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Archives for February 2020

Finding the Grand Canyon At Disney – Up the Waterfall

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Grand Canyon at Disney? Well sure, I’m sure everyone knows about the Grand Canyon Concourse at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and perhaps the Grand Canyon Diorama on the Disneyland Railroad, but there are more than just those connections between the Grand Canyon and Disney.

On this episode of Up the Waterfall, we share and discuss the first appearances of the Grand Canyon as it relates to Disney, and all the way up to current representation in the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Of course as usual, we inject our own memories, experiences and thoughts on all of these connections.

The blog post from Passport 2 Dreams, I will link here. Foxxy actually has two posts on the Contemporary if you’d like to read, they are fascinating and accurate historical accounts of the creation and changes to Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

Passport2Dreams: The Contemporary Resort in the 1970’s

and The Contemporary Resort through the 1990’s

Additionally, I wanted to share some photos from our family’s trip to the Grand Canyon in 2016. This was part of a multi-part summer vacation, where we visited Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Canyonlands National Park, as well as the North Rim and South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Parks. (And ended up in Disneyland!) (you can click on any photo to enlarge it)

Grand Canyon North Rim panorama

I mentioned on the show the Grand Canyon Lodge where we had lunch, but I didn’t really have good photos of that, just one from inside showing the view from the windows. But be sure to watch the show on the video below for even more photos, including the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone, one of the inspirations for Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. So be sure to check those out!

 

Grand Canyon North Rim
Gio overlooking the North Rim of the Grand Canyon – I think it’s much prettier than the South!

 

We hope you enjoy this week’s episode of Up the Waterfall!

How to Listen to Up the Waterfall

You can listen anywhere you download and listen to podcasts, including: 

(If there’s a podcast service where you can’t find our show, let us know and we’ll get it added there!)

Where to Watch Up the Waterfall

Head to our Up the Waterfall YouTube Playlist – where you can see our opening sequence and some images of the Grand Canyon represented in Disney over the years. Here’s the latest episode:

 

Feel free to comment below with your memories of the Grand Canyon at Disney, any questions or info you’d like to add, or if it’s easier, head to the Zannaland Facebook page and join the discussion there with fellow Disney or Grand Canyon fans!

How Can I Learn More About This Episode?

Here are some of the books we referenced for this episode (the links will go to the item on amazon.com and are affiliate links – meaning no extra cost for you but a small portion goes back to zannaland if you make a purchase – thank you for supporting our site!):

   

There are a few Sleeping Beauty DVD sets out right now, this one linked here contains the Grand Canyon short mentioned on the show.

 

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Regal Eagle Smokehouse – Do’s and Don’t’s

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There’s a new eagle in town…a Regal Eagle, so we thought to make it easier, we’d share our review and some Regal Eagle Smokehouse Do’s and Don’t’s. Actually, the eagle’s not new, but his BBQ place is. Last June when Disney announced a new barbecue restaurant would be replacing the original-to-EPCOT-Center Liberty Inn, we were all pretty excited and hopeful for this new experience.

Regal Eagle new entranceDisney Dining for Everyone

Being a vegetarian for the past 3 years and vegan for the past 6 months, I wasn’t worried at all, because I knew Disney’s new plant-based initiative would ensure there was something for everyone at this new spot.

As sad as I was at losing an original piece of EPCOT Center in the Liberty Inn, barbecue does seem disctinctly American, so it seemed like a good fit. Disney has slowly been replacing its “fast-casual” dining locations with less burgers/nuggets/hot dogs and fries, and more healthy options, or at least more unique and more culinarily adventurous.

Now most places will offer a wrap or a unique salad vs. a plain old burger. With more and more folks eating more plant-based entrees, Disney really is making sure there is at least ONE thing that vegans, vegetarians, and usually gluten-free folks can try. More on that as you keep reading.

 

The Muppet Connection

Back in January, Disney then announced the the new bbq eatery would feature Sam Eagle of the Muppets. Of course everyone knows him from the original Muppet Show, but also Disney parks fans love to quote his line from Muppet Vision 3-D of “A salute to all nations but mostly America” which was supposed to be a “glorious 3 hour finale” (he only got a minute and a half). Disney has spun that quote and turned the motto of Regal Eagle Smokehouse to be “A salute to all cook-offs, but mostly barbecue.”

