Though our hearts belong to Pop Century, no trip is complete without a stroll through Art of Animation's Radiator Springs! From the cute signs, to the Cozy Cones and of course, Lighting McQueen and all of his friends, you truly do feel like you've stepped right onto Route 66. 

Grab your Disney mug, fill it with something refreshing, and join us on a mini tour! No sneakers required! 

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Are you ready to buy a few postcards to send to your friends? Both Cars and Humans are welcome here at the Cozy Cone as long as there's a vacancy! (Sadly, the postcards aren't really for sale) 

Do you have a favorite Car? We love Mater, and of course, Lightening! 

If you've ever looked down while walking around in the the Dumbo area of Magic Kingdom, chances are you've seen the above picture. Those aren't real peanuts (whew, for us food allergy folks! and a heads up so you don't get a shock your first visit) but a clever detail and a bit of Imagineering. You'll also find animal tracks, hidden mickeys and more hidden in the concrete at Disney World! All created with intent! 

 

A few years back, we tracked down a secret portal inside of a fire place. As soon as my youngest touched his magic key to it, a Disney villain appeared, and started casting magic spells at us. Other guests, who had been sitting at various tables with their lunch gasped, and started shouting in excitement. They had not learned what secrets were hidden thoughtout Disney's Magic Kingdom, when you know where to look! 

​Disney's Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is a fun game, totally free because it's included in your park tickets. Here's how to play. 

​To start your adventure, you'll need to visit the fire station on Main Street. Each person who wishes to play will tap their magic band on a key shaped device, and a Cast member will give you a quick tutorial. Each person will be given 1 package of cards, for free. You can get a package of cards each, once per day at Magic Kingdom, at either the fire station, or near Liberty Square, there is a Cast Member there with the packages of cards. 

You'll also be given a map, and sent on your way to battle across all of the Magic Kingdom! You'll follow your map, looking for the seemingly ordinary places around the Magic Kingdom, but as soon as you spy one of these, the magic begins! 

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​The only bad thing about this game, is sometimes you will have a few people in front of you wanting to play. In addition, it can be tough for siblings to take turns, because it's so much fun, they don't want to share.

​We usually just play as we go, and there are multiple adventures you can do, it's random, but all together they lead up to one big story if you want to do it. We've never done more than two parts, we just don't have the time to spend on it, but on a long trip, it's something that might be really fun to do. 

The artwork on the cards is beautiful, and they are a fun and free souvenir and keepsake! Accessories for the game used to be sold in Frontierland, but last time we were there, they didn't have anything but binders for the cards. 

Give this game a try next time you go! It's fun for all ages!! 

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin has been having some changes made to it's queue, to allow for more room for the fast pass holders. Rumor has it, this fantastic console will be taken out! I hope not! This is a favorite of our kids, and I love it too! It really sets the stage for the ride, and makes you feel like you are a Space Ranger about to jump in your ship. Will you miss this too, if they remove it? 

Disney bound or not, it takes a little planning before you leave to ensure that you've got the best trip possible! 

I always start planning a few months ahead, with lists! Packing lists, to do lists, before we go lists, if it can be on a list, I've got one! Luckily, I also have this blog, and all of the great resources that have been added over the years to help me plan. I've even got a FREE printable of one of my favorite packing lists! 

Today we are sharing some of those incredibly important posts with you so that you are ready, too! Click on any of the links below to go right to the article. 

Before you go on your road trip, make sure to do a car check!!

Don't forget about the house! Here's what you should do before you leave!

How to vacation plan when you have food allergies!

Why it's so important to have a mini first aid kit -- and what to stock it with!

Compression Socks: A total vacation game changer! (And how not to feel dorky in them!)

How to make awesome and almost FREE Roadtrip binders for your kids! 

And if you ARE headed towards Disney, here's one of our most important articles! How to train for a Disney trip! Because if ever there was a vacation you needed to be ready for, it's Disney! 

We hope some of these articles help you get started with you planning, because really, isn't planning a huge part of the fun?