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Visiting Disneyland with Diabetes ~ By Linda Myers of Up and Up Travel

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Visiting Disneyland with Diabetes ~ By Linda Myers

Linda Myers is a writer for Up and Up Travel, a Disney travel agency for families and groups of disabilities and special needs.

Traveling with diabetes is much like living with diabetes on a daily basis: It requires common sense and sufficient planning.
The most important factor in optimizing your experience at Disneyland while coping with your diabetes, as well as that of a child or companion, is to adjust your itinerary to fit the demands of your routine — and not the other way around.
From making sure you have all the supplies you’ll need for any contingency to knowing where to go if your blood sugar does get to low, there are steps you can take to make your trip a breeze. Your planning, combined with the services offered by Disneyland, will ensure that you’ll have all of your bases covered before you hit your first attraction.

familydisney-upanduptravelDiabetes and Disneyland: Tips for Your Trip

1. Do your best to stick to your routine. When it comes to traveling, it’s critical to expect the unexpected. From delayed flights to lost luggage and taxis that never arrive, the plain truth is that anything can and does happen. As such, you’ll need to keep your basic necessities with you at all times. If your travel takes you across time zones, make sure that medications, including insulin pumps, are adjusted accordingly.

2. Lack of activity can affect blood sugar, so if your trip requires that you sit or walk around for extended periods, be sure that you are able to test your blood sugar and adjust accordingly. Sitting for long periods can raise blood glucose levels, while a lot of walking can do the opposite.

3. One of the most difficult aspects of travel for all of us is managing what we eat. We simply have much less control of our dietary options while on the road, so it’s essential to check blood glucose levels before and after you eat. Additionally, a little research into at least some of the dining options you’ll have at your destination could both provide insight and increase your comfort level.

4. Have a discussion with your doctor about your trip to Disneyland, as he or she can help you devise a plan for what to do if your blood sugar becomes too high or too low. Having a doctor’s note on hand is also a good idea, especially if you’re traveling by plane and need to carry your supplies, which may include syringes, onboard.

5. Bring some snacks and backup supplies in case an insulin pump fails, or some of your medication is compromised. Be sure that your lodgings offer a refrigerator for insulin and other supplies that may need to be kept cool.

How Disneyland Can Help

1. Disneyland offers a lot in the way of dietary accommodations, and it allows guests with allergies and, or, special dietary needs to bring food into the park.

2. Disneyland offers First-Aid stations that you can easily utilize if you need to make changes or adjustments to an insulin pump, use or dispose of syringes, or get some help in the case of an emergency.

3. If your diabetes prevents you from standing in lines for long periods of time, consider using the FASTPASS option, which allows you to schedule a time to ride an attraction. In extreme cases, you may also be eligible for a Disability Access Service Card, though this is typically reserved for the cognitively disabled. Eligibility is determined by staff on site at the Guest Relations station.

Like living with diabetes, traveling with diabetes can be a wonderful and rewarding adventure. With practical foresight and planning that encompasses potential requirements, Disneyland can be exciting for you and for your whole group. The park goes a long way in accommodation a vast array of visitors, which includes those with health challenges that might otherwise keep them at home. If visiting Disneyland is on your to-do list, take advantage of all of the wonderful tools at your disposal and start planning your big adventure today.

Linda Myers is a writer for Up and Up Travel, a Disney travel agency for families and groups of disabilities and special needs.

As to Disney artwork, logos and properties: © – Disney

Five things that you need to know in preparation of running your first RunDisney marathon ~ By Jason Rowe

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 Five things that you need to know in preparation of running your first RunDisney marathon By Jason Rowe of Man of the Mouse

jasonrowe

Before I decided to run in my first RunDisney marathon, I made a decision to do a little fact finding for myself. I have done several marathons before, so a lot of the information that I gathered was the same. The one message that rang clear from everyone was that it’s exciting and you will love it.

You hopefully will have plenty of time to prepare and stress about your run. When the excitement of your first RunDisney event settles down, make sure that during your preparation, you focus on these five key specifics.

rundisney1. Think about your activities prior to the marathon

I have often felt fatigued after a long day of travel, in and out of airports, be aware of what your body is telling you and the affect that travel may have. You may want to think twice about heading straight to a park and standing in lines all day can be very tiresome. Give yourself a day to adjust, there will be plenty of time for fun after your marathon. This leads me to nutrition. Eating Mickey Bars or Dole Whips could lead you to a bad outcome on race day. Celebrate your accomplishment with a tasty treat afterwards.

