Chat With a Disney Guru ~ DISTherapy
Catch the series!
Welcome to a great way to compare notes, pick up some helpful tips for your next Disney visit, and discover some fantastic Disney bloggers! I have been highlighting different interviews with certified, pixie dusted fans of The Mouse.
WARNING: Their enthusiasm for all things Disney is, in fact, quite contagious! So come along for the ride with us … you may learn something new, and it’s sure to put a smile on your face as you read about the good, the really really good, and the “you absolutely can’t miss this….”!
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This week: : DISTherapy’s Donna Marie!
This Disney fan has also spent time with Mickey overseas – at Disneyland Paris! She is delightful & inspiring, an avid runDisney participant, and has a long, varied, and interesting history of visiting the Disney Parks … enjoy!
Tell us a little about you-
Hi all! I am a physical therapist, wife and mother of two boys (men). My family splits its residency between Long Island, NY and Killington, VT, which means I get to run on the beach and the mountains!
and your blog.
: DIStherapy gives me a forum to showcase the threads of my Disney mosaic, (which saw its beginnings with the 1964 World’s Fair), and weave them together. I had a ball with the 40 Days to 40 Years blogger series this past fall, and have two more memory lane series planned for the spring and summer. (Please come along for the ride- 20 Days to 20 Years!)
In addition to nostalgia, after 33 years of offering WDW traveling tips to my orthopedic, sports medicine and special needs patients, it is a pleasure to now be able to share them with the Disney blogging community!!
What is your favorite Disney Park and why?
Early memories and favorites die hard; they are hard-wired! My family’s first trip to Walt Disney World was in the summer of 1972, and as we all know, the Magic Kingdom was it. I still, after all these years, mentally classify attractions into the A-B-C-D and E varieties!!
What are the top 3 characters you’d like to meet on an ideal Day at Disney:
Again, for me the first loves are at play. I met my first Disney character in the summer of 1964, so Goofy has to be #1.
In 1965 I saw my first Disney movie, and Cinderella remains my favorite character to this day. And thirdly, any character from the Lion King, because that’s the first Disney movie I took my child to in 1994. Yup, I’m a sentimental fool…
What are your 3 favorite Disney attractions, and why do you love them?
Space Mountain, it’s a small world and the Haunted Mansion. All firsts of some sort, and literally lifelong favorites.
What is your favorite time of year to visit?
We love Walt Disney World in May; it is warm enough for the water parks, but usually not stifling hot for waiting in lines. (It’s also before hurricane season.) The crowds are mostly very manageable- just avoid the Expedition Everest Challenge and Star Wars Weekends if you can!
The Park snack your day is not complete without.
I had my first Mickey pretzel in Disneyland Paris this past summer, and have made a point to have one in Disney World and Disneyland since. I believe I like this NEW tradition. (Did I just mention something NEW??)
What is your favorite Character Meal?
For years we challenged ourselves to dine with only the hard-to-find characters; it was a must for those autograph books. Years ago, the MGM Soundstage Restaurant had Aladdin and Pocohantas characters, and the Garden Grove in the Swan had multiple faces from the Lion King. Those were real coups!! Ironically, today the meal most requested from my family is the Crystal Palace. I guess the old reliables seem more attractive as they get older.
Top 3 Disney Restaurants
My husband owns several restaurants, and believe it or not, dining with him at Disney World used to be such a chore. You have no idea how far the food has come since the “Disney Decade”! Now we can’t seem to pack enough “research” into our trips. Our favorites are:
- California Grill and Narcoosee’s are a tie.
- Flying Fish Cafe
- La Hacienda de San Angel
Any tips for people planning their 1st trip to Disney?
For me, the planning stage is the dreaming stage! Don’t overlook- or you’ll be shortchanging your magic quota. I still suggest that first-timers buy a copy, yes a BOOK, of Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World. The pictures are worth a thousand words. After that, go on-line to AllEars.Net for information that is more specific to your needs. Do a Google search of any Disney topic, and see whose blog you land in! Not only will you enjoy the trip more after some research, you’ll enjoy the journey… And please, make some Advanced Dining Reservations. The one thing that restaurateurs will swear to: hungry people are cranky people.
How long have you been blogging about Disney?
DIStherapy was christened April Fool’s Day, 2011. ‘Nuf said.
Do you take your own pictures, and if so- any tips for getting good shots?
I would not say that this my strongest suit! Lately, I take as many photos as possible, because looking back (long before PhotoPass), I wish I had done so when my kids were younger. I have taken advice from a fellow blogger and photography guru- Deb from Focused on the Magic– take many, many pictures! One of them is bound to be a keeper, and you can easily build your photo library this way. I also use my handy dandy Microsoft Office Picture Manager to crop and edit brightness on each shot. What I have yet to do is use anyone’s photos but my own. At a recent Bloggy Boot Camp, it was suggested that simply giving credit to another source is not sufficient; you must have written permission as well. I refuse to tangle with the copyright gods.
Where do you find inspiration for blog topics to feature?
Start by looking through said pictures! Since blogging is a vehicle for me to share my past experiences, present loves and hopes for my next great Disney first, there never seems to be a lack of topics to choose from. DIStherapy has been absolutely therapeutic!
What is your motivation to keep blogging-
The Disney blogging community!! I’m honored to be part of that community and hope it keeps growing.
Any final advice to share?
Be as generous as you can with your comments and time spent on other’s sites. I’m not always perfect with this, but it helps keep the community vibrant and eventually benefits your own blog. Besides, it is the best way to learn blogging 101!
I’d like to give a warm thank you to Tami for her kind and patient nature. What a terrific series!!
: Donna Marie
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Isn’t she fantastic? I’ve found Donna to be such a joy when interacting online with Disney Fans. Plus, she’s a wealth of information ~ be sure to visit her blog and see for yourself all the goodies there to be found!
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Click here to read more from this series!
