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Archives for October 2013

EXCLUSIVE: Dooney and Bourke Disney Cruise Line Charms Bags

31 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

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I was recently lucky enough to be on the “Re-Imagined” Disney Magic cruise ship, the first in Disney Cruise Line’s fleet of magical ships. While I loved every inch of the new updates, restaurants, adult lounges and kids clubs, imagine my excitement when I strolled past the newly designed shopping area to see BRAND NEW Disney Cruise Line Dooney & Bourke bags! This design is in the same style as the “Charms” print, which at Disney Parks comes in black or white. Here on the Magic, it comes in a nautical blue, with DCL-specific charms, like the DCL logo, the Mickey cruise logo, and sailor Mickey and Minnie, along with some fun accents like anchors, a porthole, a ship and a treasure chest. My friend and I had a wonderful time choosing just the right pattern for our purses, which is half the fun in getting a Disney Dooney & Bourke.

Now I had assumed this would be a new print available on ALL Disney Cruise Line ships, but we were told it was actually exclusive to the Disney Magic ship. There is nothing on the bags to designate being just from the Magic, in fact there are no ship names at all. That news definitely convinced me to pick one up, since I’ll be sailing on the Fantasy in 2 days, but didn’t want to miss out on this new bag! I will confirm or deny this fact about being a Disney Magic exclusive next week when I return!

And now, without further ado, here are the new Dooneys!

Disney Cruise Line Dooney Charms Bag
Admiring these through the window before the shop opened!

  Disney Cruise Line Dooney Charms Bag

Disney Cruise Line Dooney Charms Bag
The large tote was I believe $225
Disney Cruise Line Dooney Charms Bag
The cross-body was $175
Disney Cruise Line Dooney Charms Bag
I believe this is the medium satchel and was $250 – that was all we were told they made as far as bag styles go. I know we were wishing for a wristlet!

Disney Cruise Line Dooney Charms Bag

Disney Cruise Line Dooney Charms Bag

 Which is your favorite? I picked up a cross-body because I just couldn’t resist – perfect park (or cruise) bag!

 

 

Where to get Disney Dooney & Bourke bags in Disney Parks – 

Walt Disney World Resort:

  • Tren-D and the World of Disney Store in the Downtown Disney Marketplace
  • Uptown Jewelers in Magic Kingdom Park
  • MouseGear at Epcot
  • Keystone Clothiers at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
  • Summer Lace at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Disneyland Resort:

  • Disney Vault 28 and World of Disney Store in the Downtown Disney District
  • Disney Clothiers at Disneyland park
  • Elias & Co. at Disney California Adventure park

The Disney Parks online store carries many Disney Dooney & Bourke designs. See other new Dooney and Bourke Arrivals Exclusively for Disney Parks Now Available at DisneyStore.com! Shop Now!*

 

*Affiliate links – same Disney Store destination and shopping experience, with a small portion of any purchase going back to zannaland.com. No additional fees to you. 

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Filed Under: Cruise Travel, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Merchandise Tagged With: DCL, DCL Dooney & Bourke, designer bags, designer handbags, designer purses, Disney, Disney charms pattern, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line Charms bag, Disney Cruise Line Dooney & Bourke, Disney Dooney, Disney Dooney & Bourke, Disney Dooney & Bourke Charms, Disney Fantasy, Disney magic, Disney Magic exclusive, Disney Merchandise, Disney parks, Dooney & Bourke, exclusive Dooney and Bourke, fantasy, handbags, Nautical, nylon, purses

Guest Post: Trick-or-Treating in and Around Walt Disney World

30 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

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I would like to welcome guest author Michelle Rise who wanted to share her tips for spending Halloween in Orlando with all of you. Apologies for not posting this sooner, it’s been a busy month here in Zannaland – but this is great planning for last minute ideas this year or working on next year’s Halloween! Thanks, Michelle!

…

October is here along with changing leaves, cool breezes and Halloween. Everyone enjoys the costume parties, parades and scary decor but what everyone really looks forward to is Trick or Treating. If you plan to be in Orlando for Halloween, you’re in for a treat. The holiday is celebrated with gusto throughout the month of October and nobody does it better than Walt Disney World.

