While I was there I tried Butterbeer, the signature drink from the stories. We waited in line for ten minutes or so and got a cup of amber frozen sweetness. It was very good, but I was glad I was sharing it with someone else. It was so sweet and so buttery that a little bit went a long way. Now that I have tasted Butterbeer I have no desire to try it again. But let it be said I thought Universal did a great job of bringing the world of Harry Potter to life, including Butterbeer.

While all this Harry Potter stuff in interesting this is a Disney blog, so why am I going on and on about Universal? Well, Butterbeer was so popular at Universal that Disney wanted their own signature drink. This was going to be a little difficult because Disney has lots of great drinks (you have to try Ramone’s Pear of Dice Soda) and they do not have a movie that emphasizes one drink like Harry Potter does with Butterbeer.

A new beverage was revealed when New Fantasyland opened at the Magic Kingdom. Lefou’s Brew is a fun apple drink inspired by Beauty and the Beast that is found at Gaston’s Tavern. Guests at Disneyland were not left out and a different signature drink was created for Fantasy Faire, the newest area of Fantasyland. It is called Boysen Apple Freeze and is found at Maurice’s Treats. Boysen rhymes with poison so it is obviously a Snow White reference. I couldn’t wait to try this new drink and see how it compared to Butterbeer.

So…which did I like better, Butterbeer, or Boysen Apple Freeze? It may seem like I have a bias, but anyone who know me knows that I love Harry Potter about as much as I love Disney (if Disney had made the Harry Potter movies I would have cried with joy). So with no bias, just my taste buds as my judge, I declare…Boysen Apple Freeze the winner. This drink was much lighter than Butterbeer and the combination of boysenberry, raspberry, and apple made the drink both tart and sweet. This is a drink that I will buy every time I visit Disneyland. When I go back to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (once they fix their crowd problems) I will try other drinks but not Butterbeer.

Congratulations to Disney for winning the battle of the drinks. They won in another way, too. You can get a souvenir cup with either drink, but Disney’s cups are way cooler. You get to choose between a princess goblet or a Beast beer stein. I chose the goblet and love using it at home. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: If you are looking for breakfast at Disneyland bypass the crowds at Main Street U.S.A. and head over to Fantasy Faire. Boysen Apple Freeze makes a great breakfast drink.  At the same cart you can buy a twist. I tried the cheesy garlic twist and it was excellent. It is a good size (you can see me holding one above), enough for a light meal and plenty big enough to share with a friend for a snack. They also had strawberry and chocolate. I can’t wait to try them all.

Image from www.disneystore.com

Since I live in a small space and am always trying to declutter I try not to have large collections that I need to store and dust constantly. This is a challenge for me because I like to collect things. Part of the fun of going on vacation is wandering through the tourist shops and picking up a memento. Recently I have found a new item to collect and it has made shopping while on vacation a lot of fun. What am I now buying? Pens and pencils.

At first this may sound really boring. Pens and pencils? They are not overly pretty and they are certainly not a common collection. But I love finding a new pen or pencil on vacation. It has become a bit of a quest for me to buy one everywhere I go. Still wondering why I do this? Here are five great reasons.

Five reasons to collect pens and pencils:

1) They are inexpensive. Having a large collection can really break the bank if the item you are collecting costs a lot. Most of the pencils I collect cost about one dollar. I can buy lots of pencils and still have room for a Mickey Mouse ice cream bar.

2) They are small and hardy. If you are collecting something breakable or large, like crystal Disney figurines, you have to figure out how to get them home without breaking them. Pencils take up no room in your suitcase.

3) They are useful. This is my favorite reason to collect pens and pencils. They are not just knickknacks that sit on the shelf and fill your life with clutter. They are an item that everyone needs lots of anyway. Instead of buying a dozen Bic pens you can use the ones you bought on vacation.

4) They remind you of your trip. Unlike a photo album or other items that you don’t look at very often you will be reminded of your trip every time you use your pen or pencil. I have a pencil from each Disney resort I have stayed at and it reminds me of how fun it was staying in those rooms with my friends.

5) They are fun. There are lots of pencils at tourist shops to choose from and they often have fun designs. I have a pen from the National Building Museum that is shaped like a nail. I smile every time I use it.

