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Travel

Disney World | Orlando, Florida | Tips and Hints on the best way to tackle one of the largest theme parks in the world

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The Magic of Disney | Planning Disney this year?

Disney is probably on every parent’s agenda at some point in the first 18 years of their children’s life. Usually, between 3 – 15 years old would be the peak period when every family undertakes a trip, and at every stage of the children’s life the family will enjoy Disney in a completely different way.

Ever since I was little I had a thing for rollercoasters, the faster the better.  I had only been to Disneyland LA once when I was 10 years old, and that trip has been ingrained into childhood memory forever as one of the best holidays. It was my first time on Space Mountain –  back then it was so innovative to have a rollercoaster experience in the dark. So when I was invited by the Disney Team back in January to explore Disney World in Florida, I didn’t know how I would feel as an adult – I thought it might be best for children and probably be an anti-climax as an adult.  I was totally wrong.  For those of you who don’t have children yet, do go now!

For those who have been to Disney will understand how difficult it is to capture the essence of Disney in words.  Most of us won’t remember the details but we remember the emotional aspect of the experience. Disney’s goal has always been to be the best storytellers in the world.  I can see how and why they remain at the top of their game as Disney Imagineers for generations have brain-stormed to bring every story to life through touch, sound and visual effects resulting in emotionally connecting with park visitors. There is an element of ‘magic’ in it.  By walking through the park, you will see rides and go through experiences, and still many years after the death of Walt Disney his parks still remain at the frontier of new experiences.  The latest one being Pandora: The Land of the Avatars. Their new simulation ride, Avatar: The Flight of Passage, is a must, and I cannot describe the sensation of flying a banshee.  Before  the ride, I was warned people cried after as it was such an emotional experience.  I witnessed one or two guests in tears.  Needless to say, I returned and used my very last Fast Pass + token to ride Flight of Passage again.

Disney World | Orlando

Disney World is made up 4 parks; Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, and two water parks.  There are also  over 20 hotels & resorts to choose from.  By 2020, Disney World, to celebrate its 50th birthday would have expanded with even more attractions and hotels for guests to choose from including Toy Story Land and a Star Wars Hotel.

Children & Organisation

One thing I took away from my week at Disney and from experiencing all four parks is that there will be a great deal of logistics involved when booking your holiday. I am a mother who would prefer to ‘wing it’ normally on arrival and to be spontaneous BUT travelling to Disney with young children will take some thought, planning and consideration as hotel accommodations and restaurants are booked months in advance.  With the huge volumes of guests visiting Disney each year everything is booked in advance with restaurant bookings requiring 3-months booking prior to your trip especially for Disney signature restaurants. For mums and dads planning a trip, I would recommend doing some research online and to consult travel agents on how to tackle the parks.  Ideally, if possible, I would also recommend staying at a Disney hotel to enjoy the benefits of Disney properties especially the the Disney Hour.

Here is a schedule to start organising your trip.

#6months – 1 year in advance

Start looking at the seasons and when you might like to go.  Think about the 27 resorts you might like to stay at.

#6 months in advance

Book your rooms as soon as possible especially for resorts like the Grand Floridian and Four Seasons to guarantee adjoining rooms, concierge state rooms  or the villas.

Book your 16- hour flights via Emirates Airlines through Emirates Holidays to guarantee the right days as there is currently only one flight per day, and to ensure Economy or Business Class seats.

Book your VIPGuides.  See more below.

#3 months in advance

Organise your restaurant reservations at the top and most sought after Disney restaurants. The top restaurants include:

Tiffins Restaurant in the Animal Kingdom, Be our Guests as you dine at the Beast’s Castle, California Grill at the Disney Contemporary Resort, The Brown Derby at Hollywood Studios, and my favourite 1900 Park Fair at the Grand Floridian where you have breakfast with your Disney’s favourite characters.

#30- 60 days in advance

Organise your My Disney FastPass +.  Hollywood Studios has a high demand for FastPass so organise which rides you might like there in advance.   There are higher chances of getting Magic Kingdom passes on the day when you have used up all your fast passes.

#1 month in advance

Book also your Magical Express transportation.

#1 week in advance

It’s time to get excited and to get packing.  Pack comfortable shoes (I cannot stress this enough as you will be walking a lot), sunscreen, hats, swimsuits, goggles, comfortable clothes, and for my family there will also be some healthy organic snacks.  There is a dress code in Disney’s signature restaurants (no shorts, flip flops) so do pack shirts /polo t-shirts for boys and a casual summer dress for the girls.

