have started an Instagram account posting pictures from our three previous Walt Disney World trips! (instagram.com/exploringthekingdom). Please check them out and share our love of Disney!
2015 was a pretty up and down year, I really missed Disney World as we did not get there this year. I really missed the pin trading. But throughout the year both myself and Alice have worked really hard and we are happy to be returning to Disney World in January 2016! I have dusted off the pin collection and ordered some more for trading. I look forward to escaping the cold Canadian winter again and head to sunny Florida!
So please join us as we are driving this year to Disney and will be videoing our travels and time at Disney World.
Stay tuned for more!
Happy Trading
-The Pin Boys
Showing posts with label Disney Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Disney Travel. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Disney Planning: Choosing your Carry On Part 2
Hi Friends,
If you missed part 1, the link below will take you there, when you are all caught up, come back to part 2.
Link to part 1
In part 1 we talked about traveling without checked luggage. We gave you suggestions on suitcases and backpacks. In part 2 we are going to talk about overnight bags and purses.
Will you be checking in a bag and taking a carry on bag?
If you have decided you needed a carry on and a checked bag to make your trip that much easier, don't worry you are not alone, on each of our Disney trips, we each have packed a carry on and a checked bag.
Overnight Bag
Overnight bags are the broadest category of bags. They can be anything from a duffel bag to a messenger bag, pretty much everything between a suitcase and a purse. At the airport or even when you search online for carry on bags, there are so many options, I am going to show you the two that I have tried and really liked. The first up is the LUG Puddle Jumper, this one ranks number two on my list because if you keep the carry on under your seat, it has to go on it's side. The second bag is the LUG Hula Hoop, this is my favorite carry on bag, I used it on our last trip to Walt Disney World, and I will be using it on our trip back there in January. It fits every I need and it fits under the seat with room to spare. Both bags are pictured below, Puddle Jumper in red and Hula Hoop in black.
Purses
Sorry guys this category doesn't really apply to you. I like having a small purse to keep all my important papers and documents together. Purses are a very broad category, each women has her own preference. I'm not sharing a LUG bag again, first I am going to show you a new one that I have picked up. It's a Baggallini Everything Bagg (I'm thinking this is going to be a great park bag, but I will let you guys know after I get back from the trip). The second bag from Walmart, I'm using it as my second carry on item this trip (normally I only use one), it will fit my wallet, book, pillow, and still fit under the seat. Both bags are featured below:
If you missed part 1, the link below will take you there, when you are all caught up, come back to part 2.
Link to part 1
In part 1 we talked about traveling without checked luggage. We gave you suggestions on suitcases and backpacks. In part 2 we are going to talk about overnight bags and purses.
Will you be checking in a bag and taking a carry on bag?
If you have decided you needed a carry on and a checked bag to make your trip that much easier, don't worry you are not alone, on each of our Disney trips, we each have packed a carry on and a checked bag.
Overnight Bag
Overnight bags are the broadest category of bags. They can be anything from a duffel bag to a messenger bag, pretty much everything between a suitcase and a purse. At the airport or even when you search online for carry on bags, there are so many options, I am going to show you the two that I have tried and really liked. The first up is the LUG Puddle Jumper, this one ranks number two on my list because if you keep the carry on under your seat, it has to go on it's side. The second bag is the LUG Hula Hoop, this is my favorite carry on bag, I used it on our last trip to Walt Disney World, and I will be using it on our trip back there in January. It fits every I need and it fits under the seat with room to spare. Both bags are pictured below, Puddle Jumper in red and Hula Hoop in black.
 |
| Photo credit of luglife.com |
 |
| Photo credit of luglife.com |
Purses
Sorry guys this category doesn't really apply to you. I like having a small purse to keep all my important papers and documents together. Purses are a very broad category, each women has her own preference. I'm not sharing a LUG bag again, first I am going to show you a new one that I have picked up. It's a Baggallini Everything Bagg (I'm thinking this is going to be a great park bag, but I will let you guys know after I get back from the trip). The second bag from Walmart, I'm using it as my second carry on item this trip (normally I only use one), it will fit my wallet, book, pillow, and still fit under the seat. Both bags are featured below:
 |
| Photo credit of baggallini.com |
 |
| Photo credit of walmart.ca |
I
hope this helped you guys with your carry on choices, pretty much any
bag you use will be great. If you have some great suggestions for other
carry on bags, feel free to leave me a comment below.
See you later
-Alice
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Disney Planning: Choosing your Carry On Part 1
Hi Friends,
When it comes to carry on's you have endless possibilities. There are four main types of bags, a suitcase, a backpack, an overnight bag, and a purse.You have to ask yourself a few key questions to figure out what is the right carry on for you:
Is your carry on the only bag you are taking?
If you are only taking carry on luggage, then you are going to want a bigger bag. Refer to your airlines carry on restrictions to know the size and how many bags you are able to take with you. Some airlines allow you to carry on more than one bag, but some might charge for them.
