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Staying in Colorado this summer? Don’t miss my top 10 choices for family travel!

May 16, 2011 by Amber

Staying in Colorado? Don’t miss our top 10 choices for family travel!

Summer is just around the corner and you don’t need to look far to have a world-class vacation with your family. From a new zip line tour to free events galore, we have the inside scoop on All Things Colorado.

Aspen/Snowmass

It may be summertime but Snowmass has returned to the Ice Age with the new Snowmass Ice Age Discovery Center that features the most significant Ice Age ecosystem find in Colorado history (and it’s free). Visit the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday nights and sign up your kids for the Calf Scramble. Hike or take bikes up the Snowmass Mountain chairlift or if you really want to try something new, learn how to Stand Up Paddle at the Aspen Kayak Academy. Get inspired at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center, a stellar place for kids of all ages to take workshops that include sculpture, photography, painting, beading, and mask-making.

Breckenridge

The big news in Breckenridge this summer is the new Gold Runner Coaster located at the base of Peak 8. A 2,500 foot elevated track loops through the forest giving you the best views at super speed. Each car can accommodate 1-2 people and single rides start at $7 for children age 3-7 to $24 for an unlimited day pass for children. Other Breckenridge fan favorites include fishing or biking the trail along the Blue River, a scenic drive over Boreas Pass road, accessing 1,000 miles of mountain biking across Summit County or hiking Breckenridge’s countless miles of trails or climbing a nearby “14er.” Photo: Carl Scofield

Crested Butte

Hands down, Crested Butte is my favorite summer destination in Colorado. In addition to world-famous mountain biking and hiking (the views from Snodgrass Mountain are second-to-none), don’t miss the Crested Butte Music Festival in July (with free Saturday kid concerts) and the Wildflower Festival (July 11-17) where you’ll swear you climbed onto a Monet canvas of mad, extravagant colors. Crested Butted Mountain Resort’s Zip Line Tour debuts in June 2011 and includes five zip lines and a series of features such as an “Indiana Jones Bridge,” a “Burma Bridge” and a net climb. This is the only guided zip line tour at a Colorado ski resort and will operate during the winter and summer months. Weight requirements are 70 to 250 pounds.

Colorado Springs

We love Colorado Springs staples like the Garden of the Gods Park, The Pikes Peak Cog Railway and Manitou Cliff Dwellings. A fun (and thrilling) new addition is the Cave of the Winds’ new Wind Walker Challenge Ropes Course that is located on the rim of a 600-foot drop into Williams Canyon. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of the top-ranked zoos in the country and just welcomed their first ever red river hoglets. If you need further motivation to head south, Colorado Springs has launched Tank Full of Summer Savings, offering reduced prices on anything from a steak dinner to lodging to an authentic dude ranch experience.

Durango

Durango Mountain Resort is another resort hopping on the very welcome zipline bandwagon and they are debuting the “Purgatory Plunge,” which soars for 420 feet at speeds of up to 35 mph. Cost is $25/person and can be purchased à la carte or at a discount when combined with the summer Total Adventure Ticket. This includes killer activities like the Alpine Slide, scenic chairlift, mountain bike uplift, miniature golf, climbing wall, bungee trampoline and mechanical bull. Durango Mountain Resort also features horseback riding, a Fridbee Disc Golf Course, naturalist tours or gold panning in the Plaza with the Durango Mining Company. Packages start at $97 per person and includes four nights lodging for the price of three, plus four Total Adventure Tickets.

Estes Park

Most Coloradoans know about hiking and camping in glorious Rocky Mountain National Park, biking around Lake Estes, checking out the darling shops on Elkhorn Avenue and tearing around the go-cart tracks. But most don’t know about the Rocky Mountain Nature Association, which offers a variety of half-day courses for kids and grown-ups alike such as geo-caching, animal tracking, stargazing and art sketching as a travel souvenir. Classes are four hours and many only cost between $10 and $15 for children. Festivals abound in Estes Park during the summer–the Fishing Derby (June 4) and Wool Market (June 11-12) are fun for kids and parents.

Glenwood Springs
Take the world’s largest outdoor mineral hot springs pool (Glenwood Hot Springs), add an adventure park built on top of a mountain (Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park), sprinkle in the Roaring Fork Valley’s crimson rocks and emerald forests and you have a memorable family vacation just a few hours from Denver. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park launched a bungee jumping station this spring–the first in Colorado–as well as a zipline. The attraction joins the newly-opened giant canyon swing, which launches riders 1,300 feet above the Colorado River. The faint-of-heart need not apply.

Grand Junction

There is no lack of entertainment on the Western Slope! If you have dinosaur lovers, get up close and personal at the Museum of Western Colorado’s Dinosaur Journey with dinosaur skeletons or take a single-day or multi-day dinosaur expedition. Bike a portion of the relatively flat 18-mile Colorado Riverfront Trail that winds through picnic grounds, botanical garden, protected wetlands and fishing pier. The area is the heart of Colorado’s agricultural region and fruit stands and orchard tours are in abundance (don’t miss the mouth-watering 44th Annual Palisade Peach Festival Aug. 18-21). For indoor fun, the Bananas Fun Park offers a miniature golf course, arcade, go carts, laser tag and bumper boats, an indoor playland and more.

Keystone

It’s all about the kids with Keystone’s Kidtopia Kids Fest June 25, July 16, 30 and Aug 13. Enjoy gold panning, petting zoo, train rides, caricatures, face painter, balloon artist, midway games, spin art, kids’ show, bounce houses and much, much more! Keystone Kidtopia Music Festival is June 25 & 26, 2011 and features family-friendly live music, an international marketplace and tasty food. Deal: Stay in Keystone for three nights and get the fourth night free at all Keystone lodging operations.

