Introducing my Disney Grand Adventure co-adventurers

/

My Disney Grand Adventure wasn't only about experiencing the sights and sounds, thrills, chills, and spills of Walt Disney World with my daughter and grandsons. No, it was about work. My work as a member of the media.

I was joined on the work portion of the adventure — if you can call touring Walt Disney World resorts work — by a great group of gals. I spent nearly as much time with my media co-adventurers as I did my family, and I couldn't have been included with a better bunch of bloggers, writers, media mavens. They were funny, generous, interesting, inspiring, supportive, worth getting to know, worth following.

I'd like to introduce them to you.

Disney Grand Adventure media 

From left to right in our one and only group photo, taken on the grand stairs of...

Read More

Masterpieces for Mickey Mouse, plus GRAND Social No. 193 link party for grandparents

/

Masterpieces for Mickey Mouse

My four-year-old grandson, Mac, (who would correct me if reading this, pointing out he's  actually four and a half!) was pleased as could be that our villa at Walt Disney World included art supplies. Meaning, the typical pad of paper and pen one might typically find in a hotel room.

To Mac, that pad and pen were perfect tools for creating masterpieces he could hand off to Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and others we might run into on our Disney Grand Adventure. Unfortunately, Mac forgot to put his pics in his pocket the day we actually met Mickey, and the days he did remember, we had no luck in crossing paths with characters.

So I told Mac I'd take home his masterpieces for Mickey and the gang and post them in spots his Disney pals may see them. The renderings originally featured the artist's signature, Mac's real name, but in the name of online safety for my sweetie, I removed them. All the same, though, these are for you, Mickey, Minnie and more — from Mac, whose bloggy name must suffice.

drawing of Mickey Mouse 

Considering the talented artist is just four years old, I mean, four...

Read More

What's so great about a Disney Grand Adventure: Multiple generations weigh in

/

My daughter, grandsons, and I all agree that Walt Disney World just may be the most magical place on the planet. We all have different reasons for believing so, though, especially as it relates to our recent visit there together.

disney grand adventure

Here, a quick — and far from complete — list of what each of us thought most made our Disney Grand Adventure as magical, memorable, and grand as could possibly be:

Mac, age 4

  • The not-too-scary rides, especially The...
Read More

Disney Grand Adventure finale! Plus GRAND Social link party No. 192 link party

/

Final photo

Megan, Mac, Bubby, and I closed out our Disney Grand Adventure with a mad dash to Disney's Hollywood Studios. There was no way in the world we were leaving Disney World without riding the Tower of Terror.

Rode it we did — Bubby twice! Once with me, then once with Megan as we each took a turn sitting it out with Mac... who was no way getting on that thrill ride the rest of us love. (Photos to come once I go through them.)

Hollywood Studios was our last stop before boarding Disney's Magical Express, and it's where we had our final official Grand Adventure photo taken.

 

Farewell to a fabulous (and fabulously busy)...

Read More

Final prep for our Disney Grand Adventure

/

Our Disney Grand Adventure officially begins today! Early this morning, Bubby, Mac, Megan and I boarded the plane for Orlando and will be at Walt Disney World this afternoon.

In addition to packing our bags yesterday, a priority for the prep was making a wish list on the My Disney Experience site of all the must-do activities. So Bubby, Mac, and I sat down to peruse the offerings and mark those on the list the boys had already started with Megan — then added a few more.

disney grand adventure prep 

disney grand adventure prep

The boys checked their height...

Read More

Wherein I repeat myself. Again.

/

I've said it before: Yesterday on Instagram.

On Facebook, too.

And I'll now say it again.

And because I simply cannot wait for my GRAND Adventure to begin.

One week from today.

Woot!

Today's question:

What are you excited about today?

The makings of a Grand Adventure

/

Last week I revealed the signs that 2016 would surely be my year. Already, it's shaping up to be exactly that thanks to an upcoming, all-new experience I recently added to the last week of my January 2016 calendar.

I've known for a couple weeks now, but I've been a little leery of sharing publicly as it seemed a wee bit too good to be true. I'm still a little leery — despite plans officially in place — so I shall present it to you piecemeal in hopes of not jinxing anything.

My big reveal, a little at a time:

What do you get when you take an adorable seven-year-old...

seven year old 

plus a wacky four-year-old...

Read More

A holiday sight to see: America's tallest Christmas tree

/

A holiday trivia question for you: Where is the nation's tallest decorated Christmas tree?

Did you guess Rockefeller Center? Perhaps the White House?

Nope. Believe it or not, the tallest decorated Christmas tree in America stands 115-feet tall in an outlet mall. In Arizona. Yes, it's so! Certified so!

Megan and I set out to see the holiday wonder this week, with Mac and Jak in tow. (Bubby was in school that day, just as he was this day.)

Whoo-eee! What a festive site to see!

nation's tallest christmas tree

The certification and...

Read More

Wanted: Outdoor and history enthusiasts to experience Alpena

/

History buffs seeking outdoor adventure will believe they've struck gold when visiting the city of Alpena on Michigan's east coast. Alpena is rich with both—many times in the same activity or attraction.

alpena michigan

The perfect description for this quaint community on the edge of Lake Huron comes by way of Mary Beth Stutzman, longtime resident and CVB president. "Alpena is that place where history and heritage collide with relaxed outdoor adventure," Mary Beth says. 

Such glowing words are to be expected from the gal charged with promoting...

Read More