I have always wanted to stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. It was on my bucket list, and I was thrilled to be able to cross it off while on a media trip to the Walt Disney World Resort this spring. It was unlike any other Disney property we have stayed at, and I think it was a perfect fit for my family, especially for my daughter who is in middle school.

The Animal Kingdom Lodge is great for tweens, teens, and older kids. Older kids really appreciate that it is fun, not fussy, and very cool without being too childish. Here are the top reasons my  tween loved the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

We could watch the amazing animals for hours

This one may be pretty obvious, but the animals really are amazing. Really, truly incredible. We knew that we had a room with a savanna view at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, so I understood that we would be able to see animals, but we were still shocked by a few things.

First, we had no idea just how many animals roamed the savanna. More than 200 hoofed animals and birds call the savanna home, and they mingle. At one time we saw a dozen animals. Thank goodness for the guide in the room to help identify them.

Second, we didn’t realize just how incredibly close the animals would be. When we checked in, the cast member asked us to not leave towels hanging over the balcony of our room on the second floor as the giraffes could get them. I didn’t realize that she was being absolutely, completely serious until we arrived at our room a few moments later and realized that the giraffes actually were, in fact, close enough to take our towels.

I woke up early one morning and slipped outside with some tea to sit on the balcony and see which other animals were awake. I loved the surprise of seeing who you would find. This time out, it was a few zebras and a grey crowned crane. It was very early and very quiet, so it felt like a private little hangout with my striped friends. Here was my view:

Then, one of the zebras started to wander and right as he passed by me on the balcony, he broke wind.

It cracked me up. I fear that I woke others up with my very loud laugh. People ask if the animals are really the close and I can honestly answer that I was close enough to hear a zebra fart. I can’t tell you how many tween boys have loved that story. (Fear not, it was just noise, no odor. In fact, we never noticed any offensive scents.)

Third, we knew the animals would be cool, but I was surprised when my tween said she could watch them for hours, and I absolutely agreed. Even when it was dark, we could see ankole cattle meander our direction and snuggle into the grass near our room for the night.

Fourth, it’s not just the room where you see the animals. They are typically within sight around most of the resort. They are never far. You can see the flamingos from the pool, and even tweens are impressed by that.

One thing we didn’t get to do that I’m prioritizing for our next visit: the Starlight Safari, which is a nighttime African Game Drive through the savannas using nightvision goggles for kids ages 8 and older.

Remarkable Cast Members

Disney cast members have always been kind and helpful, but I can say that those whom we encountered at the Animal Kingdom Lodge were some of the friendliest we have met at Disney and out time with them really made our stay something very special. They were particularly great with my tween (and kind to their mothers who laugh a little much in photos).

We asked many of them about their homelands and learned about what life is like in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, and Malawi. They were generous with their time, answered all of my tween’s questions, and taught her more than she would have ever learned in a textbook.

I loved that they made it fun for her to join in the organized activities, from animal trivia by the pool to doing a rubbing of one of the floor medallions in the lobby at Jambo House.  She may have hesitated a moment or two before diving in, but as soon as cast members saw her, they welcomed her in and put her at ease. They seemed to know just how to connect with tweens.

Dining

There are lots of dining options and we didn’t get to eat at all of them, but we enjoyed where we did dine a great deal. Breakfast at Boma under the thatched roof was a great way to start the day. While we were up early, families with older kids (who tend to sleep late) will be happy to know that the breakfast buffet at Boma is available until 11 a.m.

One thing I love about tweens and teens is that their palates are expanding and they are more open to trying new flavors. Disney has been a fun place for my tween to be more culinarily adventurous, and that was true at Boma. She tried out watermelon rind salad and pap knowing that she could enjoy them alongside Simba waffles. And we both adored the tropical juice, if that’s what you call enjoying four glasses a piece.

One other treat was that when Boma opens for dinner, there is a drum performance to welcome the first guests that is a fun surprise if you happen to be in the lobby at the time.

