Food Blog Forum 2015 {Orlando}

 It’s been about two weeks since I returned from Food Blog Forum 2015, in Orlando, and I am still trying to decide if that really happened or if it was all a dream.

I basically feel like I won the Lottery being able to attend. Only 125 bloggers were there.

I had given up hope of being able to go this year because tickets sold out so fast (like in 0.5 seconds fast), but lone behold, about 5 weeks before the conference I got an e-mail that if I was still interested in a ticket one had come available. I.WAS.SO.EXCITED!

I don’t even know where to start….the whole experience was absolutely unbelievable.

The ticket, which was a family ticket, included three nights accommodations at The Grand Floridian, and four, four day park hopper passes for Disney World, as well as all of the actual sessions and parties for the actual convention. All of that for only $349.00. Like I said, I feel like I won the lottery.

Disney is amazing and they did everything they could to make this conference and our experience as exceptional as possible. One of the extras they did for us was giving us magic bands loaded with Media Fast Passes.

Having Media Fast Passes means you don’t have to schedule any fast passes, they are just there ready to use and they gave us so many there was no way we could have ever used them all. (which basically means we rode the Tomorrowland Speedway at least 100 times at Thatchers insistence request)

When I checked into the Floridian, the woman that was helping me, gave me a funny look and said, “Are you some kind of celebrity? Last week I checked in the Canadian equivalent to Oprah and she didn’t even have as many fast passes as you do.” Bwahahahahahaha

 

In case being mistaken for a celebrity and being able to play all weekend at Disney World wasn’t enough incentive to come to this conference. The line-up for speakers and presenters was absolutely TOP NOTCH!!!

This is my “I can’t believe I am meeting Jaden and Scott, and I am smiling so big my face might explode face”

Steamy Kitchen, White on Rice, Pinch of Yum, Simply Recipes, Serious Eats….Their advice and comments were all practical useful information that I have already started implementing. Especially very simple tips on photography from White on Rice.

Someone pinch me I just met Pinch of Yum

Besides awesome presenters there were awesome sponsors there too, like OXO, KitchenAid, Sabra, Florida Dairy Farmers and of course Disney. The prizes they gave away were CRAZY…KitchenAid gave away an oven and a fridge and a really awesome cooker thing (how is that for technical.) Sabra was out of control and gave away multiple $1,000 gift cards along with some awesome gift baskets. The Florida Dairy Farmers gave away a year supply of milk, a year supply of cheese and a year supply of yogurt. Last but not least OXO gave away all kinds of awesome gadgets, pan sets, highchair ect…..

My kids ready to hit Animal Kingdom sporting their new shades compliments of Sabra.

I didn’t win any of the major giveaways, but I felt like I had won one because the swag bag was so awesome!

The first night, there was a welcome party at The Four Seasons Resort. I had a chance to mingle and meet some amazing bloggers and eat some delicious food. My husband was back in the Motel Room with four kids, I tried to feel guilty but I just couldn’t, I was having too much fun!

At one table, while getting to know the other ladies, somehow I mentioned Apraxia and can you believe, one of the other bloggers, Kristin from Live Simply also has a son with Apraxia. I felt an instant connection. It is a rare privilidge to meet other parents who share something like that with you. There are so few people who truly know what it is like to raise a child with Apraxia. It was definitely a highlight for me.

This a picture of Jenny from Rate the Plate Utah, me and Kristin

So, in case all of my dreams weren’t already coming true, those Disney People just kept out doing themselves.

Friday for lunch they had all of Disney’s Best Chefs come together at the California Grill, each cooking up their specialties just for us. It was FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC. My mouth has never been so happy. I actually kept having tears well up behind my eyes….I’m not kidding. I WAS SO HAPPY!

Seriously, look at this food, who wouldn’t be crying….

Another major highlight of the conference was being able to meet other blogger that I admire. I was trying really hard not to act like a teenage girl at a One Direction concert, but I couldn’t handle it. I just had to get pictures with these AWESOME ladies who are absolutely killing it in the Food Blog World.

Jenny Flake from Picky Palate

Angie from Bakerella and Gina from Skinnytaste

Break out session group. Lots of other cool ladies, Amanda from Kevin and Amanda, and Gretchen from Two Healthy Kitchens, Kristan from Confessions of a Cook Book Queen, Shelly from Cookies and Cups….

I can’t say enough about this experience, it was phenomenal.

So basically you all need to start a food blog and make sure to attend Food Blog Forum next year or at least the next time they do it at Disney!!!

Keep it Real!!!

Maria