Category:

Disney Springs

When you Should Use Disney’s Minnie Van Service

by Jamie Rumph September 12, 2019

Cue the adorable red SUV’s complete with polka dots that drive around Disney World in style! I mean aren’t you just dying to try one? Or perhaps pop some dots on your own SUV! Just me? Disney's Minnie Van Service

There are times you SHOULD choose Disney’s Minnie Van and other times that there’s a better and less expensive, albeit not as adorable, option to get around Disney World.

The Basics of Disney’s Minnie Van service:

Minnie Van’s can be used to go anywhere on Disney World property, the Orlando International Airport and Port Canaveral.
Minnie Van operates like Uber/Lyft in that it’s a rideshare type service.
You access Minnie Van service via the Lyft app on your phone.
Accessible rides can be requested by calling 407- 828-3500, 40-60 minutes ahead of your desired pick up time.
All Minnie Vans are driven by a Cast Member rather than an individual, potentially making it a safer option.
Car Seats are available in each Minnie Van at no additional charge which makes it a great option for families with small children.
The pickup location will show on the map.
When you’re returning to your resort you can request to be dropped off at any of the main buildings or closer to your room.

Hours, Location & Cost

Disney’s Minnie Van service runs daily from 6:30 AM to 12:30 AM to all locations on Disney World property including:

Disney’s resort hotels
Disney’s four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom.
Disney’s two water parks: Typhoon Lagoon, and Blizzard Beach.
Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex
Disney Springs.
Disney World resorts to Orlando International Airport. 6 am to 11:59 pm
Disney World to Port Canaveral

Cost of the Minnie Vans at Disney

The cost of Disney’s Minnie Van service begins at a flat $15 pick up fee plus per-mile fee. The per-mile fee is based on demand and runs between $2.75 and $3 per mile. Rides typically cost around $30.
Before accepting the ride on the app you’ll be able to see the total amount being charged.
Guests can use Minnie Van to the Orlando International Airport instead of Magical Express from 7 AM to midnight.
Minnie Van to the airport – $155 one way or $300 round trip. You can book this service in advance by calling 407-WDW-PLAY or your travel agent, that’s me!
Minnie Van to Port Canaveral to board Disney Crusie Line is $240 each way and can be reserved by calling the Disney Cruise Line Embarkation Service line. 1-800-395-9374.

Pick Up and Drop Off Locations for Minnie Vans

Resorts

Pick up at Main Building Lobby. Drop off at the lobby or closer to your room.

Magic Kingdom

Pick up and drop off at the bus loop.

Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom

Near the main gate

Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon

Pick up and drop off at the entrance.

Disney Springs

Pick up and drop off at the taxi station by the AMC movie theater on the west side OR the old bus loop on the east side.

Orlando International Airport

Pick up at baggage claim escalators. Drop off at the airline departure gate.

Hoop de Doo Musical Review

At Pioneer Hall where the restaurant is located.

When SHOULD you use a Minnie Van?

If you’re looking for a faster mode of transportation from your Disney World location to Magic Kingdom. Do not Uber or Lyft.

Here’s why. The only vehicles allowed to drop off passengers at the gates of Magic Kingdom are a Disney bus and Minnie Van service.

All other vehicles including Uber/Lyft drivers will drop passengers off at the TTC (Ticket and Transportation Center) and then guests will need to board either the Monorail or Ferry to Magic Kingdom. Using the monorail or ferry will add an additional 15 minutes or longer to your travel time.

Guests staying or traveling from the monorail resorts, Contemporary, Polynesian or Grand Floridian should use the monorail to Magic Kingdom. This is still the most effective form of transportation.

This drop off location is only true for Magic Kingdom. All other parks and guest locations can be easily accessed with a standard Uber/Lyft.

If you need a car seat, use Disney’s Minnie Van service.

Small guests who require the use of a car seat should consider Disney’s Minnie Van service. Each car has two convertible car seats, meaning they can be used forward or rear-facing and the driver has been trained on how to properly install the car seats. There is no additional charge for the use of car seats when traveling with Minnie Van.

Use Disney’s Minnie Van when you have a dining reservation at Hoop de Doo Musical Review.

Guests with dinner reservations at Hoop de Doo Musical Review at Disney’s Ft. Wilderness Campground should consider using Disney’s Minnie Van service to be dropped off in close proximity to the show.

The restaurant is located at the back of Ft. Wilderness and requires resort guests to “bus hop” to get to the final destination.

If you’re traveling from the Magic Kingdom, Wilderness Lodge or one of the three monorail resorts you can take a boat directly to Hoop de Doo Musical Review.

When you take a resort bus to Hoop de Doo Musical Review you’ll first stop at the front of the resort and then need to transfer to an inner bus loop bus.

Uber/Lyft will drop guests near the front bus loop and guests will have to board the bus to reach the back of the resort for the dinner show. One you should see I might add!

Use Disney’s Minnie Van when you have an early morning breakfast at another resort.

Resort hopping is hard work! When you have an early morning breakfast at a resort other than your own. You’ll have to take a bus from your resort to a park, and then from the park, you’ll transfer to another bus traveling the resort you’re eating at.

For example, You’re staying at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort and have reservations at Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge for breakfast. If using Disney’s bus system you would take a resort bus to Animal Kingdom (park) then transfer to a different bus to take you to Animal Kingdom Lodge. This is a lot of time and hassle. In these situations, consider using Minnie Van.

In this particular situation, you could use Uber/Lyft in place of Minnie Van to save some money UNLESS you’re trying to get to Magic Kingdom. Then you need to use a Minnie Van.

How to reserve a Minnie Van at Disney.

1. Download the Lyft app on your phone. Use code JAMIE14024 and I can earn a free ride. Thanks in advance!
2. Set up your account including the credit card you’d like to use to pay for your ride.
3. Enter your destination in the “Where are you going?” box. \
4. Slide through the ride options until you get to “Minnie Van”.
5. Click on the purple “Select Minnie Van” button.
6. Confirm payment option.
7. Wait for your ride to show up. The wait time will be updated as your Minnie Van gets closer.

FAQ’s

Can I take a Minnie Van to Universal?

Disney’s Minne Van service is not available to other theme park locations like Universal, Sea World or the like.

How do I know how much my trip will cost?

Your total trip cost will be shared in the app prior to you accepting the ride.

Do Minnie Van’s have car seats?

Yes, each Minnie Van has two convertible car seats that can be installed forward or rear-facing. All Cast Members who drive Minnie Vans have been trained to install the car seats safely.

How many people can ride in a Minne Van?

Minnie Van’s can accommodate up to six passengers and 6 suitcases.

Are Minnie Vans handicap accessible?

Handicap accessible Minnie Vans can be requested by calling 407-828-3500.
Standard wheelchairs, motorized vehicles and ECV’s can be accommodated.

I’m staying at the Walt Disney Swan/Dolphin Hotel. Can I use Disney’s Minnie Van Service?

No. Disney’s Minnie Van service does not currently work for guests staying at the Walt Disney World Swan or Dolphin Hotels.
In addition, Disney’s Minnie Van service is not available at the Four Seasons Hotel, Disney Springs Area hotels, or Disney’s Good Neighbor Hotels.

Don’t forget to follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

September 12, 2019

Dining Disney Springs

Dining at Enzo’s Hideaway Disney Springs

by Jamie Rumph May 19, 2019

written by Jamie Rumph

Last January I dined at Maria and Enzo’s at Disney Springs and I recently returned to try out Enzo’s Hideaway right next door. After dining at Maria and Enzo’s I was so excited to return and try out this hidden “underground” gem!