Regal Eagle BBQ

Reaction online was mixed, with some thinking the Muppets (and Intellectual Property [IP] in general) should be left out of the World Showcase’s representation of our home country of the United States of America. Others thought Sam Eagle was a perfect fit to represent our country with his swelling patriotism. The irony is that Sam was sort of a spoof himself, created for the original Muppet Show when the bicentennial of America was happening and brought out many over-the-top patriotic zealots. Whatever the backstory, he became very loveable character for his set-in-his-ways sensibilities and love of country.

Whatever your views on patriotism, it’s important to note that at the end of the day, he’s a Muppet. Part of what made the Muppets so relatable was that they poked fun at all sorts of different views, ideals, and preconceived notions.

Personally, I LOVE as in  L O V E  the American Adventure in this pavilion. Others think it’s boring and skippable or a place to take a nap. Still others think it leaves out huge portions of history and doesn’t do a great job of representation. From a purely fan-of-Disney-Imagineering perspective, it is one of my favorites, for its displays, its music, and its place in EPCOT Center history. So I understood feeling protective of this original concept and space and not wanting any IP seeping in. That said, I hold the Muppets to a different standard and am pretty much okay with Muppets being added any and everywhere. Double standard? Perhaps. But the Muppets deserve our love and appreciation whenever possible.

ALL of that said, after visiting the Regal Eagle yesterday, the Muppet representation, or Muppetation if you will, is really minimal. There is a small Sam Eagle in the sign logo, and 4 framed drawings of a different Muppet at each of the 4 types of barbecue represented inside the restaurant. To the left of the registers there is a sillhouette portrait of Sam Eagle and Gonzo. That was really all I saw. The rest of the decor is all early-American art and informational posters of meat cuts etc. So much more “bbq” themed than Muppets.

Regal Eagle interior

What struck me was the weird juxtaposition of the original colonial columns and more Georgian architecture from Liberty Inn now contrasted with brick work and very casual bbq-joint type decor, mixed with old Americana kitchen accoutrements like pot-bellied stoves and old kitchen furniture. So it’s kind of an odd space visually speaking, but I know they had to work with what they had and the bones of the existing Liberty Inn. It certainly didn’t affect our experience, just something I noticed while sitting there.

Regal Eagle interior

Regal Eagle Food

Back to the food options! So you may have heard about or seen the giant smoker that was installed outside the Regal Eagle, as a showpiece/centerpiece. It’s a huge double smoker and we were there on day two and the smoker was still not working. We asked at the bar outside and they said it is a functional smoker but as of now is not being used yet. So I’m not sure if they are planning to set it up soon, if it will always just be a display thing, or if they will perhaps just pipe in a smoker scented smellitzer and some smoke machine effects?

Regal Eagle smoker

 

So that said, they are not smoking the bbq meats you can order outside in that smoker. As far as the meats they offered, Christian enjoyed his brisket, and the photos and reviews I’ve seen of the other options all seem to be favorable. I ordered the BBQ Jackfruit Burger, which is made with a Beyond Burger, topped with bbq’d jackfruit, the plant-based replacement for a “pulled pork/chicken” type of bbq. The best part for me was that it was served on Texas Toast. Garlic bread may perhaps be my downfall as a human, and it really added to the burger rather than a plain bun. I’m not a huge jackfruit fan, it’s a texture thing for me, but the flavor was good. The beyond burger was a beyond burger.

While I appreciate the availability and the way that this burger helps meat eaters try something plant-based, a beyond burger has a very distinctive flavor that really overpowers everything it touches. Again, I’m grateful we have an option, but I’d love if Disney chefs started creating their own veggie burgers with natural ingredients as a choice for vegetarians and vegans who are interested in a good burger, not necessarily a meat replacement. But I digress.

We ordered:

Sliced Texas Beef Brisket Sandwich
Rubbed with our secret Brisket Rub then Slow-smoked and smothered in Spicy Mop Sauce, and placed between Garlic Toast and served with your choice of side.

BBQ Jackfruit Burger
Plant-based Burger on Garlic Toast topped with BBQ Jackfruit served with your choice of side.

