TGIF

Happy Friday, friends! Some things around the internet that I think you might find interesting or inspiring: 
"We are an extension of the power that created the whole universe.” RuPaul, dropping some knowledge on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1995.   

A post shared by Hawaiian Airlines (@hawaiianairlines) on Apr 19, 2018 at 11:30am PDT

I'm so sad to hear about the flooding in Kauai, Hawaii. It has been on my bucket list for years and I thought 2018 might be the year I visit- it still might be, but whenever I go I am FOR SURE checking out as many of these food trucks as I can! (PS: All of the Hawaiian Airlines social media is great, give them a follow!) 

I only have a few photos of my parents Walt Disney World honeymoon, but In Cindy's Shoes has a whole (really amazing) collection. PS: She also did a Dapper Day guide post recently! 

Here are my Do's and Don'ts for Dapper Day at Walt Disney World, if you missed it! 

You'll notice this is my first week of doing the TGIF content roundup, even though I definitely launched my blog a few Fridays ago. Cough. Cough. Here's are 6 Tips to Overcome Anxiety Related Procrastination.  Not that I know anyone who needs it. *IT ME*

And lastly! The genius, Prince, in all his infinite wisdom, neverending talent, and a move that proves he truly hasn't left us: Released the original recording of "Nothing Compares 2 U" 

Oh, my heart. My favorite ever version is the live recording with Rosie Gaines- listen to that here, and have an amazing weekend y'all. XO. 

Racing With RunDisney

Let's talk RunDisney! 0:45 Can you do it? 1:15 How to train 2:34 Really though, can you do it? 2:46 What equipment you need (Me being reasonably entertaining until...) 8:18 The RunDisney Experience * * * * * * * * * * Let's be friends! instagram | http://instagram.com/ShaunaMooney facebook | https://www.facebook.com/ShaunaMooney...

As mentioned in the video, here's: 

• The Garmin Forerunner GPS Watch
• Skullcandy Earphones with Hook
• Feetures Running Socks

Now, my favorite post-marathon activity is drinking around Epcot to celebrate, but I will say that the "Recovery Party" we had after racing was extremely helpful for healing. In the hotel we had: 

• Epsom salts - a shallow bath with a full bag is best, 1 cup per 1 gallon of water
• "The Stick" - this company has been at the Expo for a few years and offers a discount for their massagers
• Foam Rollers - the black rumble roller and the regular kind, to help stretch our muscles
• Heating pad - it felt GREAT to just sit this on my lap for a while
• BioFreeze - A gel muscle rub that is a staple in my household

Plus we got in some good pool and hot tub time, too. After a looooong nap!! 

I look SHOCKINGLY happy for it being 4am. Probably cause I LOVE Goof, and I know that I'll get some bubbly later. 

I was overjoyed to find out that race photos are FINALLY included in your MyDisney Experience photopass! I was a passholder at the time, so I cheesed for every. Dang. Photographer. Running alone was a nice experience because I could go at my own pace, but the real joy of these marathons is the Disney trip attached to it! It was my mom's first time since her honeymoon in 1983, and when I ran with my "adopted" sisters Nicole and Angel, my husband made a video of our run! 
 

So what do you think? Are you ready to RunDisney? Come join the Facebook group so that we can cheer you on! 

Pacific Northwest Road Trip: San Juan Islands, Seattle, Portland, and Points in Between

One of the best parts about adulting is when you can make your 5th grader self's dreams come true. This is why Ryan and I took an epic trip out to the Pacific Northwest where he rollerbladed at every skatepark he's been dreaming about since he was a kid, and I saw ORCA WHALES IN REAL LIFE. It was so amazing I have to shout about it. Check out this video recap: (Spoiler: I accidentally deleted the part about our movie location/Astoria stop, so be on the lookout for the addendum video. LOL.)

Where We Stayed (Sign up for AirBnB here if you don't have an account already!) 