Two words: Zebra Domes. They were also on my bucket list and I was thrilled that we could get them at The Mara, the quick service dining area that we ate at twice and enjoyed both times.

Also, allow me to put in a plug for the pool bar. This was tasty, and a fun treat after some swimming and checking out the 67-foot water slide with my tween.

Tween fun

There was so much to see and do at Animal Kingdom Lodge and it is a sensory treat for everyone, but seemed especially so for tweens. It wasn’t all that odd that my daughter went from commenting on the architecture of the resort . . .

to happily challenging her bonus dad to a game of tic tac toe in the gift shop and relishing in her victory . . .

and then telling me all about the 16-foot tall Ijele mask from the Igbo people of Nigeria.Do you know what my tween didn’t miss at all?

Characters.

Tweens are typically a bit more reserved when it comes to character interactions, and seeing them at the parks is plenty for my middle schooler, so this was a nice place for her to embrace being an older kid.

I also thought that we would miss the alternate transportation options, as the bus is your only option to and from the parks from the Animal Kingdom Lodge, but it worked out fine for us.

What more info on the rooms?  You can see a tour of our room here:

If Animal Kingdom Lodge isn’t quite calling your name for your next Disney trip, we also love the Beach Club and think it’s great for families with older kids. You can why here.

______________________________________

Joining him were Imagineers Alfredo Ayala, who leads the Research & Development project teams at Walt Disney Imagineering, and Dex Tanksley, a Disney Imagineer and Project Design Manager. They are two of the 75 Imagineers who contributed to Sklar’s most recent book One Little Spark! – Mickey’s Ten Commandments and The Road to Imagineering. All three offered  Imagineering wisdom and advice in telling stories and answering questions from the audience.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the amazing event that are valuable for kids, but really grateful reminders for all ages.

“If you aren’t failing from time to time, you aren’t trying anything new.” – Marty Sklar

Sklar paraphrased this quote from Einstein and explained that to live a creative life, one must lose the fear of being wrong. All three men agreed that this was important, and Ayala even shared that he was charged with creating a way for Tinkerbell to fly all around the castle. The attempts were mind blowing but didn’t quite go as planned. He said that if a project is not successful, he prefers to say “It was an experiment.”

“Exceed expectations.” – Dex Tanskley

He recounted how he won Imaginations, a Disney design competition with some friends from Hampton University and that they focused not on simply satisfying the requirements, but rather on doing as much as they could as creatively as they could. He noted that people with initiative are valued, and he encouraged the kids in attendance to strive to go above and beyond.

“Never stop learning . . . Everything you learn you will use somewhere.” – Marty Sklar

This was the answer to the question asked by an eight-year-old about what she should do in school. They told her to study hard and noted that they each learned something with every single project.

“Bring out the good in people.” – Alfredo Ayala

That was a principle that he held dear in a job and a workplace, and seems to be a good one to have in all areas of life.

“Do your best and people will notice.” – Marty Sklar

One mother said that her son was working at Disney but finding it difficult to move up in the company and asked what advice Sklar would give him. This was his answer. He noted that doing anything less than your best was a disservice to yourself, as well as everyone else.

“See the future as the greatest opportunity.” – Marty Sklar

He said Walt was ridiculously optimistic and he fears that we don’t have enough optimism in the country right now.  A positive outlook can make all the difference and possibility inspires creativity.

A fun bit of Disney trivia for you: The castles at each of the Disney parks are under 190 feet tall because that’s the height at which a blinking red light is needed for aircraft safety. A blinking red light would ruin some of the magic.

Sklar, Ayala, and Tanksley were not the only Imagineers present. Kurt Haunfelner,Vice President of Exhibits and Collections at the MSI, also worked as an Imagineer, so a reminder that these nuggets of Imagineering wisdom and advice, as well as those discussed in Sklar’s book, One Little Spark, can lead to success and fulfillment anywhere.