Vail

Just when you thought it wasn’t possible to do Vail on the cheap, think again. Vail Valley is full of free events that are perfect for families in the summertime. Don’t miss the gondola rides for kids, Hot Summer Nights Tuesday Concert Series, guided nature hikes of Vail Mountain, volleyball, bocce and horseshoes at Adventure Ridge, kayak demos and more. Head over to Beaver Creek for the Chef Demonstration series in June, July, August and September in the Bon Appétit tent where you can sample some of the finest local culinary delights…all for free!

What are your favorite Colorado destinations in the summer?

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Some other ideas for fun in Colorado:

The trek with teens

How to hike 14ers

The spiritual sojourn

The low-key car camp

The cultural connection

The fly-fishing jaunt

The western wind-down

The budget birders getaway

The bon vino voyage

The all-in bike outing

The pampering pilgrimage

The way-cool whitewater odyssey for families

Filed Under: biking, Colorado, Family travel, hiking, outdoors

How to Feel Disneyland’s Magic?!

May 9, 2011 by Amber

I have figured out the “Magic of Disney.”

It has nothing to do with Disneyland’s characters, rides, parades, shops or food. That magic has to do with how two children–completely overwhelmed, overheated and exhausted–can whine for hours about the conditions….

….and yet at day’s end forget it all and attest they had the most fun of their entire lives.

Hadley, Bode and I had just one day to spend at Disneyland over Spring Break. My friend Stephanie (a local) was going to be our tour guide but had to bail at the last-minute. I had foolishly planned on blindly following her around but instead was thrown into the lake without a paddle.

Or a boat.

My kids and I initially failed at navigating the crowds but by day’s end we had started to figure out the system (and I would love to hear your insightsas well.)

Planning Ahead
Pre-planning is, of course, a no-brainer (unless you’re me). If you have specific questions that are not addressed on their thorough Web site, be sure to check out the Walt Disney World Moms Panel (moms head up this online question-and-answer forum). Also, order a complimentary Disney Vacation Planning CD with oodles of tips to your get familiar with the Resort before arriving.

FASTPASS
For the most popular rides, a FASTPASS can cut your time in line from over an hour to just a few minutes.
One of the few things we did right was identify one must-do ride (Space Mountain) and went there immediately. We inserted our Park admission ticket into the FASTPASS machine outside Space Mountain and received a pre-assigned time slot for faster boarding (we discovered it can be used anytime after that point). It’s free, but you can only have one FASTPASS active at a time. Instead of waiting for over an hour for the ride, we came back a few hours later and boarded in less than 15 minutes. Despite having the bejeeters scared out of us (OK, me), this was our favorite ride.

Applications
I posted a desperate message on Facebook about the long lines and my friend came to the rescue by recommending the FREE iPhone app, Mousewait. It gives wait times for rides, tells you the nearest place to get food, find a bathroom or even an iPhone charging station. The Park also has official apps for a nominal charge.

Parent “Rider Switch”
A theme-park “rider switch” policy gives both parents a chance to enjoy the latest attractions without the double wait. A parent who waits with a young child while the other parent rides the attraction can get on the ride with minimal wait time once the first parent comes off. Because I was a single mom, this option didn’t work for me but you’d better believe I would have taken advantage of it if my husband was with us.

Baby Care Centers and Strollers
My friend Stephanie recommended I take her stroller for 4-year-old Bode and after a 12-hour day, I was counting my blessings for it (note: strollers are not allowed in line). If you don’t want to bring your own, each park has a Baby Care center and baby stroller rental stations ($15/day). The Baby Care Centers have toddler-size toilets, diaper-changing rooms and private rooms with rocking chairs for nursing mothers. (You will also find baby-changing stations in the restrooms.)

Lodging
We bunked at Stephanie’s house but I’m debating staying on-site next time.
Pros: Guests of the Disneyland Resort Hotels are allowed to enter the park about an hour and a half before the general public is permitted access (valid only Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday). The Resort also offers special packages that often include hotels and tickets, as well as savings on multi-day stays and multi-park visits. Store purchases in the park can be sent over to the hotel so you don’t have to haul your treasures around.
Cons: Disneyland Resort Hotels are expensive and with the exception of Grand Californian, the Disneyland Resort Hotels are not themed as they are at Walt Disney World. There are also several non-Disney hotels that are much less expensive and within walking distance.

Healthful Dining Options
I did not have the foresight to make reservations at the Park’s restaurants and to avoid the chaos, we ate during non-peak times. While we had our share of Disney-esque treats, I was delighted to buy mangoes from one of the nutritious snack stands that offered such things as nuts, trail mix and items on the fresh fruit carts. Kids meals come with fruit or vegetables on the side, along with juice, water or low-fat milk to drink. Fries and soda are available upon request, at no additional cost.

Toddler-friendly attractions
While children are typically captivated by all of Disneyland Resort, be sure to seek out attractions and activities that are appropriate for little ones. Sure hits at Disneyland: Mickey’s Toontown, where they can visit Mickey at his house; Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage; The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, “it’s a small world” and Dumbo, the Flying Elephant. At Disney’s California Adventure park, a few of the special attractions for children are Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage, A Bug’s Land with its kiddie attractions, and King Triton’s Carrousel.

New Attractions
On May 27, Mickey’s Soundsational Parade will premier with whimsical float units, live musicians and some of your favorite characters including (duh) Mickey Mouse and his pals.

