At the end of Main Street, and where the road branches off to the Magic Kingdom's different themed lands, is an area known as "the hub." This area is located right in front of Cinderella Castle and is home to the famous "Partners" statue featuring Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse.

Naturally, this area is a major photo spot and is often crowded so some guests just pass it by as they rush to get a FastPass or to hop aboard Pirates of the Caribbean; but during your trip, I highly recommend that you take some time to brave the crowds and investigate this area. It truly is "the hub" because it pays homage to the very man, and his accomplishments, that helped build the park that you're enjoying with your family.

In this case, it truly is not only the hub of the park, but of all of Walt Disney World; and if you take some to explore it, you will find the very purpose of the park.

Located around the "Partners" statue are several small statues, like what you see above, of classic Disney characters that added to Walt's success, such as Pinocchio! One of Walt's best films, it's hard to imagine Disney without Pinocchio, his conscience and Disney icon, Jiminy Cricket, and that famous song... "When you wish upon a star..."

Pluto! Man's best friend and Mickey's, this loveable dog is a member of the Fab Five. Pluto and these iconic characters are help start it all. You can find statues of the other members of the Fab Five around the "Partners" statue as well.

Myself and one of my childhood heroes, Minnie Mouse. An integral member of the Fab Five, Minnie has given young girls a character to relate to and enjoy and has been a part of the Disney company since its early years. 

Located at the base of the "Partners" statue, this plaque lets us know what Disney World is all about.
"We believe in our idea of a family park where parents and children could have fun together." -Walt Disney

I think that philosophy is a major contributing factor to Disney's success and is what sets it apart from the rest.

Have you checked out our giveaway? To get this Disney tote, which you can use as an autography book like what you see below, just comment  here about what you want to see or read about on this blog and like us on Facebook! That's it! The giveaway ends August 15th and we appreciate your comments!

This week, we are recommending:

This week at the Magical Blogorail, the Magical Blogorail Teal Loop was up and running and sharing with readers about Christmas in July--Disney Style! Hop aboard Capturing Magical Memories to read more!

At My Dreams of Disney, read about  top 5 spots for relaxing in Walt Disney World. A vacation to Disney World can be exhausting, so having some relaxing places to retreat to is always good to note! 

Over at Chip & Co, I posted a sequel to my article on how to know if you're an extreme Disney fan. Check out Top 10 Ways to Know if You’re an Extreme Disney Fan: Part 2 to see if you have found yourself doing any of these Disney things!

At a Disney Mom's Thoughts, Beth shared with us ideas to make the road trip to Disney more enjoyable. Anyone who has ever traveled to Disney from outside the state of Florida, and with kids, knows that the trek can be a trying venture. Therefore, this is definitely an informative and helpful post! Check out Making the Drive to WDW Fun now!

Finally, we are recommending a Disney vacation video that is becoming extremely popular with Disney fans! The Wolfs Dance Disney World! This fun family puts a whole new twist on filming their vacations; and it is so much fun to watch! You gotta check it out and it may give you inspiration for your next vacation video!

We are big fans of Disney resorts, especially the deluxes! Resort hopping is permanent fixture on our ritual Disney to-do list, as there is a lot to see and do and experience at each one of them. One of our favorite things to do at the resorts is to shop, as you can usually find some unique Disney merchandise in their shops; and on our last trip, we found some really great finds!

At the Grand Floridian Resort, we discovered an array of unique merchandise just for the Grand Floridian. We found a journal with the Grand Floridian logo stamped on the cover, Grand Floridian apparel, and, our purchase, a Grand Floridian keychain!

As you can see in our picture, the keychain has several different charms and beads, and one particular charm bears the Grand Floridian's elegant logo! The largest charm reads, "Dream Big, Live Grand!" What a fitting phrase for the Grand Floridian where you truly live big and in grand style. It's also a great souvenir because it wasn't very expensive and it reminds of us of the luxury that awaits at one of our favorite corners of Disney World.

 the loveable Eeoyre

Exciting Elephants on Kilimanjaro Safaris!

Elegant Snow White and Disney Mom

and Ears, of course!

France is one of my favorite World Showcase pavilions; and I believe that it is one that many guests don't fully explore. Tucked behind Les Chefs de France and past the bakery, you will find a little area that makes you feel as if you are truly on a little street in France! It is here where you can find one of my favorite World Showcase shopping spots, Souvenirs de France!

This shop is a shopping paradise for girls! Here you can find unique souvenirs, such as dressy Paris tees and blouses, artwork, bags, hats, knick-knacks, French berets, and a variety of Eiffel Towers!

We have found Eiffel towers that are different colors, as pictured on the left, or vintage replicas of varying sizes, like what you can see in the picture below. They're a great souvenir from this beautiful country, a reminder of your day at Epcot's World Showcase, or a great little decorating piece for moms and daughters or world travelers!

Also at Souvenirs de France, you may find a stuffed Minnie Mouse or Marie from Aristocats dressed in cute, French apparel, great for your own little princess!

Is Souvenirs de France a souvenir stop for you? Let us know! If not, be sure to check out it out on your next visit to the France pavilion at World Showcase!