• Anacortes: Ace of Hearts Creek
• Seattle: Paj & Mickey's Townhouse
• Portland: Floating Flamingo House
• Vancouver: There's No Place Like Home  (Breakfast included, say whaaat!) 

Favorite Eats & Drinks

• Friday Harbor House, San Juan Islands Happy hour on the patio, with the most incredible views ever in life. 
• Ghost Alley Espresso, Seattle Try the Mystery Mocha, be on the lookout for ghosts. (And gross chewed gum.) 
• Stumptown Coffee, Portland Living the hipster caffeinated dream
• Hale Pele tiki bar, Portland Classic tiki food, drink and decor. 
• Voodoo Doughnut, PortlandThere's a line out the door, and they have vegan options. How can you go wrong? 

I have ZERO CHILL when it comes to Free Willy. 

Mooneys never say die. 

Things to Do:

• Of course, THE WHALE WATCH: San Juan Safaris was professional, fun and educational.
• Powell's Books, Portland: Have a plan or a couple hours, it's the largest indie bookstore in the WORLD. 

Here's the map of all the skate parks on the dream list; we made it to most of the hearts and stars. 

A portrait of a woman who married the rollerblader of her dreams...but never knew how much filming she would have to do for skate "footy." (That's what they call footage. Doesn't your hobby have dorky lingo?) 

Where would your 5th grade self want to take a trip? Tell me I'm not the only one still kind of obsessed with orca whales...

Dapper Day Do's and Don'ts

What is Dapper Day? UM, IT’S THE BEST. Do you like dressing up? Do you like Disney Parks? You are going to love it! It’s for Disney fans of all ages, it takes place twice a year at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Paris, and it doesn’t cost anything (other than your standard park admission, or if you want to participate in the VIP events.) 

Let’s do a little recap of outfits and then we’ll go over some Dapper Do’s and Don’ts, shall we? Above is my first ever Dapper Day, with my handsome husband!  

Left is my Disneybound of the tightrope walker stretching portrait in the Haunted Mansion; right with my vintage Pan-Am bag for the first ever outing at Epcot.

Left, a tiki nod to my favorite resort: The Polynesian. Right, a Haunted Mansion look. (Are you sensing a theme? Or a disquieting metamorphosis?) 

So really, what do you DO at Dapper Day? 

DO: Dress to the nines! Take advantage of the opportunity and go all out. Some attendees are vintage mavens and pinup models everyday, some would normally be in jeans and a t-shirt. Whether you want to wear a historically accurate 1920’s flapper dress of your own creation or the same 3 piece suit Justin Timberlake wore to the Grammys is up to you.

DO: Make friends: I’ve been to Dapper Day with a group of people, and I’ve been by myself. I’ve met up with people I only knew from the internet, and I’ve hung out with friends that I made at previous Dapper Days. Making new friends is hard ay any age, but at Dapper Day you have a built-in ice breaker. “You look great!!” People come from all over to participate, plus most people love discussing their outfits and are happy to pose for photos. 

(Left photo by Sean Neumayer) 

DO: Prepare yourself: As you’ve probably guessed, it is hot and sweaty in central Florida at all times of the year. Combine that with a fancy outfit and dressy shoes…you’re bound to have some struggles. You can always bring a comfortable change of shoes (clock the flip flops above) a vintage fan or parasol, but my personal MO is to always plan on Dapper Day being laid back- it’s not really the time to check off every ride on your bucket list. It’s nice to just meander the parks at a reasonable pace, enjoying the scenery, atmosphere, and meeting other fabulously dressed folks. 

DON’T: Wear a costume! Not only is it against Disney park regulations, it’s not in the spirit of Dapper Day. Per the website "DAPPER DAY events celebrate sophisticated dressing and timeless style from yesterday and today. We want to see your personal style at our events. There’s many other opportunities to wear a costume or cosplay. DAPPER DAY events are meant to feature you being you!" If you really want to be a character, you can opt to Disneybound- choose your color scheme and accessories to reflect the character while still maintaining your own personal fabulousness.  

