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Disneyland Resort

Special Disneyland 60th Ears-100% of Price Donated to Make-A-Wish!

22 February 2016 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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I wanted to share this story that was recently posted on the Disney Parks Blog – I’m sure by now you’ve seen on Facebook or Instagram or Twitter about the #ShareYourEars campaign where Disney Parks will donate $5 to Make-A-Wish for each photo with Mouse Ears (you can even make your own out of anything!) uploaded to the above social media sites, with the hashtag #ShareYourEars, up to one million dollars. Now there is another way to contribute to such a great cause, and get some new Ears in the process! Check out Michelle Harker’s post below:

Make-A-Wish Ears

I have even more exciting news! One hundred percent – 100%! – of the $19.95 sale price (exclusive of sales tax) of the ear hat shown above will be donated to Make-A-Wish — helping make wishes come true around the world for children with life-threatening medical conditions. No discounts apply. Purchasing limits will apply, and this particular ear hat will be available at Disneyland Resort only at the following locations.

Disneyland park – Disney Showcase and Emporium

Disney California Adventure park – Elias & Co.

Downtown Disney District – World of Disney Store

Well done, Disney! And if anyone’s in Disneyland and wants to pick me up some, let me know! 😉

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Filed Under: Disney Merchandise, Disney Parks, Resorts, & Entertainment, Disneyland Resort, Fundraising and Charities Tagged With: #ShareYourEars, Disney parks, Disneyland, Disneyland 60, Disneyland 60th, Ear hats, Make-A-Wish, Mouse ear hats, Share Your Ears

D23…and Me (and You)

12 August 2015 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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D23 ExpoLike many other posts which I begin here lately, this one has been brewing a while, probably since the EPCOT 30 celebration put on by D23 back in *gulp* 2012…wow, has it really been that long? Well anyway, I wanted to say a lot about D23 back then, and since that time, my sentiments have only grown. I feel that I should preface this by saying that, yes, I am a charter D23 member. Growing up in the 1980’s and falling in love with the Walt Disney World of that time, and then EPCOT Center, I was lucky enough to have parents who were equally as interested and full of love for the parks. As a result, we subscribed to Disney News in our small town of Sharon, Massachusetts, and even joined the Magic Kingdom Club when it was available as a non-corporate membership. I still have that vinyl tote bag and gold membership card that came with the yearly fee to join. So joining D23 seemed like a natural thing to do, to get more knowledge and information about something you love. You got a slick magazine full of interesting articles on current and historical Disney, and the ability to attend special events. More importantly, I felt like I was supporting an arm of the company which held the same values and love for Disney past that I did. So I gladly joined and am a gold member to this day.

There has been some sharp criticism of D23 itself by hardcore fans, noting the cross-promotion or really over-synergisation (if that’s not a word. it is now) of whatever current flavor-of-the-month Disney Channel, Disney Jr., or Disney Consumer Products was strutting out on display. I do agree that most of those who joined D23 did so for the historical aspect; the archives, the trivia, the peek or entrance into otherwise unseen experiences. However, much as we like to think we are Disney’s most important fans (those with a devout love of the company’s storied past achievements and promise for the future), who will put our wallets where our mouths are when presented with the right choices, there simply aren’t enough of us to warrant a separate, exclusive club, without dipping into the overflowing pond that is families, kids, and more kids. After all, who would buy all of the things without the constant suggestion from kids about how they HAVE to have the newest whatever from the newest show on Disney Jr.? I’m oversimplifying of course, but obviously the mass-market is where the money and the success is. Bottom line, for now, you have to endure the latest Disney pop sensation to justify an archives exhibit, presentations by Tony Baxter, and other things that make a Disney nerd’s heart go a-flutter. In a perfect world, that wouldn’t be the case, but there you go.

Now where the concept of D23 just explodes (which is also what happens to the brains of most attendees), is at the special multi-day events, where the best and the brightest come together to bring you, well, the best and the brightest insights into Disney’s past, present, and future, through concept art, Imagineering processes, music, construction, and more. Many times, these stories are told straight from the horse’s mouth, when present or retired Disney cast members, Imagineers, Legends, and archivists share the information.

