Buttons

Buttons (not to be confused with pins...we'll talk about pins later) are a simple little way to plus the magic while you're at WDW. Buttons recognizing special events are available, free of charge, from the front desk of your resort or from Guest Services in the parks. There are buttons recognizing birthdays, anniversaries, first visits, and more. Wearing a button will most certainly garner you lots of smiles and well-wishes from guests and CMs thoughout your stay. These buttons have now become ubiquitous, and it's hard to take a bus ride or stand in a queue without seeing one on at least one side of you. Many people feel that they've lost their specialness because of this. Are there people saying,"What will I get if I wear a button"? Sure. Some people may be using them in the hopes that they'll get some pixie dust- perhaps a free dessert, an upgrade, or something else. Don't let that stop you from partaking in the real spirit of these buttons, the real plus of the warm feeling when a stranger gives you a smile and a heartfelt wish for your special day. If you're celebrating, wear a button- you'll be certain to experience some fun and heart-felt greetings and well-wishes (and on increasingly rarer occassions, perhaps some tiny sprinkling of pixie dust- but don't count on it, or expect it!)...

The elusive towel animal.....

"Towel Animal" is a term I was not familiar with before I started learning about the Disneysphere. I have a vague recollection of seeing one on a long- ago (non-Disney) cruise, but I really had no idea how important they can be to some people. Some housekeeping personnel (or mousekeepers, as they have lovingly been nick-named) will leave towels and washcloth playfully folded into animal or other shapes when they clean your room. It's not guaranteed, and not all mousekeepers seem to have the know-how, the desire, or the time to engage in this textile artform. Many guests, however, take the presence- or lack thereof- of towel animals as a very important part of the resort experience. I never really understood what the big deal was, until I spent several WDW vacations....without getting a towel animal. We'd walk by other peole's rooms at Moderate resorts, and see towel animals propped up in the windows. I would read about other people's towel animals on blogs and forums. Some people had been to WDW several times, and had never not gotten towel animals! Finally, my time had come. I was probably a little happier than necessary when I returned to my room during our last visit at Beach Club, and found a towel animal! And another the next day! And still more throughout the week! Mousekeeper Michelle had come through for us, and boy did it add a little spark each day...

a rabbit...

an elephant, wearing the sunglasses we had left on the dresser...

a snail....

...kissing swans...

not quite sure what this one is...any ideas?

How do you plus the experience of waiting for your table?

Waiting for your table at a restaurant...it's fact of life anywhere, and one that all WDW visitors will experience at one time or another. How do you plus the experience of waiting for a table, especially when there are five hungry children in tow? Just leave a few hula hoops in the waiting area...

Just outside Trail's End at Fort Wilderness...

Testing...testing...1...2...3...

Testing the waters...

During my first visit to Disneyland, I discovered these "Pardon our Pixie Dust" signs throughout the park- the massive undertaking of the creation of Carsland was in full swing. I can't wait to get back out west to see the finished product...