Suzannah Otis

Top 5 Ways to Welcome Fall in Walt Disney World

14 August 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

I know, I know, it’s still summer – it’s still hot – (over 100 here at Walt Disney World!) but I find myself drifting to thoughts of cool autumn breezes, falling leaves, and pumpkins…Okay, maybe some of those things don’t exactly happen here in Florida, but a girl can dream. Believe it or not, “Orlando Halloween” is right around the corner (that’s what we locals call it when Halloween descends upon the area in early August while we’re all sweating in the sun) and that means lots of fun options to get in the Fall spirit. And while I may still be working on my summer vacation reports, I still wanted to put together a list of my top 5 favorite things about this time of the year at the Walt Disney World Resort.

1. Autumn Decorations

Being from Massachusetts, I miss the leaves turning color, the cold, crisp air blowing in, and visions of pumpkins and hay bales at every turn. Luckily, Disney has you covered and makes Main Street, U.S.A. feel like the Autumn I grew up loving. You just have to find some air conditioning for the crisp air part. The decorations may also be found around the Downtown Disney area. It’ll be interesting to see how things are done this year with all the Disney Springs construction going on. For a fun treat, head over to Fort Wilderness and take a stroll (or rent a golf cart) to see the amazing decorations the guests there do at their campsites. It’s unbelievable how much some of them do!

2. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

One of my absolute favorite special ticketed events at Walt Disney World. You just can’t beat the fun you get to experience here with the twice-nightly “Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade” led by the infamous Headless Horseman, at 8:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. and “HalloWishes,” a green and orange fireworks spectacle complete with Disney villains, caps the evening festivities at 9:30 p.m. The parade is one of my favorites ever. The grave-diggers are so much fun and the costumes for all the parade sections are wonderful. It really gets you in the Halloween-y mood!

Of course the trick-or-treating is a key selling point of the party, kids and adults alike love getting candy and treats from all the different locations around the park. And don’t forget to get your special Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom card that’s special only for the party – show your party ticket and wrist band to pick up your card at the Main Street Firehouse during party hours.

And, keep reading below for some Halloween treats that you must try! Party dates for 2014 are: September 1, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26 & 28 and October 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30 & 31. Advance purchase (prior to event day) savings are available for select dates. Visit Disneyworld.com/Halloween for party dates and prices, or call 407-W-DISNEY.

Sorcerer's of the Magic Kingdom Halloween 2014 — Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party card 2014

3. Fall-themed Treats

Last year, we were really treated to some delicious treats during the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and later some were offered in the Magic Kingdom too. I hope all of these will be back this year, and maybe more new ones too! My absolute favorite was the pumpkin waffle sundae pictured below, it was the perfect mix of waffle, ice cream, and Fall! You can see more about these treats and more to do at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party on my Top 5 Must-do’s at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party post.

4. Halloween Merchandise

It’s always fun to see the new Halloween merchandise this time of year. Popcorn buckets, t-shirts, Mouse Ears and more! Soon we’ll have a place to purchase Haunted Mansion merchandise year round! Whether you’re looking for something haunted, or your favorite characters in their Halloween gear, there is something for everyone this time of year.

What’s your favorite type of Disney Halloween merchandise to take home? Is your house decorated with a Disney theme?

5. Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival

Another reason to visit Walt Disney World Resort this time of year is without a doubt, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. This year marks the 19th year of enjoying unique and delicious foods, wines, beers, desserts and more around the World Showcase at Epcot. This little festival has grown so much since it first began. There are now countless special dining and tasting events, classes, seminars, after hours and VIP parties, and just plain amazing food (and merchandise!). I love being able to walk around World Showcase at night (usually on a weeknight, it’s much less crowded!) and just enjoy things I may not ever normally try. It’s like a mobile date-night with a view. We’ll have more coverage of the items offered this year, so stay tuned and follow along on instagram, twitter and facebook for the latest photo-finds.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: Patagonia Marketplace — New this year: the Patagonia booth will offer Verlasso Salmon

So what are your favorite reasons to visit Walt Disney World this time of year? Have you been before? What are your must-do’s? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!

