The last two weeks of June starts our family summer vacation. We’re going on a road trip and hitting Atlanta, Savannah, the Fort Stewart area (where my husband was stationed last) and Charlotte, North Carolina for the Type-A Parent Conference. And since we’re doing this trip without much planning, we don’t have hotel reservations, except for Charlotte. It’s going to help us save money by using a travel site on the road – Last Minute Hotel Deals from $47!

I have family in Atlanta so we’ll visit them. The most exciting thing is that my daughter, Alicia and her husband, Scott are driving in from Kansas to visit too! It’s going to be a mini family reunion. We don’t have definite plans, but I’d like to see the Georgia Aquarium, Stone Mountain, and the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum all together.

After a few days in Atlanta, Alicia and Scott are going to drive back to Kansas along with Sammi, who will spend most of July with them. This will be her first time away from us since being diagnosed with Sinus Tachycardia, possible Long QT Syndrome , POTS and Anxiety. But, I have no worries. She’ll be well taken care of. Alicia and Scott have lots of activities planned for Sammi. She certainly won’t be bored.

It will be good for her to get away from me and her father. And good for me and my husband to have some time alone. During July, we’ll go away for some short trips in the local Tampa/St. Pete and Orlando area. We deserve it.

Now I just have to find a way to cope with my husband’s driving during the road trip and all will be well.

What are your plans for the summer? Any suggestions for what to see in the cities we’ll be visiting?

Resource: Frommer’s Atlanta (Frommer’s Complete Guides)

No compensation was received for this post. This blog uses affiliate links.

Off we went to their “dressing room” – a suite in the Disney Yacht Club Convention Center. I still couldn’t believe I was one of the chosen – four bloggers who must have caught Leanne’s eyes as Cubby O’Brien and Sherry Alberoni were on stage. From the start of the Mickey Mouse Club March as I clapped and sang along to the effortless drum routine played by Cubby, I was enthralled by every minute. They deservedly received a standing ovation from many of us.

Meeting Cubby O’Brien and Sherry Alberoni in person proved to me that famous people can be just what they seem like on stage – caring, funny and considerate. They took time to speak with each of us one on one to get to know us a little better and to take photos with us. When I got overwhelmed with emotion, I got a hug from Sherry, who was just as kind as could be. It felt like family in the room.

Earlier, during their performance, we learned that Cubby O’Brien continued drumming after the Mickey Mouse Club. Some of the musical celebrities he worked with are Lawrence Welk, Ann-Margaret, Debbie Reynolds and Bernadette Peters (1968-Present). When he is introduced, he is remembered as a Mouseketeer. Sherry Alberoni was in the film, Dance With Me, Henry, as Lou Costello’s adopted daughter. She played Davy Jones’ wife or girlfriend on The Monkees and other shows, was the voice for Alexandra Cabot from Josie and the Pussy Cats and did voice overs for other animated shows and movies.

So what is it about the original Mickey Mouse Club that so endearing to me? I wasn’t even born during the first four seasons of the show (1955 – 1959), but thanks to syndicated reruns I was able to watch and enjoy the shows with my Mother and older sister who is 11 years older than me. They were reliving a part of their life with me which became a family tradition. Each day, we’d sit together and sing along to the March, and wait for Fun with Music Day, Anything Can Happen Day and Talent Roundup Day. It brought us close together, having one thing in common between the three of us.

I paid to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. In exchange for my registration fee, I received deeply discounted rates on hotel, park tickets, free events, meals, and swag. I am not required nor was I asked to write about the events by Disney or any other brands, celebrities, or speakers affiliated with the event. All opinions are my own. Affiliate links are used on this blog.

Look at the view

Spend the Day

For more inspiring photos, check: High Impact Mom, The Bonafide Life, Shanamama, From Dates to Diapers, Not Your Mom Blog, The Divine Miss Mommy, Colorado Moms, Rajean Blomquist and Zensible Mama and link your own photo stories.

Do you have a favorite hotel pool?