My whole family was motivated and inspired by these Imagineers, and it was a ton of fun to go explore the MSI after hearing from them. Of course, we love the museum, but we saw it in a new way, with rediscovered appreciation of creativity and exploration, after hearing about their experiences in innovation and design.

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Queen of Katwe tells the true story of Phiona Mutesi, a girl who sold corn on the streets of rural Uganda until her world rapidly changed when she was introduced to the game of chess as a 10-year-old. With support from her family and community, she discovers with the confidence and determination needed to pursue her dream of becoming an international chess champion. The trailer was just released today and it gave me serious chills. You can see the Queen of Katwe trailer here:

“The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them.” – Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Nobel Peace Prize Winner and President of Liberia

My daughter really liked that quote from the beginning of the trailer.

A movie about an adolescent girl coming into her own by discovering and owning her talent and changing perceptions in the process? Yes, please! And the part where the mother asks, “Are you my daughter?” I’m already verklempt.

Queen of Katwe is right up my cinematic alley, and my daughter’s. She loved the trailer, too, and we’re both really excited to see this.

It stars David Oyelowo, Oscar® winner Lupita Nyong’o (love her!), and newcomer Madina Nalwanga.

As if that isn’t enough, Queen of Katwe is directed by Mira Nair, whom I’ve loved since 2001’s Monsoon Wedding, which was released in 2001. She is a fantastic story teller, and I think this is one story that I think we can all benefit from hearing and seeing. Speaking of seeing, I think the Queen of Katwe poster is so eye-catching and unique.

You can like Queen of Katwe on Facebook and follow on Twitter.

Media courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures. 

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The Jungle Cruise is a classic ride in the Magic Kingdom at Disney World, and while it’s always fun, it’s become even more enjoyable for us as our daughter has grown up and been able to comprehend the puns, the jokes, and the hilarity of the experience. It’s now a family favorite, so we were very excited to hear that there was a new restaurant in Adventureland based on the ride, the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen Restaurant. (We’ll call it the Skipper Canteen.)

We were very excited to get to check it out on our Disney Tweens trip earlier this month, and it did not disappoint. It seems that all ages enjoy the restaurant, in part because the food is definitely not your usual theme park food, but we also loved the story and the humor woven throughout the restaurant, which I think make it an especially great option for families with tweens, teens, and older kids.

The Atmosphere

Suggestion: If you can ride the Jungle Cruise shortly before dining at the Skipper Canteen, do so. We did, and it was great because the background story was fresh so we could pick up on a lot of the call backs to the ride. It also helped make sure that we were in the mood to be punny, as my eighth grader likes to say. They’re right near each other so it’s not out of your way

The story is that the restaurant is run by Alberta Falls, granddaughter of Dr. Albert Falls, who founded the Jungle Navigation Co. You can read about her and him here:

Skipper Canteen is both beautiful and richly detailed. No surprise, Disney did a great job with the theming. There are three dining areas: the Crew’s Mess Hall, the Falls Family Parlor, and the Secret Meeting Room of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers  (also known as S.E.A.).

The Mess Hall is the largest area.

I love the stained glass parrots on the light fixtures in the Falls Family Parlor.

We were seated in the Secret Meeting Room of the SEA.

It’s worth a quick spin through the restaurant on your way out to see the different rooms and the gorgeous detail along the way, like this stained glass light.

My daughter really wants to return and sit at this table. I may have the same wish. Love the zodiac signs in the light in addition to the gorgeous butterflies.

And our waiter/skipper played his role perfectly. He was very funny, but not overly so, and the gentle ribbing never seemed too much. (Always good when you have tweens in tow, or just tired or overstimulated travelers who may be a little more sensitive than usual.) We may have the odd tradition in our family or trying to blow our paper straw wrappers at each other and he quickly applauded our use of poison darts. His comment has made me smile every single time we’ve had any occasion to use a straw since our meal at the Skipper Canteen.