Top 10 rides for children 8 years and over

Top 10 rides for children 7 years and under

Consider VIP Guides

We hope to take our 4 children to various Disneys around the world at least 3 or 4 times during their childhood.  As time is precious in Disney, we will recommend booking at least for half a day a VIP Guide.  You can think of them as Disney gurus or high ranking Disney conceierges who make the time spent at the parks extremely efficient including transportation. They are a little pricey but totally worth the investment.  They will cost approximately USD1,500 for 7 hours for up to 10 adults and children including infants.  The guide will be able to plan your wish list allowing to skip queues, book restaurants in advance of your arrival (again, do give the guides as many weeks notice as possible as everything is fully booked months ahead).

Book 6 months in advance as there are only 30 full-time guides so they do get booked up much in advance.  They are all very professional with decades of experience working in the park.

Accommodation

If you are coming from the Middle East, the most popular hotels chosen by Middle Eastern guests would include the following

#1. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (Deluxe & Deluxe Villa Resort)

Disney’s Grand Floridian resembles colonial hotels such as the Raffles Hotel in Singapore with its impressive white buildings and red roof tops nestled next to the Seven Seas Lagoon. The property design is inspired by the Victorian era, and the property is furnished with genuine antiques and artefacts collected from around the world. The property has 867 rooms but it doesn’t feel so vast as the rooms are located between 6 separate buildings, with two shared outdoor pools.  The hotel has baby sitting and childcare options available upon request.  The most popular rooms would be their private villas and adjoining rooms, and it is important to book this 6-months in advance of your stay. It has 7 restaurants of which 1900 Park Fair is one of their signature restaurant and families can have breakfast with Disney characters, but like everything at Disney it is worth booking this 3-months in advance of your stay.

#2. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House ( Deluxe & Deluxe Villa Resort

We stayed at the property, and it was pretty magical to wake up in the morning to see a family of giraffes walking past your window.  There are over 30 species of African wildlife and you can spot zebras, gazelles and flamingoes amongst them.  Do ask for for view of the safari park as it is not always guaranteed.  There is also the Simba Kids Clubhouse for children aged 3 – 12 years.

#3. Disney’s Contemporary Resort Review (Deluxe Resort)

This hotels is at it sounds – a modern take on a Disney resort.  It is a contemporary building giving guests a different feel to more traditional Disney hotels.  It one of the few resorts that has direct access to the Magic Kingdom via the monorail making accessibility very easy.  The resort has two pools and one has a 17-foot slide.  Don’t forget to book in advance the California Grill, a Disney signature restaurant at the top of the hotel with beautiful views of Magic Kingdom.

#4. Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort.

It is the only hotel in Central Florida to receive the coveted AAA Five Diamond Award.  There is a complimentary kids club, and have an adult pool, family pool, splash zone, lazy river and a water slide. Kids under 5 will eat for free.

Tips for families with children 7 years and under

#Don’t stress and don’t cram. Disney is not a cheap experience and understandably many families try to ensure they schedule as much in as they can.  However, be mindful of the fact that if you are travelling with young children, you won’t be able to cover much of the park as it spans 40 square miles. Be realistic with the number of rides you wish to cover in a day, and have plenty of breaks for snacks and let the children experience other activities like Cinderella’s Castle and make sure each day is a Happily Ever After for everyone.  The children won’t realise they missed a single ride.

#Bring a water bottle to fill up because purchasing bottled water at every kiosk will quickly start adding up.

#If you stay at a Disney resort, do make use of the Magic Hour which opens one-hour for Disney residents before the general public arrive.

#Do check if there are any closed attractions prior to your trip to avoid disappointment as there are always a few rides closed for refurbishment and safety checks.

#Ensure the children are well-fed before the firework displays in the various parks.  Disney’s Magic Kingdom Happily Ever After fireworks begins at 8.55pm and lasts for 18 minutes so it is worth getting there early to find a fabulous spot on the grounds near the Cinderella’s Castle.

#Do purchase a Disney Autograph book (one for the whole family), to collect Mickey’s and the whole cast’s autographs.  They will be available usually at the hotel gift shop.

#Download the Disney App which will tell you about the waiting times, shows and locations of various activities

#Do bring a stroller – the kids will be exhausted, and it will be tiring trying to carry them around when they want a quick snooze.

#It is also lovely to get out of the parks for one day by visiting Disney Springs, a lovely retail therapy day for the family.  Visit the Lego store, Sephora, Anthropologie and have lunch at Paddlefish.

#If you have time do consider a three-night cruise to the Bahamas on Disney Dream.  Click here to find out more.

Travel

Emirates Airlines flies once a day from Dubai to Orlando – 16 hours.

The team at Emirates Holidays will also be able to help you plan the trip as many of the team themselves have experienced Disney World. They can arrange hotels, flights and much more and be able to guide you on the best time of the year to visit.

www.emiratesholidays.com

To find out more about the Disney Cruise

To find out more visit www.disneyworld.go.com

Parenthood

Motherhood | Omaira Farooq Al Olama | Emirati Mum of three shares her story about raising her three daughters whilst running a successful company.

