My Give A Day, Get A Disney Day Adventure

In 2010, Disney will celebrate the efforts of 1 million people by giving away a 1 day park ticket in exchange for a day of volunteer service. Kicking this event off on January 1st, the site was *flooded* by people all looking for volunteer events they could sign up for. I will admit that I was one of those..desperate to find something that my entire family could participate in. Needless to say, I was very disappointed the first few days, not being able to find anything local. Even more disappointing was notes I was reading from others on Twitter, expressing the same frustrations. :( So close to giving up, I decided to wait a week.

Going back to the site a week later, I did some "in-depth" searching & stumbled upon the Gus A Stavros Institute Finance Park & Enterprise Village events. (Enterprise Village is a real-life, job & financial learning experience for 5th graders & Finance Park is geared for 8th graders) Well, just so happens that I have an 8th grader & that I was already signed up to volunteer for this event. Talk about luck!! Granted, this didn't accommodate my whole family, but I was excited to get in!! I called a friend of mine who also wanted to do a volunteer event & we were signed up together.

Having all the kids that I do, I have been to these field trips many times. I was given a group of students and was there to help them budget their finances & buy a house & car and try to experience some of the monthly financial budgeting we have to do as adults. I was lucky enough that Future Headache allowed me to eat lunch with her & even let me get my picture with her! What a lucky mom I am...lol.

There were a few other volunteers there as well, volunteering for Disney tickets :) These people were excited, planning on using their tickets for the Flower & Garden Festival, Star Wars Weekends & just regular visits.

After this, I decided I needed to find a volunteer event for the rest of the family. The Boy was lucky enough that his play group, Actors Reaching Out, signed up to act out The Little Mermaid for an after school care program. The rest of the family is signed up to help clean up after a ADA fundraising race. Of course, I will be participating again, but thats ok. We are just happy to be a part of this experience!

If you have not yet signed up for something, I encourage you to keep looking! It really is a rewarding experience..especially when you can do it together as a family!

Celebrate.....ME :)

picture taken by Maria Elkin-not bad for a camera phone ;)

OK….
How often do you take time out of your day to celebrate the things you need to? Or do you just celebrate when it’s convenient? Most of the time, life is so busy & hectic, we tend to push off celebrations until it’s convenient for everyone. But, thanks to Disney this year, we will stop and celebrate when we have to!

I have lived in Fl since 1973-74-ish. For as long as I can remember back, we always went to Disney twice a year. We always went at some point over the summer & for my birthday in October. For quite a few years, my dad’s company gave out tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. That’s quite a few trips. And since we have had passes, we average a trip every 2 weeks. But I can honestly say, in all of those years & trips, we never went to Disney on my actual birthday.

This year, I did.

We didn’t get as early of a start as I would have liked, but we did arrive at the Magic Kingdom at about 12:30...just in time for the Move It Shake It Celebrate It Party. We skipped down Main Street & danced in the street with Baloo & sang along with Mickey. Even though I have seen this before, it was different because it was MY birthday this time J I think just about every cast member between the entrance & the castle stopped to tell me Happy Birthday. It was so neat!

Only having a few hours in the Kingdom, we hit a few of the standard you-can’t-go-to-the-MK-and-not-ride rides...Haunted Mansion & Pirates of the Caribbean. By naptime, we had successfully danced, sang, spooked & swaggered all over the land.

Even though I only had a few hours to play, this was definitely one of the most magical birthdays ever. Celebrating with me was The Boy, Peanut & Peanut’s friend. I have to admit, this was a great promotion. I never would have stopped everything to celebrate on a Thursday under any other circumstances. So, Disney, I say thank you. Thank you for forcing me to stop & celebrate me. I had fun.

My Family

OK, I am ready to get this blog rolling :)

Before I start, since there are so many of us, I should probably introduce everyone. That way, as you follow along, you'll know who I am talking about! 

The Boy-

DS just recently turned 18. Graduated high school & starting to really develop an appreciation for Disney at a deeper level. He holds true to the original concepts of Disney, loves the Mouse, and all history behind it. His all time favorite - Jack Skellington & anything Nightmare :)

Mini-Me-

DD1 is just about 15(in 11 days) and is a carbon copy of me. Do you know what it is like to argue with a teenage version of your current self?? Not so much an adventurist, but more of an appreciative soul, she too loves the parks and can't wait to celebrate her "Fantastic 15th Flip-Floppin' Birthday Fiasco" at the parks. Her fave...Marie from the Aristocats. Quite fitting...lol

Future Headache-

DD2 is 13, almost 14(in December) and is exactly what her name says. She is my adventurer...my free spirit...my little spitfire. While very close to DD1, (almost twin-like) she is totally different. Will ride just about any ride at all... Her favorite...Chip & Dale

Peanut-

DD4 is brand new 2. Also known as Princess Peanut when she feels like wearing her tiara, which is quite often. She also has more than one, so they match whatever she is wearing. She is quite the leader, often dictating which way to go at the parks. Yes, at 2, she has her favorites. Her since-day 1-fave...Piglet.

Well, now you have met our Disney crazed family. I hope this helps.