Disney – Pearls and Paris

pearlsandparis / October 24, 2018

3 Nights at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins

Mid August I had the pleasure of visiting Walt Disney World and staying at an incredible 2 bedroom cabin at the Cooper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge all thanks to Disney Vacation Club. Disney Vacation Club is a flexible vacation-ownership program that helps families enjoy the magic of Disney. Disney Vacation Club Members are able to choose from among a variety of exciting vacation destinations, including a stay at any 14 Disney Vacation Club Resorts or one of thousands of other vacation options in destinations around the world.

I don’t think any amount of words or pictures can do justice for just how incredible these cabins are… but I’ll try. Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, a Disney Vacation Club Resort, has 26 unique 2-Bedroom/2-bathroom waterfront Cascade Cabins. These private, luxurious quarters can sleep up to 8 guests. In addition to a washer and dryer and a fully equipped, open-style kitchen, each Cabin features a double-sided stone-hearth fireplace and screened-in wraparound porch with a built-in hot tub. Guys – I want to relocate and move into one permanently! They are so beautiful and literally have everything your family will need during your Disney vacation. One of my favorite amenities had to be the screened in wraparound porch. We were able to catch the fireworks display from Magic Kingdom while sitting out there with the accompanying music. The cabins are truly pure Disney Magic. Here’s a few pictures of the Cooper Creek Cabins:

Click HERE to check out my full Cabin Tour video!

Over the next few days we got to experience Disney as a Disney Vacation Club Member and it truly was such an incredible experience. I never realized all of the perks, offerings and events just for DVC members.

Day 1: We had a smooth & easy check in. I have never been to the Wilderness Lodge before and the main building is absolutely beautiful. We were able to settle in our room and relax before meeting for a group dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe with the DVC team. The food was absolutely fantastic … we enjoyed it so much that my family decided to have dinner here again the last night! After dinner we headed back to our room for a good nights rest before the fun started for Day 2!

Day 2: We started our day with room service for breakfast and then the boys headed to Animal Kingdom. As for me – I made my way to Salon by the Springs where Maria, a fellow puertorriqueña, gave me the most incredible pedicure. This was not just any regular pedicure, it was truly an experience. I’m talking essential oils, a foot mask, heating powder, warm towel wrap and a wonderful massage. Guys – make an appointment your next time visiting Disney World and thank me later! Later in the afternoon we headed to the Reunion Station, which is a new space at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge that was created especially for Disney Vacation Club Members and their special guests. You can head here to unwind, dine and participate in an array of activities. One of the activities offered, that we got to take part of, was New World Wine 101. This class was fantastic and would add a little pixie dust to any DVC member vacation. We then got to tour the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs. The 3 bedroom Treehouse stand on stilts 10 feet off the ground and are surrounded by a wooded area – perfect for a large group vacation. That evening the group joined our families at my favorite park: EPCOT! for dinner in Japan. This wasn’t just any night in Epcot though. This was Moonlight Magic – an exciting after hours celebration complimentary for Disney Vacation Club members & their guests. Basically you get to stay at the park after it closes and there will be minimal wait times at attractions along with complimentary food and drinks and unique character meet-and-greet opportunities. Located in Epcot is also the Disney Vacation Club Member Lounge which is a complimentary space for members to enjoy while visiting.

Day 3: Victor woke up with a fever this day so while him & Ryan relaxed and rested in the cabin, I met up with the group to do Painting with a View and then tour some other really amazing DVC properties. I think the Painting with a View activity is a fantastic perk for members. Not only was it fun but the view at Top of the World Lounge, where the class is held, was unmatched! The Grand Villa at Bay Lake Tower has to be one of favorite properties we got to see. I love spaces where a big group can stay yet not feel crowded. It was very homey and had spectacular views. The bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian are what dreams are made of. I have a new bucket list of places to stay at during my next Disney World vacations. The one MUST on our list was to experience Toy Story Land. Victor had been talking about it since the commercials started and unfortunately it was a bust! I met my husband there but Victor’s fever came back and he was just out of it – mix that with the heat and there was just no way we could stay an explore. We ended up spending the rest of the afternoon and evening at the cabin. I did sneak out for a little around 8pm to meet the group for the Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace at Magic Kingdom. Since I was solo, I took advantage and somehow worked my way through the crowd to be dead center for the Happily Ever After Show. I wasn’t able to catch this show when I was at Magic Kingdom a few months prior so this was a must for me and guys….. it was EVERYTHING!!!! I am a little embarrassed to admit this but I got emotional more than once while watching it – I mean full on tears! LOL It was just so magical and if you haven’t experienced it in person, make it a priority during your next visit.