Halloween at Walt Disney World is delightful. The decorations are colorful with just a touch of not-so-scary ghoulishness for that extra bit of fun. How do you trick or treat while vacationing in Orlando?

20131030-124059.jpg

MICKEY’S NOT SO SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY

Dress up in your favorite costume and attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom. Kids of all ages can trick or treat throughout the park and nobody cares if you go through a candy line twice. We counted over 30 different places to trick or treat spread pretty evenly throughout the park and I’ve been told there are actually more than that.

Tip
Bring a bag unless you want to use the plastic one given out by cast members. The plastic bag is cute but a lightweight pullstring backpack works better.

Naturally you’ll see a lot of princesses and pirates which is why dressing as Snow White’s evil stepmother or Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty is so fun. You’ll stand out from the crowd. Your costume doesn’t have to be Disney related. In fact, you may be even more noticeable in something non-Disney. But whatever costume you choose, definitely go costumed! It’s just more fun that way.

Surprise
You probably don’t want to spend all the party hours trekking around trick or treating. Most nights of the Not So Scary Halloween event, there are two parades. Candy and stickers are handed out by cast members during the parade so you’re still trick or treating but without all the tiresome walking.

Fireworks are a big hit during the party with special fall colors in the sparkles and some that are ghost or pumpkin shaped.

Don’t forget the rides and attractions. Many are open and waiting for fun with short lines. As the night goes on, characters come out to play and greet guests for photo opportunities.

TRICK OR TREAT AT YOUR HOTEL

If you can’t make the Mickey Halloween party or don’t want to stay out that late, check with the concierge at your hotel.  Many hotels offer activities and events for Halloween, such as ghost stories, character visits, treats and costume contests.  Most are held poolside or in the lobby at designated hours but it’s a great way to enjoy Halloween on the go.  We enjoyed a s’more night one Halloween and were given a bag of various goodies and small games. After some quick research, Hawthorn Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa has a kids trick or treat through the resort area and the staff dress up every year including the General Manager.  The other StaySky Orlando hotels typically have their employees dressed up and a bucket of Halloween candy at the front desk.   Depending on the ages involved, a simple event is perfect.  Kids still have fun and parents save money and get to bed earlier.

 

Either way, you’re sure to have fun and create great family memories in the process. Happy Halloween!

…

Bio:

Michelle Rise is a homemaker and Mother of 5 and travel enthusiast. With many years of experience trekking through Disney parks with her Family, Michelle has become an expert on navigating families through Disney. She also enjoys travel to most other destinations worldwide and when not writing about her experiences or teaching her children to drive, Michelle can be found chasing the family dog up rainbow mountain with her husband of over 25 years, Ben. You can follow Michelle on Twitter, @Rise7Up, for all of her latest writings.

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Filed Under: All blogs, Disney Holidays, Disney Movie News & Reviews, Disney Planning, Disney Special Events, Guest Authors, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Disney Halloween, Guest Authors, Michelle Rise, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, Orlando halloween

Thoughts on Glow With the Show at Walt Disney World’s Fantasmic!

22 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

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Glow with the Show Fantasmic

On a whim, I decided to bring my family to the east coast premier of Glow with the Show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Fantasmic! It had been quite some time since we’d all seen Fantasmic! since, after 15 years, you feel like you’ve seen it all. Also, my children recently got a taste of Fantasmic! west coast sister out in Disneyland, and it’s hard to argue that that is a better show. With the Sailing Ship Columbia with Peter Pan and Captain Hook swordfighting as they float by, and ending with the Mark Twain full of your favorite characters, along with many other better effects, it makes our little Fantasmic want for something. And I think that something may just be Glow with the Show!