The first of these events was the D23 Expo in 2009. At that time, I was personally just starting down my blogging and “public” (for lack of a better term regarding my forays into the social media channels of the Disney community) path of Disney love. The concept of me leaving my three children (the youngest not even one at the time) and flying off to the far-off country of California to experience this “Expo” chock-full of Disney history and more, was beyond foreign to me. I’ve mentioned before that before my first visit to California (which I’ll expand on in a moment), the idea of flying to California just seemed an unreachable, unattainable, unthinkable option. What can I say, I was (not-so-)young and uninformed. Before my stint on the Walt Disney World Moms Panel (now Disney Parks Moms Panel) and the training weekend involved, I had *never* left my children for more than a few hours or a sleepover at Grammie’s house. Meeting friends in the local Disney community along with being on the panel led to the desire to simply do more; learn more, experience more and, as silly as it sounds, live more. Without straying off-topic too much, let’s just say I was a very sheltered person in many ways for many years. Painfully shy in person (ok this is still pretty true today), I had zero self-confidence and pretty much lived my life the way I always had, because it’s all I knew. Again, I don’t want to stray too much because that’s really another whole blog post for perhaps a different site altogether, but I must note that I by no means didn’t enjoy or appreciate my role as a mother to my children. But what followed in the months after I began blogging and doing more was that the whole world (though I still stuck to the Disney areas for the most part) opened up to me. So, while I missed out on the first D23 Expo, and followed along on live streams and tweets and instagrams of friends there, I decided that I could and would attend the first Destination D here in Walt Disney World. Again, as corny as this must sound, that event really changed my life.

D23Expo2015The Destination D events are held on the even years in between the Expos (except for the first WDW one which was in 2011), and are smaller, more concentrated, less stressful events focusing solely on a particular aspect or two of Disney history. The first one was held in Disneyland and focused on just that: Disneyland. I missed that one too, because of that whole California-being-a-far-off land-that-I-still-couldn’t-possibly-get-to thing. The next one, in Walt Disney World, focused on vintage WDW to celebrate the resort’s 40th birthday (and also combined a very hot, very arduous scavenger/trivia hunt which has not been duplicated since).

To say I fell in love, would be a very severe understatement. The things we got to see were like viewing my childhood on a highlights reel, with bonus features of the stuff I missed before I was born. We heard from some of the original folks involved in the creation of Walt Disney World, from its inception to land purchases to infrastructure to making it all a reality. As a fan like most all of us in the room were, hearing these amazing tales and insights was such an honor. The real hit of the event were the three Imagineers, Jason Surrell (now with Universal but whose spirit still very much haunts the Disney community), Jason Grandt, and Alex Wright. These three had been making their presence and personalities known for months on twitter, and seeing them interact in person was a treat. Like a set of brothers giving each other an increasingly harder time each time they spoke, it was great fun, along with the fact that they shared wonderful information about their projects and the company. Oh, and to top all of that off, Richard Sherman appeared to play and sing our favorites, along with the surprise arrival of the original Dreamfinder, Ron Schneider, in full costume, with Figment. Yes, 8 year-old me was in heaven. In addition, I had the joy of meeting people I had only ever interacted with on twitter, and realizing this was actually real life. So I decided then and there, that I would make every effort to attend every future D23 event like this that I could.

Despite this new-found enthusiasm for Disney history, the Disney community, and D23 events, California and the 2011 D23 Expo still seemed sooo out of reach. When a couple of friends showed me how it could actually be affordable (ahh, I miss airfares to CA for under $300…) and I was able to work it out with my family at home, I finally took that giant leap and got myself to Disneyland. And THERE, my life truly changed. As I’ve written before, I fell head-over-heels in gushy, messy, ridiculously over-the-top in L-O-V-E with Disneyland. Everything people had warned me I wouldn’t like about Disneyland (it’s so small! it’s old! there’s so much more at WDW!) were the exact reasons I fell in love. It was perfection to me, wrapped up in a tiny little jewel-box of a park, drenched in history and dripping in emotions. Emotions I didn’t really know what to do with. I had never been a Disneyland local. I hadn’t grown up with that park, or during the time of Walt’s direct impact on it, so why was this place affecting me so? Maybe I had just been a WDW local for too long, and experiencing something new yet still familiar was just the right answer to an equation I didn’t know I’d tried to solve. Maybe it was the people I was with, sharing stories of their childhood memories there as well as park history and lore. Whatever it was, I drank it all in, and didn’t want to leave. As a result, I spend most of my time in Orlando trying to figure out how I can get back to Disneyland. And now I seem to have gone off on a tangent.

Well, really, it’s not too much of a tangent, since D23 is what brought me into the world of Disneyland, making it attainable and within reach, and worth getting to (not that Disneyland isn’t worth getting to on its own, but as an east coast girl who’d only ever been as far west as Chicago one time, having that much more reason to fly all the way to California was just what I needed). Since then, I went back to Disneyland for the Destination D in 2012, attended the amazing EPCOT 30 event, back to Disneyland for the 2013 Expo, the second Destination D in WDW, and now, the 2015 Expo will begin in just a few days and I’ll be there.

You can find hundreds of accounts of the events and happenings within these D23 events, from live blogging to play-by-plays to full video of presentations. But what those can’t convey are the the feelings that come with seeing these sometimes once-in-a-lifetime events in person. Beyond the big Hollywood stars that appear during the Studios presentations, or even the oft-anticipated news from Parks & Resorts on the Next Big Thing, it is the less-publicized little gems where you hear those first-hand stories, or see those never-before-seen photos or film footage of extinct attractions or concept art that really draw me to D23 and its productions. Sure, there are countless hours spent waiting in line to secure a seat at the bigger showcases, but they are for the most part worth it. And those gems will show themselves, and you’ll find yourself having another eye-opening epiphany of, “wow, this is why I became a Disney fan.”