As well as a few side items and deserts (Hint, pickles may have been present). (Click on photos to view larger size)

Sauces:

The BBQ sauces were nothing really stand out, but as a fast-casual option, they need to appeal to the masses. The “Cook-off” theme comes in to play here with the different sauces being regional representations of bbq styles. A classic pit bbq sauce, a vinegar based sauce, a sweet-but-spicy choice, and a sweet mustard sauce. Those sauce types are the same represented on the walls as you walk in. A Muppet is displaced as the winner of each cook-off style. That’s about it for the cook-off theming so I feel like the slogan of “A Salute to all cook-offs but mostly barbecue” is a bit of a misnomer. They do have the side items of house made pickles, mac and cheese, beans with burnt ends, cole slaw, and seasoned fries. However I view a “cook-off” as many more options.

Side Items:
Regal Eagle bbq saucesRegal Eagle bbq sauces

Speaking of sides, as noted in our video, there’s a bit of a discrepancy with value of sides. You get one side with an entree. Certainly a side of pickles is not in the same range as the fries, mac and cheese, or single slice of garlic bread. Same with the desserts. There is the S’mores Brownie, the Banana Pudding, and for vegans or those wanting a healthy option, cut up watermelon.

My order of watermelon was the extreme rind end of things. Very pale pink and almost too hard to bite into. That was disappointing for $5, the same price as the brownie or pudding.

Final Thoughts before the Regal Eagle Smokehouse Do’s and Don’t’s:

So overall, my thoughts on Regal Eagle is that it’s a fun addition to the America pavilion. If you are a bbq fan, you’ll enjoy it here. If you are a bbq connoisseur, you’d find more authentic styles at Polite Pig or off property altogether. From the looks of Christian’s S’mores brownie, that’s worth a visit. As are the seasoned fries and pickles in my opinion. I’d like to give the salad a try with the chicken on the side for my husband haha.

Craft Drafts Outdoor Bar

The official name of this restaurant is Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts and Barbecue.  So if you’re here for the craft drafts, you will enjoy the new outdoor bar windows. There are a few options inside, but even more outside, including some frozen mixed drinks as well. I’m not a big beer drinker (as mentioned on our City Works review) but even I am intrigued by the cider on tap, and may have to try that out next visit. In any event, it’s a fun addition that I’m sure many will enjoy. This whole new addition is really just like a permanent location for the Epcot International Flower and Garden and Food and Wine Festival offerings for the American Pavilion, so I’m sure they will be immensely popular.

Regal Eagle Bar
Regal Eagle Craft Drafts Outdoor Bar

 

Regal Eagle Smokehouse Do’s and Don’t’s

Do’s

  • Definitely the atmosphere, the seating indoor and out is fun and functional.
  • Drink Stations and sauce stations, a plus.
  • House Made Pickles, I loved them, maybe not for $4.99 tho.
  • Garlic Texas Toast, yes please.
  • Outdoor bar – a win!

Dont’s

  • Side of Garlic Bread. Be aware that not all sides are created equal. $4.99 for 1 slice of store-bought garlic bread? No thanks.
  • Watermelon, $4.99 for unripe/rind ends of watermelon is a no from me.
  • Sauces – don’t go in expecting to find hand-crafted artisinal bbq sauces. These are just standard food supply sauces as you would expect at a quick-serve/counter service/fast-casual location.

Are you planning a visit to the Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Draft and Barbecue? Let me know what you’re most looking forward to trying, of if you’ve been, what you enjoyed or didn’t!

Here’s our vlog from our visit if you’d like so see what it’s like to experience Regal Eagle BBQ:

 

Follow the Zannaland team on social media, watch our videos, vlogs and podcast too: 

We thank you for your support and for sharing the love! 

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REVIEW: ONWARD is Pixar’s Step Backwards

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It may be bold of me to say, but in my opinion, Pixar has somewhat of a rough track record. I think they succeed pretty well at making entertaining films. But only a few have been notably exceptional. Onward is in an interesting position to review. I’m still not entirely sure whether I liked all of it or not.

THE QUEST BEGINS..

I had absolutely no expectations of this movie before watching it. I enjoy Tom Holland and Chris Pratt on their own well enough, but I hadn’t really even been following much of the promotion for the movie. Some of the art looked fun, and I really enjoyed the music choice for the trailer – which is honestly enough to sell me most of the time (and why I plan on seeing F9).

I knew I would inevitably see Onward anyway because the trailer starts with 5 letters and a little lamp jumping on screen. That’s what begins the issues with Onward for me, conceptually.

