Author: Melissa
wild africa trek at disney’s animal kingdom
Last month, at the Disney Social Media Mom’s Celebration I got the chance to go on the Wild Africa Trek — a private guided tour in Disney’s Animal Kingdom where you get to go behind the scenes and get close to the animals.
It was amazing. Incredible. One of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had at Disney – and we’ve done some really cool things! Check it out:
QUICK FACTS
- cost is about $200/person, depending on when you go.
- 3-hour VIP tour through Pangani Forest on a thrilling, privately guided expedition featuring close encounters with exotic wildlife species, followed by a VIP safari through African savanna, including a visit to an exclusive safari camp with incredible views of everything from towering giraffe to powerful rhinos.
- light African-inspired refreshments are served. And by ‘light refreshments’ they mean WOW. Curry-chicken salad, roasted pepper hummus, grilled shrimp, fresh food, pita bread… SO delicious.
- And while you’re on the tour, you have two guides with you who are taking tons of pictures – and you get a photo cd to bring home. So, while you will be taking tons of pictures – because its really amazing – you don’t have to worry about missing something. And you can put the camera down and enjoy the view!
QUICK TIPS
- Only guests eight years old and up can go on the trek. There are medical restrictions as well, such as a minimum weight.
- You cannot bring a camera without a strap and cell phones must be left back at base camp. Lockers are provided for all other belongings, but they aren’t huge, so leave the big backpack at the hotel.
- You will not be near a bathroom for at least two hours, so plan accordingly.
- You will be required to wear long shorts or pants and close-toed shoes. Trust me, you will be glad you did. This is off the beaten path.
- Consider the weather and time of year when booking your trip. It was about 80 degrees the day we went, and I wouldn’t want it to be any hotter. I’m glad we were there during the morning hours, when it’s cooler and the animals were more active.
This was truly an experience I will never forget. I’m so glad I got to go with a few friends – I am dying to take my family as soon as my kids are all old enough!
disclosure: i experienced the wild africa trek as part of the disney social media moms conference. while i did pay to attend the conference, we were given a terrific deal by disney!
on motherhood
Honestly, so many days as a mom I feel like this:
Its hard. Its exhausting. It is one of the few things that can make me scream. Or cry. Sometimes at the same time. It makes me feel inadequate like nothing you can imagine. It brings me to my knees daily, as I plead for wisdom is how to do this.
But it does give you perks. Like this:
and this:
And my cup runneth over.
I’m so blessed. With my own amazing little rugrats. And with the moms in my life.
My own mom is still mothering me, even though I’m gone with my own little ones. Every day she is giving me advise, helping me with deal with motherhood (probably while chuckling to herself and thinking “Payback!”) and telling me, “You can do this. You can do this.”
My mother-in-law is amazing – how many other mother-in-laws will come over to babysit and when you get home, say “Well, while Colin napped I did your ironing and cleaned the bathroom. Hope that’s okay.” She is so supportive of our family – we are so blessed.
My grandma is the very personification of generosity and giving. If I called her and said, “I need you!” She would throw Grandpa in the car and be halfway across Connecticut before he even knew what was happening.
My aunts are the same. So supportive, so loving, so adored by my kids.
And my sisters! All of them – in-laws and not – I feel like my kids have 5 extra moms. And I love it.
I feel surrounded by love this mothers day. I wish everyone could feel just like this.
fashion friday: beach bound
I’m going to Jamaica next week. I just realized that when I started writing this post.
Which means I need to get crackin’. And by “get crackin'” I mean “get shoppin’.”
I just picked up this gorgeous dress from jcp for our trip. I love it! Its so silky and pretty and I love the pattern. And for $40?? Get two.
Hummm… what do you think of this? With red jeans, maybe?
I need a swimsuit. This one is so so cute. What do you think? I’m seriously into polka dots!
And LOOK at this dress!!!! Love it!
skyping the day away
Every time I open my computer or turn on my phone, Skype automatically is open and the conversations are zooming. It is probably the only thing on my computer and phone that I use every single day, without fail.
I love the ability to have private conversations on Skype. I have so many rooms open chatting with people that I’ve lost count. I have rooms where I ask for advise from fellow bloggers or ask for a quick retweet or like on Facebook. I have a room with my bust buddies where we talk about everything under the sun. (“What happens in the Skype room, STAYS in the Skype room”) I have a room with my sisters, I have a room with my BFF, I even have a room with my daughter where I can remind her to do her homework.