Looking for a way to save some cash on Dining while at Walt Disney World? We know it's not an easy task, but hopefully some of our Royal Purse String tips can you help out!

`~To save money at mealtime, have your young kids or toddlers share an entree. The hearty portions at most Disney restaurants make this easy! Also, adults can also share an entree as well.

~Pack one of those nifty, filtering water bottles for your trip. Not only will Florida water be much tastier, but it will definitely save you money on drinks at the parks and your resort which can really add up!

~Have brunch! Combining two meals into one can save you from buying both breakfast and lunch!

~Looking for a light meal? Disney offers snacks that can you fill you up like a meal would, such as soup or a turkey leg!

~Some of the breakfast pastries and muffins at Disney World are so big that they can feed two!

~Pick counter service locations that stray from the typical burgers and fries, such as Columbia Harbour House, Cosmic Ray's Starlite Cafe, Sunshine Seasons, and even your resort food court!

~Want to save some money on a table service meal? Instead of eating at a restuarant for dinner, eat there at lunch as prices go up at dinner. While there is more variety on the dinner menu, most of the restaurant's best items are on the lunch as well. Not that hungry for lunch? Eat from 2 to 4 o'clock. It's still considered lunch at most restaurants!

~Trail's End is a delicious, country style buffet at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. In addition to all-you-can-eat, the bill is usually easier on your wallet than other Disney restaurants.

~Also check out The Plaza at the Magic Kingdom. It's a table service restaurant that offers tasty burgers, salads, delicious sandwiches, shakes, and more for a great price!

~Purchase some snacks and drinks on your way to Disney and keep them in your room to satisfy late-night munchies without a big price!

Come check out other Wordless Wednesday posts or link up your own!

Magic Kingdom's Crystal Palace at night!

Artist Point is a signature dining restaurant located at Disney's Wilderness Lodge. This restaurant is tucked back in the resort's cavernous lobby and is inspired by the Pacific Northwest. Artist Point is only open for dinner; but surprisingly, it's very easy to get a reservation which is why many believe Artist Point is a hidden gem in the Disney restaurant world. This restaurant does take two credits per person on the Disney Dining Plan. Despite, it's a great restaurant if you are looking to have a special dinner, celebrate a anniversary, or just enjoy a luxurious dinner with fantastic food!

Unlike the rowdy Whispering Canyon, Artist Point is a refined, quiet, and somewhat modern dining location that captures the tranquility and the elegance of the Pacific Northwest.

While my family and I are big fans of Wilderness Lodge, this restaurant's decor, setting, and the offered views were only satisfactory to our taste; but the food and terrific service quickly made up for the rest!

At Artist Point, the food is the real star; and the extremely attentive service and refinery truly make this restaurant an experience!

Your meal at Artist Point begins with some delicious bread and butter! You will also get to ask questions about the menu and interact with your excellent server. On our visit to Artist Point, our server even provided a different spoon when he realized that the one we had had water spots!

Artist Point offers a great selection of appetizers, such as a selection of cheeses, Mussels, a crab salad, and its famous Smoky Portobello Soup!

Now onto the Entrees...

Beef Tenderloin
with potatoes, green beans, onions, and peppercorn butter! Yum!

Whether you're an avid photographer or are just trying to capture family memories, Disney is a great place for taking photos. Everywhere you turn, there are spectacular sights, beautiful views, and meticulous attention to detail. Most people take the generic Disney pictures, like Cinderella castle, Mickey Mouse, Spaceship Earth, the kids in mouse ears, etc. But for a fun twist on some Disney photos and as a fun scrapbooking venture, pick a theme for your photo-taking! For example, on one of my past trips, I decided to find and photograph as much signage about tea that I could find. (I'm a big fan of tea). My family got into it and it became kind of like a scavenger hunt; and even today, the photos bring back some great memories that the generic photos don't.

Next time you visit Disney World, photograph a theme! Pick something and have your family join in on the fun! They are a great way to make some magic of your own and they will later serve as fun reminders of your Disney vacation. Need some ideas for a theme? How about pictures of hidden Mickeys, different types of mouse ears, the different Monorails, references in the parks to Walt, etc.? Have fun!

Have you check out our giveaway? To get this Disney tote, which you can use as an autography book like what you see below, just comment  here about what you want to see or read about on this blog and like us on Facebook! That's it! The giveaway ends August 15th and we appreciate your comments!

This week, the Disney Food Blog's Disney Ice Cream Gallery had me craving an ice cream sundae! I never knew how many unique ice cream treats there are at Disney World and giving some of them a try is on my to-do list for my next trip! 

Also this week, our own Magical Blogorail Orange Loop shared our favorite attraction inspired by a movie! This was a fun topic and I think you will enjoy reading what we had to say. Interested? Go ahead and hop aboard now!

Magical Blogorail Green also ran this week with a whole new topic: most memorable character experiences! They were some really great stories on this loop. Hop aboard Magical Days with the Mouse to read them for yourself!

Have you checked out Tours Departing Daily? This site uses some amazing photo techniques when taking pictures of Disneyland. Even though I have yet to visit Disneyland, it's still Disney and their photos are fantastic! Check it out today!