Enzo's Hideaway hidden door at Disney Springs

Maria & Enzo’s Story

You can read all about Maria & Enzo’s, Enzo’s Hideaway and The Edison’s story here. While knowing the story is not a must before eating there it does make the experience that much better! Disney’s known for its storytelling in which they are masters at fully immersing you in their world. It’s part of the magic of Disney!

What You Need to Know:

Enzo’s Hideaway is a table service restaurant at Disney Springs. Reservations are suggested and can be made on the My Disney Experience app beginning at 180 days prior to arrival and also on the Enzo’s Hideaway website.

*Tip – If you don’t’ find the dining time you’d like on My Disney Experience go directly to their webpage. Often times I can find different availability reserving direct.

Enzo’s Hideaway is located to the left of Maria and Enzo’s in “The Landing” area of Disney Springs. It is truly hidden from the main path so you’ll need to keep your eyes open! Just across from Maria and Enzo’s you’ll see a small staircase, follow those downstairs and you’ll find Enzo’s Hideaway on the right.

In my post on Maria and Enzo’s I suggested drinks at Enzo’s Hideaway and then dinner upstairs at Maria and Enzo’s and while this is certainly still a great evening suggestion you should know you can also have dinner at Enzos Hideaway for a more intimate dining experience.

Tips for getting a reservation/table:

Reservations can be made 180 days prior to arrival on the My Disney Experience app or directly on their website.
If you don’t find availability on the My Disney Experience app make sure to check on their website. Reservations are managed on Open Table, and their site provides a link for current availability.
There is sometimes different availability between the two reservation systems.
Consider a later dinner time so that you can enjoy the evening entertainment on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at The Edison afterward. The Edison is adults only after 9 pm. Entertainment days and times are subject to change. Please visit their website for the most up to date information.
If you don’t have a reservation, you can check at the podium outside the entrance for availability. I suggest checking in at the podium to get your name on the list and then doing your shopping while you wait for a table.

Where: Disney Springs – Disney World

Enzo's Hideaway, Maria and Enzo's and The Edison at Disney Springs

Enzo’s Hideaway is located in “The Landing” section of Disney Springs near The Aerophile balloon for easy reference.

How to Get to the Enzo’s Hideaway at Disney Springs

Disney Springs is a large and recently expanded food, shopping and entertainment district at Disney World.

There are now three parking garages, the Lime Garage, Orange Garage and the newest, the Grapefruit Garage which is located across the street with access to Disney Springs via a large covered walking bridge.

Traveling From:

Magic Kingdom: Bus
Epcot: Bus
Hollywood Studios: Bus
Animal Kingdom: Bus

From your Disney Resort:

From most Disney resorts you’ll take the bus to Disney Springs where you’ll be dropped off at the new bus loop located centrally to all of the fun at Disney Springs.

Map to Enzo's Hideaway from the bus loop drop off

Enzo’s Hideaway is to the left of Maria and Enzo’s

To get to Enzo’s Hideaway from the bus loop, you can go left or right, when entering Disney Springs. Enzo’s Hideaway is about equal distance each way. Ask for directions or use the map on My Disney Experience to find your way.

You can take a boat to Enzo’s Hideaway and Disney Springs from the following resorts:

Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
Old Key West Resort

A look inside Enzo’s Hideaway

The ambiance and decor at Enzo’s Hideaway is true to the entire story being told right down to the old bottles of wine on the wall, the meats hanging in the chiller and the tucked away intimate spaces available to dine at.

For a more private dining experience away from the main dining room request one of these smaller more intimate dining spaces. I think it would make the experience that much more fun!

The menu at Enzo’s Hideaway

Dolce Appetizers

We started with the “Cured Meats & Artisan Cheeses” platter. Not only was it beautifully presented it was really good! I highly recommend starting with this!

I paired it with the Luciano Spritz and was so happy I did!

Piccoli Piatti – Appetizers and Salads

Califlower Argo Dolce at Enzo's Hideway Disney Springs

After enjoying the Cured Meats and Cheeses dive on into the appetizers and salad section! You won’t want to miss the “Cauliflower Argo Dolce”. This might be the best veggies I’ve had recently!

Rosemary Salt Fingerling Pototatoes at Enzo's Hideaway Disney Springs

We also tried out the Rosemary Salt Roasted Fingerling Potatoes. I’m a potato girl. It might be my favorite thing to eat! These were great!

Secondi- Entrees

Love these girls! #disneybloggersunite

Between the three of us, we tried some fun things! The “Ravioli Tre Formaggi” looked amazing and Serena said she enjoyed it.

Casey went out on a limb and tried something a little different, the “Tonnarelli Neri Pasta”. It was interesting! This is a thin squid ink pasta with gulf shrimp, tomato, white wine, garlic, and Calabrian chili.

Tonnarelli Neri Pasta at Eznos Hideaway Disney Springs

https://loveofthemagic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/img_6284.mov

If you’re anything like us you’re wondering what squid ink pasta is and it’s exactly like it sounds. It wasn’t fishy in taste but has a hint of sea salt that goes well with seafood. (So they tell me! This pasta is NOT gluten-free and therefore I didn’t try it.) The dark pasta paired with the red shrimp made for a very pretty presentation!

Sirloin Steak Pizzaiola at Enzos Hideaway Disney Springs

The gluten-free options were a little slim so I stuck with the “Sirloin Steak Pizzaiola”. This 12-ounce steak is served with the same sea salt fingerling potatoes we had as an appetizer and a red sauce garnish. It was great.

Dessert

The dessert menu is short and sweet featuring gelatos and sorbets, espresso and pastries.

Desserts at Enzos Hideaway Disney Springs

Canoli and Tiramisou dessert at Enzos Hideaway Disney Springs

“Giggle Water” – Cocktails & Speciality Drinks

Let me just start by saying I love what they call this section of the menu! It actually makes me laugh just thinking about it.

Giggle water alcoholic beverages menu at Enzos Hideaway Disney Springs

I tried the Luciano Spritz and would definitely have it again. It was a fun mix with the appetizers. For dinner, I switched over to a glass of wine that paired nicely with my steak.

Gluten-Free Menu

There is not a specific allergy menu at Enzo’s Hideaway. Ask for the allergy options when you order. The waiter seemed to be a little hesitant when I discussed the menu with him. He really stuck hard to me just ordering the steak. I’m not sure if that was the only option or just the only one he knew of. Good thing for me, I always like a steak. I would have felt better if he had asked and confirmed other items with a chef. But I let it be and enjoyed the steak. I suggest asking to speak to a chef if you’re allergies are severe. Mine are intolerances that can make me sick but for the most part, if I don’t ingest full servings of gluten I tend to be ok. So sometimes I take a gamble. Please don’t follow in my footsteps if you don’t react the same way!

Dessert

The only gluten free dessert option was gelato. I was able to choose between the three flavors, strawberry, lemon, and citrus. I opted for the strawberry. It was good but nothing special. I always prefer a “real” dessert like chocolate when it’s an option.

Strawberry Sorbet at Enzos Hideaway Disney Springs

Dining Plan

Dining Plans are accepted at Enzo’s Hideaway and use one table service credit per person.

Take Aways

I loved the underground cozy feel of Enzo’s Hideaway. The decor and overall ambiance is very warm and inviting. The food was great and there were certainly items on the menu to meet my gluten free needs.