D23 AppAnd to think, I initially intended this post to be a sort of planning guide or tips for getting the most out of the D23 Expo…well, in a way, perhaps it is. Because getting the most out of any event, is remembering and realizing why you wanted to take part in it to begin with, right? You could focus on the lines, the fact that some will get shut out of seeing presentations they want to see, some merchandise you really want may be sold out, and the parks will be extra crowded. But, you are enveloped in history and surrounded by love for a company and a place and people who share that love. And you get to do it all right across the street from Disneyland. What could be better? So if you haven’t ever been to a D23 event or an Expo, think about why you want to go and focus on those things as you look at the schedule or plan your attack on the day. You won’t see everything. You will be tired. You will probably even get cranky. But that’s okay. When it’s all over, you may find you even miss those lines, and what you got to experience at the end of them.

So, a heartfelt thank you to D23 for making me sit up and take notice of my passions and things I could do to further develop them and even grow a bit as a person because of it. Now I’m flying to Disneyland for the 8th time in 4 years like it’s nothing. And I couldn’t be happier with where I’m heading.


 

To follow along with my D23 Expo 2015 adventures, add me on twitter: @zannaland, instagram: @zannaland, facebook.com/zannaland, or even snapchat as zannadeux. I may blog during the Expo, but most likely my updates will be on the above channels, as I tend to spend all my possible hours not at the Expo in Disneyland.

I’m excited to share my experiences with you and hope you enjoy following along. And if you were on the fence about joining D23, maybe I’ve convinced you a little bit to jump over to this side. If you’re already convinced and attending the Expo, I hope to see you there! I do have that shy/awkward thing going on, but I still love meeting new people at these events!

For all of the official scoop on the D23 Expo 2015 presentations and events, follow @DisneyD23 on twitter, facebook and instagram too. You can see a schedule of all the events too and more in-depth descriptions of the major stage presentations.

By way of disclaimer, I was provided with a single media pass for the D23 2015 Expo. That has not swayed my opinions in any way, all of the above is really me and views, like ’em or not. 

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Filed Under: Commentary Land, D23 Expo, Disney Special Events, Disneyland Resort, Top Stories Tagged With: D23, D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015, Destination D, Disney archives, Disney D23, Disney history, disney imagineers, Disneyland60, DL60, Epcot 30, EPCOT30, vintage disney, WDW40

The Disneyland Difference

17 July 2015 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

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waltcastle
I’ve wanted to write a post with this title since my first visit to Disneyland in 2011. I will probably still write about the different types of Disneyland differences in future posts, but today, it’s all about the intangible.

The date of my first visit is actually embarrassing to admit – a lifelong Disney fan such as myself only visiting the original park that started it all, just 4 short years ago. And yet, I feel such love and devotion to this place, it’s almost as if I’ve now edited it into my childhood memories and have meshed its history with my own. How can that be, you may wonder? How can a theme park in the former Anaheim orange groves, a place with rides and parades and corn dogs have so much impact on a girl that grew up in the 70’s and 80’s in New England?

Well, the answer to that question could be found at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. Oddly, I didn’t visit that spot until last September, but after roaming through its rooms and soaking up every chapter of the Walt Disney story on two different visits now, I had so much more respect, love and reverence for the man behind the name. The why of Disneyland can be found there. The how of Disneyland can be found there, along with all of Walt’s history and accomplishments. Of course I knew Walt’s story before I went to Disneyland, visiting the museum just expounded that knowledge and respect. So is that the answer? Is Walt himself the “Disneyland Difference”? In a word, yes. In many more words, continue reading…

Obviously, Walt is no longer walking down Main Street, or spending the night in the family apartment above the firehouse. But the fact that he did, the fact that he put so much of himself into his park and in turn into its stewards, is truly the definition of a legacy. Much like oral traditions passed down from family to family, the Walt Disney story, the Walt Disney philosophy and work ethic and determination and desire to make families happy and entertained – has lived on and spread like the unfurling roots of a great tree.

As with all great figures in history, Walt had his own disciples to spread his good word over the years. I don’t mean that in an irreverent or sarcastic way, I mean it very seriously. Walt had a different way of doing things from the very start. If he had an idea, and he couldn’t make it work, he didn’t give up on it, he figured out a new way to make it happen. That could mean a completely new way of creating and sharing animation, it could mean hiring great people to make his ideas come to pass, or it could mean a completely new way of designing and building a family amusement park. Because of his ideas, and his ideals, as his reputation grew, so did people’s desire to work with him. Animators led the way for Imagineers, and together they carried on the work, as well as the quality of work, that Walt established from the start. In addition to the way Walt did things, he had a very particular way of telling the story he wanted to tell. And those two combinations are forever etched within the walkways and walls of Disneyland. While the park has changed over the years, there are still stories which will never evanesce from the grounds, no matter how many other things may.