On June 3, Ariel’s Undersea Adventure will debut At Disney California Adventure park. My kids tried (and failed) at catching a glimpse behind the barriers of this journey under the sea. From the great songs to state-of-the-art animatronics and special effects, guests will become a part of her world in a way that’s never happened before. A must for Little Mermaid lovers!

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The biggest thing I learned during our first visit to Disneyland was to stop going commando by trying to see and do everything. We made a small list of our must-visit attractions (favorites were Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Soarin’, Grizzly River Run water rafting, and Pirates of the Caribbean). Next time, I feel better equipped to conquer the park.

And feel even more of that Disney magic.

What are your tried and true tips for getting the most out of Disneyland?

CLICK TO READ ON AT MILEHIGHMAMAS.COM

Filed Under: Disney, Family travel, travel Tagged With: Disneyland

Disney Wonder Day 7: Farewells & Our Favorite Moment

May 7, 2011 by Amber

Our final day at sea aboard the Disney Wonder was overcast and chilly but no one complained. After six days of fun in the sun, we were more than happy to leisurely hang out in our PJs in our stateroom.

Though my kids’ shell-shocked expressions in this photo may testify otherwise.

It was probably because I had told them their endless gourmet food supply was soon coming to an end.

When we finally emerged to civilization, we played board games in the Promenade Lounge, leisurely enjoying ocean views out of the large porthole windows.

That afternoon, we attended the matinee of Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic, a live musical show at the Walt Disney Theatre. We loved the story of Anne Marie, a little girl who couldn’t find it in her heart to believe, with special appearances from the Blue Fairy, Peter Pan and many of our favorite Disney characters. Thousands of bubbles were blown into the audience and whimsical snow swirled around us in the perfect sendoff.

Magical Moments

But my favorite moment of the entire trip happened almost by accident. Later that evening, Linda and I had dinner reservations at Palo’s (memorable details here) while the kids partied away at the Oceaneer Club. Around 6 p.m., we tried to grab Haddie and Bode some dinner at Beach Blanket Buffet but it was closed.

We wandered out to Pluto’s Dog House, a quick-service grill, adjacent to Mickey’s Pool and ordered the kids some hot dogs and fries. With most people either at dinner or the show, along with the chilly temperatures, the area was a ghost town.

“We want to go swimming!” Hadley announced.
“Now? Isn’t it too cold?”
“There’s nobody here. Pleeeeease can we do it?”

The girl is half-Canadian so cold weather ain’t exactly a diversion.

And because I’m full-blooded Canadian, I grabbed their swim suits.

Hadley and Bode had the time of their lives in that pool all their own. They laughed, played, splashed and jumped the waves of the rocking boat.

Our entire family vacation was fun but those final moments were sheer magic.

Or rather, Wonderful. Because you wouldn’t expect anything less aboard The Disney Wonder.

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If you missed it:
*It’s a Wonder Cruising with Disney: A Day-by-day Guide
*Day 0.5: If Getting There is Half the Fun Then I’m in Trouble
*Day 1: Kids Club, Sail Away Party and Fat Kitty Stowaway
*Day 2: Stateroom, Oceaneer Club, Pools, Entertainment & Pyrotechnics, Oh My!
*Day 3: Our Slacker Character Breakfast, Oceaneer Lab’s Little Red Hen and the Magic of Animator’s Palate
*Day 4: Puerto Vallarta, Boogie Boarding and Not-nude Beaches
*Days 5 & 6: Cabo, Lands End, A Brush with Death and a Newfound Love

Filed Under: Bode, Disney, Family travel, Hadley, Humor Tagged With: Disney Cruise

Days 5 & 6: Cabo, Lands End, A Brush With Death & a Newfound Love

May 6, 2011 by Amber

I’ve been to several Mexican towns but Cabo San Lucas is honestly the only place I can say I fell in love with.

My affair crept up on me as my mother-in-law Linda and I were teaching the kids to play shuffleboard on deck 4. As the Disney Wonder approached the southern tip of Cabo San Lucas where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean, Lands End came into view. We stopped in our tracks and marveled at these famously tall and stoic landmarks at the tip of the Baja Peninsula.

A colony of sea lions bathed on the rocks, sun-worshippers laid out on remote Lover’s Beach (only accessible via water taxi) and kayaks wove around Arch Rock. Cabo San Lucas impressively loomed with its mansion-dotted hilltops, testifying of Cabo’s reputation as Mexico’s most elite destination.

Lands End Coastal Cruise

I had foolishly signed up for the 40-minute Lands End Coastal Cruise ($33 adults, $19 kids) in a motorized catamaran. I say foolishly because I had wrongfully assumed we would be unable to see Lands End from the cruise ship and was disappointed we would not be experiencing anything new.

However, the excursion was not a total waste of time. We enjoyed getting up-close-and-personal with the landmarks and the informative narrative by J.M. Cousteau. But during my next visit, I’m renting a water taxi or kayaking to Lover’s Beach.

Because there will be a next time.

Cabo San Lucas’ Beaches

I had thoroughly researched Cabo’s beaches (a great resource is 10 Best Beaches in Cabo San Lucas) and had narrowed it down to Chileno Beach. Perfect for families, this beach skips the local party scene, has bathrooms, palapas for shade, snorkeling equipment and tide pools for exploration that I knew my kids would love.

The problem is Chileno Beach is located on what is called “The Corridor”–an 18-mile four-lane highway that follows a stunning coastline past championship golf courses, world-class beaches and luxury resorts.

OK, that wasn’t the problem because that sounds pretty darn idyllic. The quandary was the cab ride cost around $80 round-trip. Renting a car for $47 was another option, but one I was unwilling to take with self-professed map dementia, unfamiliar roads, a foreign country and no car seats.