We were so sad to leave the cabin and make our way to the airport. I cannot recommend Copper Creek Villas & Cabins enough. The cabin was the most amazing accommodation I’ve had while vacationing and am looking forward to booking a reservation at some of the other fantastic properties we had the chance to tour.

A huge thank you to DVC & Cooper Creek Villas & Cabins for such a wonderful opportunity.

This post is in collaboration with Disney Vacation Club. As always, all opinions are my own.

pearlsandparis / May 1, 2018

12 Photos That Will Make You Want to Eat & Drink Your Way Around Disney World!

Walt Disney World…. The Most Magical Place on Earth!

While I love meeting with characters, going on rides and watching the shows – eating and drinking my way around the Walt Disney World parks is one of my absolute favorite things ever.

Here are 12 photos that will make you want to eat & drink your way around Disney World!

Is there any way to start off this list other than with the infamous Dole Whip? One taste of this delightfully smooth pineapple flavored soft serve and you will be hooked! You can find the Dole Whip at Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs and a few of the Disney Resorts.

PC: @ohyeahdisney

2. Another delicious classic that can be found at all the parks has to be the Mickey pretzel!

PC: @stickaforkinme

3. LeFou’s Brew at Gaston’s Tavern is a frozen apple juice with a hint of toasted marshmallow and topped with passion fruit foam… some people think it’s even better than the Dole Whip on those hot Disney days. Head on over to Magic Kingdom to try this one out.

PC: @readerlygeek

4. Churros need no explanation! With a side of caramel dipping sauce, these are sure to be a family favorite when visiting the Mexican Pavilion in Epcot.

PC: @disneyhungry

5. Calling all Sake lovers! This Violet Sake is not to be missed at the Japan Pavilion in Epcot. It’s the perfect combo of sake, purple pear and lime juice.

PC: @jan_eats210

6. Pulled. Pork. Cheese. Fries. — head on over to Animal Kingdoms Flame Tree BBQ to dig into these!

PC: @disneyhungry

7. Everyday can be Sunday Brunch with this insane Bloody Mary from Paddlefish at Disney Springs. It features King Crab, Jumbo Shrimp and Candied Bacon!

PC: @disney_foodie_

8. NUTELLA…. do I need to say more? These Nutella Stuffed Beignets are what dreams are made of. Head on over to France while in Epcot to taste this deliciousness.

PC: @disneyhungry

9. The Night Blossom from Animal Kingdom’s Pongu Pongu is insanely popular…and pretty to look at. It’s a mixture of limeade with apple and desert pear flavors topped with passion fruit boba balls.

PC: @disneyhungry

10. We all know that when at Disney World, you are constantly on the go. That is why I love that they have quick service locations for many of the restaurants. This honey chicken from Yak and Yeti on the go looks delicious!

PC: @kingdommagic

11. Macarons and a Slushy cocktail always sound good to me but they are even better when they are from the France Pavilion in Epcot. This is the Macaron au Chocolat en Sucette and La Vie en Rose Frozen Slushy.

PC: @thesassymom82

12. The Mickey Kitchen Sink Sundae! This is sure to be a fan favorite amongst those young and old. This can be found at both the Plaza/Main Street Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom and at Beaches and Cream in Disney’s Beach Club Resort. It consist of a scoop each of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry then topped with hot fudge, strawberry, and caramel. Finally it is covered in whipped cream, chocolate and peanut butter chips, and cherries.