And the video chat feature is AMAZING. We love to video chat with my husband when he is traveling for work. We even had a “Skype Christmas” with my family this year when we couldn’t make it home. Last week, I was at Disney World without my kiddos, so one night when I was watching the Main Street Electrical Parade, I video called my daughters on Skype and they were able to watch teh parade with me at home! SO amazing!
So I am really excited to be a Skype Ambassador! Over the next few months I will be doing some fun Skype experiments and sharing them with you – I will win you over to how awesome Skype is!
A status update or tweet is great for keeping up with someone’s life. A phone call is even better for connecting! Nothing replaces face-to-face contact. And with Mother’s Day coming up, why not send your mom a video greeting! Wouldn’t your mom LOVE a rocking greeting from Skype’s “Mom’s You Rock” Facebook app. It is a fun way to let your mom know how much she means to you. And the best part is, with every video created Skype will donate $1, Save The Children. Go make your video to mom today!
disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Skype. I received Skype credits to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.
what i wore
Friday, I was working working working and then took Colin to a birthday party. I just threw on this dolman sleeve tee and my jeans. I picked up this top on clearance at Old Navy for like $4 in the fall! LOVE deals like that!
top: Old Navy {old}
jeans: 7 for All Mankind {buy here}
shoes: Target {old}
On Saturday I was on super mommy duty, running around to ballet, drama and soccer practices. I love my new anorak from Avon – its so light, so it defended from the misty rain without being as heavy as my trench coat.
jacket: avon {buy here}
tee: LOFT {buy here}
jeans: target
shoes: converse via nordstrom rack {buy here}
For more style, check out
what to expect when you’re expecting *giveaway*
When I found out I was pregnant with my first baby, the first thing I did – that very same day – was run out and buy What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Isn’t that just what you’re supposed to do? I poured over it, marking off the milestones of pregnancy and it was even in my overnight bag I took to the hospital with me (packed with the packing for the hospital list they have in the book.)
My first pregnancy was what my doctor called “A Textbook Pregnancy.” Everything was just as it was supposed to be, right on schedule, just like the book said it would be. Then I got pregnant again.
My second pregnancy was nothing like the first. Actually, it was the exact opposite. Everything that wasn’t supposed to happen did. Nothing was on schedule. I had no morning sickness with my first, sick as a dog with my second. I gained weight differently, I had different cravings, I was soooooo exhausted – I was a mess. The baby was even born an entire month early – talk about not according to plan! The only thing that was the same was the fact that it resulted in a baby!
On May 14, Centrum Specialist® PreNatal will host expecting and new mothers in at a special advance screening of the highly anticipated movie, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, by Lionsgate. Personally, I can’t wait to see it!! The stars… The story… It just looks totally hysterical! Want to come see it with me? I’ll be seeing it at an advanced screening on Monday at 7:30 with one of my best mommy buddies thanks to Centrum Specialist Prenatal and I get to bring 5 winners (and a friend) with me!
WIN IT!
Centrum Specialist Prenatal is on the look-out for soon-to-be or new moms! And want YOU to win two tickets to an advanced screening of the feature film What to Expect When You’re Expecting Monday, May 14th, at 7:30 in King of Prussia, PA!
To Enter: Leave a comment sharing how your pregnancies were “What you were expecting?” (or how they weren’t!) Centrum Specialist Prenatal wants to know.
Additional entries:
(please leave an additional comment for each entry completed)
2. Like Centrum Specialist Prenatal on Facebook.
3. Like Girlymama on Facebook.
4. Follow me on Twitter.
5. Subscribe to Girlymama daily updates either through your favorite RSS Reader or via email.
One winner will be selected at random using Random.org and will be notified by email. If I do not hear from you in 12 hours, I will be choosing a new winner. For other contest rules, see my giveaway policies page.
disclosure: I am participating in a sponsored campaign hosted by Centrum Specialist® Prenatal multivitamins. I received compensation for this post. While all opinions stated are my own, I make no claims about Centrum Specialist® Prenatal as a product or its effectiveness.
Rules for Prenatal “What to Expect” Screening Tickets Blog Posts:
- NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY. PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
- Must be 18 or older and a legal resident of the 50 United States and DC to enter. Not eligible: employees of selected bloggers posting the giveaways, Ketchum, Wyeth LLC (“sponsor”), and each of their parent, affiliate or related companies (“Sweepstakes Entities”), or their immediate family or persons living in the same household.