It was my way of preserving my children’s lives.

Playa El Médona and My Baywatch Moment

People repeatedly recommended the very beach I wanted to avoid: El Médona. Sure, ithas a convenient location (just around the pier), a variety of restaurants and stellar views of Lands End but it’s also the crowded party beach.

In the end, the price was right. For $2/person, we rode in a glass-bottomed water taxi with a glass floor to our very own cut of paradise on Medona where we could rent boogie boards, jet skis, snorkel gear and anything our heart desired.

When we arrived at Medona, a cool Mexican dude offered us boogie boards but after taking one look at the relatively steep drop and undertow of the beach, turned him down. I did take him up on his offer to rent an umbrella for $10 for the day.

I didn’t tell him that I would have paid double that for shade.

Despite several annoyances that included locals toting their wares no less than every 30 seconds (not an exaggeration), we had a nice time. The temperatures were mild, Haddie got her hair braided by a local merchant and another made her a bracelet. The kids never tired of chasing the waves and it was a chaotic form of paradise.

After a couple of hours, I left to explore the shops along Marina Boulevard, the main artery that curves around the waterfront. When I came back, the tide was starting to come in and the waves looked more dangerous. Linda and I moved closer to the kids and not even two minutes after making this decision, Bode (who was body surfing) got caught in an undertow and gobbled by a following wave.

In a scene out of Baywatch, I surged forward into the water, surf splashing everywhere and snatched him from his death.

OK, more like instead of the sexy red bathing suit I was fully clothed after my walk and though scary, his situation was not life-and-death.

But for drama’s sake just work with me here.

That was our sign to call it a day. Despite our less-than-optimal beach conditions, we were reluctant to leave. As we rode our tender boat back to the cruise ship, sea lions and pelicans escorted us as a final, memorable farewell to glorious Cabo San Lucas.

Pirates IN the Caribbean Soiree

The “Pirate IN the Caribbean” deck party is the Disney Wonder’s most highly anticipated event. The evening starts with a pirate-themed dinner where everyone receives a pirate special bandanna and orders from a menu resembling the parchment of an age old treasure map. It ends with a buccaneer bash starring Mickey Mouse, games, a huge spread of food and the only fireworks display at sea.

Despite being worn out from our day at the beach, my kids insisted upon waiting up until 9:30 p.m. for the party. When we arrived, it was in full swing with interactive games on the big screen, a pirate-style line dance, black lighting, raucous music and Captain Hook.

Exhausted Bode and Linda bailed at 10 p.m. but Hadley was committed to wait up for the fireworks display and more importantly: the pirate-themed buffet at 10:30 p.m.Families huddled together in wonderment as the pirate pyrotechnics lit up the Mexican Riviera’s ebony sky. Haddie then raced over to score the very first spot in line for the buffet and indulged in treasures like The Black Pearls’ Beef Tenderloin and the Treasure Chest Meringue filled with tropical fruit, berries and vanilla sauce.

Because we hadn’t eaten enough food on the cruise already. But it was all worth the wait.

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If you missed it:

*It’s a Wonder Cruising with Disney: A Day-by-day Guide
*Day 0.5: If Getting There is Half the Fun Then I’m in Trouble
*Day 1: Kids Club, Sail Away Party and Fat Kitty Stowaway
*Day 2: Stateroom, Oceaneer Club, Pools, Entertainment & Pyrotechnics, Oh My!
*Day 3: Our Slacker Character Breakfast, Oceaneer Lab’s Little Red Hen and the Magic of Animator’s Palate
*Day 4: Puerto Vallarta, Boogie Boarding and Not-nude Beaches
*Days 5 & 6: Cabo, Lands End, A Brush with Death and a Newfound Love
*Day 7: Farewells & Our Favorite Moment of the Trip

Filed Under: Disney, Family travel, Humor, travel Tagged With: Disney Cruise

Disney Wonder Day 4: Puerto Vallarta, Boogie Boarding and Not-nude Beaches

May 5, 2011 by Amber

I am not a beach person.

It’s complicated. I love the ocean but don’t care for the sand and heat that are often associated with it.

And so why would a non-beach person submit herself to the beach on a regular basis? Because I want my kids to love the ocean and there is just something special about a tropical vacation. This was reconfirmed in Puerto Vallarta.

Shore Excursions

Name a popular destination and Disney Cruise Lines probably sails there. From the Disney Magic‘s 7-night Mediterranean itinerary out of Barcelona to the Disney Wonder’s 7-night Alaskan cruise. The brand spankin’ new Disney Dream launched this year out of Port Canaveral to Bahamian ports and the Disney Fantasy will be unveiled in 2012.

Yes, please to all of the above.

Choosing a cruise itinerary and then shore excursion is always tough for me to. Fortunately, I had never been to the ports offered on the Disney Wonder‘s Mexican Riviera–Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Options were narrowed down even more when Mazatlan was yanked from the itinerary due to dangerous travel conditions. We instead stayed in glorious Cabo for two days instead of one.

Talk about a sacrifice.

Disney Cruise Line makes it easy to find age-appropriate shore excursions at their Web site where you simply click on your port, age range, activity level (active, moderate or mild) and type of activity (i.e. nature, teen or family adventures). I found the perfect activity: Dolphin Kids where my kids would get some one-on-one time with Flipper.

Only it wasn’t perfect, it was full so be sure to book early. We instead opted for the Paradise Beach Adventure at Paradise Village Beach Resort (adults $69, kids $34).

