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Renting a stroller at Disney World

Posted on January 12, 2010 2:55 pm by TheAngelForever

Last year, at about this time, I was working on plans for our first family Disney World vacation in May. Having been to Disney World countless times in my life, I knew there was a LOT of walking involved each day. My youngest was going to turn two during our stay, so he would need a stroller to rest/nap in during the long days. What I wondered about was my oldest son. NHL was 5 during our trip. Walking at the mall for long periods of time often makes NHL tired thanks to low muscle tone. Even without the low muscle tone, Disney walking is like nothing else you will ever experience. I knew we had to figure something out.

At first, we were going to rent a double stroller for a week at Disney. If you paid out the week, it was slightly discounted. Thank goodness I turned to the DISBoards and stumbled onto an amazing post about stroller rentals. Everyone on the post said the same thing – go to Orlando Stroller Rentals. So I went to their website and looked at the city mini double stroller. It seemed perfect since it could hold up to 100 pounds of children within it. Several of the Moms on the DISBoards mentioned that they had 5-7 years old that fit into it without a problem. I made a phone call to Orlando Stroller Rentals and spoke with Shannon, the owner. She was fabulous and answered all of my questions.

Why did we go with Orlando Stroller Rentals? Here are a few of the reasons:

Strollers are delivered to your resort/location of choice. It was waiting for us at luggage at Pop Century when we checked in.
The cost is significantly lower than Disney rentals. Was happy to give support to a small local business.
Everyone talked about how uncomfortable and small the Disney double strollers were. I did not think my youngest would be able to rest – no less have room for my 5 year old son.
Picture after picture showed children asleep in these city mini double strollers at Disney World
We would be able to take the strollers from the resort to the park and back. Disney strollers must stay in the parks only – so we would not have them to travel around property or shop at Downtown Disney.
When we were finished with the stroller, we simply returned it where we had picked it up and Shannon would retrieve it.

Our Thoughts:

We loved the double stroller from Orlando Stroller Rentals. It made our trip even more magical. We had a place for both of the boys to rest comfortably. Much to our surprise, our 5 year old seemed to use it more than our 2 year old who wanted to walk with Daddy. The stroller was easy to push around the parks. We had plenty of room, even at Pop Century to fit it in our room at night. With a few tries, opening and closing to take on and off the Disney buses was simple. Both of the boys would sit under the shades to keep cool and relax as we walked from area to area. In addition to this, at night when the kids were exhausted from a day in the heat they could sleep as we wandered back to our resort. Another plus is the stroller was easy to pick out in the mass of strollers parked outside of attractions. They were not only bright orange, but Shannon also has a laminated name badge attached to the stroller.

Our experience was so wonderful that when we were planning this quick trip to Disney for the Social Media Moms Celebration, I immediately called Shannon to see availability of strollers. Lucky for us, we were able to get one for the time we will be there. This will be fabulous not only for our time together as a family, but also when TechyDad is flying solo with the boys.

Now I just need to walk up a storm and get my arms ready to push the boys in the stroller that we will be renting from Orlando Stroller Rentals.

Disclosure: This review of Orlando Stroller Rentals that was done on my own, I received no compensation. We paid in full for our trip in May and are doing so again in February. This post was written to let others know about this wonderful business and service they provide to families visiting Walt Disney World.

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Disney on the brain

Posted on January 9, 2010 11:09 pm by TheAngelForever

If you have been following my blog long enough, you probably know that I am a HUGE fan of Walt Disney World. I have been there so many times over my life that I can not keep track. (Mom and Dad were not too helpful either.) I actually opted to take a family vacation to Disney World last May in lieu of going to BlogHer ’09 in Chicago. The deals were just too good to be true and the timing was right for us.

I sat and watched as BlogHer ’09 came and went. Then, everyone was talking about TypeAMom while I sat at home. This week, I heard rumbles about a Social Media Mom Celebration that was going to take place at Walt Disney World.

HELLO!!!! Could anything be more perfect for me as a first time conference? I think not! For more information, please head over to the fabulous post on 5 Minutes for Mom.

TechyDad and I talked about it as I waited for my invitation to arrive. Thursday afternoon it came. Without looking back, I booked the event. That night, we decided to extend our stay at Disney. Why not, right? We’re already paying for the airfare and who knows when we may get another chance to spend time in Orlando. By Thursday evening, I had plane tickets for all four of us and we were trying to get quotes on hotel/tickets/dining for the rest of the week. Friday, the little guy and I went to a travel agent and I put in a call for quotes from AAA. This morning, TechyDad and I tried out the new (for us anyway) online Disney advanced dining reservation system. Even with short notice, we were able to get some very nice Table Service meals. One favorite from our trip in May and a few new places for dinner and character breakfasts. Once those were made, we went back and booked the rest of the lodging/dining/park admission. In 24 hours the hotel booked up the standard room, so we had to go premium. Not thrilled about that, but we love Pop Century.