So the next time you are looking for a fun, memorable, small, inexpensive souvenir consider a pen or pencil. I guarantee that this collection will become one of your favorites the first time you go looking for something to write with. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: Pens and pencils make a fun collection but they also make fun gifts. Everyone needs one and if you buy one with the person’s favorite Disney character on it they will know you were thinking of them when you bought it. I often think of the person who gave me a pen whenever I use it.

There are two ways to use this calendar. One is to look for the days you will be visiting and see what is going on. The other is to choose what you want to see and then plan to visit on those dates. I often have no choice in when I visit due to race dates or other people’s schedules and it is helpful to see what may be happening when I will be there. But someday I will go to one of the special Halloween or Christmas events and then this calendar will be helpful in knowing what dates I need to be there.

So add this link to your favorites list so you’ll be informed before your next trip to the Disney Parks. As I always say, knowing is half the battle. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: Above I mentioned that I saw the calendar on Facebook. This is a great resource for useful Disney trip information and fun Disney memes. If you type Disney into the search bar you’ll find tons of pages to choose from. Two of my favorite pages are from the Disney Parks Blog and Disneyland Today.

You can’t finish if you don’t start.

It’s Friday and we are all looking forward to the weekend. If you are a runner you might be looking forward to the Inagural Dumbo Double Dare Challenge at Disneyland. To earn this special medal crazy (I mean enthusiastic) people will run a 10K on Saturday and a half marathon on Sunday. I wish I was one of those people, but I just couldn’t do it this year.

However, it is on my calendar for next year. On Labor Day weekend 2014 I will be at Disneyland earning my Dumbo Double Dare medal. I haven’t made any other plans for that trip but I have made my decision.

How about you? Have you been wanting to visit a Disney park? Do you say that you will go “someday”? Did you know that ”someday” is not on the calendar? Instead of making wishes, make plans. Take some time this weekend to get out your calendar and make a date with Disney. You don’t have to do anything else right now. Just write down the date you want to go.

What is the point of this? One, it gives you something to work for, something to save for. Plus, you can keep an eye out for any Disney deals that come along and you’ll be ready to snatch them up. Lastly, knowing that you are visiting the parks, even far into the future, can bring a smile to your face. It always does for me.

So make a date, write it on a piece of paper, decorate it with Disney stickers, and put it somewhere prominent, like on your refrigerator, or your bathroom mirror. Maybe I’ll see you at Disneyland next year, running with the rest of the crazies. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: Do you like Pintrest? It is a great way to plan for your trip. Make a page dedicated to your Disney vacation and then pin fun ideas as you find them. New rides, great food options, and cool merchandise can all be added so you won’t forget anything when it comes time start finalizing your trip. Plus it builds up the anticipation which is part of the fun of planning things with time to spare.

But I can see the good in just about anything and I have decided that even though I never plan to visit Avatarland I am glad they are building it. Why? Well, there is the good, the bad (a little) and the Yeti.

The good – They are turning Camp Minnie-Mickey into Avatarland. This was an underused section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The only reason to visit this area was to see the Festival of the Lion King. In order to get to the theatre you had to walk all the way to the far end of the land which was underwhelming. Due to Avatarland coming the Imagineers are building a new theatre in Africa. This is the perfect place for it and the new theatre is designed for this one show so it will be even more amazing.

The bad – Even though I did not like Avatar lots of people did and a lot of them will visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom to play in Pandora. This will bring more people to a park that tends to have low attendance. While that sounds good it will be a big change for those of us who visit the park because it is not crowded. I like not having to look around hundreds of people to see the animals and that might become a thing of the past.

and The Yeti – My favorite attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. I always try to ride it first thing in the morning before the lines get long. When Avatarland opens the lines for Expedition Everest may be shorter for a while. That means I can see the Yeti more often. Awesome.

So bring it on. I have no problem with tall blue people invading Disney’s Animal Kingdom. And who knows, maybe it will be so amazing that I’ll want to visit it, too. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: Do you have a special dinner planned during your trip? If it is an evening reservation plan to visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom the same day. The park closes early so you won’t be missing anything in the evening. Also it is not an overly busy park so you won’t be tiring yourself out during your visit.

