#specialtyshops

Want to add some magic to your celebration during your next trip to Walt Disney World?  Most visitors to Walt Disney World are familiar with the buttons you can pick up throughout the resort, but did you know that Walt Disney World can take your celebration to infinity and beyond? Over the years, I've spent many birthdays and anniversaries at Walt Disney World and have been surprised by birthday messages written in chocolate on my dessert plate, a personalized menu at a restaurant, and even a special touch added to my resort room by "mousekeeping" just because I mentioned what I was celebrating  when I made the reservation.   Known for their world class service, Disney Cast members really do try to make your visit as personal and magical as they can.  You just never know what you can expect! There is so much that goes into planning that perfect trip and Disney Floral & Gifts offers some finishing touches that can make your trip just a little more magical.  From customizing your own in room celebration to purchasing their celebration gift baskets, you are sure to find what you're looking for to add just the right touch of magic to your celebration!  Oh, and they can deliver and set up your special surprise to your room while you're out at the parks or at Disney Springs - it's like having your own Fairy Godmother! Just a small word to the wise though, if you haven't been assigned a room yet, it won't be delivered and set up for your arrival.  I know, it's sounds silly to give this warning, but in researching reviews on Disney Floral & Gifts, I found that many people didn't understand (or possibly ask) how to pull this off successfully.  You'll want to discuss this with a Disney Dream Maker to plan in-room celebration surprises.  Make sure to visit the FAQs on the Disney Floral & Gifts page. Customizing your special gift begins by choosing your basket or tray (starting at $24.99) and then adding items that personalize it for you.  Mugs and glasses start at $12.99, plush at $19.99 and if you want snacks, you can add them starting as low as $3.99.  There are even vegan, gluten free, sugar free and peanut free offerings starting at $19.99 for those with food allergies or special dietary needs. Celebrating your first visit ever?  There's a really cool basket for that called Wonderful World of Disney (starting at $125 and pictured below) that includes a Mickey themed tote, autograph book and pen, hip pack camera bag, Hidden Mickey book, Mickey Ears, Mickey pin starter set, snacks and best of all (in my opinion) Mickey Vision Glasses; designed literally to give you a special view of the fireworks!

Oh, and how cute is this Mickey's Poolside Magic gift basket? 

Today was perfect  for a day at Disney Springs.  Living in the Orlando area, I am about 40 minutes from some of the best shopping, dining and entertainment that Walt Disney World offers outside the parks. With rainy weather on the way this week and pleasant temperatures today it was a good time to get out and get some steps in! I must tell you, I love days like this.  With no particular destination in mind and spending the day "flying Solo", I used my typical plan of action which is to stay to one side until I get to the farthest point from my car and work my way back.  Stopping first for my mocha latte from Starbucks, I meandered through the Pandora, Alex and Ani, Coach and came up to Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop, where I picked up my free chocolate sample of the day and took in the smell of all the yummy treats being made.   Because it was a weekday and into "slow season", it wasn't too crowded, so I was able to snap a few pics at the Lego Store

and my favorite stop, the Marketplace Co-op.   It was here that I played around with creating a customized cellphone case at D-Tech, checked out the latest inspirations for Dapper Days from The Dress Shop at Cherry Tree Lane and checked out all the great artwork at WonderGround Gallery.

After working up an appetite, thanks to a recommendation from my disneyelite.com co-contributor, I decided to work my way toward Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar for a quick bite, as this is one of the restaurants that accepts Tables in Wonderland.   My server, Desi was very helpful offering suggestions for smaller plates and let me know that I had arrived during happy hour, which is from 12pm-3pm Monday through Friday.  I settled on an ice cold beer and Doctor Astorgas's Queso Dip. 

Today was perfect  for a day at Disney Springs.  Living in the Orlando area, I am about 40 minutes from some of the best shopping, dining and entertainment that Walt Disney World offers outside the parks. With rainy weather on the way this week and pleasant temperatures today it was a good time to get out and get some steps in! I must tell you, I love days like this.  With no particular destination in mind and spending the day "flying Solo", I used my typical plan of action which is to stay to one side until I get to the farthest point from my car and work my way back.  Stopping first for my mocha latte from Starbucks, I meandered through the Pandora, Alex and Ani, Coach and came up to Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop, where I picked up my free chocolate sample of the day and took in the smell of all the yummy treats being made.   Because it was a weekday and into "slow season", it wasn't too crowded, so I was able to snap a few pics at the Lego Store

and my favorite stop, the Marketplace Co-op.   It was here that I played around with creating a customized cellphone case at D-Tech, checked out the latest inspirations for Dapper Days from The Dress Shop at Cherry Tree Lane and checked out all the great artwork at WonderGround Gallery.

After working up an appetite, thanks to a recommendation from my disneyelite.com co-contributor, I decided to work my way toward Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar for a quick bite, as this is one of the restaurants that accepts Tables in Wonderland.   My server, Desi was very helpful offering suggestions for smaller plates and let me know that I had arrived during happy hour, which is from 12pm-3pm Monday through Friday.  I settled on an ice cold beer and Doctor Astorgas's Queso Dip. 