New Faces of Disney Disney Dooney and Bourke Print

9 August 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Spotted in Disneyland by Disney fan Jill L and shared by the fabulous DizThruBrownEyes (which you should all visit/follow/show some love) – this new bag appears to showcase all the original cartoon-style faces of Disney characters. It is one of the nylon style of bags and the large tote-looking style sells for $268. Wonder if more bag styles will appear and if we’ll get them over here in Walt Disney World soon! Until then, enjoy this sneak peek and thank you again to Jill and Elantrice for letting me share this photo here!

Disney Dooney & Bourke Faces — I have no idea what the actual name of this print is, but I think “Faces of Disney” makes sense, how about you?

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!

NEW LeSportsac Disney Pixar Monster’s Inc Print Bags

9 August 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Thanks to Zannaland reader Breana for letting me know LeSportsac had come out with this new print! It looks like a fun new collaboration for Disney Pixar and LeSportsac fans. From the LeSportsac site, we learn a little bit more about who designed this new Monster’s Inc print:

As the production designer of Pixar’s Monsters, Inc., Ratatouille, Presto and Cars 2, Academy Award® winner, Harley Jessup, has built a career designing films that both children and adults can love. For each Pixar feature, his mission has been to create a visually exciting, believable world with appealing characters all in support of a great story.

No mention if this is the first of many Disney Pixar designs, but I’m sure I’m not alone in hoping that it is! I like the hand-drawn look to it, and how the scenes are that of a bustling downtown Monstropolis complete with taxi cabs and “Broadway-like” show marquees. The new pattern seems to come in all of the usual bag styles as well. You can find out more and purchase bags on the LeSportsac site. I’m sure these will be showing up in Disney parks on both coasts soon as well. I’ll keep you posted as I discover anything more!

You can view the other Disney LeSportsac collaborations on Zannaland too!

Make Holiday Plans Now for Gaylord Palms ICE! and More

6 August 2014 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

After my recent visit a little further north of the hot Florida sun, the cooler weather got me thinking about the holiday season, so I was thrilled when this announcement about the Gaylord Palms ICE! theme and other Christmas events came through. This year, ICE! will feature The Nutcracker, one of my favorite holiday tales and one with a personal connection – my mother (a former professional ballerina) played the Sugar Plum Fairy for the Boston Ballet many years ago and it’s always been a family tradition to watch or experience The Nutcracker somehow each year. I think The Nutcracker is a perfect theme for the amazing ice sculptures featured at Gaylord Palms and can’t wait to see it in person. I’ll have to bring my mom too! This year they’ve also added Alpine Snow Tubing to the ICE! festivities. Can’t wait!

Here is more about ICE! and the other Christmas offerings at Gaylord Palms, which is beautiful year-round, but even more so during the holidays:

ICE! Featuring The Nutcracker

Dreams of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Mouse King will come to life in a full-on frozen wonderland this winter during Christmas at Gaylord Palms. On Nov. 15 scenes from everyone’s favorite ballet, the Nutcracker, will be reimagined in nearly 2 million pounds of hand-carved vibrant ice sculptures. ICE! will feature four slippery ice slides and live carving stations inside of the Artisans in Action Frostbite Factory.

New in 2014

That’s not the only exciting happening during this year’s annual Christmas at Gaylord Palms. Guests can now experience the rush – Alpine Rush Snow Tubing – an 18’ 8-lane giant snow hill created with 1.5 million pounds of real Florida snow. Children and adults of all ages will frolic with delight as they speed down these snow covered hills.

The Christmas Experience

Christmas at Gaylord Palms is a mystical experience that boasts the true nature of the season all under a glass enclosed atrium. Lush gardens sprinkled with poinsettias, grand holiday displays and more than 2 million twinkling lights. Don’t forget the famous 54-foot-tall majestic Christmas tree; character dining and meet and greets; delectable holiday dining; Cookies with Mrs. Claus and awe-inspiring live entertainment that crowds have grown to love including the rhythmic Luminescence show.

With so much to see and do, the best way to experience Christmas at Gaylord Palms is to spend the night with us. Packages are now on sale at ChristmasAtGaylordPalms.com.

ICE! is open daily from Nov. 15, 2014 to Jan. 4, 2015, including holidays. The Christmas experience begins Nov. 21, 2014. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.ChristmasAtGaylordPalms.com. There are many specials, Florida resident deals and more to choose from!