There are a lot of great jokes that happen at your meal, but I don’t want to ruin them for you. Suffice it to say that me, my husband and my daughter laughed often during our meal.

The Food

The food at the Jungle Skipper Canteen comes from the rivers that make up the ride, so there are African, Asian and South American dishes.

To start, the bread and the dipping sauce are amazing. There was a joke at our table about how to say it, and in case you were wondering, no, there is no “z” in that. There is a fair amount of spice in both that make them unique and yummy, but not actually spicy, which is a good thing in my book.

There are a few fun drink options, and I love that there are images from the ride included on the menu.

We each got an entrée. I had the Char Siu Pork (our skipper/waiter made a great comment about me really pigging out). They were good, and the Chinese broccoli was particularly tasty. A delicious vegetable in a theme park? Yes, it is possible!

My daughter ordered the A Lot at Steak Salad. She thought it was very good and ate every last bite. While I enjoyed my meal, if I had it to do over again, I would order this.

My husband had the noodle bowl. He said that it was very tasty, but perhaps not the easiest to eat. My cousins dined at the Skipper Canteen a few weeks later and confirmed that the salad was a bigger hit than the noodle bowl with them as well.

The Skip’s Mac n Cheese, which is an Egyptian take on the dish and not at all like the kind Kraft produces, also got positive reviews.

Others with us got the arapas, an appetizer, and gave it two thumbs up.  My cousins enjoyed the Shu Mai. And I’m going to do a better job of remembering that appetizers for lunch are a really good way to go.

So how do you get in to the Jungle Skipper Canteen? Right now, they don’t offer Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) but you can make day of reservations on your phone. Walking up to the restaurant won’t work, they will tell you to make reservations using the My Disney Experience App.

We ate there for lunch. Given that we were were headed out to Space Mountain afterward and feeling pretty full already, we passed on dessert, but options include Kungaloosh and Sugar-Crusted Congee Pudding. That’s just a reason for us to head back to the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen Restaurant next time!

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There are two tanks to select from, and you can pick whichever oyster you like. Once you’ve made your choice, a cast member from Japan will open the oyster when it’s your turn. There can be a few minute wait. It was busy but not completely slammed when we were there and we waited maybe 10 minutes. It wasn’t a problem, though, because it was fun to see everyone else’s pearls.

My tween daughter and I each selected an oyster, and then the fun began. (Not that picking out the oyster wasn’t fun, but, well, closed oysters aren’t nearly as lovely as the pearls inside.)

The cast members are very animated when opening, and teach those watching how to count down 3-2-1 in Japanese. We still do the countdown around our house on occasion. They certainly know how to build the excitement and anticipation and create a festive, celebratory atmosphere.

The cast members are almost as excited as the guests when they reveal the pearl. I’m using singular here because the vast majority of oysters house just one pearl but it is possible, although rare, that an oyster will yield two pearls – twins! My daughter and I weren’t so fortunate, but we thought our pearls were simply lovely.

The cast members even beat a drum to announce the arrival of your pearl.

Once they have extricated the pearl from the oyster, they measure it using the metal piece, trying each premeasured hole until the pearl slips through. Some pearls are bigger than others, and no size is guaranteed, but the two that we purchased and the ones we saw opened before and after ours were approximately the same size, around 6 mm. If you get the biggest pearl of the day, the cast members make quite a fuss.

The cast members will then examine your pearl and tell you more about it, including the shape and color. One of ours had a pinkish cast, and the other was a little green.

So, what do you do with your pearl? There are settings available and cast members can make earrings, rings, necklaces, and other items. The cost was a little steep for us, so we headed to Etsy and found this charming necklace. It’s Cinderella’s carriage, and the pearl fits inside. So cute!

It’s among my favorite souvenirs from Disney World. I love to wear it with a light blue dress when Disneybounding as Cinderella.