As I sit here sipping some decaf coffee, I am in disbelief. This is so unlike us to plan and go someplace so quickly. Still, as you will read on the 5 Minutes for Mom website, it was too good to pass up. TechyDad and I are looking forward not only to Disney World, but also meeting in person so many people that we have "met" online over the last 3 years. Another interesting item to note, my 3 year Blogoversary is days before we leave for this trip. Hmmm. . . perhaps that is what I should say I’m celebrating while visiting.

Now I am going to relax for a few days as more details come in about the #DisneySMMoms event. Then I will try to figure out what we need to pack for the trip. I have been to Disney a lot, but have never been in February before. This is all new to me. So in advance, I apologize if Disney is on my brain a little too much, but well I’m a kid at heart and can not wait!

P.S. Is it bad that I never finished blogging about our trip in May? Guess I may have to finish some of that up, especially JSL’s actual 2nd B-day while we were there.

Disclosure: Our family was provided with a discounted price for the days of the actual event. The additional days for our surprise Disney vacation were purchased at our own cost since we are long time Disney fans. All opinions about this event are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.

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Disney fun TechyDad travel vacation web fun

Meet Piggy Oink-Oink

Posted on January 5, 2010 9:43 pm by TheAngelForever

I would like you to meet Piggy. Or, as JSL calls her "Piggy Oink-Oink" using snorting noises on the hyphenated part of her name. This is Piggy taking a moment to text message her friends on Twitter.

Way back in October/November, when we were bribing NHL to go to swim lessons, he asked for the Mouse from Kohls Cares for Kids. The deal was to go in the pool with no issues two weeks in a row and we would buy him the Mouse.

Of course, when you buy NHL a Mouse, chances are JSL will want something too.

Rather than pick the Moose, JSL quickly demanded the Pig. I figured that Piggy would become like every other stuffed friend in our house – a dust magnet. Seriously, neither of the boys had ever snuggled a stuffed animal. We would buy them for special events, like at Disney World, but they would rest on their beds with perfect fur.

There must have been something different with Piggy. Since she came into the family, Piggy has been all over. As we noticed how attached JSL was with Piggy, we realized we should probably buy a Piggy Part Deux, just in case something should happen to the original Piggy Oink-Oink. The day before Thanksgiving JSL and I went to Kohls and picked up a back up Piggy.

Piggy goes near and far, to the couch and in the car. He is often on the floor and is a favorite pillow or wrestling buddy. After a month or so, we noticed how loved Piggy has become, she is the first stuffed friend that has matted fur in our house. JSL loves her so much that he even allowed Piggy to try on his new scarf that I made for him. Here is Piggy modeling the scarf.

His love for Piggy makes me wonder. Perhaps there is more to this love for Piggy Oink-Oink. This may be my little guy following in my footsteps. After all, I had several Miss Piggy (a la Muppets fame) dolls that went all over with me and collected pigs growing up. Must locate photos of myself with Miss Piggy from years ago at Nana & Papa’s house to compare to photos of JSL.

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The Year that was 2009

Posted on December 31, 2009 1:03 pm by TheAngelForever

I remember it like it was yesterday, December 31, 2008. The boys and I were snuggled onto the couch. We were looking at a photo album from our honeymoon at Disney World. The boys were fascinated because we told them we would all be going there in 2009. That day we had officially booked our first big family vacation. Yes, in a few short months the boys would be going on an airplane for the first time to experience the magic of Disney.

The year has gone by in a blur. It is hard to believe that 2009 is just hours away from being over. Here are some memories from a year in my life:

January:

JSL learned at 19 months old that snow is tricky to maneuver in. We captured this life lesson on video.
Last year, I joined the anti-resolution craze. Did really well with this until things gradually slipped back and H1N1 killed it all.
Going back on Weight Watchers, I was obsessed with my Nalgene water bottle. I was constantly drinking that and living my life in points (heading back on this as well).
Then 5 year old NHL showed me that Word Families can be rather fun thanks to the "-it" clan. My angel was growing up too quickly.

February:

Disney planning happened early one morning when I called in to make our dining reservations. This was huge and important for our trip that now included Nana and Papa.
We continued to battle for control over NHL’s allergies and breathing troubles.
A year passed from JSL’s first febrile seizure. A false sense of security from a year with no additional issues as I recalled the events from 2008.
We went to Sesame Street Live. This was the first time for JSL and Cousin S, NHL was a pro and showed them what to do.