Just the same as Maria & Enzo’s, I would prefer to have a dedicated gluten free menu so I don’t have to rely on the waitstaffs knowledge. I would also love to see a few more gluten free options including bread. But overall I ate well and really enjoyed my company and the fun atmosphere!

Next time you’re at Disney Springs give Enzo’s Hideaway a try and then tag me in your photos @loveofthemagic and tell me what you think!

Need more help or have questions? Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook @loveofthemagic or email me at Jamie@LOTMV.com

Chat soon!

May 19, 2019

Dining Disney Springs

Dining at Maria & Enzo’s at Disney Springs

by Jamie Rumph February 16, 2019

written by Jamie Rumph

Maria and Enzo’s at Disney Springs is the PERFECT date night while at Disney! Here’s why!

Maria & Enzo’s Story

While the story of Maria & Enzo’s isn’t necessary for you dining here, it is an excellent piece of the atmosphere and how it all comes together!

As all great Disney World places do, there’s a story to go along with Maria & Enzo’s. A young couple who immigrated to Central Florida from Italy in the early 1920s. They dreamed of sharing great authentic Italian food with the townsfolk of Disney Springs and were delighted when they found the perfect place to do so. Enzo, a pilot, instantly fell in love with an abandoned airline terminal and claimed it as home to their new restaurant. The terminal is the main dining area where guests will enjoy decor that delivers them to a past era of travel. The first class lounge offers additional seating space for guests who are randomly selected at check-in to dine in this private area.

Enzo’s Hideaway.

A speakeasy brought back to life when Enzo discovered a hidden tunnel below the airline terminal that connected to an old abandoned power plant, now The Edison. This secret tunnel housed a prohibition era hideaway with untouched bottles of rum and other goods that had been smuggled by way of the airport. After sharing this discovery with the local historical society, Enzo opened a second smaller restaurant in this cozy hideaway featuring recipes from Rome and nearby regions.

The Edison

This old abandoned power plant connected by tunnels to Maria & Enzo’s was reopened as an industrial nightlife spot with a full restaurant, multiple bars and nightly entertainment to share the past eras with Disney Springs townsfolk. By day guests can enjoy the restaurant as a family but come nightfall townsfolk 18 an older are welcome to soak up the entertainment.

What You Need to Know:

Maria & Enzo’s is a table service restaurant at Disney Springs. Reservations are suggested and can be made on the My Disney Experience app beginning at 180 days prior to arrival and also on their website.

Maria & Enzo’s is located in “The Landing” area of Disney Springs near the Aerophile balloon for easy reference on the map.

This great Italian restaurant connects with The Edison, Pizza Ponte, a quick service restaurant, and Enzo’s Hideaway. All dining locations you should consider include while visiting Disney World.

Start the evening at Enzo’s Hideaway for drinks, then enjoy Maria & Enzo’s for appetizers, dinner and dessert and finish off your evening at The Edison for live entertainment and dancing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. They’re all connected keeping you in the experience the entire evening. I love this area of Disney Springs!

Note: The Edison is 18+ after 9 pm on select days. Please see their website for more details and a complete schedule.

Tips for getting a reservation/table:

Reservations can be made 180 days prior to arrival on the My Disney Experience app or directly on their website.
If you don’t find availability on the My Disney Experience app make sure to check on their website. Reservations are managed on Open Table, and their site provides a link for current availability.
There is sometimes different availability between the two reservation systems.
Consider a later dinner time so that you can enjoy the evening entertainment on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at The Edison afterward. The Edison is adults only after 9 pm. Entertainment days and times are subject to change. Please visit their website for the most up to date information.
If you don’t have a reservation, you can check at the podium outside the entrance for availability. I suggest checking in at the podium to get your name on the list and then doing your shopping while you wait for a table.

Where: Disney Springs – Disney World

Maria & Enzo’s is located in “The Landing” section of Disney Springs near The Aerophile balloon for easy reference.

How to Get to the Maria & Enzo’s at Disney Springs

Disney Springs is a large and recently expanded food, shopping and entertainment district at Disney World. There are two parking garages, the Lime Garage and the Orange Garage with a third garage opening soon across the street.

How to get to Maria & Enzo's at Disney Springs

Traveling From:

Magic Kingdom: Bus
Epcot: Bus
Hollywood Studios: Bus
Animal Kingdom: Bus

From your Disney Resort:

From most Disney resorts you’ll take the bus to Disney Springs where you’ll be dropped off at the new bus loop located centrally to all of the fun at Disney Springs.

To get to Maria & Enzo’s from the bus loop, you can go left or right, when entering Disney Springs. Maria & Enzo’s is about equal distance each way. Ask for directions or use the map on My Disney Experience to find your way.

You can take a boat to Maria & Enzo’s and Disney Springs from the following resorts:

Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
Old Key West Resort

The Antipasti Trio says for a minimum of two people. I was dining with a party of 3, and there was more than enough! Try one of the appetizers and split an entree as well or be prepared to take home leftovers! There’s nothing wrong with eating a good meal for days afterward! I’m a big fan of not having to make dinner! (Drink shown below is a Classic Bellini. It was so good! I recommend it if you love a Bellini or sparkling wine) drinks, bread and antipasti trio at Maria & Enzo's Disney Springs

Entrees

There are several sections to choose from for your entree. Pasta and Main Courses. The Main Courses do not come with pasta so if you’re a pasta lover consider picking one from each and sharing. The portions are substantial and can feed a few people especially if you also order from the antipasti menu.

Menu at Maria & Enzo's at Disney Springs

Serena ordered the Chicken Parmigiana. It was huge and looked amazing! She loved it.

This gluten-free girl here, that’s me, ordered the Ribeye Steak without the red wine beef jus. It was so good! It can be tough to eat at an Italian restaurant when you’re gluten-free, but I was pleased with my choice and the selections offered to me. They do have gluten free pasta, more on that below.

Casey ordered the Potato Gnocchi and thought it was pretty yummy too!

We had so much food leftover that we didn’t need dessert, but the waitstaff told us it was a must, so we dove right in! They were right too!

If you’re dining at Maria & Enzo’s consider sharing an appetizer, main course or pasta and dessert. It will be more than enough food! The appetizers we ordered say they’re for two, but they could be for three or four. There is plenty to go around!

Dessert

Make sure you leave room for dessert!

Maria & Enzo's dessert menu

The desserts were delicious! From left to right, Cannoli, Cassata Siciliana, and Enzo’s Torta, a crustless cheesecake that is gluten-free!

Cocktails & Speciality Drinks

There are so many fantastic drinks to choose from on the menu. Seasonal cocktails, prosecco cocktails, shareable sangria and wines by the glass or bottle. I don’t think you can go wrong with anything on the drink menu!

Gluten-Free Menu Options

Eating Italian food can be one of the toughest menus to eat off of when you’re gluten-free. And seeing that I’m dairy free as well, although I occasionally cheat on the dairy, it can be even more challenging! I opted for the steak because you can rarely go wrong with that! The wait staff was very attentive to my needs and double checked with the chef when needed to ensure my safety.

Allergy Menu

There is not a specific allergy menu at Maria & Enzo’s Ask for the allergy options when you order. The waiter was knowledgeable and didn’t hesitate to tell me he’d double check with the chef if he was not sure.

They did not have any gluten free bread which is always a bummer for me.

The antipasti trio was gluten free without the breadsticks.