©2019 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

The past couple Pixar releases have felt off, personally. I still haven’t seen the Good Dinosaur, I missed Finding Dory until 3 years later, Cars 3 was bad, and Toy Story 4 just felt like a tech demo for their animation interns to work on that they accidentally released. 

And even though I did actually like Finding Dory, Incredibles 2, and Coco, they did still feel a bit lazy. Pixar definitely has a particular format they like to stick to – I won’t blame them, it seems to work commercially every time. But Onward is the 22nd film in their collection of releases, and honestly feels exactly the same as 98% of them. 

THE CURSE

© 2019 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Onward seems like it missed the mark on quite a few subjects to me. The art style feels weird, to be blunt. In a world with actual magic and fantasy characters, I don’t see the need to give every character an odd humanoid face, even if they have only one absurdly large eye. 

It all looks a little odd, and I wish they would’ve done something a bit more creative. The main character of the film even looks like a recolor of Linguini from Ratatouille, which is something that I would think they could avoid.

But my disagreements with the world don’t stop there. Something about the atmosphere just feels kind of cheesy and almost lame. For all intents and purposes, the setting of the film is really doing the same job as that of Shrek, which somehow seems to pull it off more convincingly. That’s a sentence I didn’t think I’d be able to write.

© 2019 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

A LITTLE MAGIC

What I did manage to like from the atmosphere of Onward is honestly just because I enjoy the fantasy genre as a whole. It could’ve been anything on screen but if they were doing magic with wizards and pulling out D&D terms I would be on board. There is certainly a bit of charm that comes along with the Pixar touch, but I don’t think this is something that had to try incredibly hard to pull off.

And that’s my biggest issue of all – it felt pretty easy. The art style was incredibly similar to things they’ve done before (even to things the Director had made before with the studio). The score was safe and almost nonexistent in some parts. 

The things the “Inclusion Team” allegedly insured were in the movie were really bare minimum and easily modifiable for foreign markets that still don’t accept characters being openly gay. All of this making it all feel very unnecessary and almost as if they were forced to include them but were graded on completion, not accuracy.

ANCIENT HISTORY

So what’s the issue, really? Well, co-star of our Up the Waterfall podcast, Scott Otis, pointed out to me that Pixar has had a couple years in the past with two releases: The Good Dinosaur and Inside Out, Cars 3 and Coco, and now Onward and Soul. So statistically, maybe I’m just not a fan of Onward so that I can be a fan of Soul. 

But in all seriousness, I didn’t hate everything about Onward. There were some funny moments, and I think even Pixar’s worst is always an entertaining time. There are definitely people who will like this. But for me, it just feels like another tired attempt for Pixar to play it safe and stick to their patented Pixar-style punch-you-in-the-gut emotional coming of age stories based on half-baked “What if?” ideas.

I would love to see them do something different, and take a massive risk. With the massive budget and solid teamwork they now have, I’m surprised they’ve stuck to this format for so long. The Pixar Sparkshorts on Disney+ are an interesting first attempt at this, but none have really stood out to me on their own, and they definitely feel like something that a small team makes every month or so on their lunch breaks.

ONWARD REVIEW

© 2019 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Pixar used to be known for pushing the medium of animation forward with compelling new takes. Their films were a fun break from the typical cliches of family animation. Now they’re essentially pushing out Disney’s B-stories that don’t get the bigger spotlight. And sequels.

So is Pixar truly taking a step backward with Onward? It depends on how much you’re able to relate to all of their stories – for me, not a whole lot. Or how much an emotional ending is enough to convince you you liked the movie on your way out of the theater. Again, not much here for me. Maybe it just depends on how much you’re able to enjoy a kids’ movie without thinking about it too much. And clearly I can’t. 

But that’s just me.

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Best Scenic Spots in Disney Parks – Up the Waterfall

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Disney California Adventure - Best Scenic Spots in Disney ParksThis week on Up the Waterfall we took a break from the deep dives into Disney history and have a palate cleanser of sorts with a Best Scenic Spots in Disney Parks episode. This came about from my handful of recent visits to the newest Disney hotels – Disney’s Riviera Resort and Gran Destino Tower, both of which have rooftop restaurants or lounges with amazing views. It made me really appreciate some of the great scenery that exists around Disney parks. Of course, I mean outside of the normal ones we expect like Cinderella Castle and the main “weenies” of the parks.

In this episode we share our favorite scenic spots in Walt Disney World, Disneyland and the Disney resort hotels as well. Do any of our picks align with yours? What did we leave out? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear your best scenic spots in Disney parks picks too!

