What's In My Bag? Walt Disney World

Must-have — “Something that is essential to have or obtain."

-Oxford’s English Dictionary

Since I enjoyed writing about what's in my bag for my internship, I thought I'd share what I typically bring with me to the Disney parks.  Some of these things are recent additions to my Disney essentials, but I think they're definitely things that will make your trip so much fun!

The Bag Itself

Clearly I love Longchamp bags because I use a Longchamp backpack when I'm in the parks.  I like using a small backpack for the parks because it fits a lot of items but isn't too heavy to carry around all day.  This bag is also perfect for packing because it folds up into a small square that can easily fit into your carry-on when you're traveling to the parks.  The only downside, much like it's larger counterparts is the lack of pockets in it.  It does have one relatively big pocket in the front which is great for fitting your phone, but that's the only pocket.

My Essential Items

Minnie Mouse Ears

No trip to a Disney park would be complete without some sort of Disney related headgear.  I personally have two different pairs of Minnie ears:  one from the Disney Parks and another pair I specially ordered from Aloha Ears Designs.  The Disney Parks pair is one that a lot of people have so I like that I know have a pair that are different than everyone else’s.  Pro Tip # 1: Make sure you take your ears off before going on thrill rides, like Splash Mountain, or you just might lose them, like my dad did!

Maps, In Park Activities, Pins

This one is definitely helpful if (1) it's one of your first times to the parks and (2) you have kids or are a kid at heart.  The Disney parks are huge so maps can definitely come in handy if you need to know where the closest bathroom is (I now know where they are all from when I was younger lol) or you just want to find Splash Mountain.  The My Disney Experience app also works because it has an interactive map that can even give you step by step directions to anywhere in Disney World.  Pro Tip # 2:  Maps can also be a great way of helping you remember what you've done during your trip as a travel log!

Since Disney World was built as a place where kids and adults can both have fun, there's no shortage of activities for everyone, like Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, Wilderness Explorers, and pin trading.  I personally partake in all three of these activities so I carry all of those essentials in my bag during my trip.  Pro Tip # 3:  Disney pins are a lot cheaper on eBay than in the parks so buy them ahead of time to save some money!  Pro Tip # 4:  The in park games can be continued over multiple trips so if you don't collect all of your Wilderness Explorer badges during one trip, bring your book back for your next trip!

Phone Essentials

Since smartphones are now like mini-computers, digital cameras, and camcorders all in one, having various phone accessories is a necessity.  I like to carry a portable charger in case my phone dies while I'm in the park.  Two recent additions to my phone accessories are a phone stabilizer to take videos of new attractions and experiences and an iPhone USB drive to offload all of my pictures and videos.

Water Bottle

Florida is hot.  And when it's hot, it's important to keep hydrated while in Disney World.  I like to bring a plastic water bottle that I fill up with water and ice before I leave for the parks.  Pro Tip # 5:  Disney Resorts sell cases of water at some of the merchandise locations at the resort and it's a lot cheaper than buying a water bottle in the parks!  Pro Tip # 6:  Quick Service restaurants in the parks will give you a cup of ice water when you ask for it!

Gum

Pro Tip # 7:  Disney Parks do not sell gum at all as to not have chewed gum all over the park.  So if you're like me and need gum, bring your own.

Sunglasses/Sunscreen

Sun care is a must, especially during the summer.  I lather myself in so much sunscreen when I go to Disney and always bring more with me to the parks to reapply.  A lot of Disney attractions take place indoors so the sun seems extra brutal when you walk outside.  I always put them on right after getting off a ride.

Instant Camera

I just recently got this for my birthday and it's a total throwback to the old, clunky Polaroid cameras.  This one isn't as bulky, but still gives the old school vibe to the pictures it prints automatically.  This is great for still photos, like of Cinderella’s Castle or the Tree of Life, and it looks super cute when you carry it around the parks!

Shower Sheets

Walking around Disney World can make you hot and sweaty so shower sheets or something similar is a definite must to wipe off all of the sweat or to clean yourself up a little before you grab a bite to eat.  WetOnes or baby wipes can also do the trick.

Blondegalese Turns 1!

Birthday— “A day of origin.”

-Merriam Webster’s Dictionary

I honestly cannot believe that I started my blog one year ago!  It doesn’t even seem possible that I have already started and finished my first year of law school and am almost done with my first law school externship.  Looking back on my blogging experience, one of the biggest things I’ve learned is the importance of planning to keep up with posting.  Keeping a list of potential blog topics is extremely helpful.  Also, for those of you starting law school or college or really just want to have an outlet to write about your experiences, go for it and start a blog!  All it takes is drive, a little creativity, and a computer.  Readers and followers will come as you go along, and I honestly can’t believe I even have the amount of views on my blog I do.