2. Plan for the weather

Know that the climate is going to be different in Florida or California than in your home state. Humidity differences are the silent demise for a lot of runners. This could prevent you from reaching the finish line and collecting that precious piece of hardware. Try varying your runs in different temperatures depending on the month of your marathon.

3. Take a moment to enjoy your surroundings

One thing that I have been told to prepare for and that is the many photo opportunities along the route of the marathon. Unlike most marathons around the country, you will be running through the parks, where you are sure to see characters and back lot items. You will have opportunities to take pictures with characters. Remember you paid a considerable amount of money to participate, sometimes it is not all about making your personal best time, but more about the experience. Enjoy Yourself!

4. Start Lines and Wake Up Times

There is a considerable difference in locations for this one. Disneyland is much smaller unlike Walt Disney World. Keep this in mind when determining which events to pick. This is also a good thing to keep in mind when determining how much sleep to get the night before. You do not want to get to the start line after the start of the race. Plan accordingly, you will need to plan on getting up early, taking a shuttle to the start line, and preparing for the big moment. At Disneyland, everything is close and within walking distance, whereas as Walt Disney World, you will need to shuttle between your resort and whatever park the race starts at.

5. Bring your smartphone

This is an area where I have done a bit more research. There are photographers positioned on parts of the course. They will take your picture, but there may be a wait time to get those pictures. There is almost always a cost associated with these professional photos as well. I have waited as long as 2-3 weeks for a professional photo to arrive, due to the number of racers in attendance.
Take your smartphone with you. Get that selfie with Goofy so that you can send to all of your friends after the race.
This should be a given if you are using a smartphone app to keep track of your run or if you are listening to music along the run. This is often times discouraged during most marathons, but not forbidden. The reason most marathons say no to headphones, is so that you can hear directions along the course.

I look forward to completing my first RunDisney event. If you are training now for a future event, I wish you nothing but the best of luck in you’re training for your magical race(s).

Guest blog post written by Jason Rowe of Man of the Mouse

 

 

 

My Commitment to Walt’s Dream ~ By Marlene Patrick

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My commitment is to fulfill on Walt Disney’s dream — that all families that walk through the gates of his theme parks or board his ships have what’s needed to share an amazing experience as a family. I work with you to plan your stay, your dining, your itineraries, and am available to answer questions before/during and after your vacation. Whatever your Disney dream destination is, I will make it a reality. Please contact me at Marlene@GlassSlipperConcierge.com or call 407-559-1096 Facebook Website

Who Needs To Plan For a Trip to WDW? ~ By Guest Author Matthew Wallace

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Who Needs To Plan For a Trip to WDW? ~ By Guest Author Matthew Wallace

goofyquestion

One of the most asked questions I get from people is “do I really need to plan for a trip to Walt Disney World?”  In a quick answer, yes!  Let’s explore this a little deeper, because while the answer is ‘yes’, there are different levels of planning.

The first type of planner to look at is the Uber-Planner!  This is the person who has to have EVERYTHING planned to the second!  They may begin their initial planning anywhere between one and two years in advance of their trip.  They begin looking at dates, figuring out potential resorts, looking at crowd calendars just to get an ‘idea’ of what the next trip could look like.  They will probably even make the initial resort reservation to make it real!  At the one year mark, they will refine their crowd numbers, and begin planning meals, parks, and attractions for each day.  There will be little room for changes, as long as Disney World doesn’t mess things up with their scheduling.

The second type is what I like to call the thumbnail sketch planner!  This person just wants to know a few of the basics!  They will look at when to travel, where to stay, and basic days in parks.  They may book the three allowed Fastpass+s they are allowed per day, but not really go much beyond that stage in their planning.  Meals will likely be just quick service, or a potential walk up, on the fly.  And, the remainder of each day will be relaxed, and allow time to take in some of the detail.  They may even take some time to search out a Hidden Mickey or two!

