HELPING HANDS: Kids recently gathered together for a beautification project at an Atlanta neighborhood school as part of the “Give a Day, Get A Disney Day” announcement. Families are invited to catch the volunteer spirit in 2010. Beginning Jan. 1, 2010 anyone who volunteers for an eligible project through HandsOn Network will receive a one-day theme park ticket to Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort. Disney is hoping to inspire one million people to give back to their communities through the unprecedented “Give a Day, Get A Disney Day” program. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)

Disney Parks is launching a program that celebrates the spirit of volunteer service with a simple proposition: “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day.”

           
The volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute, HandsOn Network is the largest volunteer network in the nation and includes more than 250 HandsOn Action Centers that reach more than 83 percent of the nation’s population and extend to 10 countries.  HandsOn includes a powerful network of more than 70,000 corporate, faith and nonprofit organizations that are answering the call to serve and creating scaled impact.  In 2008, the network delivered approximately 30 million hours of volunteer service.

We visited in August with our friends who were moving to Texas and my sister in law’s family. 

 Had to make another trip and make use of our annual passes.  Our family stayed at the Disneyland Hotel which we love!!!!  Our favorite things there are the Neverland Pool, the glow in the dark Tinkerbell border in the room, Goofy’s Kitchen(great interaction and dancing with Goofy), and walking through Downtown Disney in the evenings.  We got to see a wedding from our balcony(the bride was coming in on Cinderella’s coach)  My daughters both announced that would be a great way to get married   The monorail station is very convenient if you don’t want to walk to the park gates although we normally just ride the monorail on the way back.  There is nothing like counting down at the gate when Disneyland opens and being part of the group marching down Main Street to their first ride.  I highly suggest staying on property since you get early entry every day it is offered.  We went three times that week for early entry and got so much done in that first hour.  We averaged about 16 rides a day.  Nemo the newest attraction was open one morning during early entry and we got to experience it.  Having missed the submarines since their departure I was excited.  I loved what they have done with it.  Due to crowds we only rode once during our visit.  Next time!!!  To maximize our time as a group we used Fastpass and the baby swap for the small children who couldn’t ride.  DD(3) got to ride the mountains for the first time.  She was so thrilled and loved Big Thunder and Splash Mountain.  Big Thunder is best at night and everyone should learn the goat trick!!That was a definite highlight for my family. She also did Tower of Terror at California Adventure which is one of my favorites.  The fireworks and Fantasmic are a must when visiting. Another addition this summer is Pirates Lair on Sawyer island.  The caves have some cool things in them and I don’t want to spoil it for those that have not seen it and there are some great photo opps as well for Pirates fans.  

But now to the exciting part-   We had been in December and had not won anything from the Dream Squad and we were hoping to come home with something.  Not only did we win dream fastpasses but the next day we won the mouseears.  This made for a magical trip and great souvenirs.  This trip was great because my youngest can now ride more rides, we got to show family a good time that had never been, and we had one last hurrah with some great friends.  We look forward to visiting Disney World as a family next and celebrating New Years when DD(3) is a little older.