Disneyland DedicationWalt did not just want to have us ride a merry-go-round or a train, he wanted to take us on an adventure, and be a part of the story along the way. As a result, we do leave the world behind and enter into a world of yesteryear, fantasy, adventure, or tomorrow. Walt found the perfect equation to make everyone happy in his park, with the caveat that it would never be finished. The initial fear from investors that the idea would be a flop and fail within weeks was proven wrong within days. Turns out we did want to remember the past and hope for the future, and we wanted to do it again and again.

When Walt was no longer around to tell his stories, others passed on the tradition. When you get a corn dog from the Little Red Wagon, or board a pirate ship to fly over London, you may be helped by someone who’s mother worked in the same park, or who’s grandmother remembers the time she visited the park and Walt was there, waving to guests. The stories, the legends, the myths, are passed on. We are lucky enough to still have some of those first-hand stories shared by original Imagineers, or Disney Legends like Richard Sherman. I think any of us would happily sit in a room and listen to them talk for hours, still fondly remembering the man and his ideas, as if Walt had just walked out of the room a minute before.

The spirit and energy that has been there since day one hovers over the park like an invisible cloud, enveloping the park and all within it. From the crowded moments when you just want to get a FastPass to ride Space Mountain one more time, to the quiet moments of solitude, when it’s just the music, the twinkling lights, and the faint scent of popcorn; it’s all still there. The simple joy. The memories. The promise.

Some of those same experiences may be felt in Walt Disney World and other Disney parks, but none of them will ever duplicate the uniqueness, the charm, and yes, the comfort that is Disneyland. Perhaps that is why this little girl who grew up in far off Massachusetts and had only ever visited Walt Disney World in its vast expanse of family fun, felt instantly at home, walking down the very first Main Street, U.S.A. Much like putting on prescription glasses for the first time and seeing every leaf – vibrant and crisply outlined on every tree; Disneyland is concentrated, amplified Disney magic. Which I know, sounds corny and cliched, but there is no other way to describe it: the perfect storm of all the senses coming to life, even the ones which lie hidden within our hearts and our minds and cannot be put into words (despite my feeble attempts to do so).

If you were to take away all of the walk-around characters, all of the merchandise and specialty-anything at Disneyland today, it would still be the Happiest Place on Earth. That moniker does not come from profits or stockholders or board room decisions. It comes from the heart of the park, which is, in fact, the heart of its guests, and in turn its cast members. Walt knew that, and succeeded at putting hopes and dreams behind a turnstile, where you could visit them any time you wanted. Disneyland itself became our best friend. Our first love. Our stolen kiss under the stairs. Our tears of remembrance. Our hope for a better tomorrow. Our happily ever after.

Happy Birthday, Disneyland. It may have taken me a while, but I found my way to you. And much like the person who guided me to you on my first visit, you were worth waiting for.

Here’s to 60 times 60 more years of memories to come.

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Filed Under: Commentary Land, Disney Past, Disneyland Resort, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Disney legacy, Disney memories, Disney past, Disneyland, Disneyland 60, Disneyland Anniversary, Disneyland difference, Disneyland memories, Disneyland opening day, disneyland park, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney, Walt Disney Family Museum

New Tomorrowland Movie Posters and Trailer – Review of the Epcot Sneak Peek

20 April 2015 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Over the weekend, an extended preview began on both coasts to showcase Tomorrowland’s May 22nd release. In Epcot, the preview took the place of the much beloved (or much despised from some fans who don’t “get it”) Captain EO starring Michael Jackson. I am firmly in the LOVE category with Captain EO, but I feel like us getting a second chance to enjoy the rag tag band of space misfits led by the infamous Captain EO, and the film itself getting a second life among a new generation was a great gift from Disney to us. I would love if ALL of Epcot could return to its 1980’s glory, but I hold out no hope for that happening any time soon. So if we must say goodbye again to our Captain and his friends, what better to replace them than a film which espouses the EPCOT and futurist philosophy so many of us hold so dear.

The Imagineers have given the Magic Eye Theatre a nice little overlay of Tomorrowland concept art, paired with a fun pre-show featuring interviews with Damon Lindeloff and Brad Bird, relating the movie back to Walt Disney and his vision of the future. The preview itself is a wonderful, long look at the film. I was expecting a 5-10 minute extended trailer, but this was much more. I loved it and it made me even more excited to see the film when it opens. Having taken part in some of The Optimist game last summer at the D23 Expo and seeing part of the filming process at D23’s Destination D last November, I’m pretty invested in this movie and hopeful for its success.

