Meissner Expeditions with the Mouse

05/12/2024

The wait is finally over!! This announcement made me audibly gasp and now even more excited about our July 5th trip!! 🐊🦞🐉

05/12/2024

05/06/2024

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party dates have finally been released with a promise of more villains than ever before!! Who’s ready?!

04/14/2024

Are you missing Disney as much as we are?? When we miss home, we bring home to us!! 🎥🎬🍿

04/02/2024

Latest update from Tiana’s bayou: still no opening date, but we're on week 2 of critter introductions, so yay? 🐾 🐸🐊

However, Disney did just give us a first peek 👀 at the poster. What opening date do YOU think will be on there?!

My thoughts 💭 are (hopefully) on our next visit which is Memorial Day weekend.

And, it looks like we'll all get a 3rd chance to meet the last batch of critters NEXT week. At this rate, we'll meet every animal in the swamp before we get an opening date. 🤪

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2024/04/attraction-poster-more-critters-revealed-for-tianas-bayou-adventure/

03/24/2024

What’s your countdown? Whether it’s your first of 25th, I have tips that can help even the seasoned Disney-goers!

03/23/2024

Planning a Disney trip doesn't have to be hard! Follow along for helpful tips that will help to make your trip stress-free.

If you're new here...

Hi, we're the Meissners and we love to share our expeditions with the Mouse with you! We are not a travel agency. We are just a real-life family of five that loves Disney and it's attainable no matter how small your budget. We'll teach you all the money-saving tips, share with you our favorite hotel properties on and off-property, all the yummy food and snacks, and not as common things that are fun for families to do inside and outside of the parks.

We'll also teach you fun Disney lingo such as what "rope dropping" and "park hopping" mean. So, stay tuned, and thanks for following us and we hope you enjoy the fun content and tips!

02/18/2024

Wondering what to do on a rainy day?! It’s a perfect time to resort hop, hit up the arcades, or visit the parks because crowds tend to be a lot lower. Check out our rainy day photos! ☔️🌂🌧️

02/18/2024

The Polynesian’s Kona Cafe has several amazing food offerings. Best thing is it’s toddler and big kid approved.

02/18/2024

Good morning from Disney’s Polynesian Resort! 🌺 Look 👀 at this beautifully renovated Moana themed room! They are so spacious!!After lounging in the room, head to the main house to enjoy a drink at the tasty Tambu Lounge. 🍹😅 ☀️

11/14/2023

Hollywood Studio’s newest dine-in Roundup Rodeo is a must do in my opinion! Dinner is served all you can eat family style and selections are all delicious!

11/11/2023

It’s the most magical time of the year!! 🎄🎅🏼❄️☃️

11/11/2023

Found this gem of a bakery called, Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe in Norway today!! Menu is posted. These were all sooooo good! My favorite was the Norwegian Kringla. 🤤

11/10/2023

All hail the epic Kitchen Sink. It has every topping but the kitchen sink (hence it’s name.) It can be found at Disney’s Beach Club resort at the Beaches and Cream soda shoppe restaurant.

11/05/2023

One of the coolest things to see at the beginning of November is how all across property Disney changes from fall to Christmas practically overnight!! Our countdown is t-minus 5 days until we’re home! What’s yours?!

09/27/2023

Great news! There’s a new water park season pass! You go as many times as you want now through 5/24 for only $79 ($73 if 9 and under.) This is cheaper than the cost of 2 water park visits!!

Just like the parks, the water parks are a ton of fun and have lots of things that adults and littles can do!

09/24/2023

Did you know you can do laundry at the resorts?! You can pack your detergent or buy it in the bath houses. They’ve also went completely digital so no need for cash or having quarters on hand. Just scan the QR code and voila! The best thing is that when you download their CSC app they give you $5 for creating your account so your first wash is on Mickey!