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Omaira Farooq Al Olama, is an Emirati mum of 3, and the daughter of a former UAE Ambassador based in the US where she had spent her formative years growing up.  She returned back to Dubai after finishing university in the US as Dubai’s first female criminology graduate.  Omaira is passionate about her home country, and is determined to help her fellow nationals achieve and strive for their best.  She is the Founder of Advanced Learning Formulas, a company to help young Emiratis connect better with the multitude of businesses and cultures in the UAE.  She works with them, coaching and equipping them in this ever-changing business landscape of today.  She is also extremely hands-on as a mother taking care of her three young daughters, her twin girls aged 7 and a younger daughter aged 6. This photoshoot is probably representative of Omaira’s character; she is a colourful, vibrant and an interesting woman who has overcome personal challenges to recallibrate her life again to create a wonderful childhood for her three daughters.  She is positive, inspiring mother and business woman, who has an incredibly infectious laugh.

How did you create your incredible business, Advanced Learning Formulas (ALF)?

It was in 2010 while I was still working for the government, when I noticed some of my younger Emiratis were just not understanding the trainers, and couldn’t develop a connection to them. It wasn’t that these trainers were bad, in fact, they were great. However, the younger nationals couldn’t relate. It was then that I decided to create a company of the “people” is the best way to describe it, where I would develop, train and coach them. I would be their backbone, someone they could relate to, open up to and in most cases someone that will tell them when they are wrong or what they need to do to further develop themselves to succeed.

Can you share some of the challenges in your business that you have faced and how you have overcome them?

In the beginning when I first launched, I was met with mixed reviews. The large companies were so used to the normal training companies that they didn’t know what to expect. I would explain to them that I don’t do generic training, there are many companies who are more than equipped to handle that. However, if you want to get through to your national, get through to them clearly in terms of work ethics, mindset, creativity, business morale, ethical conducts etc, then I was that person. Our success stories lies within many of the Banking and Government sectors. We have brought down the rate of attrition and we have many quotes from the heads of HR, however one of the newest success stories we can write about, is the number of Emiratis who are going back to school to get an education to quote Mr. Samir Al Maskaris (Head of Emiritization and Business Partner at ENBD) “Our new coaching initiative that is run by ALF Administration, has seen not only Emiratis in our workforce loyally committing to us, but have encouraged themselves to go back to school and get their education. This comes by the passion and dedication of ALF towards the nationals and their continued support in terms of helping them develop themselves in their career.”

There are so many women and mothers wanting to start their own business, what would you tell them?

Follow your dreams, but pick something you are passionate about, that makes you happy, that you can relate to. Don’t waste your time doing something you think might make you successful because you have seen others do it. Do something that interests you.

You have been a motivational role model for Emiratis, mothers, and other young women who are wanting to make a difference in this community, who has been your personal role model?

Amira Haya, her dedication to children and to education is something that is so amazing and so nurturing. She has that aura in her that calms everyone around her and allows people to focus on what is really important.

You are also the mother of twin daughters who are 7-years old and your youngest daughter is 6 how do you ensure a work life balance for your children?

The best part of owning your own company is that you can choose your own work hours. A 9-5 job had the best salaries and lots of adult interaction, however, for me being able to choose the days I want to spend home with the kids, or even just to do something for myself, this gives me more flexibility

What do you hope to instill in your children when they grow up?

To work hard, but have ethics. If they make a mistake I want them to tell me, I teach this to my students all the time. Its ok to make mistakes as long as you learn from them.

There are parents from multicultural backgrounds here who struggle to decide which education system to put their children in (British, IB, American, French etc); you grew up in America so how did you decide on the current system that you have chose for your 3 girls?

While I respect all the education systems that are available here in the UAE, I chose American as it encourages creativity and allows my children to have the rest of the day after school to go to activities and not stress too much about homework or tests at this moment in time. Though I do feel the British system prepares from university, I still feel more comfortable with the American system.

What kind of mother would you describe yourself?  Are you pretty relaxed or would you describe yourself as a #tigermum? 

Depends on the situation. I’m very relaxed for certain things, for example, if my daughters want to dye strands of their hair, or put  makeup on etc. However, I’m very strict when it comes to behavior. I grew up respecting elders and I really want to instill that in my children. It is also important to have a good attitude and positive outlooks towards life. We are all so fortunate to be here and to live the lives that we live, and I never want them to forget that.

What are you very strict about at home with your daughters?

