Nicki Elson's Not-So-Deep Thoughts

Note to anyone who follows me on Twitter: My account was hacked so please ignore any direct messages from me claiming that someone's saying bad things about you.  If someone is saying bad things about you, I don't know about it, and I certainly didn't sent you a direct message about it.  Sorry for the inconvenience. :(   G is for: Grand Floridian Getaway Lots of guidebooks recommend heading back to your resort midday for a respite from the sun & crowds, but if you're not staying at one of the high-end hotels right by the parks, that isn't always practical.  Not being a guest at a deluxe resort, however, doesn't preclude you from bopping over to one. The Grand Floridian is one monorail stop or a simple, relaxing ferry journey from the Magic Kingdom .  And its got a pool bar. If you really want to get away from the action to recharge, you can take your drink up to the second floor of the main building to the smoking balcony pictured below (veer to the rig...

F is for: Flexibility I'm a mega-planner when it comes to Walt Disney World.  There's so much to do and a limited amount of time in which to do it, so after getting input from the family, I type up detailed daily itineraries (I'd show you a sample, but I like you and don't want you to be frightened of me). I've learned, however, that the most important part of any plan is to know when it's time to take a slight detour or even abandon the ship entirely. For example, for our first morning at the Magic Kingdom, "the plan" was: Step 1 - Go to Space Mountain, go directly to Space Mountain, do not pass Go , with a carefully orchestrated set of steps immediately following. Yet as my husband examined the park schedule while we waited for the ropes to drop, he informed us that Rapunzel would be at the castle for character greetings, and my daughter squealed (she's 15---I'd thought we were past waiting in line for characters). My eye twitched, just a...

E is for: Extra Magic Hours = Extra Crowded A supposed bonus for guests at the Disney World resorts is the privilege of entering the parks early and staying late.  A different park is slated for Extra Morning Magic and Extra Evening Magic each day.  Sounds great, right?  But have you seen the size of the Disney resorts?  They're HUGE! And all the people who don't know better (like me the first time) pour into the parks for Extra Magic Hours .  Combine that with only some of the attractions being open, and it's not so magical.  Then add in the non-extra-magical guests after regular park opening, and ay yi yi . So, the magical tip I wish to bestow upon you today is to check which park is open for Extra Magic and go to a different one.  You'll easily make up for fewer hours with shorter lines. Have any of you had better experience with Disney's Extra Magic Hours?   Disney World Trivia How many hotel rooms are on Walt Disney World property? ...

D is for: Dinoland On the whole, Dinoland is loud and tacky and horrible (except for the Dinosaur ride, which is pretty cool.  Oh, and the replica of Sue , the famous T. Rex).  But amidst the madness, there's a surprising refuge.  If you're looking to kill time while awaiting your Fastpass window for either Dinosaur or Expedition Everest, might I suggest a walk along the Cretacious Trail ?  It's a peaceful path lined with plants dating back to the Cretaceous era...and dinos hidden amid the flora.  Here's my Cutey McPretty venturing into the Cretaceous Trail with the Stitch she purchased moments before (at a loud, tacky and horrible gift shop): Disney World Trivia Walt Disney World displays a replica of Sue, the most complete T. Rex to have been discovered. Where do Sue's genuine bones reside?

C is for: Columbia Harbour House   If my blog was more popular, I wouldn't even tell you about this one.  As it is, this is your lucky day! Because I'm going to let you in on a little known dining location in the Magic Kingdom---we had the place virtually to ourselves at prime lunch time.  I speak of the upstairs at Columbia Harbour House in Liberty Square, right at the entrance to Fantasyland.   It might be packed on the lower level, but search out one of the wide staircases and climb it, because few others do.  I swear, this is exactly what it looked like when we got there (on two separate days): Columbia Harbour House actually has a fairly interesting menu for a fast-food place. Plus the decor's exquisitely detailed, as is everything Disney.  Part of the upstairs extends over the passageway from Fantasyland to Liberty Square, so it's a fun place to look out upon all the suckas slapping the pavement on their way to Pecos Bill's or some other ove...

B is for: Behind the Scenes The Magic Kingdom is undergoing construction to expand Fantasyland, slated for a partial open later this year.  You can get a sneak peek at the Beast's castle above partitions blocking off the work zone, but you can get a way more comprehensive look if you take a trip on the Disney World Railroad . You'll go right through the action and get some interesting bits of trivia from the conductor.    Unfortunately I didn't learn this info. until I was on my way to the airport after my trip, so if you've done this, please, please tell me all about it! Disney World Trivia: When the new Fantasyland is completed, which classic Disney World ride will we be getting TWO of?

For this year's A to Z challenge, I'd like to do my part to help each and every one of you achieve Hakuna Matata at what is one of the world's most wonderful, yet easily overwhelming, places on Earth:  Walt Disney World.  (And yes, maaaaybe I just want to relive my fabulous trip there last fall.)   Guide books and websites abound, so there's no need for me to tell you what you can easily find elsewhere. Rather, what I aim to do is give you some of the more obscure tips and tidbits that will maximize relaxation and enjoyment.  Likewise, I'd love for you to pass along your expertise in the comments as we go along. Are you ready?   C'mon everybody, here we go...     Right, so for my first entry I'm going to completely contradict what I said above and give you a tip that's in all the guidebooks.  BUT this is thee essential key to enjoying the parks with both lower crowds and lower temperatures, so it bears emphasis.  A is for: Arrive befor...