 

We hope you enjoy this week’s episode of Up the Waterfall!

How to Listen to Up the Waterfall

You can listen anywhere you download and listen to podcasts, including: 

(If there’s a podcast service where you can’t find our show, let us know and we’ll get it added there!)

How to Watch Up the Waterfall

Head to our Up the Waterfall YouTube Playlist – where you can see our opening sequence and some unique images of the places we mention. Here’s the latest episode:

 

Feel free to comment below with your favorites spots, any questions or info you’d like to add, or if it’s easier, head to the Zannaland Facebook page and join the discussion there with fellow Disney fans!

 

 

Zannaland and Up the Waterfall Community – Let’s Connect!

FOLLOW THE ZANNALAND FAMILY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WATCH OUR VIDEOS, VLOGS AND PODCAST TOO: 

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VLOG: 2020 EPCOT Festival of the Arts

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Epcot Festival of the ArtsWe’ve done a preview video of the 2020 Epcot Festival of the Arts, but we thought we’d go back and share our experience. This time we took part in the paint by numbers mural and completed the Figment Scavenger Hunt that takes place with each ArtfulEpcot Festival.

 

If you haven’t been, here’s a rundown of all there is to see and do at the Epcot Festival of the Arts:

Art: This festival features so many different kinds of Disney art – Chalk Art in 3-D by artists, Paint-by-Numbers mural that you get to paint each day. Disney artists are there sharing their creations in print, postcard and original canvas form. Different artisans showing how art can be added to scarves, shirts, even bicycle-powered spin art this year.

Food: As with all the other Epcot festivals, there are various food booths or kiosks offering unique treats. With this Artful Epcot festival, they try to make the food items more artistic, either deconstructing a classic dish, or theming it after a famous art style.

Merchandise: Ear hats, spirit jerseys, MagicBands, plush…all the usual suspects are at this festival. You can find unique Figment designs for the Festival of the Arts. Each year they try to switch up Figment’s look for another art style. You can see more of the Festival exclusive merchandise in our Epcot Art Festival Preview

Disney on Broadway: Each year we are treated to Broadway stars singing their current or former Disney on Broadway roles, or other Disney favorites as solos and duets. This is one of my favorite parts of this festival.

Here’s our latest vlog – where we get creative with the Paint by Numbers mural, and find some Figment art with the Figment’s Brush with the Masters scavenger hunt!

 

 

We hope you enjoy our 2020 Epcot Festival of the Arts vlog! Have you been to the Epcot Festival of the Arts? What was your favorite part? Tell us in the comments below! Also be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to know when we upload a new video or podcast!

Zannaland and Up the Waterfall Community – Let’s Connect!

FOLLOW THE ZANNALAND FAMILY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WATCH OUR VIDEOS, VLOGS AND PODCAST TOO: 

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VLOG: City Works Disney Springs Dining Review!

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Join us for another fun vlog as we review the new City Works Eatery at Disney Springs. This is the newest  restaurant at Disney Springs, located next to the new NBA Experience. With over 90 craft beers on tap, City Works Eatery and Pour House makes for a fun addition of American sports-bar style flair to your vacation.

City Works currently has nine locations across the country in cities and towns including Fort Worth, Tex.; Frisco, Tex.; King of Prussia, Pa.; Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Schaumburg, Ill.; Tysons, Va.; Wheeling, Ill.; and Vernon Hills, Ill. With 90 local and global beers on tap, the restaurant offers a wide range of rare and unique craft selections. All locations are open for brunch, lunch and dinner, and prices range from $13-$20 for lunch and $15-$28 for dinner.

City Works will have 30-40% of its draft beer taps dedicated to local breweries and eight wines on draft. It will also offer a seasonally changing cocktail menu and a fully stocked bar, plus a whiskey list. Guests can enjoy Happy Hour specials, including $2 off well drinks, local craft beers and glasses of wine, and $7 bar bites Monday through Thursday 3-6 p.m. Drink specials also are available 10 p.m.-midnight.

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Thursday 11 a.m.-midnight, Friday 11 a.m.-1 a.m., Saturday 10:30 a.m.-1 a.m. and Sunday 10:30 a.m.-midnight. It also offers brunch dishes on the weekends 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

We’ll have a full blog post review soon, but until then, enjoy our City Works video review! You can check out our other Zannaland Videos here.