Link to download the app is below: ⬇️

Create a CSC Go laundry app account and get $5 free. 👕 Download on the App Store. https://cscgo.app.link/0ai4lexHmDb

09/24/2023

Replacing the Merida meet and greet, there is a new casita adorned with beautiful flowers, banners and colorful gates where you can now meet Mirabel from Encanto. The meet and greet takes place in the Fairytale Garden at Magic Kingdom between 9:00am and 4:45PM! Just in time to celebrate Hispanic and Latin Heritage Month.

Will you be stopping by to meet her on your next trip? I know the Meissners will be!

09/23/2023

So what characters are able to meet and greet at the Halloween party? Here’s a handy handout to show who and where they’re located!

09/10/2023

It’s not-so-spooky season at Disney World! Dates are selling out fast so if you’re planning to buy, I would do it sooner rather than later. 👻🎃👻

05/05/2023

Ok, so let’s talk tickets!! 📢📢

Surprisingly, you’ll realize that the best prices are actually local.

Most of your military bases sell civilian tickets and they are usually hard to beat the savings. (Not the same as the military salute that you have to have specific military id for.) In most instances, on a 3-day or longer ticket you can save anywhere from $75+ depending on ticket type.

Ticket types are different for each ticket office but if you’re local to Fort Novosel, they have both base and park hopper options up to 5 days. If your trip is longer, days can still be added once in the park for a minimal cost. Other bases close to our area are Maxwell and Tyndall.

Not all prices are the same from one base to another, so make sure to compare prices because some will even ship to you for a minimal cost.

Other places to purchase discounted tickets are: samsclub.com/travel, or by subscribing to “Mousesavers” newsletters by e-mail and other discount websites of the like.

04/29/2023

Tickets go on sale to the general public May 2nd for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!

This is one of our favorite events at Disney.

If you’re not ready to take the leap into a full blow trip just yet, this is a perfect way to experience the park and get exclusive Meet and Greets with characters. Advantages of the party are also, lower wait times, exclusive shows and fireworks, and you get tons of candy as you trick-or-treat from station to station. They even have special stations for guests with allergies.

Party dates begin August 11th and run through November 1st.

Although the party begins at 7 p.m. Your ticket will gain you access to the park as early as 4 p.m. That means you get to have 3 hours in the parks prior to the party start to enjoy even more rides or attractions.

If you have a trip planned during a date of the Halloween party and don’t plan to attend, it’s best to choose a different park than Magic Kingdom due to the park closing early at 6 p.m. for the special event.

04/29/2023

A question I get asked a lot is, “what’s the best age to take my child to Disney?”

The truth is…there is no perfect age. Any age is magical to be honest for different reasons.

Don’t listen to the naysayers that tell you, they won’t remember it. I promise you, they remember more than you know.

My toddlers frequently refer to Disney as “Wonderland” and can recall different visits when they were 1 & 2 and will tell you about their favorite rides and what they enjoyed the most.

Truthfully, the excitement through the different ages is what I love the most as a parent. There’s nothing like seeing the magic through your kids eyes. And, guess what?! Even if they don’t remember it, YOU will. Those smiles and interactions are some of our best memories.

So stop being on the fence, just do it. Take the trip, time and experiences are never a waste.

Kids under 3 are a guest of Mickey, so if you’re wanting to wait until they’re a little older, planning the week of their 3rd birthday allows the best of both worlds. (Just make sure your arrival date is before the child’s birthday.)

04/28/2023

Have you ever dreamed of planning a trip to Disney but feel overwhelmed and like it’s just too far out of reach?

As a mom, I know how overwhelming it can feel traveling with littles, let alone multiples (in our case.) Follow along as our family of 5 shares our expeditions with the Mouse with YOU! Whether you’re planning to go solo, a girls’ trip, or a large family vacation we’ve tested what works, to eliminate the guesswork out for you.

We’ll share tips on how to gain those coveted dining reservations, how to maximize your park days, how to navigate Genie+ and lightning lane, as well as give insight on some other less commonly known facts regarding where to find the best bargains on tickets, what to pack, and discuss current promotions and new offerings and more.

Disney has been a magical escape for our family and we hope to share the knowledge we’ve learned over the years to help you plan the most memorable trip ever!