The extended preview is at Epcot as mentioned, and also in Tomorrowland in Disneyland until the movie opens. After that, who knows what the future holds…

Tomorrowland extended preview
Tomorrowland extended preview
Tomorrowland extended preview
Tomorrowland extended preview
Tomorrowland extended preview
Tomorrowland extended preview
Tomorrowland extended preview
Tomorrowland extended preview
Tomorrowland extended preview
Tomorrowland extended preview

Here are the newest Tomorrowland movie posters plus the new IMAX poster just released. If you want to learn more about a few of these characters, check out the preview in the parks!

 

Tomorrowland Young Frank
Tomorrowland Frank
Tomorrowland IMAX poster
Tomorrowland Casey
Tomorrowland Athena

 

The latest Tomorrowland trailer just arrived in my inbox – this is a completely different look at the film! I’m not sure how much of the movie will be this action-packed, but this will certainly interest a whole different set of movie-goers from just the history buffs obsessed with the 1964  World’s Fair…what do you think? This may be one of very few films I actually think would be worth viewing in IMAX!

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Filed Under: D23 Expo, Disney Special Events, Disneyland Resort, Movies & Books, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Brad Bird, Captain EO, D23 Destination D, D23 Expo, Damon Lindelof, Destination D, Disneyland, Epcot, Tomorrowland, Tomorrowland IMAX poster, Tomorrowland movie, Tomorrowland movie posters, Tomorrowland sneak peek, Tomorrowland trailer

New Faces of Disney Disney Dooney and Bourke Print

9 August 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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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!

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Filed Under: Disney Merchandise, Disneyland Resort, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Daisy, designer bags, designer purses, Disney bags, Disney Dooney, Disney Dooney & Bourke, Disney faces, Disney Merchandise, Disney purses, Disneyland, Disneyland Dooney, DizThruBrownEyes, Donald, Dooney & Bourke, Goofy, mickey, Minnie, pluto

VIDEO: Secret of the Wings Skating Rink Opens at Disneyland’s Downtown Disney District

24 October 2012 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

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In a fun tie-in with the newest Disney Fairies installment – Secret of the Wings, the Downtown Disney District opened a skating rink themed to the movie. For readers that haven’t ventured out west, the Downtown Disney District is a lively promenade featuring unique shopping and dining, as well as exciting nighttime entertainment. Located just outside the Parks and adjacent to the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort, the Downtown Disney District offers something for everyone from early morning until late at night.

Secret of the Wings Skating Rink

This magical ice skating rink will be located between AMC 12 Theatres and the ESPN Zone, and will invite guests of all ages to glide along to special music and lighting effects. Skates will be available for rent, and helmets will be provided and required for each skater’s safety. Starting November 12, a special holiday village will surround the rink, with themed chalets where guests can purchase seasonal foods and merchandise. Sounds adorable!

Here’s a video with details from the opening ceremony and interviews from the Downtown Disney general manager as well as the Secret of the Wings filmmakers:

 

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Filed Under: Disney News, Disney Special Events, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Tagged With: disney fairies, Disneyland, Disneyland Resort, Disneyland skating rink, Downtown Diskey skating, Downtown Disney, Downtown Disney District, Secret of the Wings, Secret of the Wings Rink, skating rink, Tink Rink, tinker bell

Tiny Top Hats Take Over Disney Parks!

7 October 2012 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

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Nicole and Suzannah and tiny hats
My friend Nicole and I with our tiny hats!

During my first-ever visit to Disneyland in August of 2011, my friend and I kept seeing people wearing these adorable tiny top hats. We finally stopped someone and asked where they got theirs. The Mad Hatter, we were told. So we headed directly there and purchased matching Tinker Bell tiny hats. And wore them ALL.DAY. It was a wonderful memory and we thought we were being so cool by getting something that only existed in Disneyland. Well, come to find out, thanks to Twitter, Walt Disney World had the same hats. Wah wah. Oh well. We still had so much fun wearing them and all I have to do is look at that hat in my room and smile.

Since then, tiny hats have sort of exploded in Disney Parks. They now compete with Mouse Ear Hats and Mouse Ear Bands as the most popular headpiece to see around the parks. So far I’ve seen our Tinker Bell hat, a Cheshire Cat striped one, a Mad Hatter hat, and now a few more from the Mad T party in Disney California Adventure. Last night at Downtown Disney’s World of Disney here in Walt Disney World, I saw three new hats, all villain-themed. In addition, another kind of hat [I’m sure it has a name, but I am unsure of its official title – a fascinator? cocktail hat?] has appeared in the Parks. I saw the Ariel version, complete with tiny Dinglehopper in California Adventure in September, and again last night. A Mulan style hat was there too, with a tiny fan as its little accessory. Super cute.