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REVIEW: Look At This PHOTOGRAPH

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 There’s a new great romantic classic to watch on Valentine’s Day this year. The Photograph is one I’m excited to review.

Regardless of me being graciously invited to this screening, I would have no doubt made plans to see this film on my own. The Photograph features Issa Rae and LaKeith Stanfield, two stars whose work has never been shy of amazing in my eyes. That fact alone was enough to sell me on it.

Luckily there was so much more in store.

A NEW ROMANCE

If you’ve seen any trailers for The Photograph, then you’ll know the basic plot – a reporter profiling a man in Louisiana finds there’s more to the story than he initially thought. 

I’ll cut right to the chase, The Photograph isn’t anything incredibly groundbreaking. But it doesn’t necessarily need to be. For someone who’s always enjoyed this type of movie, The Photograph really worked. It’s the kind of movie that helps you remember what’s important, what’s worth committing to, and what’s worth sometimes leaving behind.

The romance genre is ready for another powerhouse like The Notebook, and I think The Photograph could fill that position. If nothing else, I at least appreciate the growing list of romantic films named after everyday items.

Of course it wouldn’t be a review by me if I didn’t mention the soundtrack, and this one was nice. There’s not very much in the way of a score (though what was there I did enjoy), but the actual songs used throughout really add to the overall mood. It’s something to get you in the mood that you can just vibe to, and felt very natural.

A GRAND PERFORMANCE

As I hinted at before, I’ll see literally anything with LaKeith Stanfield. And I’m a big Issa Rae fan too. Their performances in this were top notch.

The connection they had was genuine, and you felt as if they had actually been through this, and were experiencing this in real time. I honestly would not have been surprised if I had walked out of the theater, opened twitter, and saw they were actually dating. They felt that real.

And they weren’t the only ones! Rob Morgan and Chanté Adams have great chemistry too. Their characters add a surprising amount of depth that I didn’t anticipate, but certainly appreciated.

To top it off, when the movie was funny, it was funny. The whole cast felt like they had experience in comedic roles for the stage – that is to say, the pacing of the comedic moments felt really great, which is something that usually I can’t say for mainstream comedy.

THE PHOTOGRAPH

Overall, expect to laugh, expect to cry, and expect to enjoy it. There are some movies I see where I just get to enjoy them, and writing a review for The Photograph was one of those times. January is always a fun time at the theaters because it’s right after the heavy awards season, and movies can just be movies for fun. And this one was certainly fun.

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Shop Disney Friends and Family Event – Save 25%

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Shop Disney Friends and Family EventThe Shop Disney Friends & Family Event is here! During this event, February 13-17, 2020, you can get 25% off your entire purchase online at ShopDisney.com! This is a great time to pick up some Disney favorites you’ve been spying or saving in your cart for later! I really love how you’re able to get many of the great items available in Disney Parks online now at ShopDisney, it really gets me through the time when I can’t make it to Disneyland for a while (not that I’m keeping track with a clock counter or anything…).

I know I’m not alone in my love of some of the Disney designer collaborations that have been happening over the past few years (some for a decade – like the Disney + Dooney & Bourke 10th Anniversary that happened recently!). To celebrate our mutual love, I thought I’d put together a list of some of my favorites, to see if some of the same things catch your eye. Of course you can always share some of your favorites that I’ve missed in the comments and I can add them to the list too!

Edited to add: Now that the Friends and Family Sale is live, I have learned some of the designer collaborations are not included in the sale, like Dooney & Bourke. Sorry for any confusion, I didn’t know that when I was sent this info…But I have found some D&B bags that are on sale, so I’ve updated this post to share the ones that are currently on sale, and of course, any of the links will take you to ShopDisney where you can search for your favorites to stock up on during the sale, whether it’s pajamas, plush, Funko Pops or more!

Disney Dooney & Bourke

Well let’s start with the OG collaboration – Disney Dooney & Bourke. They have come out with SO many new designs, there seems to be one for every character or film or even snack at this point! I love that there are still some of the classic original designs available too. Here are some of my newest favorites (I’ve just discovered these bags are not on sale, but they are too pretty to take down, so I’m adding some that ARE on sale at the bottom):

Disney Dooney and Bourke Fantasia Tote
Disney Dooney and Bourke Fantasia Tote

Disney’s Fantasia Dooney & Bourke this new design is gorgeous. I especially love the Fantasia tote design it’s such a classic look!

