After the setting the record, crowds and media were allowed to enjoy the LEGOLAND Water Park with their families. Unlike traditional all-day water parks, the LEGOLAND version is a “Park within a Park,” which means that it’s much less vast and time-consuming than most water parks. This new water park is a $12 add-on option for day visitors to LEGOLAND Florida, and guests may also purchase a premium annual passes, which includes 12-months of LEGOLAND Florida admission as well as Water Park access. With the heat of the Florida sun, it’s perfect to have a place to cool down and splash around either before heading home or back into LEGOLAND before the end of the day.

The Wave Pool is a gentle one for all ages

It is important to note that the LEGOLAND Water Park is definitely in keeping with the theme of the park next-door. Everything is geared toward families with children, especially younger ones, and LEGO lovers. There are two steep speed slides and some regular twisting water slides, but everything else in the park is made with a child in mind. The wave pool has small waves, no whitecaps, which run 5 minutes on and 10 minutes off. There are two kids splash zones, one made to look like Duplo blocks for the younger set. The main kids area is full of mini-slides, splash areas and a very low-depth pool area, all of which gets a soaked from a giant bucket of water above.

The Joker Soaker with 300 gallons spilled every few minutes

The Lazy River with floating LEGO bricks

The 1000 foot Build-A-Raft lazy river circles the park, with various inner tubes to float in the 3 feet of water. Foam versions of familiar LEGO bricks float throughout the river, allowing guests to build creations on the edge of their tubes. A note of caution: I’m not sure if it was opening day policies or the way things will be daily, but there were quite a few (unwritten) rules about the lazy river. Be sure you find out before entering how you are expected to float around with your group.

Overall, the LEGOLAND Water Park was a fun experience. As with the LEGOLAND park, there are lots of fun little details which remind you of the reason you’ve  made the trip – you’re a LEGO fan! A LEGO seagull perches atop the fence surrounding the Lazy River, LEGO jellyfish hang from the ceiling in the counter service dining location, and a fun LEGO water feature sits near the wave pool, where kids can build with real LEGO bricks after floating them down a chute full of water. The water park is small and easily navigable by young and old alike. If you are looking for big thrills, big waves, or big views, this won’t be your spot, but if you’re in LEGOLAND and would love to cool off in a pool or on the river, you’ll have a great time here.

LEGO Jellyfish

LEGO dude provides safe sunning tips!

DUPLO Splash Safari kids area

View of the Lazy River and rest of the water park

Splash Out and Twin Chasers slides

LEGO water feature for the little ones

For more information about the LEGOLAND Water Park and ticket options, head to LEGOLANDFlorida.com.

Being able to walk through a park and see Stormtroopers or Boba Fett just hanging around is just as close to heaven for a kid from the 80′s as you can get. And don’t even get me started on Chewbacca hugs. Add in the cool exclusive merchandise, a parade, celebrity appearances, and the Hyperspace Hoopla show and you’ve got something for everyone. Star Wars Weekends are the perfect place to combine your love of Disney and Star Wars, and there are no shortage of fans who share that love. Last year, the weekend was kicked off with the grand re-opening of Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, but the excitement is still going for 2012 with lots of new surprises in store.

The great thing about Star Wars Weekends is that Disney keeps it fresh, with current stars of the popular Star Wars: Clone Wars animated series appearing each year alongside stars from the classic films as well. One star, Ashley Eckstein, voice of Ahsoka Tona from the Star Wars: Clone Wars series, has become a staple at the Weekends. Ashley and James Arnold Taylor, voice of Obi Wan Kenobi in the same series, join forces as the celebrity hosts for 2012.

Looking for Love in Alderaan Places - LOVE this!