DON'T: Be a grump! Even though Dapper Day is growing bigger year after year, most guests at the park won’t know what’s going on and will be coming up to you periodically to ask. Share with them! In fact, share with everyone- there’s enough Dapper love to go around. And don’t forget to profusely thank and be kind to every cast member you see. It’s a really crowded weekend (akin to a Holiday) and they’re working hard to make your experience magical. 

…and that’s about it! It really is just that simple: Dress up, go to the parks, make friends, have fun! And yes, my bestie and I dressed as everyone's cult favorite Flower & Garden Festival beverage: Violet Lemonade. And yes I re-wear headpieces. (I made them!) Have you ever been to Dapper Day? Tell me in the comments! Or holler at me on Instagram, I'd love to take a photo with you. 

Note: Some of these photos were taken by the official Dapper Day photographer my lovely and talented friend Stephenie; who is California based but available worldwide. 

My First Disney Cruise

You guys. Do you want to know if you should go on a Disney Cruise? 

…yes. Absolutely yes. I might be biased. But yes. We finally went on our first Disney cruise, in fact my first cruise ever, and it was everything I hoped it would be and more…to the point of being overwhelming. So here are some tips that worked for us!

Use a Certified Disney travel agent. Hear me out. I know a lot of Disney blogs push them, especially because their services are 100% free, but for the cruise I felt like it was necessary. Deb from Mouse World Travel is a personal family friend, and I was so excited to finally book through her- as I usually plan my own WDW trips. Not only did she take away the stress of all the logistics (Which stateroom to pick, meal seatings and reservations) she gave us a bonus onboard credit- AKA bought us a whole bunch of boat drinks! 

Hey, speaking of drinks! (I like cocktails.)

Have a plan of attack for your alcohol. It’s not included with your dining plan, so if you don’t want to go overboard (ha! cruise puns!) spending money on booze, you gotta know what you’re doing. Each guest is allowed to bring 2 bottles of wine or a 6 pack onboard in their carry on. We personally opted to bring a few bottles of champagne - and intended to take advantage of the drink-of-the-day specials (a different drink every day for $5) and the beer mug (buy the souvenir mug and all your 20oz beers are the price of 16oz) It worked out great…plus we could order room service OJ in the morning to make DIY mimosas! Another way to maximize your drink value is to take a Mixology class. For the price of a couple drinks, we had a fun afternoon learning bartending skills and drinking our own creations. 

You Probably Don’t Need to do Excursions

Do you even know how to excurse, anyways? But seriously- for a first time cruiser, there is SO SO SO much to do on board, that we had some serious FOMO when we decided to do things like get off the boat, or lounge. 

(Like, how cute is my husband for real though.) 

If you do decide to excurse (I’m going to continue to use this as a verb) here’s what we did: 

Used a simple map of Nassau so that we could walk to our destinations. We visited the Queen’s Staircase/Fort Fincastle and then walked to John Watling’s Distillery. We bypassed the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas which honestly looked very cool, and I wish we had more time to check it out. (That FOMO again!) John Watling’s was a lovely property, but if you’ve seen one rum distillery you pretty much get the idea. 

Fast. Diet. Make Room. Prepare Yourself. 

The food is All You Care to Eat, not just in the buffet restaurants either. You can order multiple meals at the sit down restaurants, and even if you don’t— your server might do it for you!! We loved our server, hand-picked by our travel agent because of his great reviews. When I’d ask questions comparing dishes... he would just bring both! I think one night he may have brought the entire dessert menu to our table. But seriously y’all…you are going to be SO FULL at all times of day. I went back for THIRDS of my favorite meal, the blackened tilapia at Cookie’s Too on Castaway Cay. 

Pictured here, 3 servings of tilapia (in my belly) and the airplane runway I ran down to burn off the calories.