Puerto Vallarta’s Paradise Beach Adventure

It was not love at first sight when I gazed upon Puerto Vallarta from our stateroom’s balcony. The city boasts a 40-kilometer Shangri-la of rivers, mountains, coastline and beaches but even that can’t make up for first impressions: the Disney Wonder was parked a stone’s throw away from Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club.

Not quite the exotic Mexican destination I envisioned.

Fortunately, my disappointment was salvaged with our Paradise Beach Adventure. About 300 fellow Disney cruises were shuttled 20 minutes away to Paradise Village Beach Resort, a veritable beach-front oasis with Mayan architecture. We snagged some chairs in front of one of the two spectacular lagoon pools with waterfalls, reptilian water slides, a rope-swing bridge and rocky underwater grottoes.

For the first time on our cruise, I had my relaxing pool experience and the kids had the time of their lives.

Part of our package was a delicious buffet lunch consisting of local favorites such as papaya and Mexican beef. But the true highlight was when we hit the adjacent beach, Nuevo Vallarta. The water is not the azure-blue you’ll find in Cancun, nor was it particularly warm but it was gloriously devoid of people because most opted to stay in the shade.

We showed our ship I.D. at a rental hut and were able to check out some sand buckets for free. I also grabbed some boogie boards because I had a stroke of genius to give Haddie a tutorial.

This can also be referred to as the blind leading the blind: I can’t recall ever boogie boarding.

My adept swimmer took quickly to it but it was Bode who shocked me the most. Here’s a bit of background on him: He has flunked his entry-level Minnows swimming class two times because he refuses to dunk his head. I wasn’t even planning to put him on the board but after a few minutes, he nonchalantly said he wanted to try…and was hooked. “I WUV it,” he squealed as he shot through the surf, droplets spraying in his face.

I didn’t bother to tell him this actually counted as getting his face wet.

I had to drag him out at the end of the day and prior to heading back to the pool, we hit the open-air showers next to the beach. As I hosed the sand off Haddie, I was shocked to turn and see Bode had completely stripped down.

“Bode, put your swim suit back on! The Paradise Beach Adventure is not that kind of a beach.”

But it sure was a fun one.

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If you missed it:

Filed Under: Disney, Family travel, Humor, travel Tagged With: Disney Cruise

Disney Wonder Day 3: Our Slacker Character Breakfast, Oceaneer Lab’s Red Hen and the Magic of Animator’s Palate

May 4, 2011 by Amber

A Disney Cruise would not be complete without some one-on-one time with the Disney characters. The Personal Navigator (the daily newsletter detailing all there is to see and do on the ship) provides the when, where and with whom of the daily visits with fan-favorites such as Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Captain Hook, oodles of princesses and Captain Jack Sparrow.

Another popular option is the Character Breakfast. Each stateroom is assigned a morning to dine, pose for pictures and get autographs from their favorite characters. Day 3 was our special day.

But we stayed out at the Golden Mickey’s until almost 10 p.m. the night prior. And then there was a one-hour time change so we lost an hour of sleep.

Translation: we never made it to our character breakfast. (Oh, the shame).

Fortunately, the staff was gracious and let us meet the characters just as they were heading out. Here’s a little tip: Don’t try to get Goofy to stand next to Chip because he refused to do it.

I don’t want to stir up any controversy but I suspect there’s bad blood between them.

The weather took a turn for the warmer so I resolved after breakfast at Beach Blanket buffet, we would go swimming.

Hadley’s Favorite Restaurant

Because we had missed the Character Breakfast, I had suggested we try one of the sit-down restaurant for breakfast like Triton’s but was swiftly rebuked by Hadley who proclaimed, “Why would we go anywhere else if we have all the buffet’s wonderful choices?”

The girl doesn’t understand the concept of quality over quantity.

That said, there is a surprisingly great spread of food at the buffet—cheeses, a generous supply of fruits, yogurts, made-to-order omelets, Mickey-shaped waffles, along with fresh doughnuts and all the fixins (i.e. bacon, eggs and sausage) you’d expect.

Our decision to hit the pool early was a wise one. Though the temperatures were still chilly, the pool’s temperature was warm. Without the chaos of the afternoon crowd, my kids were able to play and swim for the first time.

Oceaneer Lab

That afternoon, the kids set sail at Oceaneer Lab while my mother-in-law and I took on the dubious task of relaxing reading and napping in our stateroom (someone’s gotta do it).

When we retrieved the kids three hours later, we had to practically drag them away. The Lab is is a futuristic and fun setting starring a larger-than-life Buzz Lightyear with planetary orbs, sparkling fiber-optic stars and interactive science lab stations, computers, reading area and games.

The age range for the Lab is 3-12 but it is geared to an older set. Six-year-old Hadley was in her element. Four-year-old Bode was among the youngest but he didn’t care. I found him with his Mario Cart posse, bossing the older boys around at every turn.

Hadley’s favorite part of the Oceaneer Lab was participating in Ratatouille Cooking School with an over-the-top, hilarious cookie chef. She paired up with Bode to make chocolate chip cookies that were delivered straight to her mouth from the Ratatouille restaurant magic oven.

Hadley: “But Bode didn’t get any cookies.”

Me: “Why not?”

Hadley: “You know the story of the Little Red Hen? My counselor said if someone doesn’t help make it, they won’t be able to eat it.”

Turns out Bode, in his quest for Mario Cart greatness, abandoned ship partway through and was not allowed to enjoy her spoils. Tough crowd hen house.