March:

Reality hit and I learned that simply doing Weight Watchers was not enough. I had to move it, move it and Leslie Sansone became my friend. Time to dust those off again for 2010.
We said goodbye to TechyDad’s long time car and bought a new one in the snow.
Everyone dressed up for Purim and went to the parade for some fun and games.
A weekend away for a family party = fun at a hotel pool. It was also the weekend that we questioned where the adult-parent line is in certain situations.
13 months had come and gone and nightmares returned as JSL had 2 febrile seizures in 30 hours.
With 4 years of physical therapy behind him (to improve low muscle tone), NHL learned to ride a bike. This was a HUGE milestone and he was so proud, so were we.

April:

For the first time in my life, I actually liked exercising and sweating. I walked and kicked with Leslie Sansone for miles each day. Leslie and I are going to be good buddies next week, asthma permitting.
Lots of preparations went into Passover and the Seders were fun. This year, NHL really got into it thanks to Hebrew School.
An early morning phone call on Shabbat from TechyDad’s parents proved to be bad news. Grandma had passed away. She was a beautiful woman who is missed greatly.
Flowers were planted for Earth Day. They were gorgeous while they lasted. Sad to say, the neighborhood bunny dug up the bulbs and they will not be coming back this year.

May:

Just in time for the trip to Disney World, I bought a pedometer. I tried daily to get in my 10,000+ steps. Need to get this puppy back out for the new year.
Lots of packing, errands and last minute items were bought for Disney World. This included a shopping trip to buy everyone a new pair of shoes for sunny Florida. I lived in my Teva while we were there and all summer long.
A week away from the computer meant scheduling posts for my blog. Right before we left a prize arrived with Mickey Ears. Check us out!
While at Disney, the little guy turned 2. Here is a look back at two years in his life.
Before we could blink, our week at Disney World was over. I wrote about a lot of the trip, but hate to admit I never finished. Our trip there, Chef Mickey in photos, Mother’s Day at Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom & Boma, and Day at the Magic Kingdom.
This month also brought us EA Sports Active. Loved this, but my knee did not. An old injury came back to life thanks to a million lunges, squats and the like.

June:

Memories from my childhood visits to Disney World and a Figment bribe from my father.
We all celebrated a big birthday for my mother. Thanks to Aunt L, we had a nice party for her with family all there.
After the allergic reaction at Disney to walnuts, I went to the doctor and got my blood test results. New inhaler to help asthma and lots of vitamins were added to my routine. . . need to go back to those again too.
Shooting at the National Holocaust Museum brought back memories of living in fear of hatred that I have had as a Jewish American.
The end of Kindergarten for NHL was filled with fun events. There was Field Day, Cake Balls for the last day with the horse rides, and kindergarten graduation. NHL went into kindergarten with the goal to read and came out with that and so much more!
TechyDad and I celebrated our 8th Anniversary. Here’s a look back at our wedding.

July:

NHL learned to play tennis at a local tennis program. He had a lot of fun, and we hope to do it again in 2010.
I learned what was causing my intense stomach pains for weeks – SOY! Our almost vegetarian lifestyle was turned upside down.
A long weekend trip to visit Uncle I, Aunt M and Cousin S meant a stop to see the Berenstain Bears at the museum. The kids loved entering their world.
Thanks to season passes, we had a lot of time at Six Flags/Wiggles World. NHL conquered his fear of characters, we drove in Big Red Cars, and followed the M&M Road.
A BIG event also came to our area. We were lucky enough to take the boys to see Walking with Dinosaurs. It was amazing on so many levels.
NHL learned to swallow pills! Nice to be able to give him a little pill than tons of liquid or chewables.

August:

When the rain stopped long enough, we went to the park. JSL liked going on the swings with Daddy. Here they are having a blast.
In an attempt to relive the yummy memories from Disney, we tried our first stab at the Pop Century Tie-Dyed Cheesecake. This was in time for TechyDad’s birthday celebration .
I also got my first pair of Crocs, some wedges that were really fun. Since then I have added 3 more pairs, including some boots.
NHL went to camp for the first time. He had a blast during the week long Dinosaur camp.
In the middle of the month, my first born turned 6. NHL was growing up before my eyes, so I showcased the past year for him.
The summer was filled with Wiggle Tooth woes. It actually required the Tooth Fairy to write NHL a note to encourage him to keep wiggling.
My knitting took on a new adventure as I tried circular needles for the first time. A baby blanket for my new nephew due in February 2010 is in the works.