The Pick-a-Pearl in the Japan Pavilion at Epcot is a fun experience for all ages that your family will remember for a long time to come and that gives you a treasure to cherish far into the future.

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There are 64 species of animals in the movie. The team behind the film spent 18 months just researching animals. “We met with animal experts from all over the world, including Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World. We traveled 9,000 miles to Kenya, Africa, for a two-week deep dive into animal personality and behavior. We wanted each species of animal to be real, to feel authentic and to be based on their real-world behavior,” says producer Clark Spencer.

I love some of the ways the characters hearken back to prior Disney films:

* Artists designing Assistant Mayor Bellwether were inspired by the lambs in the old Disney films “Make Mine Music” and “Melody Time.”

* Artists were inspired by Mufasa from Disney’s classic film “The Lion King” when creating the look of Mayor Lionheart.

Here are more fun facts about Zootopia:

Hairy Situation

While researching the variety of animals that would inhabit Zootopia, filmmakers learned that not all fur is the same. A strand of polar bear fur is clear—it’s the light reflecting off of it that makes it appear white—and a strand of fox fur is dark at the root, getting lighter till its red tip. Artists strived to replicate their findings to ensure that the animals in “Zootopia” were believable.

Tweeze Me

Speaking of hair, advances in technology allowed filmmakers to trim the fur that fell beneath clothing so that the garments hung correctly. Previously, hairs that intersected with an item of clothing—like Bolt’s collar—had to be plucked one by one, which would have been an impossible feat in a film like “Zootopia.”

Fancy Dresser

As for those outfits, artists crafted six unique outfits for Assistant Mayor Bellwether. The chosen fabric, naturally, was wool. Her outfits include a houndstooth dress, a blazer and a little bell in honor of her moniker. She also has an orange dress with a scissor pattern that represents shears.

Stiff Upper Lip

When artists realized that real rabbits actually have a split upper lip, they decided to forego authenticity in this case and kept Judy’s lip all together.

The Eyes Have It

Clawhauser may not share a real cheetah’s svelte shape, but he does sport the animal’s iconic tear marks—markings that run from the inside corners of his eyes down to the outside edges of his mouth.

Here Kitty, Kitty

Nathan Warner, director of cinematography-layout, got a pat on the back from a real-life cheetah during their research trip to Africa. The rescued animal that caretakers had introduced to the filmmakers seemingly took offense to the camera Warner carried and leapt up to let him know. Both filmmaker and cat were just fine following the event.

Roll in the Hay

In an effort to bolster the animal-feel, artists added bits of debris—hay, leaves, sticks—in the coats of animals like the big sheep and Yax the Yak.

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“Oh, you saw the trailer for Zootopia?” I asked.

“Is that the movie? It looks hilarious!” he said. And yes, it is the movie. The trailer ran before Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and you can see it here:

I love that Zootopia making all generations of viewers laugh, and I’m really excited to see it when it opens in theaters on March 4, 2016. To get you in the spirit ahead of time, though, the good folks at Walt Disney Animation Studios have created some really fun, free Zootopia printables for the holidays and winter, from snowflake cut outs to a New Year’s Eve party pack.

Check them out!

Holiday Gift Tags

New Year’s Even Party Pack

If you’re thinking about how to ring in 2016 with you kiddos, check out the New Year’s Eve Party Pack New Year’s Eve Zootopia Party Animal Pack that will turn your festivities into a Happy Zoo Year party. You can throw a really cool bash with all kinds of fun items, including invitations, banner, food tents, food picks, and cupcake liners.

ZooFlakes

You can put a fun twist on traditional snowflake cutouts with these templates for ZooFlakes featuring the following characters: Flash, Yak, Nick Wilde, and Judy Hopps. Sharp scisors work best, so take good care and supervise when necessary.