Things I Would Do Differently Next time: 

WTF…ish Extender. Outside your stateroom is a fish-shaped hook where the crew will leave relevant itinerary information. It has become a habit of cruisers to participate in gift exchanges by hanging containers (they look like shoe organizers) on these hooks…hence, Fish Extender. There are Facebook Groups organized by Cruise ship/sailing date (again, if you use our fabulous Disney Certified Travel Agent Deb, she’ll put you in one) and a lovely volunteer manages the gifting groups via a Google Doc. Since we were last minute cruisers I decided not to participate; but after seeing that you could join an adults-only exchange and trade really awesome looking creative gifts, I kind of want to do it next time.

Fish hook to the left. I was confused at first when I kept reading "Fish Hook" cause I pictured a hook that you catch fish on. Door decor provided by our wonderful travel agent, Deb at Mouse World Travel!

Relaxing? Spa Day. I read some really positive reviews about getting a day pass to use the saunas, Rainforest Room showers, hot tubs and heated lounge chairs in the Senses Day Spa. I was also excited about doing yoga classes. I would take a HARD PASS on both. It was a little too crowded for my taste (hey there, people conversing loudly in the sauna! What’s up, couple giving each other sensual massages in the hot tub!) and the showers were downright terrifying to me. Press a button, hold your breath, and get ATTACKED by different pressures and temperatures of water…not relaxing IMO. The yoga class unfortunately did not have it’s own dedicated space, and it wasn’t the greatest experience to be downward-dogging amidst the treadmills and stationery bikes. Next time I’ll stick with running on the track that circles the ship, and utilizing the in the locker room shower with spa body products available fo’ free. 

DO ALL THE THINGS! Because I had every intention of laying by the pool getting a tan, and exhausted myself by watching all the Broadway style shows and eating a 7 course meal every night at dinner, I missed out on a lot of fun activities! They had classes on towel folding, trivia, gameshow nights…there were a LOT of options, many of them inclusive, and scheduled right through 11pm. One thing I did do (because I'm RunDisney fan) is the Castaway 5K. Am I crazy for working out on vacation? I mean, I get a free souvenir prize necklace just for doing physical activity? SIGN ME UP!

Pin this image to share with other Disney Cruise newbies, and if you're ready to cruise: send a message to my friend Deb and tell her Shauna sent you!

7 Memorable Cocktails (With Recipes!)

I love cocktails. I love mixed drinks. I appreciate the talent of making a classic beverage and I love the artistry involved in creating an entirely new one. I love bartending tricks and skills and I love hipster mixology and prohibition era drinks. Booze: I’m a fan! 

Normally, when looking at a cocktail menu I don’t go for a specific type of alcohol- I gravitate towards the drinks that have ingredients I wouldn’t normally have on hand at home, or have never heard of. But I do have a soft spot in my heart for traditional stuff too…margaritas, manhattans…

Here are 7 memorable cocktails I’ve had in my travels, some with copycat recipes! 

Avocado Margarita La Cava del Tequila, Epcot- You know I had to start with a Disney drink. Don’t let the margs outside confuse you! What you wanna do is head inside the Mayan pyramid and hang right to the bar. Holler at Disney Food Blog for the recipe, they're the real heroes. 

• 1/2 ripe Haas avocado
• 2 oz. white 100% agave Tequila
• 1 oz. Midori melon liquor
• juice of one lime (about 1 oz.)
• 1 oz. Agave Syrup
• Blend all ingredients with a scoop of ice

Raspberry Beret  Butcher & Bee, Charleston SC Obviously I ordered this because of the name, kiiiiind of obsessed with Prince. Since I was dining alone, I requested to sit at the bar- turns out they don’t have one! They have a chef’s table, which involves a lot less small talk but a lot more entertainment- sort of like Master Chef live and in person. 