Disney Dooney and Bourke Pixar hobo bag
Disney Dooney & Bourke Pixar hobo bag

 

The Disney Dooney & Bourke Pixar collection is brand new and adorable. All your favorites on one bag with some fun pops of color.

 

 

Of course, the recently released Disney Park Life design is a new and instant classic. All your favorite Disney park icons on a bright pink bag, it will definitely put a smile on your face. The best part is this design comes in more than just Disney Dooney & Bourke bags so there’s something for the whole family. Here are a couple of Dooneys on sale. (You don’t need a code for these, they are just reduced in price.):

Disney Dooney and Bourke Green Sketch
One of the 10th Anniversary Disney Dooney & Bourke Sketch bags – discounted now!

First on sale is one of the 10th Anniversary bags that came out last Fall – this bright new green color us such a perfect fit for Spring!

 

Speaking of Spring, the Dooney and Bourke Mickey and Minnie Floral Tote came out with last year’s Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, and now it’s on sale!

Disney Dooney and Bourke Mickey and Minnie Floral

Disney Loungefly

The Disney Loungefly designs have been some of my favorite, they really are so creative, sometimes it’s just a pattern of characters or items you know and love, other times, it’s more of a “Disney Bounding” design, where the purse or wallet will look like the character it represents. Kind of like the Loungefly Bo Peep design below. This leads to some really cool items, and lots of conversation starters when you’re in the parks (and out!).

Loungefly Minnie Mouse sequined backpack
Loungefly Minnie Mouse sequined backpack

Loungfly is mostly known for the classic Minnie Mouse sequined backpack design seen here, but they have many other fun styles too.

 

The Bo Peep Loungefly mini backpack is such a fun twist on her iconic look – pink and blue with “lace” trim and polka dots.

Loungefly Bo Peep mini backpack
Loungefly Bo Peep mini backpack

 

One of the newest designs is the fun Loungefly Pixar ball, in a crossbody bag. So bright and a perfect addition to a Pixar look with sequins and black accents.

Loungefly Pixar ball crossbody
Loungefly Pixar Ball crossbody

Baby Yoda

Of course it’s not all about purses…it’s also about BABY YODA (ok ok “The Child”)  Everything is 25% off, so you can add whatever items you see and want to add to your Disney collection.  I mean, who doesn’t need a Baby Yoda hat. I may have to get that one myself.

Baby Yoda hat
This is the way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hopefully that gives you a little motivation to take advantage of this 25% off sale for the Shop Disney Friends and Family Event.

How do you score 25% off?

Simply use the code “DISNEYPAL” in the promo code area at checkout! You can click any of the links* on this post to take you to ShopDisney and start saving with the Friends and Family Event! (*links on this page are affiliate links which is no extra cost to you, but zannaland may receive a small commission if you purchase anything, which helps offset our costs to keep bringing you new content.)

What Disney items do you collect? I’d love to hear from you below! And let me know if you’re buying anything during this sale too! I wanna see your shopping scores! 😀

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SeaWorld Announces Artists for Seven Seas Food Festival

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The Seven Seas Food Festival will begin soon at SeaWorld Orlando!

Coming this spring, guests will be able to experience a festival of fun, food, and music at SeaWorld Orlando. Every weekend during the event, concerts will be held at 6pm at the Bayside Stadium.

THE LINEUP!

·      Billy Ray Cyrus headshot, Seven Seas Festival SeaWorld Orlando  March 7 – AJR

·        March 8 – Dylan Scott

·        March 14 – Hunter Hayes

·        March 15 – Joe Nichols

·        March 21 – YES and Alan Parsons Live Project

·        March 22 – Edwin McCain

·        March 28 – Gin Blossoms

·        March 29 – Village People

·        April 4 – Jesse McCartney

·        April 5 – Gretchen Wilson

·        April 11 – Scotty McCreery

·        April 12 – Jeremy Camp

·        April 18 – Everclear

·        April 19 – Grand Funk Railroad and BLUE ÖYSTER CULT

·        April 25 – Vanilla Ice and C&C Music Factory

·        April 26 – Chris Janson

·        May 2 – Billy Ray Cyrus

·        May 3 – Sean Paul   Village People headshot, Seven Seas Festival SeaWorld Orlando

All of these performances are included with the price of admission! But for the most exclusive experiences, reserved seating can be purchased online. Additionally, there’ll be a plethora of fun new food items at the event, and the full menu can be viewed on SeaWorld’s website.