Like ZOOTOPIA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyZootopia
Follow Disney Animation on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DisneyAnimation
Follow Disney Animation on Instagram: https://instagram.com/disneyanimation/
Visit Disney Animation on Tumblr: http://disneyanimation.tumblr.com/
Visit the official ZOOTOPIA website here: http://movies.disney.com/zootopia
ZOOTOPIA opens in theatres everywhere on March 4th!

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* When it comes to friends, quality matters far more than quantity.

Timothy the Mouse is Dumbo’s only friend and he is loyalty and devotion personified. Dumbo didn’t need a ton of friends, he needed just one really, really good friend. Quality over quantity, right? Sometimes one is enough.

* Nothing compares to a mother’s love

You want to make me cry? Play Baby Mine from Dumbo. And if you wanted to see the ugly cry, you should have been at my daughter’s dance recital a few years ago when she danced to that. And my mom came to watch. It was really special to be sitting next to my mom, who loves me so well and so much, and to be watching a daughter who is the light of my life was pretty fabulous. Also, it was really emotional.

* Our differences are what make us special.

Dumbo is mocked and ridiculed because of his big ears, which are unlike any other elephant’s ears. In the end, though, Dumbo’s ears are his greatest asset because they make him unique. What makes you different is what makes you special. We should celebrate unique features, not shame them. Which leads me to my next point.

* Adults can be mean, too.

I know, that one’s a downer. We focus on kids and kindness, and most anti-bullying initiatives target children, but I think we all know adults who engage in less than kind behavior, too. In Dumbo, the other adult female elephants are cruel to Dumbo in both words and behavior. It’s heartbreaking to think that grown-ups would treat a little one that way.

Dumbo is a good reminder that adult behavior matters, and matters a lot.

* Just when you think you have things figured out, they take an unexpected turn.

There’s a weird part of the film where Timothy and Dumbo unknowingly drink alcohol, become intoxicate and hallucinate “Pink Elephants on Parade.” The scene is weird. Common Sense Media describes it as “alternately trippy, creepy, and cute.” Sometimes it is best to just go with it and embrace the weirdness. As in Dumbo, life eventually returns to something to a bit more recognizable and normal, whatever that may mean.

Are you a fan of Dumbo? What takeaways would you add to this list?

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“Patience is not simply the ability to wait – it’s how we behave while we’re waiting,” says Joyce Meyer, and here are some fun ways to pass the time while waiting in line at Disney.

Play games using fun apps

The Disney Shout! app is lots of fun. (You can read my family’s full review here.) It’s a great way to really get in the spirit and make the most of your time in the Mouse House. We felt like this was a fun version of the Heads Up! app, which is the first interactive guessing game we played on our smartphone as a family while waiting in line at Disney World a few years ago. We had first seen Ellen Degeneres was a fan, and it’s easy to see why. It was especially fun because more often than not, other people in line joined in. It’s true – the more the merrier!

Both are interactive and anyone can play, hence the fun with strangers. If you are going to go this route, though, consider an external charger for your phone so you don’t get the dreaded low battery signal or worse, a dead phone.

Old School Games

The oldies but goodies have had staying power for a reason – they’re fun and easy, and they don’t drain your phone battery. It’s can also be nice to just really disconnect and put the phone away for a while, especially if there are drinks and munchies around.

• We play a lot of “this or that” aka “I’d rather” using all Disney things. Would you rather have lunch with Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty? Who would be more fun to play a game with – Woody or Buzz? It’s fun to pick among favorite things that are sure to please, and can even be a great way to plan the remainder of your time in the parks.
• Another great one is I Spy, because  there’s a whole lot to spy at Disney.
• I confess that games of Simon Says have been played as well. Also, check out the app that tells you where Hidden Mickeys are, but first spend time looking for them in line.
• Rock. Scissors. Paper. Not original, but it can do the trick. Have a family tournament where the winner get to play the next family member, and so on.
• Thumb war, but only if siblings can touch without issue.
  