I made a quick highlight video of the opening show at Fantasmic! on my iphone (please excuse any nighttime auto-focusing as a result!) to showcase the Glow with the Show ears effects:

 

 

 

I know Glow with the Show has been running with Disneyland’s Fantasmic! for some time, but I think what makes Hollywood Studios a great match is the stadium seating. If you sit in the back, you can see all of the ears before you, but, if you sit closer to the front, you can choose to look to your right or left and see the full effect of the colors. It really adds to the show, rather than detract. I loved how it looked on opening night and think if the ears are a success, the pairing with the show will be to. Whether guests will bother to pay $24 for, let’s face it, pretty heavy and uncomfortable ears, remains to be seen. I know in Japan, they recently debuted similar technology, but in a handheld wand type of product, which makes much more sense as far as viewing the lights (rather than depending on your neighbors to have purchased ears to really see the effects yourself).

Glow with the Show Fantasmic

Glow with the Show also began working with Wishes and the Celebrate the Magic castle projection show earlier this week. I will admit, I really had no desire to watch this. I’m not sure why I think it’s okay to work with Fantasmic! but not Wishes, but I do. I guess because for Wishes and Celebrate the Magic, your attention should really be focused on one thing – the castle and the sky, while at Fantasmic, there are moments of darkness where the lights are a good filler, and there is also so much going on at once, that it seems okay for the ears to be a part of that show. It also could be that I’m really ready for a new fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom! Glow with the Show will also work with the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights later this year. I think the ears will be an easy addition because everything is already flashing around you, but I don’t think they are *needed* by any means. I will have to see how things look when the switch is flipped for the lights.

What are your thoughts on Glow with the Show? Which nighttime shows do you think they work best with? I dare say I like them at Hollywood Studios’ Fantasmic better than World of Color, because I just think World of Color is so perfect on its own! Please share your opinion in the comments below, I’d love to hear what you think!

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Filed Under: Disney News, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Disney's Hollywood Studios, Fantasmic, Glow with the Show, Glow with the Show ears, Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, Walt Disney World, WDW, wishes

Limited Time Magic: Cinderella Castle Suite Tour

21 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Cinderella Castle

Note: This post was originally written by Joe Morisco as a guest blogger for zannaland back in April of 2013. Enjoy!

As part of the ongoing promotion Limited Time Magic, Walt Disney World has been giving extremely limited tours to lucky winners through an email contest. I was lucky enough to win a spot on a tour for arguably the best tour given out at the Magic Kingdom. The winners of the tour met at the Magic Kingdom at 8:30 AM. What was supposed to be a group of 25 ended up being only 15, with 10 no-shows. The group was then split, with half going to tour the suite, the other half heading over to Be Our Guest at Beast’s Castle.

This tour with an Imagineer was a 1 1/2 hour tour.  The highlight of the tour was the Cinderella Suite, since this is not normally accessible to any day guests. The Imagineer that worked on the suite walked us through, pointing out all the tiny details. I included a photo gallery below of everything we saw in the suite. After being in the suite for about 45 minutes, we were brought over to Be Our Guest and through each room in the restaurant. The Imagineer explained the theme for each room as well as details that you may overlook. At the end of the tour, they brought out a dish of “grey stuff” for us. Overall, this was a great experience that we could not normally partake in!

 

Limited Time Magic Castle Tour

Cinderella Castle Suite Window
Cinderella Castle Suite Window
Cinderella Castle Suite Elevator Art Work
Cinderella Castle Suite Elevator Art Work
Inside Cinderella Castle
Cinderella Castle Suite Tour
Floor going into Cinderella Castle Suite
Ceiling for Cinderella Castle Suite
Door to enter suite
Ceiling for Castle Suite
Details for pillars in castle suite
Sconces inside the suite
Antique table & chairs inside suite
Ceiling decoration inside suite
Imagineer & Tour Gudie lead us in
Stained Glass windows tell the Cinderella Story
Beautiful ceilings
More stained glass windows
Bathroom vanity
Bathroom tub
Bathroom sink

We hope you enjoyed the photo tour – keep watching the Disney Parks Blog for future Imagineer Tours as part of Limited Time Magic!

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Filed Under: Disney Tours, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Castle Dream Suite, Castle Suite tour, Cinderella Castle, Cinderella Castle Suite, Imagineer tour, limited time magic, Magic Kingdom, Magic Kingdom tours, Photo Tour, Walt Disney World

Top 5 Must-do’s at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

21 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis 3 Comments

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Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
That familiar inflatable Mickey pumpkin at the Magic Kingdom toll booth let’s you know it’s a party night!