Gluten Free Pasta Dishes:

There is gluten-free pasta available, and you can choose from the Rigatoni Alle Verdure, Mediterranean Sea Bass, Grilled Mahi Mahi and Grilled Certified Angus Ribeye Steak for your entree. As always, please confirm with the waitstaff that these items are gluten-free at the time of your visit.

Dessert

Ezno’s Torta (chocolate and mascarpone cheesecake) is an excellent option for a gluten-free dessert. It’s crustless, and I may have had a few bites despite dairy not agreeing with me! The other option that was offered was fresh fruit. In my opinion, they could expand on their gluten-free dessert options available.

Dining Plan

Dining Plans are accepted at Maria and Enzo’s and use one table service credit per person.

Take Aways

Maria and Enzo’s might very well be the perfect date night spot at Disney Springs! Start your evening with drinks, appetizers, dinner, and dessert here and then head on over to The Edison to dance the night away! Enjoy the entertainment from a different era with swing dancing and underground entertainment. It’s the epitome of a great Disney experince in which you’re whisked away to another time and place!

I can’t wait to go back for a date night with a group of friends!

Next time you’re at Disney Springs give Maria & Enzo’s a try and then tag me in your photos and tell me what you think!

Need more help or have questions? Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook @loveofthemagic or email me at Jamie@LOTMV.com

Chat soon!

February 16, 2019

Dining Disney Springs Disney World

Chicken Guy at Disney Springs

by Jamie Rumph February 4, 2019

written by Jamie Rumph

Chicken Guy at Disney Springs is a quick, inexpensive great option while visiting Disney World! There are so many options to choose from when eating at Disney Springs that it can be overwhelming to decide what to eat! The lines can be long, the prices a bit high but Chicken Guy is breaking this trend!

What You Need to Know:

Chicken Guy is a quick service restaurant (meaning reservations not needed) located in Disney Springs near the Orange Garage and Planet Hollywood. They serve all things chicken both grilled and hand breaded!

Chicken Guy was dreamed up by Guy Fieri and delivered to Disney Springs with the idea that good food can be affordable and fast! To add to the flavorful fun this Boss of Sauce has introduced 22 sauces to be served up with your favorite chicken sandwich or tenders of choice! I may use the sauces for my fries too… that’s ok, right?

Tips for getting a reservation/table:

Reservations are not needed to eat at Chicken Guy.
This is a quick service location and therefore you can show up at your own convenience.
Even when the line is long it moves quickly.
There is an abundance of seating at Chicken Guy. Most seating is outdoors but all of the tables are well shaded. There are a handful of tables inside but these may require a wait in hotter months.

Where: Disney Springs – Disney World

Chicken Guy is located at Disney Springs near the Orange Garage and behind Planet Hollywood.

How to Get to the Chicken Guy at Disney Springs

Traveling From:

Magic Kingdom: Bus
Epcot: Bus
Hollywood Studios: Bus
Animal Kingdom: Bus

From your Disney Resort:

From most Disney resorts you’ll take the bus to Disney Springs where you’ll be dropped off at the new bus loop located centrally to all of the fun at Disney Springs.

To get to Chicken Guy from the bus loop you’ll take a left when entering Disney Springs. Chicken Guy is located behind Planet Hollywood near the Orange Garage.

You can take a boat to Chicken Guy and Disney Springs from the following resorts:

Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
Old Key West Resort

You’ll have the option to choose from chicken tenders, both grilled and breaded, chicken sandwiches, salads, smothered fries and mac and cheese! What makes the menu complex is the ability to customize each of these items with one or more of their 22 different freshly made sauces. Add on fries, they’re a must. The seasoning makes them some of the best you’ll ever have!

All of the food is made fresh in the restaurant. The chicken is fresh never frozen, hand breaded and hand skewered nightly. The twenty-two sauces are also made right there at the restaurant using fresh ingredients.

One of the fun things about Chicken Guy is watching your order being made on the food line right in front of you!

Cocktails & Speciality Drinks

Chicken Guy serves wine and beer but the specialty drinks worth talking about are the non-alcoholic milkshakes. You can choose between the “Triple Double Mint” and Guy’s favorite, the “Apple Cinnamon Cereal”.

The “Apple Cinnamon Cereal” milkshake delivers a tasteful crunch filled with milk infused Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Apple Jack cereal topped with fresh whip cream.

While I did not try either of these milkshakes because they are not gluten-free, my friends told me they were both pretty amazing! So make sure you try them and then tag me in your posts so I can see what you think about Chicken Guy and these creative milkshake concoctions!

Signature Sandwiches & Shareable Sides

Chicken Guy’s menu features a few signature sandwiches that are made with two of their crispy fried chicken tenders or grilled chicken for a gluten-free option. I personally am so excited when a restaurant offers more than plain chicken or salad as the gluten-free option. And a gluten-free bun instead of a lettuce wrap totally makes my day!

Shown above are the gluten free options I ordered (tray on the front left) and the regular menu items ordered by Casey and Serena. The Sauce Boss is Chicken Guys most popular sandwich (middle of the picture) and can be customized with 2 sauces of your choice. On the far right is the loaded mac and cheese, which can be ordered as your entree or as a sharable side.

In the back, you’ll see ALL twenty-two house-made sauces at Chicken Guy. You get two sauces with each sandwich or order of chicken tenders and can order additional sauces for a small upcharge.

Gluten-Free Menu Options

I ordered the other most popular sandwich, the Big Bite B.L.A.T with a gluten-free bun and grilled chicken. The sandwich was smothered in Guys avocado cream and buttermilk ranch sauces which soaked into the bun nicely making this sandwich so yummy!

I also ordered the smothered fries with grilled chicken instead of fried making this an awesome gluten-free option as well! They were so good! A great grown-up option to the typical cheese fries we all know and love!

Allergy Menu

There is not a specific allergy menu at Chicken Guy. Ask for the allergy options when you order and know that the grilled chicken is available as both tenders or a sandwich with a gluten-free bun. The fries are also gluten-free and Chicken Guy has a dedicated fryer to ensure no cross-contamination.

Salads are always an option if you have the gluten containing items removed. Make sure to let the cashier know you have a gluten allergy so the kitchen can prepare your food in a clean area.

All but three of Chicken Guy’s sauces are gluten-free. These three are well marked on the menu. The sauces containing gluten are the Wasabi Honey, Teriyaki and Sweet N’ Sour. They’re the Asain sauces that contain soy sauce for easy reference.

Dining Plan

Dining Plans are accepted at Chicken Guy. Each entree item will use one quick service credit. The sharable sides are large and could easily be split as a meal between two people to get the maximum use out of your credits.

Take Aways

I was really happy with my meal at Chicken Guy and thought it was a great bang for my buck at Disney Springs. I could easily eat a sandwich, fries, and drink for $10 ish dollars and be full. The portion sizes were good for one person unless you choose a sharable side and then I think you could split it between two people as long as they’re not huge eaters.

Next time you’re at Disney Springs give Chicken Guy a try and then tag me in your photos and tell me what you think!

Need more help or have questions? Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook @loveofthemagic or email me at Jamie@LOTMV.com

Chat soon!

February 4, 2019

Dining Disney Springs Disney World Epcot Hollywood Studios Magic Kingdom Planning Uncategorized

Disney World Holiday Line Up

by Jamie Rumph November 20, 2015

written by Jamie Rumph

Disney World Holiday Line Up! ?

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Disney World Holiday Happenings! ?It’s a festive and joyous time to visit! ?

Here’s the Disney World Holiday Line Up!