Play around in the interactive queues

Disney takes care to make some of the lines are really fun. The queue for Peter Pan’s Flight, which has infamously high wait times, was recently redone to be like you’re wandering through the Darling home. It feels a lot less like a tedious wait when you get to watch Tinker Bell fly around and interact with Wendy, John and Michael’s toys and see your own shadows come alive on the wall in the children’s nursery.

There is a play space where kids can run around waiting for Dumbo, and bleachers where tired parents can sit. There are some games to play in line for Winnie the Pooh, including a screen that dumps virtual honey on your children. The drums in the line may not be my favorite, but they sure keep the kids busy.

I confess that I was sad to use a Fast Pass on the Mine Train (I know, the hardship) because the line looks like lots of fun, with gem sorting and barrel spinning. And the line for the Haunted Mansion is the perfect set up for the ride.

Snack break

My family likes to get a little bit of an energy boost from a quick snack while in line. We usually bring in small snacks and whether it’s a sucker, granola bar or a few Skittles, a quick taste of something that can’t melt is often a big hit when we first enter a line and know we have a little of time. It’s also a good time to hit the water bottle.

Strike up a conversation

If there’s a cast member manning the line, as there often is for character meet and greets, they can be fun to talk with and are generally pretty engaging. They have name tags have their name and where they are from, so ask them about where their hometown. The same is true for the Fast Pass photographers, especially those waiting with you for characters to return from break.  It’s always fun to ask cast members about their favorites, be it rides or places to eat on property – they can be a font of wonderful information.

Talking to strangers is less scary when you’re at Disney. You’re surrounded by a lot of people who like Disney (figure they wouldn’t pay the admission price if they didn’t, right?) Take advantage of the shared interest and talk to your neighbors, too! But also take the hint if they’re not so interested in socializing and not force the issue.

Take silly selfies

My tween loved doing this! Although I my not be the biggest selfie fan (and remember Disney doesn’t allow selfie sticks on rides), we did all get a lot of good laughs from doing this. When I went to the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration and my husband and daughter were at the parks, these were my favorite photos that they sent.

Count your blessings

Waiting in line is tough, and it can be when people start to get a little cranky. That’s completely understandable, but a quick reframing can put the focus on the positive. Talk about what you’re grateful for in the past day, week, year, decade. You’re at Disney, so there’s a lot to be thankful for right there! Sometimes verbalizing the positive can be just the attitude shift needed for tired park goers.

While I hope that you have very, very short lines on your next visit, but if you don’t, hopefully these ideas will help. And while these are great for Disney, the majority of these suggestions work just about anywhere, from the grocery story to restaurants. In fact, I pulled out Disney Shout! yesterday when we were waiting at IHOP.

What is your favorite way to pass a wait in line?

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Lilly gives the Doc McStuffins Pet Vet app two thumbs up and paws up, too, from the animals that she’s helping!

With this app, little ones can heal, groom, and train your toy pets with all your favorite Doc McStuffins characters. Collect fun badges by caring for your pets, and level them up to earn Doc’s special Pet Vet stethoscope.

The badges were a big hit with Lilly, and she said, “I like fixing the animals!” My brother’s favorite quote from her was, “Daddy, I want to use the tweezers again to fix Fido.”

He reports that it was very easy for Lilly to start using on her own, just a few minutes with her and she was off and running without any assistance.

The app lets little users perform a variety of tasks.

·         Diagnose, prescribe, and take care of all your toy pets – Findo, Squibbles, Whispers, Carrots, Marla, Wilma, and Tallulah!

·         Heal the toy pets by removing thorns, changing batteries, giving x-rays, tooth brushing or grooming!

·         Join Lambie in the Nap Corner, where your toy pets can dream up a feast, chase their tails, and play catch!

·         Help Stuffy improve your toy pets’ agility and guide them through zany obstacle courses!

·         Train pets to perform tricks and earn fun badges for your personalized Pet Vet scrubs!

Check out the cute video of the app here:

Are your kids Doc McStuffin fans?

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