In 2009, Ashley introduced her new line of clothing and accessories aimed specifically at girls and women, Her Universe. Last year, she also introduced designs exclusive to Star Wars Weekends for a limited time. This year she’s back with even more exclusive fun from Her Universe:

These new designs are just so adorable and the message they send is one of girl power and strength, so needed today! The new styles will also be available online at www.heruniverse.com on May 21st. Photo credit below: – Kelsey Edwards Photography

I was able to see the new merchandise in person today and loved it all! The “Looking for love in Alderaan places” shirt is hysterical, and the Princess Leia hoodies and Ahsoka tunics are super fun. The little kids shirts and baby onesies were killing me with cute!

Of course I had to try one on...

 

Sophia modeling the Ahsoka Tano tunic - she wants it!

 

Star Wars Weekends run from May 18-June 10 this year and are a must-do if you are in the area. We’ll have more coverage of the galactic fun in the coming weeks!

The images and gameplay are just breathtaking. It’s so wonderful to see more of Oswald as well. I know we can’t wait to play around here!

And the newest trailer, the full story we’ve seen bits of before, revealing how Merida’s father Fergus lost his leg from the bear attack:

With the Merida characters now appearing on both coasts’ Disney Parks, the excitement is building for the family release of the summer.

Photo courtesy of DisneyBelle on flickr

Universal's Cinematic Spectacular - 100 years of Movie Magic Image ©Universal

Tuesday night saw the official premiere of Universal Studios Florida’s newest nighttime lagoon show, the Universal Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories. Being relatively new to the Universal Orlando Resort parks, I had not seen past nighttime shows, but when I first heard about Cinematic Spectacular, I was excited to see it.

After two years of planning and executing, the Universal team, led by Show Director and writer Mike Aiello, have brought the movies to life. They found a new technology in Aqua Graphic Curtains, which provide a crystal clear backdrop for the movie projections. The images are viewable the same on both sides of the curtain – not in reverse. There are several of these curtains spread across the lagoon, flanked by fountains, which provide an additional canvas in some scenes, and color accents in others. Top it all off with Morgan Freeman narration, original movie soundtracks, and fireworks, and you’ve got a pretty good movie show. In fact, fans of Disney parks will probably feel like this the ending of the Great Movie Ride, on steroids. It was fun to spot favorite movies in the mix, and the scenes are up to date, with Battleship and Snow White and the Hunstman clips included. This is definitely a show you can see over and over and see something new each time. I love how you can stand at various points across the edge of the lagoon and see virtually the same show; you aren’t missing anything.

Let’s hear a bit more from Mike Aiello and see the Cinematic Spectacular from the Battery Park area of Universal Studios Florida:

Overview of the lagoon with the various aqua screens. Image © Universal Studios

So many people rush to compare Disney Parks to Universal, and as someone that’s grown up going to Walt Disney World, I understand. However, after having visited the Universal Orlando Resort several times over the past months, I realize that there really is no comparison. Sure, they are competing for our tourist dollars and guest revenue, but Universal is a completely different experience, and stands on its own, with no “but Disney…” needed. Since all of my visits to the parks have been as invited media, I haven’t even gotten to experience all the attractions the parks have to offer, but I do know that I love looking at the authentic architecture in the New York and Hollywood sections of Universal Studios Florida, and the theming in Islands of Adventure is wonderful too. I look forward to when I can experience the rest of the parks but until then, I love the entertainment options I’ve seen so far. They are completely different than what Disney does daily – and that’s okay.

Be sure to check out the Cinematic Spectacular on your next visit and check out video from the new Superstar Parade before you visit too. Thanks to Universal for providing dinner and exclusive viewing of both shows for my family and me. The opinions expressed here are 100% my own – we loved both shows!

Universal's Superstar Parade is now open, bringing an entirely new form of entertainment to Universal Studios Florida that combines wildly creative floats with hundreds of performers to create whole new levels of fun and excitement. Image ©Universal Studios Florida

Last night, Universal Orlando Resort premiered its two newest entertainment offerings. These shows have been in sneak peek mode for a few weeks now, but media (myself included) and special guests were invited to experience their grand opening, and given the red carpet treatment too. While the central Florida rain put a slight delay on festivities, we were still able to see both shows and they were worth the wait.