Imagination By The Cup – Disney And Joffrey Flavors At Home

6 August 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Now this is the kind of partnership I love. Disney and coffee. Joffrey’s Coffee, which has had a presence at Walt Disney World since 1995 and is now served at many locations on both coasts, is now creating specialty coffee blends based on signature Disney parks and resorts restaurants. But more than just the coffee blends, which I’ll speak about in a moment, I love that Joffrey’s has taken the time and effort to create really unique and fun labels for the different coffee types. There are great descriptions for each type, showing they really know the restaurants they are featuring. In this day and age of mass-produced homogenized merchandise and souvenirs, it’s refreshing (on more than one level!) to see these new products with a unique look and taste.

The Disney Parks Blog reported earlier about the specialty coffees from Walt Disney World and Disneyland restaurants and resorts, but I know a little secret – there’s actually another coffee being produced for Markham’s restaurant in the Golden Oak community. The only catch with that is you have to be dining at Markham’s to enjoy that blend (one of the many benefits of residency!)

From Walt Disney World Resort, there’s a new coffee for Tusker House Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, The Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, The Wave … of American Flavors and California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Cítricos and Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, as well as Artist Point from Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Jiko, and Flavors of Africa from Boma at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, and two blends from Flying Fish Cafe at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort: regular and espresso. At Disneyland Resort, both Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland Hotel have their own special coffees along with Carthay Circle from Disney California Adventure. In addition, there is a “French Bistro” blend in regular and decaf, which emulates the in-room coffee available at Disney resorts.

Is it bad that I want to try them all to figure out my favorites? The absolute best part is that you can order the 17 flavors above online and enjoy them year round! The vary from medium to full to dark roast with 100% specialty grade Arabica beans. Prices range from $12.95-14.95 for 16 oz and Joffrey’s offers free shipping for orders over $50 right now. These will make the perfect gifts for birthdays and holidays coming up too! I’d write more but I really have to head over and order some coffee right now. If you order and try any of the Joffrey’s Disney Parks & Resorts blends, I’d love to hear what you think!

NEW Club 33 Disney Dooney & Bourke Bag

4 August 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

This may just be the most exclusive of the Disney Dooney & Bourke bags to date – to coincide with the redesign of Club 33, a brand new Disney Dooney & Bourke has been added to the Club 33 logo merchandise items. This photo was graciously given to us by Ashley Matthau, friend and Disneyland and Club 33-lover extraordinaire. You can follow her on twitter and instagram. Thanks, Ashley! The bag sells for $195, and the Club 33 member must be present with membership card to purchase. but as for now, they are sold out. Hopefully more will come back in soon! Simple, classic Dooney & Bourke with a hang tag featuring the new Club 33 logo. Love it!

Here are two more photos of the hang tag and the interior thanks to my other friend Ashley who also purchased one! Thanks, Ashley! Follow her on twitter and instagram too!

In the mean time, if you’re wondering about the Club 33 refurbishment, my friend Amanda has a gorgeous set of photos over at her site, Where’s Amanda. I will definitely miss the old Club 33 but these new photos are just beautiful. Here’s a sneak peek at the photos you’ll find there:

Summer Adventures: Stone Mountain in Georgia

1 August 2014 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

On to part two of our epic Summer Family Road Trip – after the Georgia Aquarium, we planned to head to Stone Mountain to explore the state park and experience the famous laser light show at night. However, the leaving at 3am, driving 7 hours, and walking in an aquarium for about 7 more, it was starting to catch up to us. We checked in to our hotel for the night, freshened up and grabbed a quick dinner. It was kind of late, around 7:30, by the time we decided to head over to Stone Mountain, but I at least wanted to see it and see the laser show. I figured we could come back another time and spend the day here, because there really is a lot to explore and do.

As we drove down the road leading to Stone Mountain, we just curved a little bit and the giant mountain loomed before us. Now I know there are many, many mountains bigger than this, but my kids only remember living in flat flat flat Florida, and I haven’t been back to Massachusetts where I grew up, or Virginia where I lived briefly since 2004 and 1987 respectively. And although we had been to California and Disneyland, the San Gabriel mountains were far enough off in the distance that Stone Mountain was pretty impressive to us all. And really, it IS impressive in its own right. Less than 20 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Atlanta, lies this monolith of stone, surrounded by beautiful forests and lakes and natural beauty. After being in the car and inside for most of the previous night and day, we were all ready for some fresh air.