Hippopoto Mai-Tai Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, Polynesian Resort, Walt Disney World–Trader Sam’s, the adults-only tiki bar inside the Polynesian resort at Walt Disney World, is one of my favorite places of all time. My favorite drink (okay, they’re all my favorite but…) is a classic mai tai that comes in a souvenir glass modeled after the demigod Maui, who is the logo for the resort. (And also, Dwayne Johnson. Can someone please tell The Rock I would like to meet him for Tiki Drinks at the Poly? Please and thank you!) 

• 1 oz. each Light and Dark Rums
• 1/2 oz. Orange Curacao,
• 1 tsp. Orgeat (Almond) Syrup 
• 1 tsp. Organic Agave Nectar
• 1/2 freshly squeezed lime
• Shake it all up with ice, garnish with an outlandish amount of fruit and tiki decor

Honeysuckle Fizz  Chicken & The Egg, Marietta GA I rarely order the same drink twice (especially in a place that has a seasonally rotating menu) but this one’s just too good. Plus they were local to me, so I was a frequent diner/drinker here!

• 1/2 oz. Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka 
• Prosecco (top off the flute) 
• Squeeze of lime (a wedge'll do ya) 

Manhattan Andaz Hotel, Savannah GA “Does Savannah have the best Manhattan in America?” (Yes. It also has a lot of other awesome stuff: Check out my guide to Savannah here.) The bartender who created this won a nationwide contest by Woodford Reserve; though he has since moved on to another location. But you can copy his drink with this recipe!  

• 2 ounces Woodford Reserve
• 1/2 oz of Carpano Antica
• 1/2 oz Punt e Mes
• a couple dashes of bitters
• Stirred, not shaken. Garnish with: 
• Italian cherry, smoked
• Orange zest, flamed

Personalized Rosemary Lemon Cocktail  Top of the Monk, Asheville NC This whole experience was memorable: first of all, it’s cold AF in Asheville in January. Second, when we finally shivered our way inside- we seemed to be at the bottom of the Monk- the staircase outside, that looks private, is where to find the bar. Then when you get to the Top, you have to pay for a membership. I think it was a buck or two, and it has to do with the liquor laws and serving to the public. At which point we are finally in this very cozy, vintage feeling speakeasy with a menu that is overwhelming in a good way- my husband asks the bartender to make some decisions for me, and he comes back with a creation involving gin, lemon, and rosemary. Plus each drink came with a key for free snacks- a literal key. It opens your choice of letter slot in a vintage mailbox with munchies inside. As if this weren’t all precious enough, then we had a celebrity siting because Danny McBride walked in. What even was this night?!

Vegan Royal Gin Fizz at my house, on New Years Two things I don’t like: crowded holiday events and spending too much money. Staying home and making these cocktails solved both of these problems. If you don’t want to waste an entire egg white on a beverage (or if you’re vegan, which is awesome) you can use CHICKPEAS to make faux foam for your cocktails! Say that out loud. Faux foam. Fuh foaaaam. Almost as funny as the real name for this liquid: Aquafaba.  

• 1 egg white from 1 small egg (or 1/2 oz Aquafaba) 
• 1/4 cup gin
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons Simple Syrup
• Shake above ingredients over ice, then
• Champagne or sparkling wine, to top off

Cheers! If you make any of my most memorable drinks, please be sure to stop by my instagram and tell me which one- and how you liked it! 

3 Ways To Plan Your Travel Itinerary

Are you a list person? I have to write a list for everything. Grocery list, to-do list, idea list…if it isn’t written down, I’m gonna forget it. To be fair, I might even forget it if I write it down. Visiting a new place absolutely requires a to-do checklist whether it's en route on a phone or an elaborately designed and printed itinerary (oh yes, I have- with a color scheme, personalized graphics and all.) having a travel plan means you’ll know what to do and what to see.