Universal Orlando continues to impress me with their new offerings and they are living up to their “Year to Be Here” motto for 2012. The Superstar Parade has taken two years to get to fruition and the result is something for everyone. Parade Show Director Lora Wallace explained that this was no accident. If your child loves Dora and Diego, they will be thrilled at the float containing the familiar pair, along with Boots the monkey and baby jaguar. If they have outgrown Dora, there are tumbling monkeys on the float which will impress any age group. The same goes for SpongeBob SquarePants; if you aren’t a fan, they’ve added aerial silk performers on the back of his float to entertain and wow audiences. One of my favorite parts was the HOP float, where E.B. plays a drum set on the float, as a drum corps follows along behind him. Lora is a former snare drum player from her high school marching band, so this was a personal addition she was pleased to add as it tied in with HOP perfectly. As a mom of a school band drummer, I loved it too!

My daughter loved meeting E.B. from HOP (I wished Russel Brand were there!)

In addition to these fun visual elements, this new parade makes two stops along its route – in the Hollywood and New York areas. These stops showcase dance numbers and tons of guest interaction. No matter where you watch the parade, you’ll get a slightly different experience, or you can choose to stand in a specific spot to see your favorite characters. The Despicable Me characters which lead the parade are a great park addition and will tie in perfectly to the new Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem attraction opening this summer. I can’t wait!

Gru and a few Minions...

The Superstar Parade runs daily at 5pm. Plans have not yet been finalized for the presentation of this parade during the Macy’s Holiday and Mardi Gras parade seasons, but it will all be worked out according to Senior Vice President for Entertainment at Universal Orlando, Jim Timon. Our viewing was shown at night due to the rain delay, so the video below will reflect that. However, for a parade created to show in the daytime, it’s still quite vibrant and beautiful at night! Check out the video below for a preview with some Superstar Parade highlights:

Dora, Diego and Giovanni!

I never shared the video I took that day, but it’s good I didn’t because the tour has been improved since I saw it. You now get to hang by a harnessed cable over crocodiles as well as hippos, and the safari truck tour at the end is covered. I feel like the tour narration was much more in-depth on Nicole’s video and you learn so much about the animals on the trek!

Let’s go on safari with Nicole:

To recap from the Facts & Figures post, the Wild Africa Trek is a 3-hour group tour held at various times throughout the morning and afternoon at Animal Kingdom. You are also served an African-inspired breakfast or lunch, depending on the time of your tour, and given a PhotoPass CD of the experience. Pricing varies seasonally but right now you can save $50 on tours at or after 11:45 a.m. from 5/29/12 – 8/25/12. Call Disney for pricing details and to book at (407) WDW-TOUR or (407) 939-8687.

I would like to take a moment and thank Nicole for her amazing coverage here on the site and twitter and facebook, giving Zannaland readers all the latest with great photos and videos. Nicole has a new site she’s creating as we speak so keep an eye out for her magical new venture! Asante sana Nicole!

I was blown away by this breathtaking scenic overlook!

]]> http://zannaland.com/saturday-scenes-typhoon-lagoon/feed/ 10 http://zannaland.com/photos-and-facts-on-seaworld-orlandos-new-turtle-trek-experience/ http://zannaland.com/photos-and-facts-on-seaworld-orlandos-new-turtle-trek-experience/#comments Sat, 05 May 2012 13:47:44 +0000 Suzannah DiMarzio http://zannaland.com/?p=8801 During the non-stop events of last weekend, I had quite a few Zannaland team members covering things in the Orlando area for me. Scott Otis, friend and conservationist, agreed to cover the grand opening of SeaWorld Orlando‘s newest attraction – Turtle Trek.

Before we get started, a bit of news as I reported on twitter last week, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens are saying good-bye to plastic bags at their theme parks within the year. Here’s why, according to SeaWorld:

The eco-friendly move will save an estimated 4 million plastic bags per year from both entering landfills and impacting wildlife. SeaWorld routinely rescues marine wildlife such as endangered sea turtles that sometimes mistake plastic bags for a favorite food such as jellyfish.  The company began the transition in 2011 when SeaWorld San Diego discontinued the use of plastic gift bags. SeaWorld Orlando is eliminating the bags this month in celebration of the opening of its new attraction TurtleTrek.