No one who knows me would say I am an adult. Well, I guess I am an adult because of my age, but I am definitely not grown-up. So how can I write a series on adult things to do in the Disney parks? I know a lot of adults and if I was visiting the parks with them I would recommend these ideas. The fun part is that the five ideas I have listed work for both grown-ups and those of us who never grew up.  My short list works for those adults who don’t want anything Mickey Mouse. Why would they go to a Disney park, you ask? Because the parks are for everyone. Today we’ll visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is another park that I would say has a lot of adult appeal. There are attractions for families and children but they are off in their own sections and are easy to avoid it you are looking for grown-up fun. My favorite restaurant is in this park so I always make a point of visiting during my trip. I admit I skip some of the more adult attractions but I know so many people who love them that I feel safe recommending them here.

5 fun activities that adults can enjoy at Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

1) Have a meal at The Hollywood Brown Derby. There are no bad meals at the Hollywood Brown Derby and the atmosphere takes you back to Hollywood in the 1920s. I recommend the combo option that includes an appetizer, main dish, and dessert. If you have a hard time choosing dessert I suggest you try the grapefruit cake. It tastes like you’re eating dessert for breakfast, really light and fresh. I never miss a chance to enjoy a slice.

2) Hit the rides on Sunset Boulevard. Sunset Boulevard has great shops and two awesome rides for adults. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is a must ride for anyone who likes to be scared out of their wits while being randomly dropped from 13 stories. It is not just the elevator ride that freaks people out, but the psychological mind games the show plays before they drop you. I have taken the plunge and I think I’ll take the stairs next time. For a ride a little less scary but just as thrilling check out the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Staring Aerosmith. This dark ride combines great music with a super-fast coaster that has you twisting and turning through the streets of L.A. You’ll hardly have a chance to catch your breath before the ride is over. Cool.

3) Check out Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show. There are several live shows at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but the most impressive one involves multiple stunt cars, jet skis and fire. Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show takes you behind the scenes and shows you how exciting the car scenes you see in movies truly are.

4) Take a walk down the Streets of America. How would you like to have your picture taken on the streets of New York, walk a few feet and then be standing in San Francisco? Visit the Streets of America and you’ll get some awesome pictures and learn how forced perspective works. This area is often overlooked unless the Osborn Spectacle of Lights is happening but its a nice place to get some family photos.

5) Visit the Writer’s Stop. On the corner of the Streets of America is a small store. The Writer’s Stop has everything a book and coffee lover could need. I like this store because it is a nice place to pause during a busy day. Puruse the books and enjoy a coffee and a treat. I recommend the iced carrot cake cookies. They are delicious.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a park full of diverse attractions, from thrill rides to fine dining. If I was traveling with a group of adults I’d make sure we spent time at this park, and maybe make plans to eat here more than once. The dining choices are some of the best in any park. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: There are lots of adult activities on property that are not require a park ticket. You can go golfing on a variety of courses, go fishing with a guide, and go boating on many of the park’s lakes as well as dozens of other pastimes. If you want the ultimate thrill you can drive an exotic car at the Walt Disney World Speedway. How often to you get the chance to ride in a car that cost six figures? It would be a Tony Stark moment.

Now, I go to the movies a lot and I have noticed that about 95% of the audience gets up and leaves as soon as the credits start rolling. Don’t do this. While it is true that lots of movies do not put extra scenes during or after the credits, many movies do. You paid for the whole movie, why leave before it is over? That is like ordering a meal but only eating some of it. You paid for the whole thing. Enjoy the whole thing.

I could rant about this for quite a while, but I won’t. I am just informing anyone who is not aware that Disney puts extra scenes during or after the credits. Pirates of the Caribbean had them. Winnie the Pooh had them. Avengers had them (a personal favorite.) These are often funny, add to the story, and/or may give hints about the next movie. So stay. Relax. Enjoy the music. As we all know, it ain’t over until the Backson falls in the pit. Happiness squared.

Goofy Movie: If you are wondering what a Backson is watch the 2011 Winnie the Pooh
movie. If you have seen the new Winnie the Pooh movie but missed the scene after the credits then click here. OMD (I love this website) shares the end that they missed. Hopefully you saw it and just want to see it again because it’s sooooo cute!