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Here are photos from last night:

Cruelle DeVil tiny hat
Cruella DeVil tiny hat

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Queen of Hearts tiny hat
Queen of Hearts tiny hat

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Maleficent tiny hat
Maleficent tiny hat

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Villains tiny hats and bags
Villains tiny hats and bags – I love the bags too, sparkly and a good size!

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Ariel fascinator
Ariel fascinator

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Mulan fascinator
Mulan fascinator

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And also while I was in California in September, I saw these fun and fancy animal print Ear Hats – which I still haven’t seen in Walt Disney World yet. Also pictured is the Haunted Mansion bowler hat which has been around for a month or so and also super cute. (Please forgive my hamming it up, I was just being silly but didn’t get photos of the hats by themselves so there you go :P)

Animal print Mouse Ear Hats
Animal print Mouse Ear Hats and Haunted Mansion bowler hat

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What do you think of these tiny top hats and ear hats? Would you wear them in the Parks (or at home?) 😉

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Filed Under: Disney Merchandise, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Tagged With: ariel, Ariel fascinator, Cheshire Cat, Cruella DeVil, Cruella DeVil tiny hat, dinglehopper, Disney California Adventure, Disney Merchandise, Disney parks, Disney top hats, Disneyland, Downtown Disney, headpiece, mad hatter hat, Mulan, Mulan fascinator, Queen of Hearts, Queen of Hearts tiny hat, tinker bell, tiny hats, tiny top hats, top hats, ursula, Ursula tiny hat, Villains tiny hats, Walt Disney World

NEW! Disney Dooney & Bourke Disneyland Retro Collection Debut & Signing

3 April 2012 by Suzannah Otis 15 Comments

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The Disney Event Services page noted this upcoming Disney Dooney & Bourke handbag debut and signing from Dooney & Bourke Creative Director Ian Ray. These gorgeous “Retro Collection” bags were designed by the talented Susan Foy. LOVE her designs! Check out the info below and click to enlarge all photos:

Dooney and Bourke Retro Disneyland

Dooney & Bourke “Retro Collection”
Debut & Signing with Creative Director Ian Ray
Saturday, May 12, 2012
2pm – 5pm
Disney Vault 28, Downtown Disney® District


Dooney & Bourke collectors and Disney fans, the wait is over! A couple of new collections are set to debut May 12 at Disney Vault 28 at the Disneyland Resort. 

Disneyland Retro Collection design
Disneyland Retro Collection design close-up


First up, is the Retro collection, this new line will be available in a variety of popular silhouettes including a wristlet, mini barrel, tassel tote, satchel, letter carrier as well as an iPad case. Prices range from $78 – $268.

Dooney and Bourke Retro Disneyland
Dooney and Bourke Retro Disneyland wristlet - $78.00

 

DooneyBourke_DLRRetro12_WristletBack
Retro Disneyland wristlet back

 

Dooney and Bourke Retro Disneyland
Dooney and Bourke Retro Disneyland iPad /tablet case - $88.00

 

Retro Disneyland
Retro Disneyland tablet case back

 

The Retro collection, which will remain exclusive to the Disneyland Resort, is sure to be hit with Disney guests. “The word ‘Retro’ is certainly the best and most accurate way to describe this collection,” says Susan Foy, Disney Design Group Graphic Designer.  “From the attraction, character and icon choices to the distinct color palette, it really gave us a great opportunity to incorporate a lot of detail into such an intricate design.”  I asked Susan what her favorite icon was from the print, and her response was simple, “Sleeping Beauty Castle, because it was created first and really set the tone for how the rest of it would lay out.”  When it’s said and done, there’s almost something magical when you think about it that way.

Dooney and Bourke Retro Disneyland
Dooney and Bourke Retro Disneyland - letter carrier - $168.00

 

Retro Disneyland
Retro Disneyland letter carrier back

 

Dooney and Bourke Retro Disneyland
Dooney and Bourke Retro Disneyland mini barrel - $108.00

 

Retro Disneyland
Retro Disneyland mini barrel back

 

Dooney and Bourke Retro Disneyland
Dooney and Bourke Retro Disneyland - tassel tote - $268.00

 

Retro Disneyland
Retro Disneyland tassel tote back

 

Dooney and Bourke Retro Disneyland
Dooney and Bourke Retro Disneyland - satchel - $228.00

 

Another collection debuting the same day on both coasts (at Tren D and Disney Vault 28) is “Buttons.”  So make plans now to stop by Disney Vault 28 on May 12 and pick up some of this year’s must have accessories from Dooney & Bourke. 

Special Note: Creative Director for Dooney & Bourke, Ian Ray will be on hand from 2pm – 5pm for a special appearance and signing of these new collections.

What do you all think? Stay tuned for the “Buttons” design!

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!