Guests visiting Turtle Trek first explore two massive naturalistic habitats, home to gentle manatees and gliding sea turtles, learning what makes each species so precious. Families then enter a domed theater and what happens next has never before been seen and is a first at any theme park in the world.

Inside the dome, they’ll be surrounded by a hyper-realistic, 3D 360 degree film that takes them on the amazing life journey of a special sea turtle named Nyah. The experience is all around guests and even above them – not just in front of them or only on one screen. It’s this all-new and immersive way of showcasing a sea turtle’s epic adventure that is the heart of TurtleTrek. And for the first time, SeaWorld guests are given a turtle’s eye view of the ocean’s wonders.

TurtleTrek is as inspirational as it is astounding. There’s a call-to-action at the end of the experience:  SeaWorld urges guests to join in conserving the world we share. “Do a little, do a lot, but join us and do something to help the world and its animals,” said Brian Morrow, the attraction’s chief designer. “TurtleTrek is about the everyday heroes who can make a difference in nature.”

And there’s even more at TurtleTrek: Families will love competing on the fun (and educational) “Race for the Beach” video game that plays out on massive video screens at the new attraction. And TurtleTrek’s gift shop is unique in the way it continues the attraction’s inspiration and guests will see exactly how a portion of each dollar spent benefits in-the-field research to help save animals.

Here is a slideshow of images taken by Scott Otis at the grand opening of the Turtle Trek Experience:

The inspiration behind TurtleTrek:   

•    No animal’s life journey is more incredible than that of the sea turtle. From hatching on a beach and making the mad dash to open waters to the dangers and hazards they face as they mature and return to the very same beach to lay their own eggs, their tales of life underwater have in the past been impossible to show. And no theme park in the world is better equipped than SeaWorld to share that journey with millions of people.

•    In the same way SeaWorld brought attention to the plight of the manatee – the park’s attraction, “Manatee Rescue,” created interest that helped to save the species – at TurtleTrek, the park showcases the vulnerable sea turtle and asks everyday heroes across the globe to help make a difference in saving animals in the wild.

•    In the nearly 50 years since SeaWorld’s rescue programs began, more than 20,000 injured, orphaned or ill animals have been rescued, cared for and in most instances, returned to the wild. That’s more than one animal per day since 1964.

Animal Ambassador Dr. Julie Scardina was on hand at the Turtle Trek grand opening.

The dome that brings the film to life:

  •    For the first time, designers have married a state-of-the-art animated film and powerful projection system with a fully domed theater, allowing for a seamless, 3-D virtual environment, all around the guests, even over their heads.

•    A fine silver coating on the dome allows each screen to focus the projection light back toward the guests.  Each fleck of silver is like a tiny mirror.

The 3-D/360-degree film that showcases the epic journey of one sea turtle:

•    The animated film goes well beyond the concept of high-definition or even virtual reality. In fact, it could be considered “high-reality.”

•    Each frame of the film has approximately 26 million individual pixels (more than 13 times what is considered “high-def”)

•    The film is shown at 60 frames-per-second (twice as fast as the human mind can register movement).

•    Combined with the dome and the powerful projection system, the result is one of the sharpest, most spectacular 3-D films ever created.

•    Each animal featured in the movie – from our hero sea turtle, to thousands of fish and down to the smallest anemone – began its life on an artist’s drawing board. Every movement of every creature was then animated independently.

•    More than 12 species of sea animals are brought to life for the animated film. And each one was approved by SeaWorld educators and animal experts.

•    Chances are you’re looking at this fact sheet on a standard computer monitor that’s 1,024 pixels wide by 768 pixels high – a total of slightly more than 780,000 pixels. The dome screens at TurtleTrek have more than 26,000,000 pixels.