Finally, we have the ”I don’t need a plan” planner!  They may book a room three months out, put together one or two special meals, if they want them.  But, otherwise, there is no specific plan to their trip.  This planner may choose to not use Fastpass in any form!  They may choose to just walk-on as many rides and attractions as they can in a completely open daytime schedule.  They will catch a meal if they are hungry, with no plans as to where or when!  And, there may even be days when they choose NOT to go to a park and just make use of the resort amenities.

So, what kind of planner do YOU need to be?  It really depends on the needs of you and your family!  Special events at WDW require advanced planning.  And, the farther out, the better chances you have of making that event special!  Remember, Advanced Dining Reservations (including tours, dessert parties, etc.) open up at or about the 180 day point.  If you are wanting to do any Character Dining in the parks, this is very important to remember!  And, as a reminder, if you are staying at a Disney-Owned Resort, you can make your dining reservations at 180 plus 10 days into your vacation.

There are a lot of online tools that can help you, regardless of the type of planner you might be.  And, we will explore those tools next time!

 nowayjose

About the Author:

MWMatthew Wallace is a Disney World fan from Ohio, and has been crazy about the place since his first visit on October 2, 1982!  In the four years following, he made a total of eight visits, and deepened his love for The Magic Kingdom and EPCOT Center parks.  The years that followed brought challenges to making too many more visits for awhile.  Then, in February 2012, he returned with his family for a new first, seeing the wonders of Walt Disney World through the eyes of his children, and wife.

During that visit, two of his daughters have caught the bug and want to visit The Vacation Kingdom, as often as possible!  As a family, they made another trip in December 2013.  And, there is currently a trip planned for September 2015! (Hoping for some Food and Wine!)

Matthew is also the owner of the threestrandswdw online blog that can be found at: www.threestrandswdw.com.

A Disney Girl In Orlando Reviews the Second Annual Disney Parks Podcast Monorail Crawl

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Beatrice Feeney moved to the Orlando area to be closer to the magic of Disney. She is thankful for the amazing opportunities to be enchanted by new Disney experiences all the time and happy to share her experiences through her Facebook page, Twitter and on her Blog – fittingly named “A Disney Girl in Orlando.”

Check out her review of the 2nd annual Disney Parks Podcast Monorail Crawl held on August 24, 2014!

A Disney Girl In Orlando Reviews the Second Annual Disney Parks Podcast Monorail Crawl – By Beatrice Feeney

monorail crawl contemporary

Well, after having a wonderful time last year at the Monorail Crawl, I was very excited when I heard the date for this year and I put it on my calendar immediately in hopes of being there!  We met at The Contemporary Resort’s Outer Rim Lounge…and we love to take a photo at every stop as people can’t always make it to the entire event.  Tony and Krista do such a wonderful job with their meetups.  They always have a nice goody bag for each person who attends.

The goody bags for this meetup were sponsored by My Fantasy Bands Decals and Little Keiki Bou-Tiki – Custom Crafted Clothing & Accessories for Children.

There were also lots of other prizes that Tony and Krista donated from their own prize closets! There were tons of giveaways from shirts to books.  I personally won a D23 Guide Book from 2013 with a map of Disneyland – which was especially awesome due to “SPECIAL GUESTS” that arrived on the final leg of our meetup. The special guests actually autographed my book.

prizes

Our 2nd stop along the crawl was at Disney’s Polynesian Resort.  We picked up extra friends along the way, but as you can see the drink of our group was the “Lapu Lapu” —  or as we enjoyed referring to it as the “Loopy Loopy” because if you drank too many, it would make you Loopy Loopy! 

Lapu

We had tons of fun with our new friends along the crawl and there seem to be lots of great pop up Disney scenes on the walls that make great photo opportunities.  We Google Searched the meaning of “E Komo Mai” and it means “WELCOME” –  so we were very welcome at our spot for the “Poly” part to our visit. 

poly

A the time, we did not know that  Tim O’Day, (notable Host and Presenter for Disney D 23 & DVC Events, +  more!) was going to join us at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort’s Mizer’s Lounge…and our final stop along the journey…and he and he also invited Mindy Johnson. 

grandfloridian

Mindy Johnson  just wrote a new Tinker Bell Book, and she was about to board the DVC Members Cruise that sailed the very next morning. Mindy will also have a special book signing at The Art of Disney at Downtown Disney Orlando on Friday, August 29th from 3-4pm.  I encourage you to look up Mindy’s book:  “Tinker Bell:  An Evolution a Full Biography About the Fairy”