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Filed Under: Disney Merchandise, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Tagged With: D&B, designer bags, designer handbags, designer purses, Disney Dooney, Disney Dooney & Bourke, Disney Dooney and Bourke, Disney Merchandise, disney vault 28, Disneyland Resort, Dooney and Bourke, Downtown Disney, handbags, letter carrier, purses, retro collection, Retro design, Retro Disneyland

Disneyland Explorer iPad App – Magical Fun for All Ages

3 February 2012 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

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Disneyland Explorer iPad AppThe past week has been a whirlwind of activity around the zannaland headquarters (aka my house) so I haven’t been keeping up with all the latest tweets and blog posts and news…However, I happened to see one of my favorite Disney cast members re-tweeting something about a new Disneyland Explorer iPad app. Hey, I thought, I’ve been to Disneyland! And I have an iPad! I’d like to explore Disneyland ON my iPad! So I downloaded it. I instantly fell in love, and wanted to share my thoughts here with you all.

When I heard the title, “Disneyland Explorer” I figured it would be more of a “fun” app vs. planning or facts etc. And this is true. This is exactly how I like my Disney information and entertainment. This may shock some, but I’m actually not a planner when it comes to Disney Parks. Maybe I take visiting Walt Disney World so often for granted, but even on my first visit to Disneyland last summer, I didn’t read one guide book or really do anything before I arrived. I just walked in and explored. That being said, I do want to put that little disclaimer in that for anyone looking for solid planning information, this is not the app for that. This is more like a way to be in Disneyland Resort virtually, with some extras thrown in too.

As you would expect from an official Disney app – it is breathtakingly beautiful. As you press the screen to enter the app, you are instantly transported to Sleeping Beauty Castle, with Walt standing in front. An image that makes any Disney fan just sigh with contentment. From there you can just start touching various park icons to discover how you can explore. Some attractions will feature a photo, others a short video of the ride in action, and still others will offer an interactive game or activity.

Disneyland Explorer iPad App
Pirates of the Caribbean game

As you scroll through the different lands, the music blends seamlessly from one area to the next and each new land offers lush backgrounds and foregrounds with all your familiar favorite scenes. It’s just wonderful. Once you explore all of Disneyland, the landscape continues to the Disneyland Resort hotels, Downtown Disney District and then on to California Adventure. There’s even a section for Cars Land, opening soon – so I’m sure the app will be updated in the future with more interactive elements. [edit: just heard from one of the developers that they are working on this update and the Buena Vista Street area as we speak!] You then end up back on Main Street, U.S.A. and back down to the Castle to explore all over again. (I won’t give away all the surprises, but there are a lot of them!)

Quite a few of the interactive games are perfect for little ones and rated my 3 year-old’s seal of approval. Now I know I can keep him entertained with Ariel’s undersea friends, any time of the day. I think my favorite games were trying to capture a photo of the Yeti from Matterhorn (I wish it saved these to my photos on my iPad!) and the epic pirate battle within Pirates of the Caribbean. You can even enter the Animation Academy and learn how to draw one of the Fab 4 characters. There’s also a menu button to press and see all of the location choices in list form, in case you want to look for a particular attraction or dining location.

Disneyland Explorer iPad App
Ariel's Undersea Adventure offers fun for the littlest fans

I know I will spend hours just relaxing and enjoying the magic of this little app – free from the AppStore. It is the perfect pick-me-up in between Disneyland visits. I can imagine something like this for the Walt Disney World Resort would require many more months of creation time, but I have hope they’ll be releasing one for the Florida parks and even better – the international parks. I may never let my iPad leave my side if that were to happen. If you need even more convincing, enjoy the Disneyland Explorer preview video below —

 


Here is the official press release for the app:

 

The magical sights and sounds of Disneyland Resort can now be discovered with “Disneyland Explorer,”the official Disney Parks app available for iPad. The free app invites parents and kids to explore some of the many thrilling and whimsical experiences that can be found at Disneyland Resort, a premiere, multi-day, family vacation destination in Southern California.

With “Disneyland Explorer,” users can swipe their way from Pirates of the Caribbean to “World of Color” to themed suites at the Disneyland Hotel, discovering more than 100 exciting things to see and do across the resort. Users tap beautiful images, animation and interactive touch points that represent experiences inside Disneyland park, Disney California Adventure park, Downtown Disney District and all three hotels of the Disneyland Resort.

Touch points within the photo-realistic carousel reveal photos, videos and special activities inspired by classic attractions and entertainment.  As users explore the Resort, day changes to night with spectacular colors, lights, and fireworks.

Animations are triggered as users scroll through the parks, hotels and Downtown Disney District, revealing surprises such as Dumbo in flight above Sleeping Beauty Castle. Users  discover items that are both fun and historical, from the Mad Hatter popping out of a tea cup to vintage video of Walt Disney dedicating Disneyland.