•    You won’t find this movie on Netflix. At nearly 950GB, it would take you nearly 3 months to download the six-minute movie at home. If anyone was ever to create a full-length film at this resolution and complexity, it would take nearly five years to download.

•    The dome itself creates a huge projection area.  The dome is so large, it takes 34 projectors and 368,000 lumens of light to fill it with a 3-D, 360-degree movie.

•    TurtleTrek’s movie is actually two.  To create the astonishing 3-D, two films run simultaneously. One is for the left eye, the other for the right.

•    The sound system at TurtleTrek includes 22 discrete audio channels that have all been mixed on-site. This allows for 3-D sound and pinpoint placement of audio effects.

•    A typical surround sound system has a 5.1 arrangement – 5 sound channels and 1 channel for low frequency effects.  The sound system at TurtleTrek is 18.4 and is rated at an amazing 32,000 watts.

TurtleTrek Vertical Habitat

The real-life animals that live at TurtleTrek


A one-of-a-kind 3-D/360-degree movie is only part of TurtleTrek’s allure. It’s also two massive, naturalistic saltwater and freshwater habitats, home to sea turtles and manatees, some of them rescued and cared for by SeaWorld’s animal team.

The attraction’s sea turtle residents have been deemed non-releasable by the Florida government — due to genetics, illness, or being orphaned -– and have found a permanent home at TurtleTrek. Since 1973, SeaWorld Orlando has rescued, cared for and returned hundreds of endangered manatees and since 1980 returned more than 1,200 sea turtles back to their natural waters.

Sea Turtles
•    Sea turtles are truly a global species found in temperate and tropical seas worldwide. They have survived in the seas for more than 200 million years and are among a small group of reptiles that depend on the sea for survival.

•    TurtleTrek will be home to a variety of adult and juvenile sea turtles, including hawksbill and green sea turtles. Guests can view these exquisite creatures gliding past them from above, or through a below-water window.

Manatees
•    Florida’s tropical waters are home to a great diversity of life and perhaps none are more rare and endearing than the manatee. All manatee species can be found in warm tropical and subtropical waters in North America, South America, and West Africa.

•    At TurtleTrek, four West Indian manatees can be seen from above, or below water as they swim by or graze on a leafy snack. Each gentle giant in the exhibit was previously rescued by SeaWorld – the global leader in rescue and rehabilitation of manatees.

Fish
•    More than 1,500 Caribbean-native fish live in the saltwater habitat. The tropical varieties guests can view within the sea turtle habitat include angelfish, surgeonfish, file fish, butterfly fish, and many more.

•    Approximately 200 freshwater fish will accompany the manatees in their habitat. There will be fish native to Florida such as large-mouth bass and bluegills; and exotic fish that can be found in Florida waters such as pacu and red-tail catfish.

To learn more, visit SeaWorldParksandEntertainment.com or call toll-free 1-888-800-5447. Additionally, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment created the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, a non-profit, private charitable foundation committed to supporting wildlife and habitat conservation, research, education and animal rescue programs worldwide. Learn more at SWBG-ConservationFund.org.

The theming of the resort is similar to the progression of the making of an animated film. In the lobby you are first presented with the Ink and Paint Shop, a merchandise store, and the character sketch wall which has renderings of some of your favorite pals from the resort’s featured movies. Then as you continue out to the pool area and guest room buildings you are rewarded with fabulous landscapes and backgrounds. Here in this video you’ll have a tour of the resort with interviews and commentary from Disney Imagineers like Gary Hoffman, who was the Senior Project Manager over design and architecture for the resort and offers a personal greeting for Zannaland readers below!

I can not get over the wondrous colors displayed here. It was a whole lot of fun to photograph, especially the pool area which was rich in tropical and undersea inspired hues. Check out this gallery and tell us what you think of the design!

We took so many photos we had to add them to flickr so you could see them all! Check out our flickr Art of Animation photo set to see even more images.

I think this will quickly be the most popular value resort upon opening. Would you like to stay here with your family? Which themed section are you most drawn to?