Animator’s Palate

Dinner at Animator’s Palate was like being trapped inside a kaleidoscope. Character sketches, maquettes, light boxes, paint brushes, colored pencils and scenes from popular Disney films adorn the black-and-white walls. But at the flash of light, they were transformed into an ever-evolving rainbow light show. As we dined on beef fillet and white chocolate cheesecake, Mickey made a surprise appearance.The children were entranced. I was stuffed.

We all walked away happy.

Buena Vista Theatre

For that evening’s entertainment, we opted to check out the 268-seat Buena Vista Theatre that featured first-run movies like Mars Needs Moms and Tangled. Gnomeo and Juliet was on-tap for the evening and we all loved this movie based loosely on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Only this one had a happy ending.

You couldn’t expect otherwise on the Disney Wonder.

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Filed Under: Disney, Family travel, Humor Tagged With: Disney Cruise, Nintendo

Disney Wonder Day 2: Stateroom, Oceaneer Club, Pools, Entertainment & Pyrotechnics, Oh My!

May 3, 2011 by Amber

“Home sweet home.”

That is what I referred to our stateroom aboard the Disney Wonder for seven blessed days. Only our home doesn’t have a balcony with ocean views (more than 70 percent of staterooms have them), a door adorned with Mickey, or James, our doting stateroom steward who kept our room meticulously clean.

I have yet to convince my own beloved husband James to follow his fine example.

Sleeping with my kids in the same room is not my top choice but with a curtain partition, bunk beds for the kids and a large comfy bed for Linda and I, it was pretty ideal. The split “bath-and-a-half” design provided us with the convenience of a sink and tub/shower in one room and a sink and toilet in a separate room.

Our stateroom had all makings for a good slumber but I’m a neurotic sleeper and need complete silence. Combine a snoring roommate (who shall remain anonymous) and the creaking of the ship (the only time it testified of its age), I awoke exhausted.

Which is why it made perfect sense to checkout the fitness center.

Disney Cruise Line Fitness Center

The adults-only workout facilities are a part of the Vista Spa & Salon and are open from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. The equipment is state-of-the-art with a complete range of cardiovascular and weight machines and classes. There is also an open-air track for walking and jogging, about 1/3 of a mile in length.

When I worked out the first day it sea, the facility was crowded. On the final day on the cruise, it was a ghost town. After a week of leisure and gluttony, I think my fellow devotees instead opted for the buffet.

Perfect Palo

Speaking of food, it doesn’t get any better than Palo, Disney Wonder’s signature adult-only Northern Italian restaurant. After dropping the kids off at Oceaneer Club, Linda and I indulged in the Champagne brunch. The options included made-to-order entrées, seafood, a selection of international cheeses, fresh breads and pastries, desserts, Champagne and mimosas. Favorites were the Eggs Benedict and strawberry-mint soup.

In addition to brunch, Palo also offers elegant dinners. On our final night, we began with antipasti selections and the choice of six different kinds of pizzas. We moved on to fresh pastas and then came seafoods and meats (my classic beef tenderloin with Gorgonzola sauce redefined tender) and our evening was topped off by chocolate souffle dessert.
Our beloved and adorable Italian waiter Daniel summed up our culinary journey by this statement: “It’s a moment you never want to end.”

He was correct but fortunately for my waistline, it eventually did.

Reservations are required for Palo and there is an additional $20 charge for dinner and brunch.

An Expert Opinion of Disney’s Oceaneer Club

When Linda and I retrieved 6-year-old Hadley from Oceaneer Club, she reported: “I made a friend and we pretended we were Captain Hook on the ship.”

She was referring to Captain Hook’s pirate ship straight from Never Land with a treasure chest-themed television set, lamps that resemble barrels, hanging ropes, wooden planks and a glistening fiber-optic night sky.

“Oh, and Bode? All he did was play Mario Kart and just watch TV,” she snitched.

The Club has a computer lab with child-friendly computers, video games and multiple televisions. In 4-year-old Bode’s own defense, “I had the most fun ever.”

To each his own.

Oceaneer Club is open from 9 a.m. to midnight daily for children ages 3 to 10, no reservations are necessary. Bode preferred The Club (which is more geared to younger kids) and Hadley liked the Oceaneer Lab (stay tuned for that review tomorrow).

Water Play

There are three pools on-board the Disney Wonder: Quiet Cove Pool (an adult-only oasis), Goofy’s Pool and Mickey’s Pool a.k.a. my descent into hell.

Let me explain: My kids are finally getting old enough that they can be relatively independent in shallow waters. Goofy’s Pool had an ideal location with a state-of-the-art, jumbo 24-by-14-foot LED screen that played Disney animated or live-action movies poolside. Unfortunately, at a depth of 4 feet, it is too deep for my kids.

That left Mickey’s Pool. In theory, this is a fantastic pool that features Mickey Mouse’s famous smiling face, a maximum depth of 2 feet and a twisting, one-deck-high yellow slide suspended from an over-sized Mickey Mouse hand.

The problem is 85 percent of the ship’s children think this mouse is the cat’s meow. By afternoon, Mickey’s Pool was absolute bedlam every day and my dreams of relaxing poolside in a chaise with a Pina Colada smoothie were replaced by having to keep a vigilant watch they didn’t get trampled.

The kids still loved it, though. Haddie tore up the slide, we grabbed burgers and fries from Pluto’s Dog House (healthier options were at nearby Goofy’s Galley) and topped it off with soft-serve ice cream. Basically, it was every kid’s dream and every parent’s nightmare.

To each their own, Part II.

Tip: To avoid the crowds, skip swimming in the afternoon and go after breakfast or during the first dining hour (around 6 p.m.) Stay tuned for our favorite moment aboard the Disney Wonder, which happened on our final night in Mickey’s Pool.