September:

My best friend that I went to kindergarten with had her baby shower. It was so nice being a part of this special day for her.
A night away from the boys was a special treat as I went with my parents to see Cirque du Soleil while it was in town.
NHL got ready to begin first grade. A new adventure was waiting for him as he went back to school.
A beetle invasion in our house led to the discovery of termites in the basement below. A quick plan of action and lots of money invested led to at least the termites being taken care of.
We celebrated the Jewish New Year with family eating lots of yummy food of course.
A weekend away to celebrate my sweet niece’s 2nd birthday also included craft time with MY little brother.
NHL was off to a great year in first grade. He was reading a ton, getting perfect scores on spelling tests. Of course, a little fun and excitement at pick up happened one day when JSL landed head first on the concrete at school. Yet another ER visit for our family.

October:

We took the boys to a pre-season hockey game. We had a blast and the little guy loved the zamboni the most.
After the hockey game, I started to feel lousy. Being a Mom, I ignored the symptoms until it was too late. A week later, a visit to the doctor confirmed that it was likely H1N1 (thank you ER visit). We left with my asthma being treated and a script for Tamiflu for the little guy just in case.
A 2:00 in the morning call to Nana and Papa required the Tamiflu being filled. H1N1 attacked JSL fast and furious.
While taking NHL to get his 6 year old portraits, we learned there is a great conspiracy involved.
TechyDad and I entered the wonderful world of texting. We dropped our cable phones, added texting and have never looked back.
Between sicknesses, we managed to get out to pick 35 pounds of apples. We had a blast with the boys out in the orchard.
During Halloween week, NHL was one of the 30% of kids out from his school with the flu. That same week, JSL had febrile seizure #4 while I was home alone with both of the boys. We still do not know what caused this one.
By Halloween, NHL was feeling well enough to head out to trick-or-treat at a few houses. Check out his costume here.

November:

Both of the boys are Wiggles Fans. We bought tickets over the summer to take JSL to his first Wiggles concert. He had a blast and could not believe what he was seeing.
There were several absolutely gorgeous days in November. The little guy and I took advantage of this and went to the park for some fun while NHL was at school.
LEGOs came alive in our house with a fun discovery. Lots of imagination and building have followed.
NHL has been learning Hebrew each Sunday at Hebrew School. He even made items to use at home for Shabbat.
Twas the day before Turkey Day and we went to visit the 1st graders. . . later that night we went to a fun filled hockey game.

December:

My birthday arrived this month. I finally picked out something from my parents from last year and this year. I now have a gorgeous Pandora bracelet that has so much meaning behind it. Oh course having a December B-day often means snow ruins plans. This year the snow, illness and a trip for NHL to the ER got in the way. TechyDad also got me a premium Picnik membership, so lot of photo fun has taken place over the last few weeks.
Chanukah arrived and there was so much going on. Here are each of the boys enjoying the special time of year.
A gingerbread house building party closed out 2009 in the first grade. The kids had a fabulous time. I was so glad to be home and able to watch this.

Of course, these are just some of the major events that took place here in my world. Thanks to my blog, I have many other moments captured for our family. 2009 has had it’s share of good and bad moments. Even with all of the ER visits, scares and things I would not change the year gone by. If we did, who knows if we would have had our magical memories at Disney World and other fun family moments.

Thank you to my family, friends (both IRL and online) who have supported me this year. Another thank you to the wonderful PR people and companies that I have worked with this year. Eveyone’s interest has been crucial to helping TheAngelForever.com to be a success. I look forward to 2010 and beyond with all of you.

Happy New Year to all of you and your families.

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My homage to the Doof

Posted on December 29, 2009 8:49 pm by TheAngelForever

Some of you may have seen the title of my post and had no clue what it means. Guess you do not recognize the crew below.

This is my six year old son’s Phineas and Ferb shirt, along with the Phineas and Ferb soundtrack. Recently, NHL has really taken to Phineas and Ferb on the Disney Channel. The show has a lot of catchy tunes and even adults can laugh along with it.

The other day, a childhood friend left a message on Facebook to see if anyone would know what he was talking about. His wife thought it was pretty obscure and nobody would recognize it. The status message simply stated, "My name if Doof and you’ll do what I say!"

I vaguely recalled it, but said it outloud to TechyDad expecting a reply from him. Before I knew it, NHL said the following, "My name is Doof and you’ll do what I say. Woot! Woot!" He kept on going singing the entire song that Dr. Doofenshmirtz sings from Phineas and Ferb.

While visiting my mother today, I had a weak parenting moment. I channeled my inner Dr. Doofenshmirtz and said the following to JSL:

Me: My name is Mama and you’ll do what I say. Woot! Woot!

Without missing a beat, the little guy replied back to me.

JSL: My name is JSL pup-pup you do whah I. Woot! Woot!

I immediately wanted to be able to share this with hubby since it had backfired, but in a really cute way. Here is the little guy doing it several more times with me.