The SeaWorld Orlando Seven Seas Food Festival begins February 7th, and lasts Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through May 3rd.

Of course, be sure to keep an eye out for the new ICEBREAKER attraction coming this year as well!

 

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Details Announced for The 6th Annual Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Food & Wine Festival

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Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival

Earlier this week we got some exciting new details for the upcoming Food & Wine Festival at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay coming this spring.  From concert dates to fun new food items, here’s what we know so far!

DATES!

The fun begins with a Passholder exclusive event!

Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival

Feb. 28:                Pass Member Exclusive Preview with “Eaglemania: The World’s Greatest Eagles Tribute Band!”

This exclusive event is available ONLY for Pass Members to preview the all-new menu of sips and samples at the 6th Annual Food & Wine Festival.

Be sure to visit Busch Gardens’ website to learn more or purchase your Annual Pass to gain access to this VIP opportunity!

Additionally, we’ve received information with more concert dates during the festival!

Feb 29:                Collective Soul
March 1:              The Commodores

March 7:              Chase Bryant & Danielle Bradbery
March 8:              Rachel Platten

March 14:            Ezra Ray Hart
March 15:            THREE DOG NIGHT

March 21:            LOCASH 
March 22:            Fitz & The Tantrums

March 28:            Home Free
March 29:            Taking Back Sunday

April 4:                 Third Eye Blind
April 5:                 KC & The Sunshine Band

April 11:               38 Special
April 12:               Micah Tyler & Austin French

April 18:               Lee Brice
April 19:               Clint Black

April 25:               El Gran Combo
April 26:               Toad the Wet Sprocket & The Verve Pipe

Fans of these groups will be excited to know that there are VIP packages available for each act “including reserved concert seating and a 5-item Food & Wine Festival Sampler Lanyard.” And new for 2020, you can upgrade to the Unlimited Food & Wine Festival VIP Seating Package for the ultimate concert-going experience. This new opportunity includes VIP seating for EVERY concert of the 2020 festival!

NEW TREATS!

Busch Gardens Food and Wine FestivalThis year’s event highlights a tasty new dining lineup too! Designed by the award-winning new Executive Chef of Busch Gardens Ernie Reyes, the festival’s menu features 25 NEW food items, and over 80 wines, beers, and cocktails. Here are just a couple of the new dishes to expect:

·        The ALL-NEW Chef’s Corner cabin: featuring three signature dishes carefully crafted by the park’s head chefs – arroz con pollo, pork belly taco with kimchi slaw, and pork tenderloin with champagne watercress sauce.

·        NEW Iconic Coaster Cocktails: including Iron Gwazi Gimlet, Falcon’s Fury Lemon Drop, and Tigris Tea

·        NEW Pick-A-Barrel tasting: create your own flight of liquors and wines from around the world

Guests can also already view the entire remaining menu online, and decide ahead of time what their must-eats are. From there, guests can also upgrade or purchase their Food & Wine Festival Sampler Lanyard. Busch Gardens writes that “Guests can purchase a 5, 8 or 12-item sampler lanyard to use at each festival cabin to explore sample-sized dishes and drink offerings with ease, starting at just $32. Pass Members can purchase an exclusive 15-item sampler for the same price as a 12-item sampler and SAVE 20%!”

COMING THIS SPRING!

Busch Gardens Food and Wine FestivalThe 2020 Food & Wine festival at Busch Gardens begins this spring, running every weekend from February 29-April 26. While you’re there, be sure to check out the incredible new IRON GWAZI attraction opening Spring 2020.

Best Way to Play:

Visit Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival and year-round events is with an Annual Pass that includes 12 months of unlimited visits, FREE parking, FREE Serengeti Safari, merchandise and dining discounts¹, and special limited-time perks throughout the year. Or for a limited time, buy a Busch Gardens Tampa Bay 2020 Fun Card and an Adventure Island 2020 Fun Card FREE – Florida families can take advantage of this limited time buy-one-get-one FREE offer and get unlimited year-round park admission to TWO until December 31, 2020².

¹All events and attractions listed are included with park admission. Upgrades, specialty food and beverage items are sold separately.

²Some restrictions apply; Blackout dates may apply

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