On-board Entertainment

Upon returning home from our cruise, I was asked, “Did your kids ever get bored?”

A Disney Cruise is the very antithesis of boredom. Between song-and-dance shows starring our favorite Disney Characters in the Disney Theatre daily to first-run movies like Tangled and Gnomeo and Juliet in the Buena Vista Theatre, magic shows, karaoke, dancing and games, we were never, ever bored.

One of our favorite performances was the Golden Mickey’s, a Disney-esque version of the Academy Awards. We arrived with fanfare: Paparrazi snapping pictures, red carpet and even a “celebrity” reporter who interviewed the little ones. The show combined live-action theatre from talented performances with our favorite clips from Disney films, an emotional tribute to Walt Disney and pyrotechnics.

It doesn’t get much better than that for kids.

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Filed Under: Disney, Family travel, Humor, travel Tagged With: Disney Cruise, Fat Kitty

Disney Wonder Day 1: Kids Club, Sail Away Party & Fat Kitty Stowaway

May 2, 2011 by Amber

My least favorite part of cruising is the check-in. Even the most highly efficient system will result in headaches when dealing with an onslaught of 2,400 people.

When our shuttle bus arrived from LAX to the Port of Los Angeles, the process went quickly. The only confusion I had was as we waited for our group number to be called so we could board the Disney Wonder. I glanced over and saw frantic parents high-tailing it to the youth activities registration desk at the terminal.

Prior to the cruise, the Disney Cruise Line sends passengers a very thorough information packet. In the guide, it talks about registering children for the activity centers on the ship but I panicked when I saw the herd charging over to the desk. Were they taking all the spots? WHAT IF IT FILLS UP AND I’M STUCK WITH MY CHILDREN FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP?

Judge me all you want. I’m just expressing what all those frenzied parents were thinking.

Turns out we had no reason to panic. All children have access to the kids clubs and it is not necessary to register for specific activities. Haddie and Bode’s wrists were fitted with Mickey Bands (free but there was a $50 charge if they got lost). The bands provide secure access to the children’s facilities and act as a monitoring device.

Think ankle bracelets for criminals but in one of the happiest places on earth.

Then it was our turn to board. As we walked into the lobby of the Disney Wonder, an overenthusiastic lady announced our names into the microphone. We jubilantly stepped onto the red carpet, relishing in the roar of the crowd (OK, more like six gracious staffers) but we were thrilled that they gave each individual family their own special memory of boarding the ship.

Beach Blanket Buffet

We all have our priorities when cruising and ours was eating (we had not done so since early that morning). The Beach Blanket Buffet on Deck 9 serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and we gorged on classic American and international cuisine. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the buffet that had plenty of healthy and non-healthy selections, though I would have liked to have seen more choices in the salad bar.

Gotta make a few healthy choices to offset desserts like these.

Kids Clubs

There are several difference options for kids of all ages aboard the Disney Wonder:

Flounder’s Reef Nursery: Infants and toddlers (ages 12 weeks-3 years) are entertained with toys, crafts, book and games. Disney’s babysitting services services offer the longest operating hours of any cruise company.

Oceaneer Club (ages 3-12): This pirate-themed adventure areas is home to Peter Pan’s Never Land with games, storytelling, video games, musical fun and dancing.

Oceaneer Lab (ages 3-12): Offers exploration with experiment stations, music stations, computers, video games and more.

Edge (ages 11-13): This lounge and interactive play space is set up with plush couches, high-tech entertainment—videogames, televisions and computers—and features guided activities.

Vibe (ages 14-17) is the ultra-cool teen-only hangout patterned after a college dorm with plasma-screen TVs, Internet access, MP3 players, games karaoke and snacks.

There was been a lot of talk (and a bit of controversy) about Disney Cruise Line’s decision to revamp their youth activities program in 2009. While most cruise lines generally create smaller groups with kids of the same age, Disney eliminated age restrictions for kids ages 3-12 and activities are divided up by interest, not age in the Oceaneer areas.

While I liked the idea of Bode (age 4) and Hadley (age 6) being able to participate in the same activities, I was a bit worried Bode would get trampled by the older kids. Turns out, I had no cause for concern (as you’ll see later):

The boy simply migrated to his beloved Wii and life-long friendships with his home boys were born.

Sail Away Celebration

Following the mandatory Assembly Drill, we partied it up with Captain Mickey Mouse and Friends at the Sail Away Celebration on Deck 9. I caught a glimpse at Beatlemania during this 45-minute deck party with Minnie, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto and Captain Hook. Confetti rocketed through the sky and my kids joined the countless others in the revelries.

Parent tip: Bring earplugs. And your loudest voice.

Fine Dining, Disney Style
The nine restaurants on the Disney Wonder range from the adult-only fine cuisine at Palo to casual poolside dining at Goofy’s Galley. The ship features a Rotational Dining system that lets you rotate to one of three theme restaurants (Triton’s, Parrot Cay and Animator’s Palate) each night, while your servers follow you from venue to venue.

The good: I have never experienced this level of service on a cruiseship. Our beloved waiters Balwan and Titta always had our preferred beverages and Bode’s booster seat ready when we arrived and catered to our every need. The food was always delicious and the ambiance ever-changing and enchanting.

The bad: There is no flexibility on when and where you eat. There are two assigned seating times at 5:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., the latter obviously not desirable for families with young children (5:45 p.m. fills quickly).

On our first night, we were assigned to Triton’s grand dining room with French and under-the-sea cuisine. The children’s meals were varied and always served with a side of vegetables. Hadley devoured steak, shrimp, sea bass and topped it off with a chocolate sundae.