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is one of my favorites each year, an annual tradition to kick off the Halloween season. I’ve written about the event each year that Zannaland.com has been around, and enjoying all the party has to offer never gets old. In fact, it only gets harder to fit it all in. If you have a family with varying age ranges, it may be a “divide and conquer” night to make sure everyone sees and does all they want to do. Because of that, I thought I’d write up a Top 5 this year, of my personal favorites.

 

1. Get there early. While the ticket for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (or MNSSHP for short) starts at 7pm, you can actually enter the park as early as 4pm, to get the most out of your night. The trick-or-treating and official events don’t begin till 7, but you can grab a bite and get on rides beforehand.

2. Get your Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom card. If you are a sorcerer and enjoy the game, there is a special card just for the event. You can pick it up at the Main Street Fire Station or the Liberty Square sorcerer’s desk. You must have both your wristband for the event AND your event ticket to get the card, so make sure your whole party is together for this. There is a limited amount for each party, so this should be first on your list!

3. Trick-or-Treat. This is what most people are here for. They dress up, yes, they see the parades and fireworks, ride on attractions with almost no wait, but this is FREE CANDY! And with over 40 different kinds this year, you are sure to get your fill. You can find all the treat locations on your MNSSHP map, or by looking for the giant light up treat location signs. Don’t forget the Treat Trails over by Splash Mountain’s queue and the walkway between Storybook Circus and Tomorrowland for the most treats per square inch. My favorite is always the Werther’s Caramel Apple candies over at Pinocchio’s Village Haus!

4. Try the event-specific treats too. This year, the food and beverage team really went out of their way to create some delicious treats for MNSSHP. Caramel Apple Slush, Candy Corn ice cream, Pumpkin Waffle Sundae and MORE! These new Halloween treats are so yummy, I wrote a whole post on them. But after trying the Candy Corn ice cream and the Pumpkin Waffle Sundae (which I’ve heard is now available full time at Sleepy Hollow Treats) I was in love. I shared both of these with my family at midnight sitting on the new castle wall area. Perfect ending to a perfect Halloween party.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Two words: Get This.

 

5. Watch Mickey’s Boo-to-You Parade and HalloWishes Fireworks Spectacular! The Boo-to-You parade is many people’s favorite parade at Walt Disney World, and I am no exception. It is hard to top the dramatic entrance by the Headless Horseman as he trots down the parade route while Flight of the Valkyries plays around you. The floats are top notch and the Haunted Mansion ballroom dancers and Gravediggers with their sparks are always a crowd favorite. There are two parades each party night, and the second always has less guests. And don’t forget HalloWishes! This is one of the most exciting fireworks displays of the season, with 360-degree perimeter fireworks around the park and your favorite villains and villainous songs.

 Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party runs on select nights in September through November 1st. A few nights are already sold out, so check with DisneyWorld.com to purchase your tickets in advance. Some nights are available at a discounted rate of $62 per adult.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Jack Skellington balloons are sold only during the party
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Available at Cosmic Rays!
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Candy Corn ice cream!
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Amazing pumpkin waffle sundae!
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Mickey Pumpkin projection
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Boo to You!
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
The Mansion caretaker doesn’t look too confident!
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Gravediggers!
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Dancing ghouls
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
The Haunted Mansion always looks best on party nights!
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Carlotta provides extra fun
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
A spooky mist descends from Rapunzel’s tower…

 

 

Disclaimer: I was provided with complimentary tickets for MNSSHP for my family and me, but my opinions are my own. 