To commemorate one full year of my blog, here are some of blondegalese’s stats for the past year!

Total Blog Views:  11,845

Blog Posts: 29

Most Viewed Blog Post:  How to Bluebook (1110 views!)

Bloglovin’ Followers:  60

Twitter Followers:  152

Instagram Followers:  49

Where You Guys are From!:    United States

                                                     France

                                                     Canada

                                                     Russia

                                                     Australia

                                                     United Kingdom

                                                     Germany

                                                     Ireland

                                                     India

                                                     Portugal

Lastly, I really just wanted to thank all of my readers for following along on my 1L journey.  When I started my blog, I didn’t know if anyone would actually read what I had to say, and clearly you guys have since you’ve kept reading over the past year.  And thank you to all of the other law school bloggers who have been so kind and check them out below if you want to read some other great law school blogs!  Here’s to blondegalese’s first year and to many more to come!

Planning a Disney Vacation

Planning — “the act or process of making or carrying out plans.”

-Merriam Webster’s Dictionary

As I stated in my previous Disney World post, planning a Disney vacation is one of my favorite things to do.  Even when I'm not planning a vacation soon, I still like to check out what's new and the sales going on for the Resort.  Planning a Disney vacation can get a little overwhelming, especially when it's your first time going.  Something my parents and I always do when planning a Disney trip is use a travel agent.  It doesn't cost extra, but they stay on top of your relevant documents for your trip and can help you get the best deal on rooms and flights!  And now, here's my advice on planning your own Disney vacation!


When to Go


Planning when to go is probably one of the most critical things to figure out when planning a Disney trip is the time of year you go.  As of last year, the ticket prices vary based on the different periods, such as Value, Regular, and Peak seasons.  These seasons depend on the usual amount of guests which visit the park each year.  More guests = higher prices for tickets.  The same goes for hotel rooms, which can vary as much as $100 and even more throughout the year.  Disney also puts on various sales throughout the year, like their Summer room sale, free dining plans in the fall, etc.  Typically the only time of the year that may not have a sale is during the Winter holiday season, so that's one of the most expensive times of the year to go as it's also a Peak season. 


Another reason that timing is everything rests solely on the shoulders of Florida weather.  Florida is always pretty warm, compared to the Northeast part of America.  My trips to Disney World have fallen in the periods from the middle of May to the end of October. One thing that has been pretty consistent between all of those trips is the consistent afternoon rain that happens almost every day in Florida.  Obviously, it's a lot warmer during the middle of the summer, and temperatures can get over 100.  Although it gets very warm during the day in the summer, my parents and I typically go to the parks in the morning and at night when it's cooler and a lot of the families with little kids aren't in the parks.


Where to Stay


Personally, I suggest staying on a Disney property, even given the price of the hotels.  There are a lot of perks that Disney resort guests get that staying off property doesn't get you.  One of the big ones for me are the Extra Magic Hours at a different park every day.  What Extra Magic Hours mean is that resort guests get to go into the park an hour early or stay two hours late at the park, which are prime times for riding those hot “E” ticket rides.  Resort guests also get to book their FastPass+ selections 60 days prior to arrival, where everyone staying off property can only book their FastPasses 30 days in advance.  Another big benefit my family takes full advantage of when we go to Disney:  transportation.  Staying on property means you don't have to drive yourself everywhere and parking isn't an issue.  


Although all Disney resorts provide transportation to and from the parks, some resorts have slight advantages in this regard.  Some hotels are closer to specific parks and areas of Disney so it helps to anticipate where you might spend most of your time when in the parks.  However, being closer to a specific park means a more expensive hotel.  The most expensive hotels fall into the category of Deluxe hotels, followed by the Moderate hotels and the Value resorts.  Just because some hotels are less expensive than others doesn't mean that they don't have a lot of the same amenities as more expensive hotels.  The most expensive set of hotels are on the Magic Kingdom monorail loop, but they are the most luxurious of the resorts and get you to Magic Kingdom in less than 10 minutes. 


What to Bring


Just as important as where to stay and when to go are the things you should bring with you to Disney.  I have a long list of things I bring on vacation almost every year, but there are a special few that are must haves for Disney.  In regards to clothing, I'd suggest anything lightweight and quick drying.  Florida heat can be brutal all year round so lightweight clothes help to keep you cool.  A lot of rides at Disney involve water so having clothes that won't stay wet for hours are an essential.  Comfortable shoes are also a requirement since the average person walks about 10 miles a day while at Disney World.  Ponchos, umbrellas, or rain jackets are also a must since it rains a lot in Florida and at a moment’s notice too.  Also, a nicer outfit is good to pack if you're planning on eating at a fancier restaurant.