At the end of the meal, she coined the most beloved quote of our entire trip as she groaned in her chair: “Ugh, I’m starting to feel like Fat Kitty” (our very portly cat).

It wasn’t the first time we all felt that way aboard the Disney Wonder.

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Filed Under: Disney, Family, Family travel, Humor, travel Tagged With: Disney Cruise

Disney Wonder Day 0.5: If Getting There is Half the Fun, Then I’m in Trouble

May 1, 2011 by Amber

My kids and I have traipsed all over Canada and Colorado without my husband Jamie.

But our Disney Cruise to the Mexican Riviera was different for a couple of reasons:

1) It’s international. And yes, I know some of you consider Canada a foreign country but when you’re raised there, poutine and “eh” are as natural as Marilyn Monroe’s blonde hair (work with me, here).

2) This was my children’s first cruise. There’s a bit of a learning curve when cruising—from check-in at the port to security to registration. It’s all a bit overwhelming for a newbie.

And moms who are accompanying them.

But our speed bumps began long before that when our flight was delayed. (Did I mention that out of 200 flights leaving Denver that morning, ours was only 1 in 4 that had any issues?)

Long ago, I abandoned asking “what’re the odds?” because they are never in my favor.

Fortunately, we arrived at LAX with plenty of time to spare and good thing, too because that is when our next debacle occurred. After disembarking, my bladder-the-size-of-a-pea son raced to the bathroom, after which time, we followed the signs to baggage claim.

And kept following them.

And followed them some more.

I’ve always hated LAX. It’s old, dingy, congested and it is currently being renovated, which only added to the chaos. There were no trains or moving walkways and we walked for about a half hour until we finally arrived at baggage claim.

Only, it turns out it wasn’t ours. We had flown on a friendly jaguar from Frontier (Terminal 5) and had somehow trekked around the airport and ended up in very unfriendly United (Terminal 7).

My mother-in-law Linda had flown from Salt Lake City and was inspired enough to call me at that exact moment to track us down. By the time we high-tailed it back to Terminal 5, I was the final person to arrive on our transport shuttle and was brimming with accusations about the convolted airport.

Until I noticed other people from my same flight had somehow managed to do a straight-shot to the correct baggage claim.

I shut up, grabbed my luggage, consolidated everything I needed into a carry-on (tip: keep your swimsuit and other essentials with you) and sent the rest of our suitcases with the Disney Cruise porter. I was promised the next time we saw them, it would be in our stateroom after 3 p.m.

Relief set in that I would finally be able to enjoy a stress-free vacation. Linda, the children and I lined up to board the bus and that is when I realized I had forgotten my son’s booster seat…

Back at baggage claim.

That would be the second baggage claim we’d been to that day for anyone keeping track.

At that point, I was almost tempted to leave it behind but I had brought it for a reason. Apologetically, I told the bus driver my predicament, she kindly told me to retrieve it and I high-tailed it across the parking lot.

And then I became that person. You know—the one that makes everyone wait.

When I arrived back to the bus, I slunked into my seat beside my daughter, sweaty and humiliated. As we watched the video with Mickey & Co. giving us a tour of the ship, I resolved husbands are kept around for a reason.

And it has everything to do with upping my odds.

In case you missed it:
*It’s a Wonder Cruising with Disney: A Day-by-day Guide
*Day 0.5: If Getting There is Half the Fun Then I’m in Trouble
*Day 1: Kids Club, Sail Away Party and Fat Kitty Stowaway
*Day 2: Stateroom, Oceaneer Club, Pools, Entertainment & Pyrotechnics, Oh My!
*Day 3: Our Slacker Character Breakfast, Oceaneer Lab’s Little Red Hen and the Magic of Animator’s Palate
*Day 4: Puerto Vallarta, Boogie Boarding and Not-nude Beaches
*Days 5 & 6: Cabo, Lands End, A Brush with Death and a Newfound Love
*Day 7: Farewells & Our Favorite Moment of the Trip

Filed Under: Disney, Family, Family travel, Humor, travel Tagged With: Disney Cruise

It’s a Wonder Cruising With Disney: A day-by-day guide

May 1, 2011 by Amber

For Spring Break, Bode, Hadley and I joined my mother-in-law Linda aboard the Disney Wonder to sail the Mexican Riviera and life has never been the same.

I mean, just look at this kid.

Since Disney Cruise Line’s inception back in 1995, I knew I wanted to take my children someday but I must confess, we were not huge Disney fans. Sure, we love most Disney films but we’ve never been to the theme parks and consider Mickey only to be a mouse (and not a god).

But after seven days aboard the 2,400-passenger Disney Wonder, we’re now bonafide mouseketeers. It wasn’t any one thing that made this our favorite vacation ever but rather the culmination of superb service from the 945 crew members, fantastic amenities interspersed throughout the 10 decks, delicious food at the nine restaurants, professional-quality shows, first-run movies like Mars Needs Moms and the simple magic that only Disney can provide.

I’ve been on cruises before that offer wonderful children’s programs but the difference with a Disney Cruise is everything is about the kids. Little girls wandered the halls wearing princess dresses and boys sported Mickey ears. Some families went all-out decorating their cabin doors. Our waitress even patterned our ketchup into Mickey ears.

The Disney Wonder launched in 1999 and many of the reviews I read on TripAdvisor were harsh (too old, not maintained, etc.) While there were times it definitely showed its age (particularly creaking most noticed at night), crews work around-the-clock cleaning and painting.

This old ship (me) should be so lucky to have that kind of TLC.

So, welcome aboard! As you’ll see from Day 0.5, our trip did not start well….