Users will:

  • Tour the galaxy with Star Tours – the Adventures Continue
  • Learn to draw their favorite Disney characters at the Animation Academy
  • Create their own musical water show in “World of Color”
  • Steer a Soarin’ hang glider over California, while collecting and sharing personalized postcards
  • Bring the iconic dolls of “it’s a small world” to life and hear the classic song in five different languages
  • Snap photos of the elusive Yeti as he roams across Matterhorn Mountain
  • Take part in a raging sea battle in Pirates of the Caribbean

“Disneyland Explorer” is a free app, available exclusively from App Store on iPad (www.itunes.com/appstore). More of the fun and excitement at the Disneyland Resort will become available on “Disneyland Explorer” throughout the year.

 

Disneyland Explorer iPad App
Interactive World of Color
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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Disneyland Resort, Product Reviews, Reviews, Walt Disney World Tagged With: app reviews, California Adventure, Disney apps, Disneyland, Disneyland Explorer, Disneyland Explorer app, Disneyland Resort, family apps, free apps, interactive apps, ipad, iPad apps, kids apps, Reviews

Harvey’s Handbags in Disney Halloween Prints at Disneyland

7 September 2011 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

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I caught this little bit of news from the Orange County Register’s site and thought some of my readers might be interested. I know the Harvey’s seatbelt bags we’ve seen around the parks (see below for past designs) are a big hit with some guests and definitely give the Disney Dooney & Bourke designs a run for their money. Now Disneyland is set to receive an all-new set of Harvey’s bags with Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas prints for Halloween as well as two other collections with a Halloween theme. The collections will debut this Saturday, September 10, 2011. I may have to bribe some of my California friends to pick me up all of them one!

Here’s the story from the OC Register (emphasis mine):

Disney Vault 28, a women’s clothing and accessory store for women in Downtown Disney, is debuting a new line of specially-designed handbags inspired by “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” on Saturday.

Disney spokeswoman Michelle Harker said the latest offering of Harveys Seatbeltbags will feature scenes from the Tim Burton movie. Additionally, two other collections  featuring Halloween-themes of skulls and bats will be available.

Harveys are made from seat belt material, woven together to create bags, wallets and other accessories.

The popular handbag company, based in Santa Ana, debuted a Disney-inspired line of bags and wallets in 2008. Harveys spokeswoman Ashley Cope said the “Nightmare Before Christmas” line is the fifth Disney-inspired collection.

The bags will range in  price from $128 to $238 and carry a lifetime guarantee.

Cope said Dana and Melanie Harvey, who started the handbag company, will attend the launch at Disney Vault 28 from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Here are some photos from Harvey’s of the prints used in the Nightmare Before Christmas designs —

Jack and Sally Harvey's print
Jack and Sally print for Harvey’s Halloween seatbelt bags

 

Sally and Jack
Another Jack and Sally design for the new Harvey’s bags

 

EDIT: Here are photos from the bags, now available at Harvey’s site:

Harvey's Nightmare Before Christmas bags
Jack and Sally’s iconic Moonlight pose – Carriage Ring Tote $178 

 

Harvey's Nightmare Before Christmas bags
Jack and Sally in black and white with heart – Carriage Ring Tote $178

 

Harvey's NMBC Skulls bag
Skulls design – Large Satchel $148

 

Harvey's NMBC Bats bag
Bats design – Carriage Satchel $238

 

Harvey's NMBC Bats bag
Bats design – Carriage Hobo $228

 

No word right now as to whether these new designs will reach Walt Disney World stores any time soon, but I’ll keep you posted. Currently, most stores carrying the Disney Dooney & Bourke bags also carry these Harvey’s designs (which I’ve been meaning to post about since April – my photo files are a scary place!) —

Minnie Harvey Bag
Past design of a Minnie-themed Harvey’s bag from April

 

Disney Harvey's Bags
The Mickey Mouse comic-style Harvey’s bags have been out for a while at Disney parks and online.

 

Harvey's Minnie Bow design
The Harvey’s limited edition Minnie Bow design comes in several styles and a wallet

 

Harvey's Minnie Bow design
Baquette style Minnie bow purse

 

Harvey's Minnie Bow design
Minnie bow wallet

 

Harvey's Minnie Bow design inside
Inside the Minnie bow design Harvey’s bags

 

As much as I love Jack Skellington, there IS something about Minnie’s bow design that really appeals to me. I think it’s the polka dots, they always get me!

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Filed Under: Disney Merchandise, Disney News, Disney Special Events, Disneyland Resort Tagged With: designer handbags, designer purses, Disney handbags, Disney Merchandise, Halloween, Halloween merchandise, Harvey's bags, Harvey's Disney bags, Harvey's Halloween bags, Harvey's Seatbelt bags, Jack and Sally, Jack Skellington, Limited Edition, Minnie bow design, Nightmare Before Christmas, Sally ragdoll, seatbelt bags

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