Another view of the Tutto Gusto sign

Construction is finally complete and today saw the grand opening of Tutto Gusto (gusto means flavor or taste in Italian) wine cellar in Epcot’s Italy pavilion at the World Showcase. The new building blends right in to the existing Tutto Italia restaurant while making a nice segue to Via Napoli’s more rustic stable-like structure.

While the Italy pavilion is now dominated by dining options, the new additions of Via Napoli almost two years ago and now Tutto Gusto really make a nice “village” feel to the area. With the exception of the smoking area that seems to have cropped up around the fountain, Italy now is a place I’d love to just sit and take in the lovely architecture and atmosphere.

Tutto Gusto will be a great option for those looking for a quick bite or dessert or a glass or two from the over 200 wines offered in their collection. The menu offers small plates such as cured meats, cheeses, panini, and pasta as well as desserts. We’ll be back soon to do a full review, but for now, I thought I’d leave you with some photos to whet your appetite, including the menu. Divertiti!

Click to enlarge all photos in the gallery below:

Will you add Tutto Gusto to your World Showcase tour?

When I attended the D23 Expo last August and learned more about the Marvel history, along with pretty much the entire cast of The Avengers walking out on stage and giving us a preview of the movie (twice), my interest and excitement was piqued. Then, time got in the way and we really hadn’t seen any of the other Marvel films, aside from the first Iron Man. Knowing this screening was coming up, my husband and I went on an Avengers movie-watching spree and got caught up on the franchise. [We still have to see Hulk, but I feel like his story was the easiest to catch up on within The Avengers.]

If you need to catch up on the story behind The Avengers, here’s a featurette which will tell you more, including commentary from Joss Whedon and the actors.

In tweeting about our movie marathon, folks would reply with their favorite Avenger film, and in the case of my Avengers giveaway, everyone seems to have a different favorite character. After seeing almost all of the movies, I still cannot choose a favorite! I love Iron Man and Robert Downey Jr. and think his acerbic wit will always keep him close to my heart, but I also found myself really appreciating the story of Captain America and how his character as a man made him who he was, even before the shot of power he received. And then Thor, who doesn’t appreciate an arrogant heir apparent getting the lesson of humility and humanity (while being quite easy on the eyes at the same time)? So still, even after seeing Marvel’s The Avengers, I cannot choose a favorite character. And perhaps that is why The Avengers is such an amazing film. There truly is something for everyone, and if your favorite is in trouble, another Avenger will be there to help him (or her) out.

Iron Man and Captain America are reluctant but eventual partners

All of my thoughts aside, I felt the best person to write this review was my husband, a true comic book geek and fan with very pronounced opinions on the subject. I will just add my own thoughts that I think Joss Whedon‘s writing is the true star. The banter and one-liners within the film are reminiscent of every show Whedon has written, and that is what has created such fanboys and girls who think he can do no wrong. I’m there with them now. I think he got it and the audience in our screening appreciated it, as did we. We learned so much more about S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Avengers themselves and watching their alliance unfold before us was a treat. Loki is a great opponent and several times throughout the plot, just when I thought I knew what he was going to do, he surprised me. The ending battle when the Avengers had realized how powerful they were as a team, was full of non-stop action, laughs, and cheers. I left the film excited to see it again and anticipating the next Avengers installment. I cannot think of another superhero film that left me feeling that way. And now that I’ve said my piece, here are my husband, J.F. DiMarzio‘s more in-depth thoughts:

[Warning: some spoilers ahead!]

…

If you are a fan of Marvel’s Avengers you are going to have many reasons to love this movie.  If you are not a fan of Marvel’s Avengers, there are still reasons why you are going to love this movie.

Joss Whedon with Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, and Robert Downey Jr.

Avengers is the culmination of 5 movies worth of set up.  The Hulk, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America were all the set up for this comic book nerd’s dream. Joss Whedon was the perfect pick to helm the single most important comic book movie to date.  His use of humor fit in perfectly with the story.  Fans of Firefly or Buffy will feel right at home with the wit of Joss Whedon (there is even a subtle nod to Firefly as Black Widow swears in Chinese under her breath).