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~Magic Kingdom~

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – select dates. ?Extra ticked event on:
- November 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 29, 1
- December 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18
Holiday Wishes Fireworks Show
Jungle Cruise turns Jingle Cruise!
Ferrytale Wishes: A Fireworks Dessert Cruise (reservations required, sails on 7 Seas Lagoon, park ticket not required)

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?~Hollywood Studios~

Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights – This is the last year to see these lights! ?They are being removed as part of the expansion and redoing of Hollywood Studios. ?No word if they will be relocated! This light show to?Christmas music is absolutely worth seeing! ?Arrive to Streets of America around 5:15 to claim a spot near the large Christmas tree. ?The streets will get very crowded so it’s worth it to be there a bit early. ?If you are there when the show starts at 5:45 pm, you will be able to hear the story of how the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights came to be!

Merry & Bright Dessert Party (reservation required) – This reservation provides prime viewing of the Osborne Family Lights. ?You can enjoy a dessert buffett while watching the lights and listening to the music! I totally recommend this!
Merry & Bright Dinner Reception – ?A New Years Feast (reservation required)
Minnie’s Holiday Dine & Fantasmic package (reservations required) – a character dining reservation that also provides you a reserved viewing location for Fantasmic.

minnie christmas

For additional Holiday pictures at Hollywood Studios, click here!

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?~Epcot~?

IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth (holiday IllumiNations show) – This is the normal IllumiNations show with an added holiday extra at the end. ?They add a few holiday songs encouraging peace on earth and some extra fireworks. ?Only “ok” in my opinion.
Candlelight Processional with celebrity narrators?– This show was great if you love Christmas music and live performances. ?It will put you in the Christmas mood for sure! ?Typically runs 3 times per evening but check the park times guide to make sure you don’t miss it if you want to see it.
Holidays Around the World?– As you travel the World Showcase you can learn about different holiday traditions around the world. ?This takes place throughout the day, many of them ending around 5 pm (not all, but most), so make sure you arrive early enough to see all of them.
Illuminations Sparkling Dessert Party (reservations required) – a dessert party with reserved seating for the show.
An International Yuletide Extravaganza – Explore the World Showcase and experience holidays around the world.
Candlelight Processional dinner package – various locations (reservations required) – this is a regular dinner reservation that gives you prime reserved seating for the Candlelight Processional. ?The exact time is assigned based on your dinner reservation time.
New Years Eve at Epcot World Showcase – various locations (reservations required)

For additional holiday pictures at Epcot, click here!

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~Animal Kingdom~

Animal Kingdom does not have new shows or entertainment just for the holidays, but the park is decorated with animal themed Christmas trees, swags and other holiday styled decor. ?You can also meet Goofy and Pluto in their holiday costumes!
For additional Animal Kingdom Holiday pictures, click here!

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~Disney Springs~

Holidays at Disney Springs featuring holiday decor and Christmas trees
Meet Santa?

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~Resort Hotels~

Each resort is decorated for the holidays in their own theme, but there are many you don’t want to miss.

Contemporary Resort – Frozen Gingerbread World – click here for additional Contemporary Resort Holiday photos

Grand Floridian – Life Size Gingerbread House – click here for additional Grand Floridian Resort Holiday photos

Beach Club – Holiday Carousel – click here for additional Beach Club Resort Holiday photos

Yacht Club – Holiday Village with a mini train – click here for additional Yacht Club Resort Holiday photos

Cabins at Ft. Wilderness – Sleigh Ride (requires reservations)

Various Locations:

New Years Eve Dining (reservations required)

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I hope you enjoyed a glimpse into Disney’s Holiday Happenings! ?Please let me know if I can help you plan your next vacation! ?November and December are a great time to visit and experience Disney Holiday Happenings! ?Follow us on Facebook at Love of the Mouse and on Instagram too! ?Feel free to contact me via any of these links! ?Happy Disney Holiday Happenings!

November 20, 2015

Disney Cruise Line Disney Springs Disney World Magic Kingdom Planning Uncategorized

Our Road to Disney Part 2 –

by Jamie Rumph November 18, 2015

written by Jamie Rumph

My husband?s been hired by Disney, now what?

People, we are playing a very serious game of ?Where in the World is Jamie?? right now! ?Coming from a girl who LOVES to go, from a girl who prides herself on spending a month out of town each summer, I am TIRED of going! ?Please, just let me stay home, except for I?m kinda even confused about where home is anymore!

I have been to Orlando more times in the last month, than I think I have in my entire life, and that?s ok, except it?s kinda not. ?I am tired! ?Since Jeremy was hired by Disney in early October, this is what our lives have looked like! ?Let me just throw out this little disclaimer before I get started? I AM NOT complaining! ?I started this hefty adventure, and I am still very much excited! ?But I AM tired! ?At this point though, I?m just running the marathon? I?ll reach the finish line eventually! ?Let?s just say, I?m a slow runner, and I must take walking breaks! ?You?ll know I?ve finally reached the finish line when I arrive at Magic Kingdom (without kids, crazy I know) wearing my ?best day ever shirt?! ?Wait for it?

The week after Jeremy accepted the job at Disney, we went on our first?Disney cruise! (thus all of the pics you?ve seen on Facebook). ?We had booked this trip the past January, so it wasn’t a celebratory cruise per se, but then he was hired and it seemed very appropriate to celebrate Jeremy’s new job at Disney, on the Disney cruise! ?We touched down in Orlando, and I had on completely different eyes. ?This was the first time I landed knowing this would be my new home. ?Trips prior, I had the ?it could be my new home? eyes, but those eyes are very different from ?this IS happening?! ?Luckily my bff Kristin was with us, she too was going on the cruise, so we could analyze this place together! ?Our first order of business was taking Jeremy to the Cast Member building to be fingerprinted. ?Odd? just odd. ?We waited in the parking lot and I just sat there and thought ?this is really happening?! ?As we left, we took the obligatory picture out front of the building. ?I am sure the people running security has surely never seen this happening!

After the cruise, we headed back to Denver, knowing our house would be going on the market within a week. ?Which meant moving out, but not really moving out, if you know what I mean? ?It?s a severe make you sweat kind of clean up and clean out. ?It?s looking through a magnifying glass and seeing just how much crap you?ve collected over the years. ?Let?s just say, we had a lot of uncrapping to do! ?Jeremy finally realized I was right; that he is in fact a pack rat! ?And then finally, we were ready to put the house up for sale. The pictures came back from the professional photographer and for once, I could actually say ?yes? to people when they asked if my house looked like a model home (remember I am a model home interior designer in my ?real? life). ?It?s funny, because I have always laughed at that question. ?My response has always been, ?No, I don?t live in a model home, because I actually live in my home. ?You cannot live in a model home!? ?Well, now we do, and let?s just say this place is gorgeous, but I am exhausted from trying to keep it this way! ?And my kids are pretty tired of hearing they can?t play with their toys? ?Mom, that?s just weird!?