Planning to propose at Walt Disney World?  There are so many wonderful places throughout the resort to pop the question and so many options for making it memorable.  So if you're thinking of planning a Disney proposal, I'm here to help! If you're interested in a Disney engagement ring, there are many to choose from and can be found at many of your major jewelry retailers.  The Enchanted Disney Collection has some beautiful choices for asking your princess to become your queen! 

Deciding on where, when and how you're going to ask your Beauty (or Beast) to live happily ever after with you comes with its own set of questions and considerations, and here are just a few ideas to help spark your creativity for your magical engagement moments. Ladies, it is a leap year, so in true Irish tradition, this is your year to ask your sweetheart to be yours too! Of course, you want to be sensitive to your love's preference for attention (or lack thereof).  If you are both okay with lots of attention from total strangers, there's always the proposal in front of Cinderella Castle.  To tone it down a little, maybe consider popping the question during a show or the fireworks - it's possible that while everyone's eyes are on the show or the skies, the only ones who will be aware of that magical moment will be the two of you.  You might also consider the Wishing Well with the castle in the backdrop for a more private moment.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to witness the engagement of my friends at the beach at a Magic Kingdom resort during the night time fireworks -it was beautiful and mostly private for the couple, as those who were unaware of the moment were simply keeping an eye on the fireworks and those of us who knew it was coming couldn't take our eyes off the couple sealing it with a kiss with those same fireworks in the background. Speaking of resorts, there are a bunch of magical options there too.  Maybe you'd like to pop the question during a carriage ride with just the two of you. 

  Or perhaps, you'd like to take a walk out toward the Wedding Pavilion at the Grand Floridian and ask your honey to be yours forever in front of the sign (indicating that you're on the way to the chapel)

There's a beautiful spot along the walkway from International Gateway and The Boardwalk, or perhaps you'd just like to propose at one of the many beautiful restaurants at Walt Disney World.  There are as many options for proposing at Walt Disney World as there are unique couples, for sure! I've heard of proposals on a favorite ride; for instance on Splash Mountain during the quieter parts of the ride and capturing the ring and a kiss during the picture snap on the drop.  One couple got engaged in the Haunted Mansion during the party scene and captured their moment by repeating the big moment with the hitch-hiking ghosts at the end.  Even just a simple, relaxing float down a lazy river at one of the water parks can be a sweet, quiet option for a couple looking to avoid the spotlight. If you proposed or were proposed to at Walt Disney World, how did it happen?  What little extra touches made it super special for you? However you choose to propose at Walt Disney World, it should be about the two of you, but if you feel like you need some expert help to pull this off, Disney has a team of professionals who can help make your big moment more magical, click here for their engagement (and wedding) planning information.  Good luck! ro

Planning to propose at Walt Disney World?  There are so many wonderful places throughout the resort to pop the question and so many options for making it memorable.  So if you're thinking of planning a Disney proposal, I'm here to help! If you're interested in a Disney engagement ring, there are many to choose from and can be found at many of your major jewelry retailers.  The Enchanted Disney Collection has some beautiful choices for asking your princess to become your queen! 

Deciding on where, when and how you're going to ask your Beauty (or Beast) to live happily ever after with you comes with its own set of questions and considerations, and here are just a few ideas to help spark your creativity for your magical engagement moments. Ladies, it is a leap year, so in true Irish tradition, this is your year to ask your sweetheart to be yours too! Of course, you want to be sensitive to your love's preference for attention (or lack thereof).  If you are both okay with lots of attention from total strangers, there's always the proposal in front of Cinderella Castle.  To tone it down a little, maybe consider popping the question during a show or the fireworks - it's possible that while everyone's eyes are on the show or the skies, the only ones who will be aware of that magical moment will be the two of you.  You might also consider the Wishing Well with the castle in the backdrop for a more private moment.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to witness the engagement of my friends at the beach at a Magic Kingdom resort during the night time fireworks -it was beautiful and mostly private for the couple, as those who were unaware of the moment were simply keeping an eye on the fireworks and those of us who knew it was coming couldn't take our eyes off the couple sealing it with a kiss with those same fireworks in the background. Speaking of resorts, there are a bunch of magical options there too.  Maybe you'd like to pop the question during a carriage ride with just the two of you. 

  Or perhaps, you'd like to take a walk out toward the Wedding Pavilion at the Grand Floridian and ask your honey to be yours forever in front of the sign (indicating that you're on the way to the chapel)

There's a beautiful spot along the walkway from International Gateway and The Boardwalk, or perhaps you'd just like to propose at one of the many beautiful restaurants at Walt Disney World.  There are as many options for proposing at Walt Disney World as there are unique couples, for sure! I've heard of proposals on a favorite ride; for instance on Splash Mountain during the quieter parts of the ride and capturing the ring and a kiss during the picture snap on the drop.  One couple got engaged in the Haunted Mansion during the party scene and captured their moment by repeating the big moment with the hitch-hiking ghosts at the end.  Even just a simple, relaxing float down a lazy river at one of the water parks can be a sweet, quiet option for a couple looking to avoid the spotlight. If you proposed or were proposed to at Walt Disney World, how did it happen?  What little extra touches made it super special for you? However you choose to propose at Walt Disney World, it should be about the two of you, but if you feel like you need some expert help to pull this off, Disney has a team of professionals who can help make your big moment more magical, click here for their engagement (and wedding) planning information.  Good luck! ro