We were amazed by stories from Tim and Mindy until the end of the meetup.  It seemed as if a FABULOUS time was had by all…and we look forward to seeing YOU next time for our Disney Parks Podcast Annual Monorail Crawl!Beatrice Feeney moved to the Orlando area to be closer to the magic of Disney. She is thankful for the amazing opportunities to be enchanted by new Disney experiences all the time and happy to share her experiences through her Facebook page, Twitter and on her Blog – fittingly named “A Disney Girl in Orlando.”

 

Disney Parks Podcast – Show #144 Notes and Disney News

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show144

 

 

Listen to the Episode Below (0:55:23)

 

monorail crawl – Saturday, August 23at we will begin at Outer Rim 7:00pm ….Thanks to our sponsors of the goodie bags MyFantasyBands.com

Started a blog (looking for contributors? email us Disneyparkspodcast@gmail.com if you’d be interested – you can link to your own blog/travel agent site)

Click the record button and let us know your favorite character, you MUST enter your email address to be entered to wine 1 My Fantasy Magic Band and the Grumpy Coffee mug. Contest Ends 8/20/2014 and 1 Winner be chosen at random

Now to kick of the news: Here’s a quick Randy Recommends tip from Disneyland in California. find randy at faithandthemagickingdom.com

World of Color is the nighttime spectacular at Disney California Adventure park, and is a definite must-do when visiting the Disneyland Resort. Pretty much the only way to see it involves having a reserved space. That can be done by getting a FastPass in the morning, which will give you access to the viewing area beginning about an hour and a half before the scheduled show time, but if you want a good view, you need to line up at least 45 minutes before that. Between lining up, waiting in the viewing area, and seeing the show, that’s at least 2 hours out of your day, probably 2 and a half!

If you want to spend less time waiting and get a better view, book a World of Color Dining Package. Especially if you’re planning to eat at a table service restaurant anyway, this is great way to have that meal and get reserved viewing in the Premium viewing area. And because there aren’t as many of those as there are for the other sections, you can easily show up 30-45 minutes before the show, not 2 hours before! The 3 participating restaurants are Ariel’s Grotto, Carthay Circle Restaurant, and Wine Country Trattoria. Prices vary a bit by location, and advance reservations are highly recommended and can be made up to 60 days prior to your visit.

The World of Color Dining Package is a great way to get the best possible viewing area for the show and have an extra 2 hours or so in your day for other fun instead of standing around!

For your Disney Inspired MagicBand covers contact Myfantasybands.com
When fabric covers are bulky, and rubber charms pop off, be a trendsetter – and enjoy these gorgeous matte-finish decals that stay put! Free shipping is always included! Check out my fantasy bands.com and Type in DP Podcast 15 at checkout for a 15% discount! Our thanks to the sponsor of this episode – my fantasy bands dot com

friends of the podcast

newsletter – contest
Guardian of the galaxy review
Rated PG13

Monday Sept 15th 7pm google hangout

youtube https://www.youtube.com/user/DisneyPKPodcast

Email us at DisneyParksPodcast@gmail.com with the name of your favorite Disney character! One listener will win a free My Fantasy Band Decal!

Disneyland Paris!! @thatdisneylover – Laura loves going into the side arcades by Main-Street when it’s raining and cold, the real gas lamps heat up the corridors perfectly during the winter months, and provide good shelter for those rainy days. Also most of the restaurants and the boutiques are attached to the arcades, so you can do some shopping, eat some food and also use the facilities of an ATM or bathroom all without leaving to walk in the rain! Also, try and use the Arcades after the night time show Disney Dreams! for a more quick way out of the park than walking up MainStreet.

Beginning Aug. 12, 2014, Guests with both a MagicBand and a linked Memory Maker entitlement who ride The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® will find a video memento of their 13-story drop automatically associated to their My Disney Experience account.
The Attraction video will be available only to Guests who have purchased Memory Maker and have linked their Memory Maker entitlement and MagicBand to their My Disney Experience account.
Guests with a linked Memory Maker entitlement also will be able to view and download the videos of their linked Family & Friends and Managed Guests that also have MagicBands.