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Filed Under: Disney Dining, Disney Holidays, Reviews, Theme Park Holiday Events, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Disney holidays, Disney Special Events, halloween party, Magic Kingdom, Mickey's Halloween Party, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, MNSSHP, Top 5, Top 5 Mickey's Not So Scary, Walt Disney World halloween

Cranberries – the Perfect Harvest Ingredient at Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival

19 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis 3 Comments

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Epcot's 18th Annual Food & Wine Festival

Being from Massachusetts, I grew up knowing about cranberry bogs, even visiting the Ocean Spray factory when I was little. But many folks in our country have never even heard of a cranberry bog and have no idea how cranberries are harvested in the five growing states of Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin. For this reason (and I just love cranberries) I get excited when Ocean Spray sets up their mini bog right inside Epcot each Food & Wine Festival. The bog has been a focal point of the Festival for the past few years now, taking up a portion of the walkway from Future World to World Showcase, where all the countries and their food booths reside.

It makes perfect sense that a food item which has such a rich American history, harvested in the Fall – the time when Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival takes place, would be featured prominently at the park. Ocean Spray is a great partner, similar to many Disney partnerships in the past up to present day, like Carnation and Coca-Cola, so it’s wonderful to see their presence in the park and in various food items throughout the Food & Wine Festival. In addition to its bright red splash of color as you walk by, the bog is also staffed with actual Cranberry farmers, there to  answer any questions you may have about the cranberry and its harvesting process. Plus you get free Craisins for visiting the information area next to the bog!

Cranberries!
Cranberries!

I recently got to experience the Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog first hand and try out some truly unique recipes using cranberries and Craisins. Below are some photos from that night, as well as some recipes from the dishes we got to try. You can also find Ocean Spray cranberries and Craisins at the Hops & Barley booth at the Food & Wine Festival, in the bread pudding dessert with Grand Marnier Anglaise. Also at the Cheese booth where an Artisan Cheese Selection is served with Craisin bread. Yum.

Craisin Bacon and Brie Potato Gratin
Artisan Cheese Stuffed Craisin Mini Brioche
White Cheddar Maple Grits
Craisin Glazed Pork Belly
Cranberry and Sea Salt Cured Wild Salmon
English Mustard Dusted Scotch Egg with Cranberry Marmalade
Beef and Craisins Sheppard’s Pie
Pulled Chicken Craisin Tamales
Various media guests roaming in the bog.
Cranberries!

 

Here are two recipes from our special dinner:

Craisin Vegetable Fried Rice

Ingredients

3 eggs, beaten lightly
1 tablespoon sesame oil

2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh ginger
1 bunch scallions, white and green parts sliced thinly, separated

¼ cup diced carrots
5 cups day old cooked rice
2/3 cup chopped dried Craisins

¼ cup green peas
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
Kosher salt, to taste
Vegetable oil, for cooking

Preparation

Heat a wok or large nonstick skillet over high heat.  Add oil followed by eggs when hot.  Move eggs around the pan, scrambling them.  With a spatula break into pieces and remove from heat when almost cooked.  Set aside.

Heat sesame oil in same pan and add the garlic and ginger cooking until soft, about 2 minutes.  Add the white parts of the scallions and carrots and cook for a few minutes. Add the rice and cranberries and toss thoroughly until heated through.  Add the soy sauce, white pepper and reserved eggs, green peas and toss until heated thru.  Remove from heat and garnish with the scallion greens.  Serve immediately.

Serves 10-12

 

Mole Shrimp Quesadilla

Ingredients

¼ cup chili powder

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

¾ teaspoon kosher salt

¾ teaspoon ground black pepper

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon allspice

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

1 lime, juiced

6 large flour tortillas

3 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided

Preparation

  1. Combine chili, cocoa, salt, peppers, cinnamon and allspice, mixing well.  Pat dry shrimp and toss into seasoning.  Let shrimp marinate in refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

  2. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

  3. Add shrimp into hot skillet and cook until shrimp are opaque and no longer pink in the center, 3 to 5 minutes.

  4. Remove skillet from heat; stir jalapeno pepper and lime juice into shrimp mixture.  Cool shrimp off in refrigerator before assembling quesadillas.

  5. To make quesadillas place half cup of cheese into each tortilla followed by the cooked mole shrimp.  Fold the tortilla shell in half creating a semi circle.

  6. Place a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and place the quesadilla, slowly browning and melting the cheese.