PC: @disneyfoodblog

Now, I want to hear from YOU! What are your favorite treats from Disney World?

pearlsandparis / March 25, 2018

2018 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration RECAP

I remember the day I received that e-mail, “You Are Invited to the 2018 Disney Social Media Moms Land and Sea Celebration!”, like it was yesterday! It was back in October of last year but I remember getting an instant smile and being like OMG – yessssss! I was invited for the first time the year before but already had a trip to Iceland planned for that exact week, so I had to pass. No one knows how you get selected but a lot of people say it’s just a random draw, so I was very surprised to see I got the invitation for 2018. It took no convincing on my part because my husband was down for the trip the minute I mentioned being invited. I already knew Disney events were magical, but attending DisneySMMC far exceeded my expectations.

The conference was held from February 20-26th. The first 3 nights we would be staying at Coronado Springs Resorts and the last 3 nights aboard the Disney Magic!

Thank to Spirit Airlines (who I partnered with) & our Wu-Tang apparel, we were flying in comfort and style to Orlando. This was my first time flying Spirit and my family & I were were impressed. The seats were comfy, the plane was on time and the attendants were super nice! We had a great flight so our trip was off to a perfect start.

February 20 – The conference began with a brief attendee only reception where our week and all the activities were broken down for us. It was great to be able to meet and mingle in person with so many people that I follow through social media. The Family Welcome Dinner followed and was sponsored by Mini Babybel. The theme for the evening was PIXAR! The food was delicious and having the characters there to take pictures with was a great bonus.

February 21 – This was one of my favorite days of the entire conference! We had a super early wake up call but it was all worth it because Disney had the most magical morning for us. We were going to Animal Kingdom to have breakfast and VIP time at Pandora before the parks opened! A.K.A. ride Flight of Passage as many times as you can and for me, that was 3 times! Experiencing Pandora while it is dark, is a world of its own – breathtaking and spectacular are a few words I can use to describe it. We also got to go on the Na’vi River and Victor was mesmerized. We then had some free time, so we did a few things at Animal Kingdom then headed back to the hotel, where we enjoyed the pool before heading to Hollywood Studios. At Hollywood Studios, we got to chat with a Walt Disney Imagineer who answered all of our questions about Toy Story Land, which is opening June 30th. We then had a delicious dinner sponsored by GoGo squeeZ at PizzeRizzo. Our final event was a VIP viewing of Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular which unfortunately ended up being cancelled but we still had a great time inside the park.

February 22 – This morning started off with a delicious breakfast sponsored by Alamo which was all about Disney Jr. Afterwards our 1st general session began. All of the speakers were amazing and I learned about so many really awesome things that will be coming to the parks. We also got some extended sneak peeks at some great movies that were coming out, including A Wrinkle in Time and Christopher Robin. I think who I really connected with most during the session was John Breckow, who is the Director of Corporate Citizenship for WDW. He gave us a glimpse of all the wishes Disney grants (10K per year globally!) and just hearing and seeing how much good they do behind the scenes makes me love them even more. After the first session we got to experience an exclusive showcase where we got to engage with all the sponsors.

February 23 – The morning started off with an awesome family breakfast that was Star Wars themed! After checking out it was time to head on over the port to board the Disney Magic! I was REALLY excited about this portion of the conference because I am a big fan of cruising but never sailed with Disney before – this was also Victor’s first cruise. Check in was smooth and we had some time to roam around the ship before the welcome aboard reception, sail away party and dinner at Enchanted Garden.

February 24 – We started the day with our 2nd (& final) general session. This session was filled with great speakers, great information and lots of up and coming news. Heads up for all you Disney Cruiseline fans – Disney will be coming out with 3 new ships by 2021! We also learned a bunch of new information about Adventures by Disney. As a travel enthusiast, I was in awe listening to all the new destinations and itineraries. In 2019, they will be adding a Japan vacation with bookings starting this Spring. Booking a Adventure by Disney trip has officially been added to my bucket list. After the session, you could either disembark to explore beautiful Nassau or take part of the Family Junkets. Our evening consisted of Pirate Night, dinner at Royal Palace and a viewing of a Broadway style Beauty & the Beast.