But because the attendees are bloggers and social media enthusiasts, we thrive on conference day. It’s time to learn about our business and to be inspired. This year, I walked away with a mixture of information and motivation, with a higher percentage of motivation. And this was just what I needed during this time of my blogging career.

Meg Croftin on Conference Stage

When the doors of conference room were opened, I was awed by the stage, table decorations and the overall look of the room. Every year, it gets better! Rayovac sponsored the conference and kept us powered up with outlets on our table. Instead of flowers, each of us received a bouquet of USB outlets, batteries and chargers. Thanks Rayovac!

Maryellen Hooper

Speakers

• Amy Jo Martin, Digital Royalty @DigitalRoyalty – Known as a renegade in social media, Amy Jo spoke about finding your why in your business.
• Ramon DeLeon, Domino’s Pizza, @Ramon_Deleon – I was most inspired by Ramon, who went from a pizza delivery guy to the Social Media mastermind of Domino’s. His enthusiasm, his family values and his online honesty (he retweets negative tweets about Domino’s and then deals with them) had me listening to every word. I’m a fan and even kissed him after his talk.
• Peter Shankman, The Geek Factory @PeterShankman – I loved that Peter chose to honor us with a brand new talk. I understood all too well what it means to “be a weed”. Although unique, you probably have haters, but dig in deep and overcome.
• Lisa Druxman, Stroller Strides @LisaDruxman – Lisa began a business after having a child and proved to us that we can follow our goals even when we feel like we are overwhelmed.
• Chris Brogan, Human Business Works @ChrisBrogan – Chris gave us tips on updating our blogs to gain more readers.
• Conference Host: Maryellen Hooper @MaryellenHooper – Maryellen had me in stitches as she spoke about being a mother of two and showed us photos of her family.

Ramon DeLeon

Animal Kingdom Dinner

Visiting Animal Kingdom after the park closed was exciting and staying after dark was thrilling. We spent our time in DinoLand USA with a dinner buffet, opened rides, including Mt. Everest (the first time it was opened to riders after dark) and midway games.

Mickey and Minnie and Me

Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck and other characters appeared for photos. Before we entered we were greeted by a face character (I don’t know her name) who called out my daughter, Sammi to ask if she was in the mafia. Sammi was wearing her black fedora. Sammi came out of her shell and had a very funny back and forth with her. We had time to sit with other attendees, talk and eat another scrumptious dinner. The celebration continued and we looked forward to the next day of breakout sessions and dinner at the not yet opened Art of Animation Resort.

My Flickr folder contains more photos from the Animal Kingdom Dinner. Take a look!

Stay tuned for more Disney Social Media Moms posts.

I paid to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. In exchange for my registration fee, I received deeply discounted rates on hotel, park tickets, free events, meals, and swag. I am not required nor was I asked to write about the events by Disney or any other brands, celebrities, or speakers affiliated with the event. All opinions are my own. Affiliate links are used on this blog

Fearless Mobility

I use a battery powered scooter as a mobility aid because of Myasthenia Gravis and Rheumatoid Arthritis and the resulting weakness, pain and fatigue.  This can be a barrier when traveling because of its size and weight. Thankfully we have a lift for our vehicle for road trips. When flying, I chose to use a wheelchair provided by the airline and someone to push the chair. The scooter is stored with baggage. Although I’m relying on someone else, it allows me to go to far off destinations.  Then watch out for me as I become fearless on my scooter and zip around when I arrive.

“We`re unflappable on the road. We seem to be fearless right now.” Chris Drury

Fearless Health Precautions

I’m prone to get sick when I’m around a lot of other people because of a compromised immune system.  Good hand washing, eating healthy food, getting enough sleep can all help me avoid illness. If going out of the country, it’s important to check if vaccines are needed and if there are any travel alerts for the flu, malaria and other illnesses. When I’m home and go to stores or my daughter’s school, I can get sick too. I’m fearless, but take precautions.