- Enter by submitting the required information, specified by the host blogger. Use of automated or scripted programs to submit entries are prohibited.
- Five winners will be randomly selected by the blogger to win two advance screening tickets of the feature film What to Expect When You’re Expecting!; each winner gets two tickets (one for themselves and one for a friend.)
- Host Blogger will choose winners from all eligible entries at random. The winner will be contacted via email by blogger. If a winner does not respond within 24 hours, the blogger will select another prize winner. All decisions are final.
- Winner must respond with a preferred t-shirt size for themselves and their guest (ranging from S-XL maternity size.)
- All winners are requested to wear their t-shirts on the day of the advance screening.
- Odds of winning depend on the number and timing of the entries provided. Failure trespond to prize notification or provide required information may result in forfeiture of the prize and award.
- Except where prohibited, winners agree that the Sweepstakes Entities have the right to use their name, city and town and likeness in any advertising and marketing material, without compensation or any right to review and approve.
- Sponsor: Wyeth LLC, 5 Giralda Farms, Madison, New Jersey, 07940
disney’s yacht club resort
I just enjoyed a three night stay at Disney’s Yacht Club, part of the gorgeous Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. And let me just say, every resort I stay at at Disney World is just as amazing as the last!
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is a lakeside Disney Deluxe Resort featuring lush landscaping and the formal grace of a grand New England yacht club. The design makes you feel like you’ve been transported to the summertime Shingle Style hotels of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Located right on Crescent Lake, it is walking distance to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. And it is positively breathtaking to boot.
photo by @JoLynneS
We pulled up to the Yacht Club after getting off the Magical Express, walked right into the amazing lobby. The wood was gleaming and it felt like stepping into a old New England beach house. The lobby is warm and inviting, with comfy sofas grouped off inviting guests to relax and linger. And, seeing as its Disney, the staff was absolutely delightful.
Our room was a standard room with a pool room. It had two queen beds, a desk, dresser, lounge chair , gorgeous nautical decor and a huge marble bathroom with private toilet. Rooms are available with 2 queen beds and a day bed – thank you Disney for accommodating families of 5! The rooms also have coffeemakers, refrigerators and microwaves (on request), hair dryers, irons and ironing boards and an in-room safe. Cribs are complimentary on request. There was more than enough room for our group of four women and the astounding amount of luggage we brought with us. It would have easily fit my family of 5.
This photo is from the Disney website. You can not even imagine how our room instantly exploded when the four of us got into it.
As I’ve said many times before, the two non-negotiables of a hotel are 1) comfy beds and 2) a great shower. The beds at the Yacht Club were quite comfy. the linens were amazing – no scratchy sheets or gross bedspreads here. The shower was perfect – only the tub didn’t drain quickly, but easily overlooked. Our room was squeaky clean – not a speck of dust, dirt or hair on the floor and everything was sparkling every day.
The hotel offers so much right on site. For an additional fee, you can have a Club Level deluxe room, with admission to the Regatta Club which includes:
- Advanced Walt Disney World Itinerary Planning service
- Personalized front desk and concierge service
- Evening turndown service with chocolates
- Secured key access to the club-level lounge, which serves refreshments from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily
- Complimentary fax assistance
- Limited selection of DVDs
There are also two restaurants on site – the Yachtsmen Steakhouse, character dining at Cape May Cafe, the Captain’s Grille (which was SO yummy and very affordable!), not to mention two lounges and a soda shop! Plus – you are just a 5 minute walk to the World Showcase at EPCOT. Talk about dining options!!
And the pool!! The pool was AMAZING. If you are staying here, add an extra day to your trip just to stay here and play by the pool. Actually, make that two days – because this pool in incredible. You can’t even capture it in one picture. There’s a sand-bottomed pool, a lazy circular river, a “Shipwreck” to explore with one of the highest hotel waterslides at Walt Disney World Resorts… even an elevated tanning deck. And the bar makes a fabulous margarita.
And you are a short walk to Epcot, a slightly longer walk to Hollywood Studios and buses to Downtown Disney, Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom pull up right outside about every 20 minutes.