I really had no idea just how much there was to do at Stone Mountain. There are nature trails, a golf course, a quarry exhibit, a grist mill, a carillon, fishing in the lakes, the mountain itself and a sky lift up to the top, and on top of all that, a little amusement park area with kids activities and water fun, 3-D movies. mini-golf and more. On top of that, they have Duck tours, and a railroad for train rides. It really is at least a whole day’s worth of fun.

We got there right as everything was closing down, and though I would’ve loved to do the Sky Ride or the train around the park, it just didn’t work out. So we got our tickets for the laser show and went down to the huge lawn area in front of the mountain and waited for it to start. It really is a fun, family atmosphere at Stone Mountain, with families playing ball and frisbee, having picnic dinners on blankets, you could just tell that for generations, this was a family tradition to come here and enjoy the park and the nighttime show too. Coming from a world of theme parks, this was great to see.

There are many ticket options to enjoy the various activities and attractions at Stone Mountain, including tickets to see the laser show in special terraced seating, which includes drinks and snacks for everyone in your party to enjoy the show. There is another option for a dinner package, which includes a traditional southern dinner before the show starts. They even have a member pass which pays for itself in two visits, which I just may look into myself!

The laser show was a fun tribute to all things Georgia. Again, you definitely got the sense that it was a time-honored local tradition. Fireworks capped off the show with a very patriotic finale to the night. Then began the trek back to the car, similar to trying to leave Epcot after the 4th of July. Being theme park experts, we took that in stride, but those not used to that kind of a crowd and wait in the parking lot should be prepared. It was beautiful to see the mountain lit up at night.

All in all, I’m very glad we got to experience a little taste of Stone Mountain, and definitely want to return for the day to explore all parts of it. We had a wonderful whirlwind visit to Atlanta, and were now ready for a good night’s sleep before we began the next leg of our journey, into new territory, bigger mountains, and more amazing memories. Stay tuned for part 3!

First Look: Into the Woods Trailer and Preview Images

31 July 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

I fondly remember when “Into the Woods” came out on Broadway, and though I’ve never seen it, it was always a favorite among my theatre-nerd pals and it does contain one of my very favorite songs, “Children Will Listen”. Now Disney is making it into a full-length feature film and from the looks of the trailer below, it will be epic-ly beautiful. I can’t wait for Christmas to see the whole movie!

Some notes about Into the Woods:

“Into the Woods” premiered on Broadway on Nov. 5, 1987, at the Martin Beck Theatre. The production, which ran for 764 performances, won Tony® Awards for best score, best book and best actress in a musical. Among other awards, the musical received five Drama Desk awards, including best musical. “Into the Woods” has been produced around the world, including a 1988 U.S. tour, a 1990 West End production, Broadway and London revivals, in addition to a television production, DVD recording and a 10-year-anniversary concert.
The big-screen adaptation welcomes songs from the stage musical, including “Children Will Listen,” “Giants in the Sky,” “On the Steps of the Palace,” “No One Is Alone” and “Agony,” among others.
The award-winning production team includes Dion Beebe (“Collateral,” “Chicago,” “Nine”), Oscar® winner for the Marshall-helmed “Memoirs of a Geisha,” as director of photography. Dennis Gassner (“Skyfall,” “Quantum of Solace”), who won his own Oscar for “Bugsy,” serves as production designer, and three-time Oscar winner Colleen Atwood (“Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Chicago,” “Alice In Wonderland”) is costume designer.

Official trailer for Into the Woods:

For those unfamiliar, here is the official info about the story:

“Into the Woods” is a modern twist on several of the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories and exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests. This humorous and heartfelt musical follows the classic tales of Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), Jack and the Beanstalk (Daniel Huttlestone), and Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy)—all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife (James Corden & Emily Blunt), their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch (Meryl Streep) who has put a curse on them.

Rob Marshall, the acclaimed filmmaker behind the Academy Award®-winning musical “Chicago” and Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” directs the film, which is based on the Tony®-winning original musical by James Lapine, who also penned the screenplay, and legendary composer Stephen Sondheim, who provides the music and lyrics. Produced by Marshall, John DeLuca, “Wicked” producer Marc Platt and Callum McDougall, “Into the Woods” will be released in theaters Dec. 25, 2014.