  7. Cut into portions and serve immediately.

Serves 6-8

 

Be sure to look for Ocean Spray Cranberries and Craisins during Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival, running now through November 11, 2013. Can’t make it to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival? Visit www.oceanspray.com for delicious everyday ideas and seasonal inspirations from around the world. Cranberry lovers eager to share their stories and recipes are encouraged to tweet @OceanSprayInc (they tweet back!) or post on Ocean Spray’s Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram pages.

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Filed Under: Disney Special Events, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: #CranberryLife, Craisin recipies, Craisins, Cranberries, Cranberry Bog, Cranberry recipes, Epcot Cranberry Bog, Epcot Food and Wine Festival, Ocean Spray, Ocean Spray Cranberries

DVD Release Round Up! Iron Man, Gravity Falls and Little Mermaid Out Now

19 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Little Mermaid DE Combo Pack Box Art There have been quite a few Disney DVD’s out lately, and the latest three I’ve gotten offer something for every member of the family! Now out on DVD and  Blu-ray is Iron Man 3, The Little Mermaid Diamond Edition, Gravity Falls: Six Strange Tales, and coming up soon, Monsters University, releasing on October 29. Here is a wrap-up of the extras and bonus features offered for each and why you should run out and add these to your Disney DVD (or Blu-ray) collection!

Iron Man 3 – I’m pretty sure Iron Man 3 is my favorite Iron Man movie of the series so far. I actually really like Tony Stark in Avengers, but in Iron Man 3 we really see what makes him tick (literally). I have a full review of Iron Man 3 here. But I was finally able to see the bonus features on the Blu-ray and was so entertained by all these extras. The “Agent Carter” one-shot was amazing. I loooved seeing more of Agent Carter – who you will immediately recognize as Peggy Carter, Steve Rogers (aka Captain America)’s long lost flame. As you will recall from the first Captain America movie, Peggy Carter can hold her own under any circumstance and when an emergency mission falls into her lap, she proves just this to the boys club who thinks of her as nothing more than a skirt with a typewriter. It was wonderful to see her in action again, and the ending makes me want an entire movie, or at the very least a TV series on the original members of S.H.I.E.L.D. A wonderful little treasure on the Iron Man 3 Blu-ray!

In addition, the bonus features like the gag reel with bloopers and flubs, and the deleted scenes make for hours of additional fun and information about the making of Iron Man 3. Seeing Ben Kingsley reel off every accent he can do as “The Mandarin” is hilarious and it’s really fun to see the filming bloopers before the special effects have been added. There’s also a ton of ‘making of Iron Man 3’ featurettes and audio commentary to keep you entertained and informed. Definitely a must-add to your collection!

 

Gravity Falls: Six Strange Tales  was released on October 15 and offers over 2 hours of hilarious adventures, irreverent humor and unforgettable characters plus free exclusive Mystery Book: Journal #3. If you have anyone that loves the ridiculously crazy stories from Gravity Falls, they will love this DVD set. If by chance you haven’t seen this popular series on Disney XD, here is a synopsis of the animated series: In this animated adventure comedy riddled with mystery, twin brother and sister Dipper and Mabel are sent to spend their summer vacation with their great uncle. Upon arrival, their great uncle, also known as Grunkle Stan, enlists the siblings’ help in running The Mystery Shack, a fun tourist trap he owns that overcharges unsuspecting customers. While Dipper has a hard time getting used to his new surroundings, Mabel’s upbeat optimism comes in handy in her quest to find true love. When Dipper stumbles upon an elusive book, he discovers that it is the key to unlocking the town’s mysterious secrets, and the brother and sister duo soon realize they must rely on one another to navigate the unfamiliar place.