On October 29th at 6 am we boarded another flight to Orlando. ?Flights at 6 am should be against the law, just sayin.? Not even two weeks had passed since we were just there. ?This was our ?pre-move? trip to see the area and look at homes? We spent the following day with our realtor, and I think we wore her out! ?She was surprised that we (kids included) could look at houses for 10 hours! ?But we were on a mission! ?We found a maybe neighborhood, and a maybe house, but will need to wait for our current house to go under contract before putting in an offer on a new one.?Surprisingly, I am very unstressed about this. This is so not typical of me. ?You see, as a designer, I will be the first to admit I am a house snob. ?I have looked at, decorated, and viewed more floor plans that I can possibly even count, over the years. ?I know exactly what I want, and what will work for me, and?this pickiness typically causes a lot of stress! I have been known to tell my poor husband, ?that?s the house I want, don?t lose it?! ?He is a good man, and does what he can to keep me happy. ?His mantra, ?happy wife, happy life?. ?It is true, he shouldn?t forget that! ?But this time it?s different. ?I?ve found a house I?d really like to have, but I?m more along the lines of ?whatever, it will work out, or it won?t?. ?I think he?s very confused! ?Nothing wrong with keeping him on his toes! ?We spent Thursday through Sunday in Orlando. ?Trick or Treating in our ?maybe? neighborhood. ?It was the first time I cried. ?As we walked around, I explored a neighborhood pretty similar to my own, and I cried. ?Not because I though, ?oh yeah, I?ve found a new great neighborhood?, but because I wanted my own neighborhood. ?My own people. ?I knew that, back home, our yearly Halloween traditions were taking place, and it wasn?t going to be the only time we missed them. ?Or the only tradition we were going to be missing either. ?That?s hard. ?Missing your people, before you?re really gone,? it?s hard. ?I love my Fuller Bluff family. ?I hope we love our new family just as much. ?The kids had a great time trick-or-treating in our ?maybe neighborhood? and I found a new friend along the way to talk to. ?She was nice and told me I would love it there. ?I?m hoping she?s right. ?After trick-or-treating we ate dinner in Downtown Winter Garden. ?All I can say is, ADORABLE. ?My heart was happy, even without my people, it kinda felt like home. ?It has a very similar feeling to Downtown Castle Rock (where we currently live) and the best part, it was still shorts weather on the last day of October! ?I could get used to this!

Sunday was back to Denver day. ?For time frame reference, this was exactly 2 weeks since we had flown home from Orlando after the cruise. ?Whirlwind, that?s all I can say. ?Except, I didn?t get to go home, my mom called and asked me to come to Austin. ?And when your mom asks, you say ?yes, mam?!

After arriving home from the cruise, my mom had called to let me know that my grandmother had been diagnosed with lung cancer. ?It was stage 4, tumor the size of a baseball in her right lung. ?Sad, very, but I knew that I had spent many great years with her. ?As a kid, my brother and I visited during the summer, on the ranch outside of Austin, TX, helping feed the cows and emus, riding go karts and tractors through the fields, playing in the trailer full of corn kernels with our cousins, and mostly just driving her up the wall! ?You see she is very stubborn, but so am I! ?I get it from her 🙂 ?It?s an art you know! ?One summer, while my brother and I were there, she sat us down for dinner and told us to eat. ?We didn?t like it, so we did what kids did, complained. ?She said ?sit there until it?s gone?. ?So we sat. ?Not eating. ?We were assholes. ?I have no idea how long we sat there, or who ?won?. ?But I do remember that stubborn and stubborn had met their match. ?I don?t know why that story is funny now, but it often gets retold by my brother and me. ?It just was how things were at Mimi?s. ?Some of my favorite memories of the summers were crafting with Mimi and her teaching me to sew. ?After I grew up and had my own kids, I have made a point of going back to Mimi?s and Granddaddy?s each summer. ?It?s kind of like a rite of passage, taking your own kids back to where you spent your childhood summers, so they can experience some of the same. ?So, each summer, I load them up in the car and drive them to Austin. ?We call it our ?Texas Tour? and stop along the way to see friends and family. ?It?s a summer tradition I love, and plan to continue from Florida. ?Only now, I think it will be a Texas into Colorado tour. ?See, not all of my travel has to be by plane. ?I truly love a great car ride too. ?My kids do fine. ?I?ve been torturing them like this since they were barely 6 months old! ?But I digress…

The first dress I sewed with my Mimi. 4th grade ish.

Me, my Mom, my girls and my Mimi.

Anyway, back to my mom calling. ?She asked me to fly from Orlando to Austin to see my grandmother. ?She had been admitted to the hospital. ?I was tired and I did not want to go, but I was asked, which is really told when it?s your mom. ?So I changed my flight and headed to Austin, while Jeremy and kids flew back to Denver. ?My flight was delayed 2 hours and then threatened to be cancelled about the same time Jeremy and the kids took off. ?I wanted to cry. ?I was tired. ?Self admittedly, I am a bit of a cry baby. ?I can pull myself together and get it all taken care of, but first, I must cry about it. ?It just is.

I spent the next two days in Austin, helping to care for my Mimi in the hospital, and drive my Granddaddy up to see her. ?I stayed overnight in the hospital so that my own mom could go home and sleep. ?It was tough. ?I grew up more in those few days that I had anticipated, an ?adulted? more than I wanted. ?But I got through it. ?After meeting with the oncologist Tuesday evening, alongside my mom and Granddaddy, I boarded yet another plane home, to Denver. ?I landed in Denver wearing the same clothes I left Orlando in 3 evenings prior and had yet to even brush my teeth. ?Seriously gross, and seriously, that was all that could be managed. ?Funny thing is, God provides what you need. ?Just enough sleep to not completely fall off your rocker (but very close) and an unbrushed mouth that somehow doesn?t taste terrible or smell even worse. ?And that?s not just what I?m telling myself! ?I asked my Kristin when I got in the car. ?Do I smell? ?Do I have terrible breath? ?Lucky, isn?t she!? Best friends are the best! ?She agreed, miraculously I didn’t smell like a homeless person!

I slept for two days after returning home, not lying, and then got together with friends on Friday night, to celebrate ?Jeremy?s last Friday night?. ?Somehow the time has already come. ?When we planned for him to start with Disney on November 16th, it seemed so far away, and yet somehow it crept up quick. ?A reservation for 30 at our favorite Castle Rock Mexican restaurant, and margarita?s all around, we were surrounded by friends that are really more like family. ?We call them “Framily”! ?It was fun and surreal. ?We?re moving. To Orlando. ?My husband is working for Disney. ?I did this. Funny. Sort of?

Our Framily

On Saturday evening, I texted my mom to check in on my Mimi, Mom immediately called me back and said, ?Jamie, Mimi passed away 5 minutes ago?. ?How did I know? ?Well, life can be funny like that.

Before leaving Austin, I had a short conversation with my Mimi. ?Her pain meds had worn off, and although she was in a lot of pain, I could see it in her face, she wouldn?t admit it. ?We had a nice ?real? conversation. ?I told her that she had been the best grandmother ever, and that I did not want her to hang on and suffer for all of us. ?That it was OK for her to go when she was ready. ?And when she was gone, would she please watch over my family and keep us safe on all of my crazy adventures! ?She of course, obliged. ?And then I left.

I am sure I knew my Mimi was gone, because my Mimi told me,??its OK, I?m no longer suffering.? ?See, she?s already watching over me.? After spending a few days in the hospital with her and truly seeing her suffer, what suffering really looks like, I was happy to know she was gone. ?Pain free, no longer scared, and of course, watching over my family and our crazy adventures. ?I am not saying she popped into my head and said? ?That?s it?, nor am I saying that I had some great overwhelming feeling. ?I didn?t. ?I had nothing more that the though, text mom and see how she is. ?Life is weird people. ?Just weird.

So, back to Austin we go. ?Plane ride #… I have no idea because I can?t even keep up! ?All I know is I have been on more planes since May than I even have the energy to count. ?Self-induced of course, mostly fun, and I am definitely still counting my many blessings?. but people, I. AM. TIRED! ?At this point, feel like I could pilot that plane myself. ?Not really, but just sayin.