Discipline. I love to let them explore and challenge things so that they get a better understanding, however, I won’t let them cross that line and become rude kids, I’m always conscious of how they act, and sometimes I get a bit strict with them, which I do try to be more relaxed about.

Can you share three things that you have learnt as a mother?

Patience, always have a stash of sweets and hide my make up!

I believe the training that you do for the Emirati community also has a relevance for any mother in the world wanting to go back into the workforce, can you share 5 pieces of advice for mothers wanting to work again after children?

Don’t look at other peoples success or failures as something that defines you, what works for some might not work for others.

Do something that interests you and that you are passionate about

Don’t feel guilty, as long as you know you are spending time with your children, it is ok to go back to work and follow your dreams. They will respect you and look up to you just as much as when you were staying at home with them.

Be kind to others and never feel threatened by other peoples success. The worst thing is watching women not be happy for one another.

And follow the old saying “if at first you don’t succeed, try try again!”

Travel

Visiter Dubai | Day trip to Abu Dhabi | UAE | Travel | What to do with visiting relatives & friends | By Claudia Ong

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Sometime last year, my cousin, Edwina Viel, wrote a post titled “A private tour guide for your visitors”. True enough, she heeded her own advice and organised a private travel guide for me to Abu Dhabi, and I’ve got to say that the experience was truly amazing and enriching.

Being extremely psyched about my big summer trip to Dubai, I spent a lot of my time doing my research about the place. And of course, being pretty hooked on social media, I found myself spending a ton of time exploring through Instagram for gorgeous pictures taken in Dubai by fellow enthusiasts. To be frank, I didn’t know much about the UAE or Dubai for that matter. The things I associated Dubai with was firstly, it’s a desert – so it’s incredibly hot in the summer, secondly, it’s where all the cool expats go to, and lastly, it’s a place for luxurious living. Eddie told me that you could call for an Uber Chopper! #mindblown

Of the many beautiful pictures that came up on Instagram during my research, the few that caught my eye were of course the #dubaigems like the well-known Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa. But there was this one, that was as white as snow, lined with gold and so perfectly symmetrical – The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. At first I was pretty bummed that it was in Abu Dhabi and not in Dubai. I wasn’t quite sure I’d get the chance to see this magnificent structure.

I have to say I’m very blessed to have such a hospitable cousin. Knowing that I wanted to delve deeper into the culture of UAE, she introduced me to Victor Cassé. If you’re looking for a warm, friendly, knowledgeable and personable travel guide, he is the man to go to. He dropped by the house at 1.30pm and we set off for our excursion. The drive to Abu Dhabi didn’t seem long because Victor was able to share his knowledge about the UAE in a way where you don’t even feel like you’re getting an information overload.

Unlike many regular tours, this one is flexible and customised to suit your interests best. You don’t need to fight with hordes of other tourists and it makes traveling from site to site very easy. The trip around Abu Dhabi took about 7 hours, and I was able to get a much deeper understanding and appreciation for its culture and development.

Here is where we went on the tour:

1: Saadiyat Gallery

2: Fruit and Vegetable Market/ Fish Market

3: Corniche Bridge

4: Al Hosn Exhibition

5: Emirates Palace

6: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

In the galleries and exhibitions, you get to see what Abu Dhabi was and how it has made its way to what it is now and will be in the future. It’s such a fast growing state and it’s definitely worth a visit, especially with the new heritage and culture developments coming up. You’ll get to admire the unique architecture that both Abu Dhabi and Dubai is known for. At the market, I had a sneak peek into a different side of the UAE, where you see local fruit and vegetable sellers with a variety of brightly coloured crops. I even got to sample home-grown dates, which was a real treat for someone with a sweet tooth.

The trip ended off with a gorgeous sunset, which made the grand structure even more unbelievable. I was in awe of every single little detail that was so intricately designed and carved. I believe that pictures speak more than a thousand words, so I’ll let them do the talking for me.

For more information on Victor and the types of tours you can expect please go to www.visiterdubai.fr/en/

Photos by Claudia Ong.

Parenthood

PLEASE VOTE FOR US | Seashellsonthepalm.com has been nominated by Stylist Arabia in their Parenting Category for their Social Media Awards

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Seashellsonthepalm.com

The Viel family are so thrilled to have been nominated by Stylist Arabia’s special panel of Judges in the Parenting Social Media Star of the Year category.

We would be thrilled if you could just take some time out to vote for our family.  I know that you have supported us, and it would mean a lot to us to have your vote.  Voting closes on 6th May 2016.

Instructions

Click on the link

Click ‘Back’ to find the Parenting Category and vote.

http://www.stylistarabia.com/awards/

Thank you and we love you all.  God bless.

Love, Edwina, Maurizio, Luca, Sofia, Lorenzo and Leonardo xxx