 

Six Strange Tales includes the following episodes:

1 – “Tourist Trapped”
2 – “The Legend of the Gobblewonker”
3 – “Headhunters”
4 – “The Hand That Rocks the Mabel”
5 – “The Inconveniencing”
6 – “Dipper vs. Manliness”

 

Lastly, a family favorite The Little Mermaid is finally out on Blu-ray! It was so wonderful to see this again and be reminded of the great songs and animation in this now classic. There are quite a few extras that will provide lots of mermaid-y fun for your little ones (or for you – you know you love this story too!) including the Crab-eoke, a fun sing-along to all your favorite songs, some wonderful behind-the-SEAnes features and audio commentary. Also included is this deleted scene for a character called Harold the Merman:

 

The scenes with Jodi Benson visiting Walt Disney World’s New Fantasyland with her two children totally made me tear up. It is pretty amazing to see the voice of Ariel riding Ariel’s Undersea Adventure in the Magic Kingdom. And she and her family look like huge Disney fans, which is wonderful to see. Other Blu-ray bonus features include:

All-New Music Video for Part of Your World by Carly Rae Jepsen
Behind the Scenes at Disney Animation Studios
Disney Intermission – press pause and see what happens
Deleted Character Harold the Merman
The Real Little Mermaid: Live Action Reference Model
Part of Her World: Jodi Benson’s Voyage To New Fantasyland
Howard’s Lecture – Music in the Movies
Classic DVD Bonus Features 

This is another must-add to your collection, whether you are sharing it for the first time with your children, or reliving your childhood with an old favorite. The Little Mermaid Diamond Edition is available now.

Stay tuned for future releases and reviews – I’ll have one for Monsters Universityup soon! The next Disney animated classics to get the Diamond Edition Blu-ray treatment are  THE JUNGLE BOOK and SLEEPING BEAUTY. Released from the Disney vault for a limited time only, THE JUNGLE BOOK opens to colorful new life on Blu-ray Diamond Edition in February 2014, while SLEEPING BEAUTY awakens on stunning Blu-ray Diamond Edition in October 2014. Can’t wait. I’m SO excited for Sleeping Beauty on Blu-ray!!

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Filed Under: Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews, Top Stories Tagged With: Disney Blu-ray, Disney Diamond Edition, Disney dvd, dvd reviews, Gravity Falls, Gravity Falls: Six Strange Tales, Iron Man 3, Iron Man 3 Blu-ray, Iron Man 3 DVD, Little Mermaid Blu-ray, Little Mermaid Diamond Edition, Little Mermaid DVD, Monsters University, Movie Reviews, Sleeping Beauty, The Jungle Book

Disney Princesses in Pop Culture Halloween Costumes

18 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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I saw someone post a link to these images on Facebook, and I knew I had to share them here. I love seeing mashups of Disney icons with unexpected pairings, and this is no exception. Rapunzel as Sailor Moon? Belle as Hermione? Brilliant! And Ariel as Black Widow looks great, although I do think Merida would’ve been a more apt choice for that character. Mulan as Xena:Warrior Princess seems to be a perfect fit! The art is by Isaiah Stephens and you can see the full set of images (and more) at his tumblr (where Merida IS a character). Who is your favorite and who would you like to see in a different costume?

bellehermione

pocakatniss

rapunzelsailormoon

arielblackwidow

mulanxena

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Filed Under: Fan Creations, Top Stories Tagged With: Ariel as Black Widow, Belle as Hermione, DeviantArt, Disney Halloween Princesses, Disney Princesess Halloween costumes, Disney princesses, Disney Princesses pop culture costumes, fan art. disney fan art, fanart, Isaiah Stephens, Mulan as Xena, Pocahontas as Katniss, Princesses fan art, Rapunzel as Sailor Moon, Snow White as Wonder Woman

SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular Creates Oceans of Family Fun