Here are more images from the filming (click to enlarge to a slideshow):

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy’s Surprising Fit in the Marvel Universe

31 July 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

I had avoided most of the previews and trailers of Guardians of the Galaxy, other than a short trailer at last year’s D23 Expo out in Anaheim. Basically, what that trailer told me was that it was sci-fi, not your average superhero movie, and there was a raccoon and a tree involved. So walking into the theatre last night, that’s pretty much all I knew, other than it had been getting great buzz online from those who had seen screenings. And rightly so, as I found myself loving it from frame one.

I don’t want to give away too much from the film, as I like to think of the Marvel Universe as a giant puzzle, so when you get these little pieces from the various films or after-the-credits tags, it’s quite satisfying (for me anyway) to be able to say “ohhhh, that’s what that means.” or “that’s who that is!” I am certainly no comic book expert, other than reading Donald Duck, Casper, Richie Rich, and Archie comics on summer vacations in Maine. But Guardians of the Galaxy made me want to read Marvel comics. And I really think that is a testament to the storyline and fun of this movie. It was not so much about any one character like Iron Man and his anxiety issues or Captain America trying to fit in to today’s society, it was more about a group of unlikely friends and heroes who did great things despite their background and issues. And can’t we all relate to that in some way?

The movie was filled with amazing visuals, music and special effects that are everything you want in a summer action film. I really loved the various costumes and color choices throughout the movie. The space flight and fight scenes are enough to keep any Marvel fan happy too. I started out worrying that I wouldn’t be able to keep all of these new characters and their place in the Marvel world straight, but by the end, it all made sense and of course, made me wanting more and I can’t wait to see where the story takes us next. Best of all, at the end of the film, we are promised that “The Guardians of the Galaxy Will Return” which is a win win for everyone!

The special effects were spot on…I never thought “Oh, that’s just computer animation” and it was totally believable that there was a talking raccoon and a walking and sort-of-talking tree on screen. Everything just fit seamlessly and I loved every minute of it.

Parents Guide: Parents should be aware that there are a lot of non G-rated words in this movie, some crass humor and lots and lots of space fighting and real fighting. But nothing too graphic or gory. If your little person enjoys the other Marvel films or Star Wars movies, you should be fine.

Run, don’t walk to the theatre to see Guardians of the Galaxy, you won’t regret it! It opens today in many theatres and everywhere on August 1.

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Four Seasons Orlando Elevates Pool-Side Dining at PB&G

31 July 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

On our recent sneak peek at the dining options at the Four Seasons Orlando, one of my favorite spots was PB&G, which stands for Pool Bar & Grill. Normally, I think of a pool-side restaurant as a sort of last resort for dining, but this is definitely not the case at the Four Seasons. Much like everything else at a Four Seasons resort, this is done right – you will not find an overcooked burger and fries here, this is fine dining with a southern smokehouse twist.

We sampled the Rotisserie Chicken, served on potato salad with dill, Beef brisket with sauerkraut coleslaw on rye , and Oysters “roc”a fella with spinach puree, smoked aioli, bacon breadcrumbs, as well as the deviled eggs with caviar. These are all things I would probably never have ordered on my own, but I always like to try things when offered like this so I can share them with you (like the seared tuna at Ravello!) and I was surprised at how much I loved everything.

The rotisserie chicken was fork tender and really easy to eat and the potato salad was a great texture and flavor, and wins points for the brown bag presentation. So adorable. The beef brisket was a little more challenging to eat, but no less delicious and a great combo of flavors. The oyster was fried (I probably would not have been daring enough to eat it raw) and tasted great. Coming from New England, I’m used to fried oysters and clams and this reminded me of that, but with a very light, unique breading. The deviled eggs were also fun, and the caviar on top was a great way to make a traditional bbq item more elevated. Families will be happy to know they have great kids options as well, from chicken fingers to bbq, served in a fun kids meal box with activity menu.

PB&G also has a full bar with beers on tap and a signature Absolut Thyme – iced tea with Absolut Peach and a sprig of fresh thyme. Refreshing for a hot Florida summer day, but also dangerously delicious! All seating in PB&G overlooks the lake adjacent to the adult Oasis pool and the family water park area. The hours are from 11am – 6pm presently, as the pool lighting as not been installed as of yet. Reservations are recommended here as well, as I’m sure it will be a very popular choice among guests. If I were staying at the Four Seasons, this would be a must-do for dining.

See more PB&G photos in this gallery (click to enlarge to slideshow):