“I tend to think you`re fearless when you recognize why you should be scared of things, but do them anyway.” Christian Bale

Fearless Travel Planning

Going to a strange place and being out of my comfort zone can cause stress which can result in a flare up of one or more of the medical conditions I have. I plan ahead and double check my reservations being sure that any special accommodations I need are taken care of by the airline and hotel.  I make use of deep breathing, relaxation techniques and prescribed medication. When I see the beautiful scenery, meet new people from other cultures, I’m fearless and want to visit every single amazing site.

“Fear–who cares?” Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

Fearless Travel Twitter Party

WHEN: May 7, 9-10 pm EDT (8-9 pm CT; 7-8 pm MT; 6-7 pm PT)

WHO: Panelists @TravelingMoms @KimOrlando @DebMomOf3 @CindyRichards @MaryHeston @LisaSamples @ConnieFoggles

WHAT: Twitter party – Fearless Travel

HOW TO JOIN: Follow the hashtags #TMOM and #BigC2

PRIZES: We’ll be giving away a Sony Pictures prize pack with copies of The Big C – Season 1 and 2, The Vow, Smurfs, and Zookeeper. We will also give away DVDs of The Big C Season 2 throughout the party.

RSVP: Fearless Travel Twitter Party

I wrote this as a compensated Twitter Party host for TravelingMom.com. All opinions are my own.

Shortly after the reception, we attended the Pirate Themed party, the Swashbuckler Soiree and Family Dinner by Disney Junior.  Held on the beach, with a tasty buffet, it was a lovely way to spend time with our families and other bloggers. The entertainment included a band of pirates (get it?), Disney characters (Smee, Captain Hook and Jake from the Neverland Pirates) for fun photo opps, splashing in the water and hunting for treasure.

The food choices were overwhelming, so I took a little of everything to taste. Then I’d go back for more of what I really like – barbeque ribs, mahi mahi, roasted potatoes and Bananas Foster. The children’s buffet had burgers, hot dogs, fresh fruit, mac and cheese and other goodies.

Disney always knows how to make families happy. The adults had time to kick off our shoes, eat dinner and dessert (maybe a few helpings of both), laugh at the corny jokes from the band and make friends with others at our table or across the beach. Children of all ages grabbed some food then ran off. They dug in the sand, found a friend or three,  played games with Radio Disney cast members, danced and some ended up with more than their toes in the water. As the sun set and our bellies were filled, my family and I found ourselves with big smiles, relaxed and looking forward to more adventures during the Disney Social Media Moms event.

Important Info: I must say thank you to the amazing women who worked behind the scenes to make this entire event as special anyone could imagine – the @DisneySMMoms team. When I checked in to get my paperwork, tickets and swag, they remembered me by name! When I apologized for the emails I sent about special requests, they were so kind. I’m kicking myself for not taking a photo of them and their contagious smiles, but I sure do remember them all.

My Flickr folder contains more photos of the Pirate Dinner. Take a look!

Stay tuned for more Disney Social Media Moms posts.

I paid to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. In exchange for my registration fee, I received deeply discounted rates on hotel, park tickets, free events, meals, and swag. I am not required nor was I asked to write about the events by Disney or any other brands, celebrities, or speakers affiliated with the event. All opinions are my own. Affiliate links are used on this blog.

Meeting the greeter, a refined gentleman dressed as a Captain, and speaking with him, made us feel at home. He shared tidbits about the resort and knew about every park and what would make my 13 year old daughter happy. I’m sad that we missed taking a photo with him, but I’ll be sure to do that on my next visit. All of the staff members are friendly and welcoming. If I looked puzzled, someone asked if they could help before I had a chance to ask.

The little things mean so much – Ice cold water with lemons in the lobby, plush benches in the hallways, fresh flowers set on tables, lush gardens all around the resort – made our first stay the first of many. Our room was large and beautifully decorated. The nautical theme is carried out through the room with blue and white as the featured colors.  We had visitors as soon as we walked in the door…two ducks awaiting our arrival on the balcony.

Our first meal of the day, lunch, was on our own and we chose Beaches and Cream Soda Shop. Burgers, fries, grilled cheese and ice-cream were all delicious. The 50’s style diner feel added to our delight as we ate and listened to jukebox music and dimmed lights as servers brought out the famous Kitchen Sink Sundae. Thank goodness we chose to share our ice cream so we’d have room for dinner later that night.

