New Items in the Adventure Store

NEW TO THE SHOP this week is the beginning of our THE SHIRT ON YOUR BACK COLLECTION, with adventure apparel for men, women, & children. We've partnered with a great print-on-demand supplier with some great quality items, many of which can be further customized as you shop. We invite you to check the initial line and be sure to check back as new designs and apparel items will be added soon.

Update to My New Adventure

Previously I shared about having an Etsy shop for some adventure-inspired and Wood Badge-inspired creations. I've moved to a new location through Shopify, and have expanded the selection a little bit, with more new things coming soon (some in production and others just needing to be photographed and uploaded).

 

Currently, there are two primary collections of goodies - FOR YOUR HOME and MEMORIES OF GILWELL, each with subcategories such as:

• Coasters to Protect Your Surfaces
• Ornaments for Your Tree
• Pillow Shams to Dress Up Your Space
• Magnets for Your Fridge
• Adventure (or Gilwell) Inspired Watercolors
• with more things to come soon

 

I invite you to take a look by clicking the image below. You might find something you like for yourself, or for someone else special in your life.

New Adventure Based on My Love of Travel!

As most of you know, during the past decade I have enjoyed sending guests all over the world as a travel agency owner. With the current pandemic and the lack of travel happening, I've gone through 10 years of adventures and have created some fun travel-inspired coasters from images I took (mostly) or from postcards I collected while on the assorted adventures (a few, but mostly my own photography though). I have more adventures and destinations not yet represented, but you have to start somewhere, right? A sampling of the images is displayed below. (I've also coupled these with my love for Wood Badge, and have a few Wood Badge-inspired items as well.)

I've sold a few sets by word of mouth, but have now taken them online have my own little shop. You might have a favorite destination that you enjoyed and would like to bring into your home, or you might find inspiration for a gift for a loved one, or inspiration to plan your next adventure. Either way, I'd love it if you take a look, and if you feel so inclined, to shop small and support our small business in this way.

 

Thanks for looking, and if you do purchase anything, our family will be very grateful.

Featured Foto Friday - Downtown Disney Lego Creations

The Lego store at Walt Disney World has some terrific creations on display.  Here, the classic scene from "Sleeping Beauty" where Prince Phillip battles the evil Maleficent turned into a dragon, in order to get to the castle to find his true love.  

Flashback Friday - Downtown Disney a la Disney Village Marketplace

As we turn back time on this Flashback Friday, we take a glimpse at the entrance to Downtown Disney - or what was known in 1991 as the Disney Village Marketplace. 

Today in Disney Parks and Resorts History

October 3, 1996
Walt Disney World - Orlando, FL

World of Disney, the world's largest Disney store opens at Downtown Disney, in the Disney Village Marketplace section. 

Flying Fish Cafe officially opens at Disney's Boardwalk Resort.

Tips on Thursday - Festival of the Seasons

© Disney

Celebrate the holidays with Festival of the Seasons! Enjoy live entertainment, festive décor, fun photo ops and so much more—all in the Downtown Disney area at Walt Disney World Resort from November 2012 to January 2013.

Behold a stunning transformation as Disney magic melds with holiday cheer. With twinkling lights, a grandiose tree and yuletide touches at every turn, the Downtown Disney area invites Guests to embrace the spirit of the season.

Live Entertainment
Holiday sights and sounds are plentiful during Festival of the Seasons. Discover a variety of delightful diversions, including:

• Holiday carolers
• Latin, jazz and pop performances of cherished holiday songs
• Costumed stilt walkers and street performers
• A lively holiday dance party with deejay

Visit Santa Claus
Santa Claus is coming to celebrate the season in November and December 2012! Visit with Santa, share holiday wish lists and enjoy a unique photo op!

Shopping
With corridors of specialty shops—including Once Upon a Toy, World of Disney and Disney's Days of Christmas—the Downtown Disney area offers a variety of options to satisfy your holiday shopping needs. Find the perfect gift for that special someone, shop for stocking stuffers or select a sentimental keepsake for yourself!

Saturday Savers - Downtown Disney

It’s time once again to take a look at inexpensive options in or around Walt Disney World to augment your vacation experience.  Things that you might do on your own or with your traveling companions that are FREE or close to being free. Today we'll take a look at what's going on at Downtown Disney.

Downtown Disney includes three distinct sections:  Marketplace, Pleasure Island and the West Side, and is filled throughout with fanciful shops, restaurants, a marina, 24 screen movie theatre, small pay-to-play attractions for the young or young-at-heart such as the small carousel and train ride, or for the more-adventurous at heart the "Characters in Flight" balloon ride.

If you like to shop (or are more like my lovely bride and prefer to window shop), you'll enjoy this festive,  fun, and attractively designed outdoor mall-like area situated along the shores of Lake Buena Vista, across from Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort.  There a number of FREE entertainment offerings, plus several of the locations give out samples or provide free things to do while there.  If you are staying on property in one of the many Disney-owned hotels and resorts, or even at the other “official” Walt Disney World hotels not owned or operated by Disney (Swan, Dolphin, Shades of Green, or the 7 Downtown Disney Hotels along Hotel Plaza Blvd, you can use Disney transportation to get to Downtown Disney.  If you are staying at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort or one of the 7 Downtown Disney hotels, you can even walk from your hotel.  Disney’s Old Key West, Disney’s Port Orleans and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resorts all also offer boat transportation to and from Downtown Disney, which is of course, free to use.  If you stay elsewhere, then you’ll probably need to drive or take a taxi, although there is a bus stop for the local Lynx bus service, route #111, which does make a stop at Downtown Disney on it’s way from Orlando International Airport (with outbound service as well). Parking at Downtown Disney is FREE.