A lot of essentials are available at the parks so I don't like to bring too much extra, like shampoo, conditioner, soap, and a hair dryer that are all available in your room. My parents and I do like to bring our own snacks since everything at Disney is pricey and you can get it much cheaper at home.


What to Plan on Doing


Dining


Dining at Disney World is one of my favorite things about going to Disney World; the food there is amazing!  Much like everything else in Disney World, there are three different levels of restaurants:  quick service, table service, and signature dining.  Quick service restaurants are quite literally like what they're named.  You order at a counter, and your food is made relatively quick.  Table service restaurants are your typical sit down restaurants, where a server takes your order and are a more formalized meal.  Signature dining restaurants are essentially table service restaurants with a higher price point.  Some have a more formalized dress code than other table services and are a lot more fancy.  When I got to Disney, I usually eat at a variety of the three.  I particularly think that quick service restaurants at hotels are the best for quick and affordable breakfasts so you can splurge a little more on dinner. 


Parks, Shopping, and More


Now that I've been to Disney World a multitude of times, I don't feel the need to spend the whole day in the parks.  But when I do go to the parks, I like to get my FastPasses for the rides I view as must sees, like the rides new since the last time I went and some of my  old favorites that always bring long lines.  We usually try to hit any other rides when there's shorter lines: during parades, the fireworks, and any shows.  Something that makes Disney better than other parks to me is the sheer amount of different experiences.  If you're not into thrill rides, you can still enjoy your time at the parks with the wide variety of boat rides, theater shows, character meet and greets, and the list goes on.  If you love the thrills, there's plenty of rides that will cater to your interests as well, like my personal least favorite, Tower of Terror.


In addition to all of the rides, there's plenty of shopping as well.  Downtown Disney just underwent a multi-year renovation into Disney Springs, a shopping and dining district on Disney property.  It has so many wonderful shops that you could definitely blow your budget there.  There's plenty of shops with Disney merch as well.  Pretty much every hotel has at least one souvenir shop and every park probably has at least 20 so you'll never be far from a shop selling the cutest Minnie Mouse ears. 


Outside of all of the Disney related goodness, there's also a lot of other activities as well.  There are three different full service spas that will definitely make you forget you're in Disney World, fishing expeditions, a miniature golf course, three actual golf courses, and a variety of water sports you can participate in as well.  I'd definitely recommend any of these for a special occasion; the spa’s my favorite. 


So that's my brief overview of how to plan a Disney vacation.  I'm sure I could think of more tips and tricks from my times at the parks, so let me know if you want more!

What's In My Bag? - Internship

Must-have — “something that is essential to have or obtain”

-Oxford’s English Dictionary

I love reading about or watching videos about what is in people’s bags.  It’s always interesting to see what things people find to be must haves or what they can’t go anywhere without.  Without further ado, here’s what’s in my bag for my summer internship.

I'm Going to Disney World!

Vacation - “a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation.”

Merriam Webster’s Dictionary

Every time I tell someone where I'm going on vacation this year, I feel like I just won the Super Bowl.  But honestly, this will be my twelfth trip to Disney World on vacation so I get this feeling a lot.  I just love Disney World and am so glad my parents indulge my desires to go.  Every year I celebrate my birthday there since it's in the summer, but this year I also get to celebrate being done with my first year of law school and being 1/3 of a lawyer!

FabFitFun Summer 2017 Box

Summer — “The season between spring and autumn comprising in the northern hemisphere usually the months of June, July, and August or as reckoned astronomically extending from the June solstice to the September equinox.”

-Merriam Webster’s Dictionary



Two weeks ago marked the official start of summer so that means it’s officially time for a new FabFitFun box!  If you haven’t heard about FabFitFun before, it’s a quarterly subscription box that comes with about 7-10 full size items, all for $49.99 a quarter, but if you click this link, you’ll get $10 off your first box!  And trust me, it’s a great deal.  To see the types of items you can get in the box, check out my prior unboxings.  This box even had an AR component with the FabFitFun app that you can see below.  So, without further ado, here’s my review of the Summer 2017 FabFitFun box!

June Obsessions

Obsession — “An idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a person’s mind.”

-Oxford’s English Dictionary

To detract from the all-consuming nature of everything law school, I thought I would start creating a favorites list for the month, including pretty much anything I think is awesome enough to tell you guys to try.  Since June is my first official month of summer, it seemed like a good time to start!  So here are my five favorite things for the month of June!