1.) Review Sites: Usually the first place you'd check for the top restaurants, tourist attractions: Yelp & TripAdvisor. Some people argue that these sites are oversaturated and it’s harder to find unique experiences, but if you just dig a bit you'll find gems. Like, did you ever think about looking for things to do before/after a cruise IN the Port town? If you arrive a day early for your Disney Cruise you could check out a Manatee Sanctuary. Get creative with your search terms. “craft cocktails” and “indie boutique” will find results more specific to your interests than “drinks” or “shopping” (that is, if you’re an artesianal locally-sourced hipster dork like yours truly)

2.) Crowd Source: Isn't that friend from high school living on the west coast now? What was your aunt's alma mater again? Didn’t you just see a neighbor's photos from their beach trip? Social media can be a beautiful thing- don't be afraid to reach out and ask for suggestions from your peeps. One time I was in Las Vegas, and I saw a fellow SCAD alum working (in costume, in character!) in the lobby of the Cirque du Soleil show Ka. I popped on Facebook, gave him a call and left a voicemail, and within 3 hours we planned a brunch the next day at Hash House A Go-Go — which was A.) Frickin’ delicious and B.) So far off the strip I never would have thought to go there.  

3.) Ask the locals: The Lyft driver, barista, and cashier all live, work and play in this destination- somebody's bound to have a good suggestion! When I went to Chicago, I ordered a latte and asked where to shop- which is how I got some rad sunglasses at Una Mae’s indie boutique. And our Lyft driver (he was vegan!) reminded us about Chicago Diner- which, coincidentally I had already reached out to a former Chicagoan about on Facebook. Get chatty, learn stuff! 

Are you planning any trips soon? Tell me where, maybe I have some good suggestions! 

Things to Do & See in Savannah, Georgia

I lived in Savannah, Georgia for a short while (SCAD is my alma mater, which means I am also an expert in student loans) and I visit as often as possible. Here are some of my favorites for eating, drinking, and shopping! 

Shopping: 

• The Paris Market, Broughton Street: imagine the loveliest Parisian cafe merged with a purveyor of flea market antiques and artisans.  
• Terra Cotta: A clothing and accessory store with a decidedly Euro flare and a great sale rack.  
• Shop SCAD: Where to buy art, jewelry, and homegoods by alumni.

Cocktails: 

• Rocks on the Roof (Bohemian hotel) or Top Deck (Cotton Sail Hotel): both on Bay Street overlooking the river, both Hotel rooftop bars, but Top Deck wins for best views. 
• 22 Square: unassuming bar in Hotel Andaz: their cocktail program is one of the best in America. They have awards to prove it. 
• McDonough's: Karaoke EVERY. NIGHT. It's a divey Irish themed bar. Did I say Karaoke every night?
• Artillery Bar: A return to civility, this cocktail and champagne bar has a dress code and a menu to die for.  

Foodstuffs: 

• Foxy Loxy/ The Coffee Fox: ethically sourced, french press, pour overs, good espresso, the best coffee in Savannah. 
• The Collins Quarter: Brunchy and lunchy, beautiful restaurant, good food and fun coffee drinks. Plus they have a walk-up coffee window and bar which is really freakin' neat. 
• SoHo South Cafe: For ladies who lunch. Beautiful decor and live piano music on occasion. If you like champagne with your sandwiches, this is the place.  
• Pink House: One of the classic Savannah dining destinations (reservations suggested) downstairs bar is a (haunted!) tavern with live music and an awesome wine list.
• Public Kitchen & Bar: Farm to table eats, casual but stylish. 
• Vinnie Van Go Go's: Cash only, delicious pizza by the slice. 
• Back in the Day Bakery: They all but invented the cupcake craze (around the same time as Magnolia NYC) and I hear, from people who like banana pudding, theirs is the besty best.
• Local 11Ten: Fancy dining. They also have a great rooftop bar if you just want apps and drinks. 
• Wright Square Cafe: A little hidden lunch place. You want the baked chicken wrap. "Herb baked chicken with fig, caramelized onions, feta cheese, pecans." It's the shit.
• Tybee Island: Although the pier area is fun for people watching, I like to visit the calmer north side and see the lighthouse. 
• Aj's dockside: The best she-crab soup EVER, best enjoyed during sunset as they have a great deck on the water.
• The Crab Shack: My touristy guilty pleasure. You get a platterful of crab, mussels, shrimp and more, the ambiance is more Caribbean than Georgian, and you can feed baby gators. What's not to like?!

