Airport Attire

    This image floated into my Facebook newsfeed recently courtesy of Marchesa with the caption: "Now this is what we call airport chic! The stunning Miranda Kerr wearing Marchesa Voyage at JFK Airport yesterday."

 

 

    My first thought was, "I'm going to that airport. Maybe I'll see a celebrity!"

 

    That thought was quickly taken over by, "Oh no. I'd rather not see anybody." The only sort of upmarket attire or "suit" I'll be travelling in is a tracksuit. I anticipate my eyes will be bulging out of my head from extreme fatigue. And my legs will probably feel like two columns of jelly being held together by cheap clingwrap as I attempt to walk after being stuck in a tiny seat that has been engineered with the impossibility of actually getting comfortable.

 

   Having said that, kudos to Miranda for looking lovely at the airport. And I personally plan to look damn fine as I struggle to walk with bulging eyes while wearing my most generic tracksuit.

Disney Dining

    Over the past few weeks I've had to determine which Disney World restaurants I would like reservations for in January. Yes, that's right, January, which is 6 months away! I still haven't decided what I'm going to eat for breakfast tomorrow, but I managed to look at descriptions of every single Disney World restaurant.

    After sifting through numerous blogs, hours of restaurant research and a few phone calls (thanks for footing that overseas bill, Mum) I was able to secure the Disney World dining reservations I desired. The restaurants I am most excited to dine at are the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, Be Our Guest and Cinderella's Royal Table. Many people are not as lucky in obtaining reservations at Disney World. This post offers you a few tricks you can try to eat at those restaurants where you could not secure a reservation.

 

Long Coat

    If you would like to join a dining party try the old "long coat over two people" trick. With this tip you could double the number of the dining party.

    Pitfalls: You may need to supply your own coat.

You will need the permission of the person you are sharing the coat with.

You will most likely need to sit under the table as a seat will not be supplied for you.

 

Seat Warmer

    Wait inconspicuously inside your desired restaurant. Someone is bound to need a bathroom break at some point. Now is your opportunity to pounce. As soon as this person leaves the table, sit in their seat and tell the others at the table you are a "seat warmer". Based on the average time spent looking for, being in (including sink side selfies and gossip) and coming back from the bathroom, you have about 5 to 10 minutes to get the others at the table to like you and forget about the person that just went to the bathroom. If you can successfully convince the others to let you stay at their table they may even pay your bill!

    Pitfall: If you get to the table after the bathroom person has ordered you may have to eat the dish they selected.

 

Invisibility Cloak

    Pull your invisibility cloak out of the back of your wardrobe, dust it off and wear it to your selected restaurant.

    Pitfall: You will need to remain invisible throughout the entire reservation. But this just means you can eat as much as you want without worrying about things like, "How much will people judge me if I eat a third serving of dessert?"

 

Date Night

    This idea is inspired by (stolen from) the movie, Date Night. Place yourself and your dining party in the waiting area of your chosen restaurant. Wait for the maitre d' to call out a party name and claim it as your own.

    Pitfall: Sure this idea may result in you being confused as criminals, chased over the city and requiring the help of Mark Wahlberg, but it will all be worth it.

 

Steal Buzzer

   This idea is for those of you who enjoy a spot of theft. Some Disney World restaurants provide buzzers for people waiting to be seated. If your desired dining destination is one of those restaurants then you are in luck. Just go right ahead and steal someone's buzzer.

    Pitfall: You need to deal with the anticipation (some might say "terror") of waiting for the buzzer to buzz.

 

Friendly Reservation

   If you are travelling with a number of families and are partial to a bit of dishonesty this idea is the best for you. Pay close attention to those in your travelling party as they may share the details of their dining reservations. Take these details to the restaurant and  there you go, a dining reservation for you!

     Pitfall: You will need to be organised to arrive at the restaurant well before your unsuspecting victims friends.

 

   

    Of course, if you are not convinced any of these ideas will work you can always try the less conventional idea of checking if there has been a cancellation at one of those elusive restaurants.

Willkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome... To My New Blog

    Welcome to my new blog! This is your exclusive (not really) invitation to stay updated as I plan and embark on my American Adventure. Please keep all personal belongings secure and hands in the carriage as you come along for the ride.

   

    I was always told to only make promises I can keep. Here are some things I can promise you this blog will deliver. Words. I promise to type some of them and then post them. My hope is that you will enjoy these words and maybe even offer some of your own in the comments.

 

    "So... what exactly does this 'American Adventure' entail?" I  hear you ask. Thank you for your question. It includes Christmas in New York and New Year's in Miami with my sister and brother-in-law, over 2 weeks at Disney World with my dance studio, followed by another week in Miami. The owner of the dance studio I attend deciding we should dance at Disney World in January next year started this whole adventure. Then my sister got married and moved to Miami with her husband in November last year. Coincidence? Yes. Convenient? Totally. I decided to turn a 2 week dance trip into a 5 week dance-and-visit-my-sister extravaganza.

 

    Stay tuned for my next post all about securing those elusive Disney World dining reservations, including some not-so-standard tips.