On Thursday, my girls and I will fly to Austin, and on Friday Jeremy will move to Orlando. ?It is weird to say that, weird to think that, weird to know that is our reality. ?Disney here we come! ?But hold on just a minute please, I need to catch my breath! ?Friday my girls and I will attend a mini family reunion in Austin, only at weddings and funerals do you get to see everyone at once, and bury my Mimi. ?My heart hurts. ?It hurts bad. ?But not for her. ?She?s laughing at me for all of this crying, I know! ?My heart hurts for my Granddaddy. ?A man so stubborn, and wanting to fix everything, that it can be comical and frustrating all at the same time. ?My heart hurts to know that he is now suffering, in a way I cannot imagine. ?He?s been married to my Mimi since she was 18, God help her!? She died at 82. ?That is math I can?t do right now, I?m too tired. ?But I know it?s a long damn time. ?A long time of loving, fighting, living, raising children, entertaining stubborn asshole grandchildren, and just straight putting up with each other! ?But I know she is looking down on him, watching over him too, and of course still turning her back and rolling her eyes at him, like she so often did. So for him, I am sad. ?For him, I cry. ?Well, and maybe for myself a little (OK a lot) too.

After the funeral Friday, we will spend the evening in my Mimi?s house. ?You see it has always been ?Mimi?s house?, so it will be weird to gather there, without her, at Granddaddy?s house, although, I may still call it Mimi?s house, just because I can. ?Stubborn, remember. ?And then, on Saturday, we will fly back home. ?To Denver. ?Home; for now.

I have the rest of the ?moving line up? planned and worked out in my head. ?And Jeremy and I have discussed how this will all go. ?But it?s almost funny to even write it down, to tell you, because life just does what it wants. ?Life? it?s funny. ?It?s tough. ?And mine, it is oh so blessed. ?God only hands out what you can handle. ?I?m saying Uncle, but I know he?s laughing. ?He will dole it out how he sees fit. ?And I will ride the ride, and continue to count my many blessings along the way. ?But let me tell you, I just see Main Street in my future (without kids remember), and I am running slowly towards the finish line. ?When I get there I may cry. ?Hell, I will totally cry. ?It may even be an ugly cry, but I will know I?ve made it, made it to the finish line, so that I can then start my next life marathon.

So, here?s the rest of the path to Disney, as I plan for it to unfold? we?ll see?

Jeremy starts with Disney November 16
Our CA friends come to Denver for Thanksgiving on November 20
We head to Orlando for Thanksgiving November 23 at 4 am (remember I hate mornings? and I love sleep, should be an interesting combo)
We go to Hollywood Studios on November 23rd to see the Osborne Family Lights. ?Believe it or not, but I?ve never seen them! ?I can?t wait to go and feel totally lucky to get to see them this year since it?s the last year they will be up!
Thanksgiving lunch at Disney Springs at Fulton’s and then Epcot to see the Candlelight Processional!
Mickey?s Very Merry Christmas Party on November 29th. ?Jeremy and I are still currently in debate over this one. ?Someone please remind him, ?Happy wife, happy life!? ?Thank you in advance!
Back home, I mean to Denver, hell, I don?t know where home is at this point! on November 30th.
December 18th, girls last day of school.
December 18th, Jeremy comes back to Denver for our official ?Going away party?. ?It?s a surprise. ?Don?t tell anyone I know. I promised Kristin I would forget. ?It should be fun and mildly torturous in a going away party kind of way.
December 19th, back to Orlando, I mean home?. well, we?re getting on another plane anyway. ?It will be funny and stressful and totally weird! ?Picture this, me, my girls, all of the crap that didn?t go on the moving truck, my girls car seats, my two 70 pound dogs, their XL dog crates, me trying to convince my dogs, who up until this point have been acting crazy because they actually get to ?go?, and then realize I am going to stuff them into these overly large crates and put them on the bottom of an airplane, by themselves, who are now all like ?4 legs locked and not budging, oh hell no lady this isn?t happening have you lost your ever living mind? kinda not moving.? ?And by this point, I am SURE; I will have lost my mind and of course cried about it! ?Interesting picture right??? ?I know, I know, you so badly wish it was you! ?Thank goodness Kristin insisted Jeremy come home for the night. ?I think I?ll let him deal with all of that while I go board the plane and get a drink. ?Better plan, don?t you think?

For the parts I can?t plan, I?m just going to hang out and wait. ?Somewhere in there my house will sell. ?It will get packed and moved by the moving company. ?I may or may not be semi-homeless for a few weeks. ?That all depends on timing. ?And I assume, (funny assuming makes an ass out of both you and me, this will be interesting) we will buy the next perfect house. ?Perfect for us anyway. ?Maybe or maybe not in my ?maybe neighborhood?. ?We?ll just see.

So I say, ?see ya real soon? on this ?Road to Disney?, ?Where in the World is Jamie? ride were taking!

With Love,

This Crazy Rumph Family

Just a few updates: 11/17/2015 – My pictures are out of order… I couldn’t make it cooperate…?

My girls and I went to Austin and had a great mini reunion at “Mimi’s house” ?All of my aunts, uncles, and cousins were there. ?It was great, in a sad kinda way. ?My cousins and I have decided we are going to have a “cousin’s reunion” soon. ?Place to be determined. ?My vote is Disney World of course! ?For a number of reasons, it’s Disney, duh! ?And I won’t have to get on a plane! ?I’m kinda over that whole plane thing right now!
Jeremy’s truck got picked up and shipped to Orlando. ?Not really anything to exciting, just makes it all that much more real. ?This real thing, it just keeps happening! ?I told him I wished I had been home to see it. ?(I was in Austin) ?He politely reminded me, that they would come back for my car and I could see it then. ?Good point…but still…
I love the picture with my Grandaddy. ?I take these with my grandparents every time we visit, and of course with my Mimi’s passing, I’m happy I did. ?The best part about this picture is that at the time of taking it, someone said “Grandaddy smile”, he responded, “I’m sorry, my smiler is broken today”. ?But kids can do the darnedest things and Emmy took one look at him, and got his smiler fixed for him for a moment. ?It’s those one little smiles at a time that get you through the hard stuff!
Jeremy started at Disney! ?November 16th at 9 am arrived. ?I’d say finally, but it doesn’t feel like a “finally”! ?It feels like a complete whirlwind! ?He got his name tag, told me about his first day, and what did I do? ?I cried! ?My husband works for Disney. ?I did this…
On November 17th, he attended Disney University, and earned his ears. ?”You have ears to fill now” they said. ?I’m pretty sure he will do an amazing job. ?But I may be biased. ?Then the group was asked how and why they were working at Disney. ?Did anyone have a great story? ?Jeremy replied (and I’m sure told a long winded story, that’s just him)… “my wife did this”. ?See, maybe it’s our new mantra! ?Either way, it’s been a great ride, and it’s only getting started!

Cousins

Cast Member... it'f official!

Tahoe moving to Orlando.

"You have Mouse ears to fill"

Blizzard... 24 whole inches of it. Sigh... uncle...

Me with my Grandaddy, brother Scott and my girls.

November 18, 2015

Disney Springs Disney World

Our Road to Disney…

by Jamie Rumph October 9, 2015

written by Jamie Rumph

Our road to Disney began like this…

Last April at a company function with my husband and his employer, in typical Jamie “always running my mouth” style, I said “My husband will work for Disney one day.” ?I include this, not because it is really super relevant to the story, other than I truly believe words are powerful! ??Sometimes when you speak something it becomes true. ?So be careful what you speak! ??At this point in time, it was nothing but words! ?But in my heart, I believed it, and here we are!