My Flickr folder contains more photos of the Disney Yacht Club. Take a look!

Stay tuned for more Disney Social Media Moms posts.

I paid to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. In exchange for my registration fee, I received deeply discounted rates on hotel, park tickets, free events, meals, and swag. I am not required nor was I asked to write about the events by Disney or any other brands, celebrities, or speakers affiliated with the event. All opinions are my own. Affiliate links are used on this blog.

Wordlock Luggage locks are Travel Sentry® Approved, which means they have a red diamond on them signifying that the TSA can open the lock without breaking it. So if the TSA can open it, why use a luggage lock? No one that transports or stores your luggage can get into it easily. Keep your items safe!

Keep informed about what’s happening with Worldlock and learn about their other products on their Facebook page.

Available in 5 hot colors, Wordlock Luggage locks, can help you find your bags among the many others out there. Pick a pink or green one and see. Then choose a 4 letter word as your very own combination. Attach to your suitcase and go off and travel.

Review

Luggage locks without keys are just what I want. No need to worry about where the keys are when I travel. And you know about my memory problems, so remembering a word instead of numbers is the best thing since sliced bread. I did need a little help when setting up the lock, but once I got over that, I’m ready to go on my next adventure.

Giveaway

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I received a lock for this review. Affiliate links included. All opinions are my own.

From the lavish lobby, decked out in the art nouveau style, features a glorious stained glass chandelier and the bronze statue of Mademoiselle Minnie Mouse.  The atrium will take you a while to see each detail. When you look closely, you’ll see the combination of formal and fun. For example, the grand piano and the high fluted columns are surrounded by hidden Mickeys around the balconies and in the metallic artwork high along the walls. This is a suggestion of what is to come during your cruise.

The Golden Age of Cruising – Formal Activities on the Disney Fantasy

• Enjoy a romantic dinner at the adult only Palo or Remy restaurants.
• Dress up and spend time in Europa, the adults-only entertainment district, which contains five nightclubs.
• Relax and get pampered in the Senses Spa and Salon with a massage, aromatherapy or other service.
• Feel like royalty during High Tea in Palo.

Fun for All Ages – Casual Activities on the Disney Fantasy

• Play the Muppets Adventure Game and expect laughter.
•  Splash on the AquaDuck Water Slide or get wet in any of the four family pools or water play areas.
•  Take in one of the Broadway style musical stage shows with familiar Disney characters.
• Dress up like a pirate and party during Buccaneer Blast. Enjoy the fireworks and don’t forget to dance.

The Disney Fantasy will soon offer a 7-Night Eastern Caribbean cruise in April and 7-Night Western Caribbean cruises in November. Couples, single adults, families, groups of friends and multi-generational families will enjoy the romance of the grand days of cruising and the excitement of creating new memories on the Disney Fantasy.

My 3-Night Disney Fantasy Inaugural Cruise, shipboard credit, a small stipend and a welcome package was provided by TravelingMom.com. All opinions are my own.

This is my second Disney cruise and I’m excited to see what the Disney Fantasy has in store. I’ve been learning a great deal about it and am looking forward to:

• The Design (inside and out) – the Disney fun mixed with elegance
• The Food and Experience – The Animator’s Palate
• The Entertainment – Broadway style shows and character greetings
• The Famous Castaway Cay – Disney’s Private Island

I’ll be on board for a four day cruise, so I’ll try to fit in as much as possible. One thing I won’t be doing is the AquaDuck. I don’t think my body can handle it!

My packing is done, but I just bought a new pair of sunglasses and new Mickey Mouse shirt today to add to the suitcase. Tomorrow, I get to meet my fellow bloggers during the Traveling Mom’s Council Retreat at the Asante Terrace in the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Now, this will be fun!

Please post any questions you have about the Disney Fantasy or Disney cruising in general and I’ll do my best to answer them when I return.