Other Tourist Shenanigans: 

• Ghost Tours: If you do one, I suggest a walking tour, it's a slower and more complete way to see the city- plus their storytelling tends to be more authentic. Blue Orb is my favorite, but Savannah Walks has good ones as well. 
• River Street: Because I don't dig the Bourbon Street vibes, I spend more time walking from square to square in search of the independent shops and bars. It's good for a view, to watch the fireworks, or catch a boat to brunch at the Westin.
• Pedi-Cabs: Although I love walking around Savannah, I grab a pedi-cab when I'm feeling lazy. You should be able to hail them at most hotels and they are paid by "suggested tips" - $5 should be reasonable to get you most places. It's a fun way to sight-see!

If we were going to roadtrip to Savannah tomorrow- where would you want to go first? Tell me in the comments or reach out on Instagram! 

What's In My Bag at Walt Disney World

…nothing! HA HA, just kidding. Or am I? There are so many wonderful comprehensive lists of what to bring to the parks when you visit Walt Disney World. Some people may really need bottles of water, and hand sanitizer, and snacks, and, and, and…Not me, man. One of the perks of Walt Disney World’s impeccable service is that they really try to provide so much! So really all I bring is:

My Magic Band: And when you’re staying on property in a Walt Disney World resort, this eliminates your need for a wallet. Scan it to pay for food/bev/souveniers, it goes on your room bill, and you pay upon check out.

Credit Card and ID: Gotta prove that you’re a big girl when you’re drinkin’ around Epcot! Oh, and pay for drinks obv.

Burt’s Bees: I apply this stuff obsessively, all day long. If we’ve hung out, you’ve probably watched me slather it on, trance-like for 30 seconds while you’re talking. I’m a weirdo.

And das it! No, seriously. Here’s why:

Water: at any counter service restaurant you can ask for complimentary iced tap water.

Snacks: when I’m at Disney World, the food is as much of an experience as the rides and atmosphere! Even if I don’t have ADRs (aka reservations) I will usually have a little plan of attack where I’m going to eat. I usually trust Disney Tourist Blog, Disney Food Blog and Vegan Disney Food for their recommendations. Plus, there’s always popcorn. I LOVE POPCORN.

Kid Stuff and First Aid: Okay, I’m not a mom. I get it. But I am an Aunt, a Na-na, and a MommyShauna, and when I help plan trips for my rental babies or even travel along with them- I remind the parents about the Baby Center. There’s one in each park, and they provide a whole room full of changing tables, a quiet dark area with rocking chairs to breastfeed, and a little shop full of necessities. (Diapers, wipes, cream, baby food- you know.) Just next door is a First Aid Station. Of course they are there for medical emergencies (my lil non-cashew eater Charlie was happy to hear they had extra Epi Pens just in case) but they also have Band Aids, Neosporin, Advil and the like. 

(Kids like Finding Nemo, right? See? I DO get it.) 

Another thing to consider- if you’re packing a Park Bag like you’re gonna be gone for two days…you’re staying in the parks too long. One of my number one Disney Vacation Planning suggestions (for adults or families) is to pace yourself. Ideally I like to visit one park in the morning, and then head back to the hotel after lunch. You can nap, swim in the pool, eat at a Resort restaurant- basically recharge until you feel ready to head for park number two. It avoids the inevitable meltdown that all humans (children and otherwise) have when they are overwhelmed by TOO MUCH MAGIC.*

*Magic…and Florida heat, crowds, and indulgent vacation food. So, what's the craziest thing you've ever seen someone bring into the parks? Comment below, or tell me over on Instagram, I wanna know!