MagicKindomWaltMickey

If you know us personally, you may want to skip this part, otherwise, this is a good little tid bit to add to the story. ?Jeremy and I met in college at Texas Tech University. ?We both worked at a local architecture firm, Jeremy because he needed a job, me because I walked in one day with a friend, and I walked out with a part time job. ?They asked, I figured why not, and accepted. ?Seeing as how I met my husband while there, it obviously wasn’t too shabby of an idea. ?We graduated in May of 2002 and about 3 weeks later we moved to Colorado. ?No jobs, no friends, Jeremy just wanted to go! I had always intended to go back to Dallas where I grew up, but the opportunity presented itself and I accepted. ?

Fast forward 14 years and we are still here in Colorado. ?Jeremy likes things perfectly stable, in his control, and status quo if you will. ?I however am an adventurer! ?I am constantly on the go and at any given opportunity I will travel… anywhere! ?Sometimes with him, and sometimes without. ?The man does have to work sometimes! ?I am lucky enough to be able to do my job from anywhere, so it doesn’t often keep me from being on the go. ?We have a pretty blessed life here in Colorado; great jobs, awesome friends, an amazing community and support system, including my in-laws who live about 45 minutes away. ?(They followed us here about 1 year after we moved). ?So, why would we move you ask? ?Well, remember, I am an adventurer AND I spoke those words, “my husband is going to work for Disney one day.”

Back to this year and our road to Disney. ?This past summer, June 6th to be exact, ?I got a Disney careers email in my inbox. ?I had signed up for job opening emails about a year or more prior and was getting them pretty regularly. ?At one point, I though I must have filled it out incorrectly because some of the job postings I was getting were very irrelevant to what we would be looking for. ?I never went back and changed anything, I just let them keep coming. ?So, you can see how very serious I was about finding that perfect job. ?Then June 6th happened. ?In my email was a job posting for a “Senior Architect” position. ?I read the qualifications and it was a perfect fit for Jeremy. ?So, I submitted his resume and went on about my business; ?Jeremy all the while just rolling his eyes at me. ?I mean really, what wife does this? ?Me 🙂 ?You’re welcome dear!

About 6 weeks later, a Disney recruiter sends Jeremy an email and asks to set up a quick phone conversation with him. ?A very casual conversation later, he tells Jeremy that he will pass his resume on to the “committee”, ?he thinks they will be interested in him. ??My thoughts at this time: ?fun but still very unlikely.? ?Jeremy’s reaction, “I’m pretty sure he was still rolling his eyes at me!“

2 weeks go by and then Jeremy is emailed by a second recruiter asking to set up a video interview. ?Jeremy accepts and a few weeks after this the ?interview takes place while I am off gallivanting in California with my kids and good friends, visiting the beach and Disneyland of course. ?Jeremy, left behind to work and interview… Such is life (ours anyway) ?All goes well, that is that…well sort of.

THEN it gets real. ?Jeremy gets invited to interview with Disney! ?In Orlando! ?On site! ?IT HAPPENED! ?I think my heart may have skipped a few thousand beats when he got that email. ?Died, I just died. ?And then I waited. ?After giving a few dates that worked in his current job schedule, they agreed on a date. ?3 WEEKS LATER! ?People, I am a planner. ?There isn’t anything about me that waits well! ?I love a good spur of the moment trip, but I ALSO plan! ?And I DO NOT WAIT well. ?Well, I waited. ?And it felt like an eternity. ?And then the travel arrangements arrived and then he went. ?And so did I. ?Did I mention I like to travel? ?And I LOVE Disney? ?Because Jeremy travels so much for work, he has endless miles. ?(We love Southwest Airlines, they are the only way we fly) Well, they would be endless, except I travel. ?Which means I spend them as fast as he gets them. ?He might would say the same thing about his paycheck, but that’s another conversation! ?He also has companion status, which means, I can travel with him wherever he goes, for nothing more than the $11 security fee, and a babysitter. ?So, Jeremy flies to Orlando, I tag along. ?He interviews. I tour Disney’s Deluxe resorts. ?Everyone is happy. ?Now I’m laughing. ?I was happy, he was stressed. ?5 hours later, Jeremy completed his interview with Disney and it’s committee. ?So what do we do next you ask? ?We add to the stress! ?

Often times when Jeremy visits Orlando for work, and I tag along, we visit Downtown Disney. ?(Disney Springs now). ?He bans me from the parks, yes this happens, but we will go to Disney Springs just to get a little bit of the magic! ?So, just like normal we go to Disney Springs and grab a bite to eat. ?Raglan Road is one of our favorites. ?Beer on tap for Jeremy, gluten free, dairy free food worth eating for me. ?Jeremy needs a beer. ?Like seriously. ?I swear he was sweating stress. ?Or maybe the sweat was because I made him wear a suit, full on coat and tie, the whole bit, to an interview in Orlando, in the middle of summer. ?Either way, he was stressed. ?So beer it was. ?We go, we sit, we eat, he drinks, and then he realizes he miscalculated the time we needed to be at the airport. ?

We then take a crazy drive to the airport, run through said airport. ?Jeremy rushes ahead, he has that skip the security (well not really, but the wiz through security) pass, and I wait in the line. ?He goes, I am the last person on the plane! ?Literally. ?The last. ?The doors close behind me. ?My response “it’s only fun if you do it this way” ?His response, “I only have to run for a plane when I’m with you”. ?Fitting, yes really. ?27 hours later, we’ve interviewed in Orlando, at Disney, and are back home in Colorado. ?That, was even a lot for me. ??And now we wait, have I mentioned how well I DON’T wait!

Then it happens. ?We’ll leave out that part where I checked his email like a crazy lady. ?No one needs to know about that. ?They called. ?Disney called MY husband and offered him a job as a Senior Architect. ?In Orlando. ?At Disney. ?It ONLY took 12 days. ?But it felt like an eternity. ?A longer eternity than the eternity I experience above. ?So, here we are. ?We are moving to Orlando. ?Jeremy is going to work for Disney.

He will start around November 16th. ?The girls and I will follow at Christmas break. ?These last sentences bring about an entire slew of emotions. ?We spent last week breaking hearts. ?Remember those amazing friends, family, and community we have? ?My very best friend and boss? ?Ya, we’re breaking hearts. ?It’s complete torture. ?With a side of bliss. ?It’s a crazy roller coaster of emotions that starts and stops and spins more out of control than any Disney roller coaster I’ve ever been on. ?It’s a ?holy crap my husband is working for Disney,? with an abrupt slap of ?holy crap what have I done?? ?I DID THIS! ?Me! ?Just me! ?Well and Jeremy, sort of, with his amazing architect self. ?See he has to own part of it! ?We?re excited. ?What an amazing opportunity for our family. ?What an amazing opportunity for Jeremy. ?As this story comes to an end, it?s ?the beginning of a new chapter in our story, our crazy lives. ?The lives that Jeremy tries so hard to keep status quo while I throw wrenches at it. ??We hope that all of our friends will use and abuse our new home as local Disney lodging. ?In fact, if you don’t, I’ll send you hate mail. ?Not really, but I will beg, and beg, and beg, and even beg some more for you all to come see us!

So we say, “See ya real soon!”

With Love Always,

This Crazy Rumph Family

October 9, 2015