Here are some of the FREE and inexpensive things you can do at Downtown Disney:

The Lego Imagination Center has a FREE 3,000-square-foot play area filled with thousands of LEGO blocks, plus some absolutely amazing and huge Lego sculptures for you to admire! Also, it normally participates in the Monthly Mini Model Build (usually first Tuesday of the month, starting at 5:00 pm), where kids ages 6-14 can build and take home a FREE mini model! Click here to see upcoming events at the store.

The stage along the waterfront, near the World of Disney store is often filled with guest performances of the musical variety, as this stage is one of the primary stages used by the Disney Magic Music Days program – part of the Disney Youth Program.  High school performance groups can often be found on this stage singing or playing their hearts out.  Stop in and enjoy some FREE entertainment for a while.

There are a couple of different playful and fun, interactive fountains at Downtown Disney where children (and playful adults) may enjoy playing and getting wet. This is especially nice on those hot summer days.

While most of the restaurants are pricey to very expensive, it is entirely possible to enjoy a meal for about $10 per person (sandwich, side and drink) at Earl of Sandwich in the Marketplace section, near Once Upon a Toy.  You could also enjoy making a meal of a pretzel dog and drink for about the same amount of money at Wetzel’s Pretzels in the West Side section.  

Visit the Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop and they’ll give you a FREE chocolate sample (this is a must-do on our family’s list each visit!).  Or if you prefer an actual ice cream treat, go to the Soda Fountain side and you can get a sundae or shake for about $7 or less (you could spend more – but there’s no need to).    We have also found that Ghiradelli offers a multi-person sundae – the “Family Favorite” (similar to the “Kitchen Sink” at Beaches and Cream over at Disney’s Beach Club) for about $4 less than the Kitchen Sink, with about the same quantity of ice cream.

House of Blues frequently offers free live music at its Front Porch Bar - enjoy for the cost of a drink! (21 and over)

Raglan Road often has free live music in the bar, particularly on weekends - enjoy for the cost of a drink! (21 and over)

Other wandering performers do show up from time to time, though don’t plan on this as there’s no officially published schedule for it.  If you happen to be there when someone or something shows up to entertain – just relax and enjoy it!

Each fall, Downtown Disney hosts the “Festival of the Masters”, which features award-winning artists and entertaining experiences, and it is a highly anticipated annual event for art lovers.  The festival offers FREE fun for the entire family, with hands-on activities, live musical performances, and all of the various beautifully displayed artwork – many of which are one-of-a-kind and limited-edition painting, photography, sculpture, jewelry and more.  This year’s festival takes place November 9-12, 2012.

Going to a movie isn’t all that inexpensive any more, but the AMC 24 Pleasure Island does provide some alternative fun that doesn’t have to break the bank. 

Every person is different, but there's bound to be something of interest for you at Downtown Disney!

Today in Disney Parks and Resorts History - Norway

May 6, 1988 - Walt Disney World

Norway, the second new World Showcase pavilion at EPCOT Center to be added to the original roster (taking the count up to 11 nations), has a soft opening. The new pavilion includes the Fjording shop, Puffin's Roost shop, Kringla Bakeri og Kafe restaurant, and Restaurant Akershus. The pavilion will not actually officially open until July when the featured attraction, Maelstrom, will officially set sail on July 5th. This innovative attraction features the first time a Disney attraction vehicle switches direction, turning the boat and its' passengers around not once, but twice during it course through its Scandinavian settings. Following the boat ride, passengers are treated to a short, 5 minute film about the Norwegian history, culture and landscape.

Friday Family Fun - Downtown Disney

It's time once again to look at relatively inexpensive, fun activities beyond the theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort.  Today we'll take a peek at Downtown Disney.  This shopping and dining area is filled with fun for all ages, and we always include a visit (or two) to the area whenever we visit Walt Disney World.  If nothing more, we love to go and get a free sample of chocolate at the Ghirardelli store next to their ice cream parlor - free samples are handed out to each guest who walks through their door.  But of course, heading to Downtown Disney is not guaranteed to be completely inexpensive.  There is no entrance fee, but you will find multiple opportunities to part with some (or more) of your money.  But it's all in what you make of it. Some times we've gone and not spent a dime - others, well....


Downtown Disney includes three distinct sections:  Marketplace, Pleasure Island and the West Side, and is filled throughout with fanciful shops, restaurants, a marina, 24 screen movie theatre, small pay-to-play attractions for the young or young-at-heart such as the small carousel and train ride, or for the more-adventurous at heart the "Characters in Flight" balloon ride.


Dining adventures can be had, either with endangered species of the wild in the Rainforest Cafe, or extinct creatures of old over at T-Rex; Wolfgang Puck is represented in both the Cafe on the West Side or the Express location in the Marketplace. You'll find quick casual choices such as Earl of Sandwich or Pollo Campero; or nicer table service options such as Fulton's Crab House, Portobello, Raglan Road Irish Pub and more.


The area includes various entertainment offerings, both on a temporary and more permanent nature in an effort to keep it fresh, and ever evolving. Some days you'll find musical acts performing on the stage in the Marketplace, other days not. More permanent entertainment can be found in the West Side at the House of Blues, combining dining and entertainment, or DisneyQuest, an interactive indoor theme park, or Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba.


And then of course there is the shopping.  One of my favorite stores to look in (and occasionally purchase something) is the Art of Disney store in the Marketplace, and the Days of Christmas store.  Once Upon a Toy is a lot of fun, as is the Lego Imagination Center.  My wife loves Basin for all of the fancy, scented soaps and bath supplies; and we all love Pin Traders... but there are so many other fun shops to explore!


Here are just a few images of the fanciful Lego creations found at Downtown Disney: