MAGIC tips

2 weeks ago we went with our girls to Walt Disney world in Orlando...this has been a trip which we have been planning for a LONG time. We had lots of help along the way, which if you're first time Disney trippers...then I feel it's important not to go there clueless...but with a little knowledge under your belt.

So...let me share some of the tips we got as a family with 2 girls age (almost) 6 & 4.

TIP #1 : Get to the park early-it's a huge place, not everyone can get on ALL the rides at once, so you're bound to be able to get a few rides in in the first hour without waiting.

TIP #2 : When you're bringing little children and you're walking through crowds like these...make sure you either bring your own or rent a stroller.

We rented with Magic Strollers. They deliver to your hotel, and pick it up the day of departure.

A blessing.

TIP #3 : This is something we did one of the days but would probably take advantage of more if we go again.

You can reserve sit-down meals at the Disney restaurants upto 180 days prior to your trip.

Any of the restaurants which serve breakfast usually open an hour earlier than the Park does, which means you can enter the park an hour earlier!!! Have breakfast...run and get Fast Passes for the rides you really want to get on without wishing to wait an hour to an hour and a half in a line up...we did this on the final day and went to Animal Kingdom and had breakfast at 8am...Animal Kingdom opened at 9am.

TIP #4 : We went when the Flowers Festival was on. The gardens were immaculate, don't forget to take in the scenary...it's truly magical.

TIP #5 : Get up and boogie with the Parade which happens 3 times a day. That's one memory our eldest will never forget!

TIP #6 : Dine with the Characters so you don't have to wait in Line for 45 minutes...they come to your table. Here's our little Misses with Piglet at Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom just by Cinderella's Castle.

Tip #7 : So frequently I would forget to look up or look at the Architecture of the buildings...the whole Park is comprised of beautifully built buildings...which really are just exterior shells to house the rides...SO clever.

TIP #8 : You can now bring your own snacks and water into the Disney Parks, I highly recommend it. Especially water. We spent $30 on water alone one day...(I know!)

TIP #9 : Magic Kingdom is a Park for families...some rides are VERY cheesy, please remember your pinch of salt as you embark on them...kids LOVE them as they are SO innocent.

TIP #9 : When you find a ride where there's NO line up...go on it! It's rare that you never have to wait...even in the off Seasons.

This was one of their favourite rides as they got to ride it over and over!

Another of their favourites was Alladin's Carpet.

and Dumbo's ride too....but the line up was awful...a good 45 minutes- grab an ice-cream and eat it in the Line-up!

precious smiles...

TIP #10 : Fast Passes give you an hour window when you can come back and use them, many people don't know that you can still use that Fast Pass when the time has expired...AND  you can get another Fast Pass as soon as this time passes EVEN if you haven't used the first Fast Pass.

Had to include Mini Mouse's House in the mix...SO adorable!

Here's her Kitchen...

and outside in her garden...so pretty.

TIP #11 : You can eat with Cinderella in her Castle...but you can also dine in Norway at Epcot with 4 of the Princesses...

This is the Mosaic on the walls as you walk through the Castle.

I'm sure if and when we go back to Disney...my pictures will be different as I have yet to see everything. We were at Magic for 2 whole days and could have spent another 2 there!

truly amazing work!

This is Liberty Square...Harbour House is a great little spot for some excellent Fish and Chips! Just around the corner from the Haunted House, which we didn't go through. I would still like my nights to be quiet ones where our girls have sweet dreams.

We went on the Astro Orbitor and the girls loved it...not scary at all, just beautiful views.

I'm sure my husband was a bird in his past life...

The end of the day is Celebrated with a beautiful fireworks display...

I'll answer any questions I can about Magic Kingdom...

Epcot is next...

HUGS

Char,ON.

Come and see....I finished it today!!!

Well, it's been 5 days of sketching,painting and executing this fairy mural... I could have spent another 4 days on details but the budget was what it was...and so I willed myself to put the paintbrush down and called it "finished".

Don't you just love finishing a project? It's so satisfying...

We counted the fairies...there are 18 of them, each one different from the other.

I love this one maybe the best, as well as the little guy sitting on the cherries reading a book.

This client was a dream...she took care of the girls all week, and was so easy...she adores the finished mural...yay...aren't I lucky!

Oh, I like these two too, sitting on the swing catching up on the days happenings.

Even fairies have to go to school!

Bunnies and cats...and sleeping fairies.

I really enjoyed painting these cherries...is this a sign I should maybe paint some still life's?

Oh and here's the little guy reading his book.

Maybe I'll get more commissions from this piece...I'm very pleased how it turned out.

Hope you sleep well Olivia in your new bedroom...sweet dreams.

Until tomorrow everyone...I am SO exhausted, even after drinking and XLarge Earl Grey from Tim Hortons!

Char,Ontario

Fairy and Meadow Murals...

This is the final idea I have draughted for the Fairy Mural. There's no other place to put their daughter's Bed, so I am planning around it. It's almost like a scene seen through windows of a castle bedroom...lots of meadows with animals and fairies, rainbows and butterflies...dragonflies and bunnies...

Sketch 1:: Bunny hoping away...about to tell the others(of the meadow) that there are Big people watching them!

Bunny Sketch 2:: Big Bunny soaking in the Sunny Rays amongst the blades of new grasses...

This is the style of Fairy which will be used throughout the Mural...

And this one too...

A few little Fairy details...friends of all animals and flora...

I'm still deciding on the actual size of the fairies...I'd like to be able to give enough facial detail to them all, giving them each a unique look...

The frogs will be more for the Meadow Mural which I posted pics of in a previous blog...but I may add one on a toadstool in the Fairy Mural too...

Dragonflies and Butterflies for both murals...

This was one idea for the Fairy Mural...we had to work around the bed not being able to move around and the wall spaces which are encompassing it. I like the ideas of the trees being the homes for some of the fairies...and the meadows in the distance with the castles...so I'll use some features from this sketch...

Here was another idea, I like the trees how they become the homes of some of the fairies and I love the meadows and the castles, so I'll take some elements and incorporate them in the designs I create for the end sketch.

It's raining here today...I love rainy days in the Summer...fresh air to follow...natural methods of watering the lawns and flowers, curly hair and clean windows!

Have a lovely Thursday...

Char, Ontario