When I lived close to Disneyland I usually visited in the winter and spring when the crowds were less and the weather was nice. But lots of people visit during the summer. The combination of crowds and heat can wilt the most enthusiastic Disney fan. Below I list five ways you can keep your cool even on the hottest days. Some of these ideas work no matter where you are. So stay cool and read on.

5 ways to stay cool while visiting the parks on hot days:

1) Ride the right rides. Big Thunder Mountain is a great ride, but I would not want to ride it in the heat of the day. Instead head for rides that are 1) Dark rides with cool interiors 2) have indoor lines or 3) are water rides. Some great examples are Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Splash Mountain. Save rides like Mad Tea Party and Autopia for early mornings or night. Another cool idea is to head over to Epcot. You can enjoy several rides, and even a nice meal inside the various pavilions in Future World.

2) Drink lots of water. If you stay hydrated you’ll have a much better vacation. I once got dehydrated and couldn’t enjoy a meal at Club 33. What a bummer. Don’t blow your budget by buying water. Instead bring water bottles for everyone and refill as needed.

3) Escape during the afternoon. If you are staying on property this is easy to do. You can relax in your air-conditioned room, enjoy a drink in the many lovely lounges, or splash in the dozens of themed pools found at the resorts. You’ll be cool, rested, and ready to deal with the crowds during the much cooler evening.

4) Apply sunscreen often. Nothing ruins a trip more than a bad sunburn. To avoid this apply sunscreen thoughout the day, not just in the morning. There are lots of great products out there that make this task much easier. I like the sprays the best because I hate the thick lotions that never seem to rub in. You don’t need to be obsessive, but if you apply after every meal you’ll be glad you did.

5) Seek shade or water. When there are tons of people in the parks it may be stuffy indoors and too hot in the sun. I suggest two things. Find shade or find water. There are lots of water sprays and fountains set up in the parks so you can get soaked and cool off. A table in the shade may be just as cool as one inside if the restaurant is crowded. Also, some restaurants, like the Hungry Bear Restaurant in Disneyland‘s Critter Country have lots of covered seating. Since it is by the water it feels cooler.

If you know you are going to be visiting on a hot day it pays to prepare ahead of time. Your goal is to keep cool, calm, and collected so what you remember is your fun vacation, not the awful heat. And remember, when tempers are hot you can always cool everyone down with a Mickey ice cream bar, or my favorite, a chocolate-covered frozen banana. Just beware of brain freeze. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: If you are traveling with kids and you are going to the parks on a hot day have your kids wear their swimsuit under their clothes. Then, when they want to run though the fountains or the spray they can play in their swimsuits and have dry clothes for the rest of the day.

Image from www.spoonful.com

Summer is officially here. I always think summer starts June 1st, but the calendar puts it on today so who am I to argue. My thoughts have turned to vacations, Independence Day, and lazy fun. Soon I’ll be thinking of Christmas gifts (yes, I start early) but for now I want to do sunny crafts. Of course, the first place I look for ideas is at spoonful.com.

I really like these summer printables because they are very useful. From a three-month Phineas and Ferb calendar to help you plan your summer, to a summer wish list, these crafts will help you have the most fun summer ever. There are toys to make, pages to color, and lots of decorations that will remind you of the beach. These crafts are the perfect cure to the “I’m bored” complaint. No one should ever be bored during summer. School will be here way too soon. Happiness squared.

Goofy Craft: Monsters University is coming to theaters soon and Disney is celebrating a Monstrous Summer at the parks. You can also have a monstrous summer with lots of Mike and Sully crafts from spoonful.com. Any day is a good day to scare up some fun.

Put your glasses on and check out OMD!

This is a short post because I am under the weather and because I want you to go explore a new Disney website I found. OMD stands for Oh My Disney, an official Disney website filled with fun articles. And I do mean fun. I shouldn’t laugh right now because I cough when I do, and I thought I was going to die when I read some of these articles.

So have some fun and check out the articles at Oh My Disney. I think I might start saying OMD instead of OMG because I’ll always smile when I do. I just hope it doesn’t make me laugh. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: Do you want to learn about lots of other fun Disney websites? Are you on Facebook or other social media? Than hit “like” on OMD (and A Goofy Idea if you would) and you’ll learn about lots about other fun Disney sites. Plus there are really fun memes out there that spread lots of Disney cheer.