Suitcase
Suitcases give you the most amount of space. For the most part they are very basic, when you add your own organizational tools inside, like packing cubes or compression bags, you can really make it your own. To the right is a cool example of a suitcase with built in organization.
Backpack
Another great option is using a backpack. My husband likes the idea of being hands free. You can fit a lot in a backpack and the weight becomes more distributed. I absolutely adore LUG brand bags! There is so much organization in each one, in my blogs you will hear a lot about LUG bags. Below is the bag I bought for my husband, he hasn't used it yet, but I will give feedback on it when he does.
I hope you enjoyed part 1, look for part 2 where we talk about overnight bags and purses.
When it comes to carry on's you have endless possibilities. There are four main types of bags, a suitcase, a backpack, an overnight bag, and a purse.You have to ask yourself a few key questions to figure out what is the right carry on for you:
Is your carry on the only bag you are taking?
If you are only taking carry on luggage, then you are going to want a bigger bag. Refer to your airlines carry on restrictions to know the size and how many bags you are able to take with you. Some airlines allow you to carry on more than one bag, but some might charge for them.
 |
| Photo credit of Skyroll.com |
Suitcases give you the most amount of space. For the most part they are very basic, when you add your own organizational tools inside, like packing cubes or compression bags, you can really make it your own. To the right is a cool example of a suitcase with built in organization.
Backpack
Another great option is using a backpack. My husband likes the idea of being hands free. You can fit a lot in a backpack and the weight becomes more distributed. I absolutely adore LUG brand bags! There is so much organization in each one, in my blogs you will hear a lot about LUG bags. Below is the bag I bought for my husband, he hasn't used it yet, but I will give feedback on it when he does.
 |
| Photo credit of luglife.com |
I hope you enjoyed part 1, look for part 2 where we talk about overnight bags and purses.
See you next time
-Alice
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Disney World Planning: Arriving at your Reserved Time
Hi Friends,
When
you finally arrive at your vacation and it's time for your sit down
meals there is still a bit to know. You may have made a reservation but
that does not mean they are saving a table for you. It means that your
name is on the list and it's been holding your place in line. When the
next available table opens up you will be seated. This can be as quick
as 2 minutes but at busier restaurants or at busier times it can be an
hour of waiting. Due to this fact, make sure you don't have anything big
planned after your dinner reservations.
If you have decided to do a sit down character restaurant, there are a few things you will want to bring along with you.
If you have decided to do a sit down character restaurant, there are a few things you will want to bring along with you.
- Costume (Young children only)
- Autograph Book
- Camera
- Your appetite!
See you next time
-Alice
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Disney World Planning: Making your ADR's
Hi Friends,
Now that you have picked the restaurants for your upcoming trip, you will want to book as close to the 180 day mark from your vacation date. Sometimes it's not possible to book at the 180 day mark, but the earliest you can book, the better. The practice of booking so far in advance is becoming more and more necessary with the popularity of the Disney dining plan.
Just a few days ago I had a friend tell me he couldn't get into the Be Our Guest restaurant on an upcoming trip because it was already full. Now I'm not saying that this is the case always, I mean I've been in some restaurants that have been fairly empty but the popular restaurants do full up quickly.
You have 2 options for booking your ADR'S:
1. Book online, sign into your Disney world account and follow the steps under make a dining reservation. (Under the what to eat heading) You will get a conformation number, make sure you write it down.
2. Call Disney worlds dining reservation number and talk to a wonderful Disney cast member who can book them as you chat. You will get a conformation number, make sure you write it down.
My husband and I have booked both ways and they both have their pros and cons:
Online
Pro: You can book at your own pace
Pro: Access to the restaurants basic information and sometimes menu's
Con: You can have computer, internet, or website issues that may delay booking
Con: You don't have access to all of the available times
Phone
Pro: You can talk directly to a Disney Cast Members who have access to all available times
Pro: Disney Cast Members are able to trouble shoot any issues you have with restaurants
Pro: You tell the Cast Member what you want and they do their best to accommodate your needs
Con: You may have to wait on hold if the Disney Cast Members are busy
Con: It takes time and sometimes money (if you don't have a long distance plan) to call and go through several reservations
Hopefully this helps with making your dining reservations through Disney. I will be back next time to explain what to do with your reservation numbers once you get them. Have a magical night!
Now that you have picked the restaurants for your upcoming trip, you will want to book as close to the 180 day mark from your vacation date. Sometimes it's not possible to book at the 180 day mark, but the earliest you can book, the better. The practice of booking so far in advance is becoming more and more necessary with the popularity of the Disney dining plan.
Just a few days ago I had a friend tell me he couldn't get into the Be Our Guest restaurant on an upcoming trip because it was already full. Now I'm not saying that this is the case always, I mean I've been in some restaurants that have been fairly empty but the popular restaurants do full up quickly.