So, what makes this movie so great? This is going to be hard to answer with giving away some spoilers. Be forewarned.

Diehard comic book fans can relax, knowing that their beloved Avengers franchise was handled by someone who loves the characters and the story just as much as they do with the very opening scene. The first moments reveal a Skrull.  Joss Whedon makes it clear he knows what he is doing, by using the Skrull as the major force of evil in the movie.  The best part of using the Skrull is that he doesn’t even stop to introduce them.  For the fans this means no boring backstories to sit through. Whedon unapologetically jumps right into the Avengers’ storyline letting the 5 previous movies provide all of the setup.  The best part of this approach is that even if you do not know who the Skrull are, you do not feel left out; you quickly accept that this is “a bad guy” and you move on.

Where Whedon’s talents really shine are in how he incorporated each member of the Avengers’ abilities and was able to resolve the plot by giving each hero a specific goal to accomplish.  If each goal is not achieved, the team fails.  In this way, I cannot point to one Avenger and say “If it wasn’t for X they would have lost.”  By doing this, much of the intra-team bickering and frailty that was present in the comics is intact in the film.

Captain America mid-battle

Going into the film, I was worried about three things; how would Captain America be handled in the present day, how would the 4th Hulk in as many films come across, and would we have to suffer through more painful Thor love story?  Two and a half out of three isn’t bad at all.

Captain America feels totally out of place, as he should.  You see that he is uncomfortable, and very much trying to find his way in a world that he is not familiar with.  Some of the funniest gaffes of the movie come from this “fish out of water” scenario.

As for the Hulk, Mark Ruffalo does the best job he can playing a character that had already be messed up by three other actors. While this is by far the BEST adaptation of Hulk, it is Whedon’s treatment of Bruce Banner that is lacking.  He is portrayed as almost savant-like and at one point even walks around wringing his hands à la Rainman.  This is, in the grand scheme of the things, a very small complaint – and the only flaw I could find with the movie.

Finally there is no Thor love story.  Rather, there is a very quick mention of Jane Foster as having been “moved to safety”.

So, how do you top a movie like this? The closing credits.  Fans of the series know that little Easter eggs lay after the credits in the previous films, and the Avengers, by far, has the best one.  If you do not want to have the secret spoiled, stop reading now.

Thor and Captain America prepare for battle

******

As a set up for, presumably, the next Avengers film, the credits end with the camera back on the Skrull.  This time they are talking to a new character.  Comic book fans will immediately recognize the figure and squeal with delight just as Thanos comes into frame.  Does this mean that next Avengers movie will include the Infinity Gauntlet? Will we see Doctor Strange? Silver Surfer? Spiderman? What do you think?

…

In summary, as if you needed a reminder – go see Marvel’s The Avengers. You will not be disappointed. It is as close to a perfect action film as I’ve ever seen and supporting the franchise will equal more great sequels in the future. Avengers, assemble!

Disney Dooney and Bourke WDW Retro collection

Disney Dooney and Bourke WDW Retro design

What do you all think? Which of the new designs is your favorite?

Don’t forget to check DisneyStore.com for sales of select current released Disney Dooney & Bourke purses and Zannaland’s Disney Dooney & Bourke page with ALL handbag photos and info.

*DisneyStore.com links are affiliate links, which means it costs you nothing extra to click or buy, but if you do, I get a small commission. Thanks for reading!

Disney Dooney and Bourke Buttons and Charms Designs (and YES, that is a WDW Retro design behind the Buttons bag! More photos soon!)

Don’t forget to check DisneyStore.com for sales of select current released Disney Dooney & Bourke purses and Zannaland’s Disney Dooney & Bourke page with ALL handbag photos and info.

*DisneyStore.com links are affiliate links, which means it costs you nothing extra to click or buy, but if you do, I get a small commission. Thanks for reading!