This hotel was FABULOUS! Our next trip to Disney, I would love to stay here again and highly recommend this hotel. The location is just too perfect!!
disclosure: i stayed at the yacht club resort as part of the disney social media moms conference. while i did pay to attend the conference, we were given a terrific deal by disney! photos from disney.com, except where noted.
Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2012
I attended the very very first Disney Social Media Moms Celebration two years ago and it was an amazing, spectacular time. My kids all still talk about it! We weren’t able to go last year, since my brother got married that weekend. SO I was thrilled to be able to return this year – this time on my own with the three of my favorite blogging buddies — Jo-Lynne, Sarah, and Debbie.
We had a ridiculous amount of fun, even with traveling hijinks. (But, seriously, if you ever see the four of us on your plane or bus, just get off. Just leave. You’ll thank us later when you get there faster by walking. ) But we made it to our hotel, the lovely Yacht Club, and our bags arrived in the nick of time before we headed down to dinner.
The first night, we were treated to a Pirate Party on the beach at the Beach Club, located next door to the Yacht Club. Families were welcome, and there was music and games, super yummy food and drink, and a great group of bloggers to chat with. It was a great party, although I missed my pirate-obsessed Colin very very much. I talked to Jake, and he waved ‘hi’ to Colin for me!
After the party, we all ran to Epcot before it closed and just made it onto Soarin’ with our media Fast Passes. I’ve never been on Soarin’, but since it was Jo-Lynne’s very very very favorite ride, we had to go. It was amazing. So so cool! Then, just as we came out of the ride, the fireworks started!! GORGEOUS!! Check out the picture Jo-Lynne got:
by @JoLynneS
Somehow, despite my standing right next to her and having the exact same phone, she got great pictures and mine are all blurry. Humph.
Anyway, the next day was the conference sessions, which were totally incredible, as usual. Disney Social Media Moms is always the most inspiring conference of the year for me. With speakers like Peter Shankman, Amy Jo Martin, Chris Brogan and Maryellen Hooper, how could it not be? But that’s a whole ‘nother post. I mean, just look at the centerpieces. Talk about a company that totally gets bloggers!!
After the conference, we spent some time lounging by the hotel pool (something I have never, ever done at Disney. I’m always too busy with the kids in the parks!
Then – the highlight of the night – after dinner, we headed over to Magic Kingdom and caught the Main Street Electrical Parade. Which I have not seen since I was about 12. Jo-Lynne and I were practically squealing in delight. I LOVE that parade. We typically travel to Disney off season – which is good for avoiding crowds – but we miss things like the electrical parade! It was even better than I remembered!
But Saturday. Saturday was my favorite. On Saturday, I went onthe Wild Africa Trek at Animal Kingdom. It was incredible. Its a privately guided small group tour that takes you on a VIP safari through the “African savannah”. You see the animals up close, talk to the animal caretakers, you cross a high rope bridge suspended above a riverbed fulled with hippos and crocodiles, get a private safari ride in your own truck (one that stops so you can take pictures, unlike the Kilamanjaro Safari) and then you get to experience an African-inspired lunch in a safari camp. Its about three hours – it went by so quickly, but at the same time I felt like we were gone to another world for awhile! So cool. TONS of pictures and videos to come! Best of all, I got to spend it with two of my very favorite people on the planet.
Then after the trek, I got to run over to Epcot (LOVE staying walking distance from resorts!!!) and met up with some friends who were down visiting. I even got to ride Nemo with my little buddies Xander and Elle… which made me miss my kiddos even more! I miss those kid squeals and excitement at seeing all the Disney magic. Later that night, we went over to the brand new Art of Animation Resort – its amazing.
Sunday was a crazy day of travel, but I made it home just before my kiddos went to bed. I was able to cuddle the heck out of them and had to promise, promise, pinky promise that they could come with me next time.
Now that’s a promise I can keep!
Disclaimer: We paid a fee to attend this conference, but as attendees, we received complimentary items, special discounts, and other exciting benefits such as food and entertainment, so we could experience the magic of Walt Disney World Resort.
fashion friday: its may!
After last week’s freezing cold temps, I think its okay to say that spring is finally, FINALLY here! Time to break out the flip flops! Yipee!!
If you love stripes, this is a maxi dress for you! SO flattering!!
Ooooo. Hello yellow pencil skirt!
I love this dress. So so very much. Its HEAVENLY!
And these are gorgeous!!