You have 2 options for booking your ADR'S:
1. Book online, sign into your Disney world account and follow the steps under make a dining reservation. (Under the what to eat heading) You will get a conformation number, make sure you write it down.
2. Call Disney worlds dining reservation number and talk to a wonderful Disney cast member who can book them as you chat. You will get a conformation number, make sure you write it down.
My husband and I have booked both ways and they both have their pros and cons:
Online
Pro: You can book at your own pace
Pro: Access to the restaurants basic information and sometimes menu's
Con: You can have computer, internet, or website issues that may delay booking
Con: You don't have access to all of the available times
Phone
Pro: You can talk directly to a Disney Cast Members who have access to all available times
Pro: Disney Cast Members are able to trouble shoot any issues you have with restaurants
Pro: You tell the Cast Member what you want and they do their best to accommodate your needs
Con: You may have to wait on hold if the Disney Cast Members are busy
Con: It takes time and sometimes money (if you don't have a long distance plan) to call and go through several reservations
Hopefully this helps with making your dining reservations through Disney. I will be back next time to explain what to do with your reservation numbers once you get them. Have a magical night!
-Alyssa
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Disney World Planning: Picking your Restaurants
Hi friends,
So you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World, and today is the 180 day mark before your trip. That means, today you could start booking ADR'S or advance dining reservations.
So you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World, and today is the 180 day mark before your trip. That means, today you could start booking ADR'S or advance dining reservations.
It is a very exciting thing to be able to book your restaurants, but with 139 restaurants at Walt Disney World (74 of them are available for advanced dining reservations) it can seem like a tall task to know which ones are right for you and your family. It is important to find places that everyone can agree upon, so if you have picky eaters in the group, it might be best to keep it simple. I
say do your research and pick restaurants that look interesting to you
and your family. I mean if your family hates fish the Coral Reef might
not be the best choice.
There were 3 websites that helped me in understanding what was offered in each restaurant and ultimately helped us pick our restaurants:
1. Of course I mention the Disney world official website: www.disneyworld.disney.go.com
2. www.wdwinfo.com
3. www.disneyfoodblog.com
On our last trip to Walt Disney World, we managed to eat at these restaurants:
There were 3 websites that helped me in understanding what was offered in each restaurant and ultimately helped us pick our restaurants:
1. Of course I mention the Disney world official website: www.disneyworld.disney.go.com
2. www.wdwinfo.com
3. www.disneyfoodblog.com
On our last trip to Walt Disney World, we managed to eat at these restaurants:
- Via Naploi
- Coral Reef
- Chef Mickeys
- Be Our Guest
- Tony's Town Square
- Crystal Palace
- Planet Hollywood
- Rainforest Cafe
- Beaches N' Cream
- Tusker House
- Cinderella's Royal Table
We tried quite a few new restaurants on our last trip. We made new favorites and ate at some we will probably never return to. Beaches N' Cream became our favorite dinner restaurant, as the ice cream was the best we had in all of Disney World.
There are so many restaurants in Disney World to try, so get out there and try a new one!
There are so many restaurants in Disney World to try, so get out there and try a new one!
-Alice
Monday, August 11, 2014
I'm Back!
Hey everyone!
I apologize for not posting in awhile, I have taken a bit of a hiatus for the past month and a half. I have been working and volunteering, and yes, I have been daydreaming of being in Disney World. It has been a busy summer, complete with ups and downs.
My wife and I have decided this summer we wont be making it back to Disney World this January (insert sad face). But overall we try to just focus on the positive things, the city we live in is getting a Disney Store again, and we are excited to be able to get Disney things so close to home again. We were able to acquire some cool pins from the Disney Movie Rewards and Disney Movie Club.
But apart of the hiatus has allowed me to look deeper into the direction of this blog. Together my wife and myself have determined the best goal for both of our blogs is to join together. So my wife is becoming an author of The Pin Boys, and will bring in some great insight on traveling to Walt Disney World and Disneyland. We both are excited to show our passion and excitement of Disney. Stay tuned for great things to come!
I apologize for not posting in awhile, I have taken a bit of a hiatus for the past month and a half. I have been working and volunteering, and yes, I have been daydreaming of being in Disney World. It has been a busy summer, complete with ups and downs.
My wife and I have decided this summer we wont be making it back to Disney World this January (insert sad face). But overall we try to just focus on the positive things, the city we live in is getting a Disney Store again, and we are excited to be able to get Disney things so close to home again. We were able to acquire some cool pins from the Disney Movie Rewards and Disney Movie Club.
But apart of the hiatus has allowed me to look deeper into the direction of this blog. Together my wife and myself have determined the best goal for both of our blogs is to join together. So my wife is becoming an author of The Pin Boys, and will bring in some great insight on traveling to Walt Disney World and Disneyland. We both are excited to show our passion and excitement of Disney. Stay tuned for great things to come!
Live, laugh and believe.
The Pin Boys
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