14 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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SeaWorld Spooktacular Pumpkin carving, jumping in raked leave piles, and.. SeaWorld? This marine life theme park may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Fall but SeaWorld has a unique offering for the spooky season. SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, celebrated weekends in October, is an added experience to a regular price park ticket with trick-or-treating, sea characters and bubbles. Lots of bubbles.
Spooktacular feels geared toward the wee ones but my boyfriend and I thought it was a cute addition to a day at SeaWorld. We did a little trick-or-treating ourselves and I really loved the plethora of bubbles that filled the park. It was the most bubbles I’ve seen at once and I told my boyfriend I wouldn’t be surprised if a million bubbles were made and popped there in a day. They are in multiple places around the park and in full swing with lots of machines sending waves of bubbles in and over guests.
Now for the characters. I’d say SeaWorld is mostly known for Shamu. However I was really impressed at the amount of aquatic and Halloween character meet and greets that were around for Spooktacular. Princesses, mermaids, witches, fish and more, all in brightly colored, elaborate costumes with high energy interaction. Every character area I saw was more than just ‘wait in line and take a photo’. For example, the witches and their tiny audience members ‘baked up a Halloween tweet recipe’ in a small area that looked like a kitchen with a cauldron actually brewing. Kids seemed to really enjoy playing a long.
Nicole Siscaretti at SeaWorld Spooktacular
There are also uniquely themed Halloween decorations, featuring the ever adorable pumpkin fish, and lots of interactive experiences for kids. One that grabbed our attention was a button board that squirted fountains in a lake when you pushed different buttons.
SeaWorld Spooktacular
This is all in addition to all the attractions, shows and experiences SeaWorld offers regularly. One that really took our breath away was the Blue Horizons show featuring dolphins, divers and aerialists. We also really enjoyed the excellent of the 3D in Turtle Trek. To see more from SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, watch this video:

SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular takes place weekends in October: 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 and 26-27, from 12 to 8 p.m., leaving the littlest of trick-or-treaters wide-eyed for all of the fun-filled activities. Halloween Spooktacular is included with park admission.

Spooktacular Highlights Include:

NEW this year: Spooktacular Dance Party

Princess Penelope and her undersea friends invite guests to join the Spooktacular Dance Party, where children can dance along to a Spooktacular mix of line-dancing favorites as clouds of bubbles fill the evening air. The party will kick off at the front of the park every event night an hour before SeaWorld’s park closing time.

Waves of Trick-or-Treat Fun

Offering more than two million pieces of sweet treats, costumed youngsters can trick-or-treat “under the sea.” Each trick-or-treat station features an assortment of ghoulish goodies including Tootsie Roll, Jelly Belly jelly beans, Airheads and other candy favorites.

Blue Horizons SeaWorld

Penelope’s Party Zone

Located at SeaWorld’s Bayside area, this dynamic underwater environment comes to life each day with a live DJ, a variety of interactive crafts to choose from, countless bubbles floating overhead and colorful pumpkin fish gliding around!

Sweet Treat Decorating

Kids and parents alike can have a “splash” creating their own sweet treats at the cookie decorating station. Kids will be able to decorate and devour their spooky cookie when they purchase a kit that comes equipped with a cookie, frosting and toppings.

Jelly Belly® Bean Art to Come to Life at Spooktacular

Jelly Belly artist in residence, Kristen Cumings, will use more than 10,000 Jelly Belly jelly beans to create a portrait of rockhopper

penguins, reflecting SeaWorld’s all-new, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin. Guests can watch as this handmade jelly bean creation comes together in front of their eyes during the final weekend of Halloween Spooktacular, Oct. 26 and 27. Kids can join in the fun too, with the opportunity to decorate a Halloween Spooktacular mural with a variety of Jelly Belly jelly beans.

For More SeaWorld Halloween Fun:

Count von Count’s Spooktacular Breakfast

1-2-3… Dine with me! Don’t walk around on an empty stomach, stay 1 step ahead of hunger! What goes great with your 2 morning eggs? How about infinite hugs from Count von Count, Elmo and his furry friends! Featuring a delicious buffet sprinkled with the hottest characters  in town, the Count’s Spooktacular Breakfast is a fun-filled experience sure to delight kids and parents alike. You can “count” on it! Adults $24, Child (2-9) $14.

 

Disclaimer: Zannaland.com was provided with free tickets to SeaWorld to experience Spooktacular, but Nicole’s opinions are her own. 

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Filed Under: Central Florida Family Entertainment, Disney Movie News & Reviews, Florida Theme Parks & Attractions, Guest Authors, Orlando Area Attractions, Reviews, Sea World Orlando, Top Stories Tagged With: family halloween, halloween spooktacular, Orlando area attractions, Orlando halloween, Sea World, SeaWorld, SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld Spooktacular, shamu, Spooktacular

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