February 25 – Castaway Cay time!!!! My family & I were SO excited to spend our whole day relaxing at Disney’s private island. I plan to do a dedicated post about Castaway Cay so I won’t go into much detail here but it was absolutely beautiful and the BBQ lunch they offer on the island was delicious. This was our last night on the Disney Magic and we spent it having dinner at the Animator’s Palette, which is my favorite restaurant onboard.

Overall, no amount of words can describe the magic that is #DisneySMMC. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity. I left the conference feeling refreshed, motivated and excited for what is next for my brand, ready to put into action the new tips I learned and just thankful that I got to experience it all with my family.

[PC: Disney, Photographer: Alex Mirabal and Shareen from Pearls & Paris]

pearlsandparis / October 16, 2017

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

One year ago my family decided we would meet in Orlando and spend the weekend in Disney! Seriously… is there anything better than family reuniting at the most magical place on earth?? Nope.

Luckily for us we also happened to be visiting during the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! This was Victor’s first Disney trip and everyone else’s first time visiting for Halloween.

This event runs until November 1st this year and is a separate ticket than the normal admission into Magic Kingdom. You will absolutely want to pre purchase your ticket and ASAP as this event can sell out. While the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is from 7pm-12am, holders of these tickets can enter the park at 4pm which is what we did and I highly recommend others doing as well so that you can maximize your time in the park.

Some of the highlights of this event are trick-or-treating throughout the park, Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, Happy HalloWishes Fireworks Show, Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade and the character meet & greets. We also found the park to be a lot less crowded than it is during the day which was a plus since the kids got to go on quite a few rides.

Here’s a look back at our time at the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!

pearlsandparis / August 30, 2016

My Visit to Walt Disney World + the debut of Princess Elena of Avalor

Walt Disney World – The happiest place on earth!

When Disney reached out to me to attend the Royal Welcoming of the First Latina Princess, Elena of Avalor, I screamed YES with no hesitation. I’ve been to Disney twice, once with my madrina and Tio Danny when I was about 7 years old and another time in High School when I had the opportunity to play in a Disney softball tournament. This was my first trip as an adult and I felt like I could really soak in this experience. I knew I was only going to be in town for about 30 hours so I was looking forward to making the best of it.

We stayed at Disney’s Beach Club Resort.

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The property is absolutely beautiful and filled with charm. The staff was so friendly and very accommodating.

Upon checking in, I received my Disney MagicBand and went on to explore my room as well as the property until it was time to meet up with some of the ladies to have dinner + dessert at Epcot.

After checking into Epcot, we dined at La Hacienda de San Angel which served an authentic Mexican cuisine and killer margaritas. The best part of dinner had to be getting to know all the girls, great conversation and a ton of laughs. When we were done we headed to the Italy Pavilion for a private dessert party where we had front row seats to IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, which is an incredible show that features fireworks, pyrotechnics, laser lights, fountains, and fire to create a visual production on the park’s World Showcase Lagoon. It’s an absolute must see!

The next day I was up bright and early because I was so excited to get together with the group again and head to the Magic Kingdom for the Royal Welcoming for Princess Elena.

Cinderella and Prince Charming appear on the stage of the castle, dándole la bienvenida (giving a welcome) to everyone to this magical kingdom and introducing their special guest from Avalor. Princess Elena arrives accompanied by a troupe of regal banner carriers and musicians and when asked to share her historia, Elena
picks up a guitarra and joins her musicians in a performance of the song “My Time,” recounting her magical adventures and triumphant return to Avalor.

It was truly magically to witness this and as a Latina, made me super proud! After the Royal Welcoming we headed to a Disney luncheon where we got to meet and interview all the important people behind Elena of Avalor and even got to meet the princess herself.

This trip, while short, was an incredible experience and I’m so glad that so many of you followed along with me on Instastories (@pearls_and_paris) and Snapchat (pearlsandparis). THANK YOU Disney for a magical time.

As many of you know, my son is turning ONE in just a few weeks and so we have planned a Family Disney trip for mid October!!!! Make sure you stay tuned as I will be sharing every step of the way with you guys while there.