With the Nanea Volcano Pool closed for refurbishment, guests at Disney’s Polynesian Resorthave been given open access to one of the Walt Disney World waterparks.
Initial communications from Disney indicated that Polynesian Resort guests would receive complimentary single-day access to Disney’s Blizzard Beach waterpark. Lukewarm response from the general public apparently prompted Disney to re-evaluate that offer.
During the pool refurbishment, Polynesian guests will receive free access to Blizzard Beachthroughout their hotel stay. Access includes dedicated bus transportation between thePolynesian and Blizzard Beach, a dedicated entrance gate and complimentary towel rentals.
Additionally, all Polynesian guests purchasing refillable beverage mugs can refill those mugs at Blizzard Beach. Complimentary beverage refills are normally restricted to resort drink dispensers.
Later this year when Blizzard Beach closes for its annual refurbishment, Polynesian guests will be granted free access toDisney’s Typhoon Lagoon.
The during renovations to the Nanea Volcano Pool, the resort quiet pool remains open for guest use. Polynesian guests are not permitted to “hop” to pools at neighboring resorts.
Work on the main pool is scheduled to run into the spring of 2015.
Reports indicate that all 20 bungalows will receive a private “plunge pool.” Plunge pools typically have capacities comparable to a residential hot tub, but with a greater depth.
The pools will reportedly be installed on the lagoon side of the bungalows, serving as a prime viewing location for Magic Kingdom fireworks, Electrical Water Pageant and other activities on the Seven Seas Lagoon.
The Polynesian bungalows would be the first Disney Vacation Club accommodation to feature any sort of private pool. The villas are scheduled to open sometime in 2015.

Disney’s “Alice In Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass” begins principal photography this week, featuring an award-winning production team and all-star ensemble cast, Shooting on location and at Shepperton Studios in England, the film is slated for release on May 27, 2016.

The all-star ensemble cast includes:
Johnny Depp returns to the big screen as the Mad Hatter—Hatter Tarrant Hightopp.
Anne Hathaway portrays the White Queen—Mirana.
Mia Wasikowska once again appears as Alice Kingsleigh, who’s on a quest to help the Mad Hatter.
Helena Bonham Carter returns as the Red Queen—Iracebeth.
·Rhys Ifans fills the shoes of Zanik Hightopp, the Mad Hatter’s father.
·Matt Lucas returns to the revelry in a dual role as Tweedledee and Tweedledum.
Ed Speleers portrays James Harcourt in the film.
Sacha Baron Cohen was called on to bring Time to the big screen.

SHOUT OUT AND THANK YOU TO CHERYL FROM QuickandDirtyTips.com/mighty-mommy — she recently did a podcast and wrote a blog about her 5 tips for planning a magical disney vacation and she mentioned the disney parks podcast as well as Disneyways.com as a great way to familiarize yourself with the parks before your trip! We will put a link her post in the show notes – Thank you Cheryl! http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/parenting/family-time/5-tips-for-planning-a-magical-disney-vacation

Also thanks to Berry and Gary of the home based travel agent podcast for having me on as a guest.

KRISTA TALKS ABOUT First visit to DISNEYLAND

Infotainment
Top 10 Things to Pack In Your Disney Park Bag – the one you’ll bring with you for your day in the park

from the hong kong disneyland site — What should I bring with me when I visit Hong Kong Disneyland?
Hong Kong Disneyland enjoys a warm climate. Be sure to bring light clothing and sunscreen and an umbrella or parasol. Be prepared for the unexpected by packing appropriate clothing in case things get wet. Remember: You can stow what you don’t want to carry in the lockers located in Main Street, U.S.A.

  • camera
  • tripod – lightweight
  • hand sanitizer
  • refillable water bottle
  • battery power
  • chargers cords, cables
  • extra batteries
  • hat
  • umbrella or poncho
  • sunscreen
  • sunglasses
  • back pack or murse, or cargo shorts
  • pins, autograph book, vinylmation
  • snacks for kids
  • wpies – diaper or to wipe hands
  • watch
  • medicine
  • money, gift cards
  • cell phone
  • jacket or sweater during winter
  • ziploc bag to keep your phone in during the water rides
Listen to the Episode Below (0:55:23)