Disney Parks, Resorts, & Entertainment

Now in Walt Disney World – Disney SNUGGIES!

7 November 2010 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

Friend and fellow Disney and theme park fan Banks Lee spotted these beauties for sale at the Magic Kingdom the other day. I have to say, I have never before wanted a Snuggie^*…until now! I think Disney did a great job with the two designs and hopefully there will be even more in the future as well!

I also saw some Nightmare Before Christmas Snuggies when I was in Hot Topic the other day so be on the lookout for those too. (Which is funny since Tim Burton has actually openly poked fun at the Snuggie phenomenon!)

Disney Mickey and Minnie Snuggie — Banks did not catch the price, but I'm willing to bet they are around $20+ I will look for them next weekend!

EDIT: Thanks to Orlando Attractions magazine for tweeting that they are for sale at around $28 (30 with tax). I was in the ball-park huh? 🙂

Many thanks to Banks Lee for permission to share this photo with you all!

*Of course I have to say that Snuggie is a registered brand name and these are not Snuggie brand, but it’s much easier to say than “sleeved blanket” 😉

Epic Mickey and Kingdom Hearts Merchandise in Hot Topic!

6 November 2010 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

While visiting our local mall the other day, I noticed tons of cool new Epic Mickey and Kingdom Hearts merchandise at Hot Topic. I thought I’d share some here so Epic Mickey fans can be sure to stock up on their favorites before the game is released on November 30!

Epic Mickey Kingdom Hearts Hot Topic — Epic Mickey and Kingdom Hearts T-shirts and jewelry at Hot Topic

Inside the VIP Lounge at The Living Seas

2 November 2010 by Suzannah Otis 6 Comments

Last month, most of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel joined together for an informal reunion, just because we love an excuse to get together and what better place to do that than the Walt Disney World Resort, right? Our Pink Princess was kind enough to have a luncheon put together for us by the allied partners responsible for the Innoventions attractions. We were lucky enough to be treated to that lunch inside the second story of the Seas pavilion, in the former VIP Lounge area from back when United Technologies sponsored The Living Seas.

Unfortunately, I did not have my real camera and my cell phone pics are not the best, but I wanted to share the inside with you just the same. Hopefully I’ll get another chance to visit. I know the D23 Sip and Stroll attendees were able to experience both this lounge and the one for Spaceship Earth, so who knows what future events may take place here.

living seas vip lounge — This sign as you enter was enough to make my visit worthwhile.

How Do You Pronounce Karamell-Küche? Simple: Delicious!

26 October 2010 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

Or scrumptious, or heavenly…any of those adjectives will work. All joking aside, if you really want to know how to pronounce küche, just click to listen. And now you know. Ok, housekeeping aside, lets get to the good stuff! Pictures of yummy caramel creations!

While I can in no way compete with the amazing coverage of all things food-related at Disney from AJ at the Disney Food Blog, I also could not resist taking pictures to share while inside Epcot’s newest siren of sugar, Karamell-Küche. Located within the Germany pavilion at Epcot’s World Showcase. If you are a fan of caramel, you will quite simply, have reached nirvana when you step inside. And it’s not just caramel hard candies that the shop’s sponsor, Werther’s is most known for here in the states. There are caramel dipped apples covered in chocolate, caramel and chocolate fudge, caramel-filled cookies, caramels rolled with marshmallow, caramel-infused cupcakes. It’s everywhere.

As if that weren’t enough, the good folks at Karamell-Küche have seen fit to give us another gift – caramel coated popcorn which words alone cannot describe, you simply must try it. It is the perfect mix of buttery caramel crunchy perfection. Sadly the day I walked in they had just started to make a new batch so I don’t have any fun pictures of them mixing up the popcorn, (darn, guess I’ll have to go back!) but when you queue up to place your order, you walk by the huge copper bowls where they are mixing the heavenly concoction. There’s that word again – heavenly! It truly is. At only $2.95 for a small bag or $5.95 for a large one, it’s also the best new snack value in Epcot, in my opinion!

What follows are some of the items available that day. I urge you to take the time to wait in line and experience these wonders for yourself. You’ll be glad you did.

Epcot’s Scratch ‘N Sniff Soarin’ T-shirts Bring the Magical Scents Home!

21 October 2010 by Suzannah Otis 8 Comments

Last week while exploring the merchandise area outside of Soarin’ (aka the Green Thumb Emporium – thanks to @mousemisers for that name that slipped my mind), a bright orange kid’s shirt caught my eye. I picked it up and realized it had a big “Scratch ‘n Sniff” sticker on it. “GENIUS!” I thought. I scratched and sniffed and got a whiff of orange just like in the Soarin’ attraction (without the wait!).The shirt features Mickey and Minnie hang gliding over an orange grove with hot air balloons in the background.

Behind the orange-scented shirt was an army green colored shirt with a pine forest and Mickey and Minnie hang gliding over rapids. This shirt was supposed to be pine-scented, however, to me it smelled a bit like men’s deodorant. {But really, we’ve all been behind guests in a Disney park where we wished they had a deodorant-scented shirt, right? 😉 } The point is, this is a great and logical pairing of ‘t-shirt technology’ and I was really excited to see (and smell) them!

The orange grove shirt comes only in kid sizes at $24.95 while the pine forest comes in adult sizes at $30.95. Be sure to check them out the next time you visit The Land at Epcot!

scented soarin shirts in epcot — Thanks to my kids for helping me capture these pics! Sorry the lighting is not the best - I could've moved but didn't want cast members to think I was mouse-lifting! 😉

Photos of Disney’s Old Key West Resort’s Renovated Rooms

20 October 2010 by Suzannah Otis 8 Comments

A few weeks back, we stayed at Disney’s Old Key West Resort, one of our family’s favorites and were able to request and receive a renovated room. The Disney Parks Blog recently posted some pictures of the updated rooms, so I thought I’d add a few of our own highlighting some other details.

My family are not Disney Vacation Club members, but with my husband and I, an 11 and 10 year-old, a 2 year-old and occasionally my mom, we like staying in DVC properties because of the extra space. We rarely use the kitchen facilities other than the refrigerator but we definitely use every other inch of space and amenity these wonderful resorts offer.

Old Key West in general is one of our favorites because of the beautiful lush, secluded atmosphere the resort possesses. I’ve said this many times, but I could really spend a month at Disney just chilling out at the resorts they are so relaxing and Old Key West is no exception. We’ve always loved Olivia’s restaurant and the pool area too. The only issue we ever had with Old Key West was that it was starting to show its age. In fact, the last time we stayed there around my birthday last year, we actually complained to management about some things, just because I wanted them to be aware of what we’d experienced. So when we were told at that time that the resort was scheduled for refurbishment in the coming year, we were relieved and excited.

Our most recent stay was completely problem-free and we had a wonderful time. Old Key West continues to be on our ‘favorites’ list (which actually has a lot of resorts on it because it’s so hard to choose just one!). The renovated rooms, which will be completed resort-wide by March 2011, now all have the same mattresses and shower heads used in the other Deluxe resorts, which are heavenly. There are other little decorative touches here and there, but the most prominent changes are shown below —

Old Key West's Renovated Rooms — New laminate wood floors everywhere but the bathrooms, where the original tile remains, granite counter tops and Roman blinds on the French doors.

Halloween Decor and Treats at Downtown Disney Marketplace and West Side

19 October 2010 by Suzannah Otis 3 Comments

Last week we spent some time at Downtown Disney Marketplace and West Side, both of which are brimming with Halloween and Autumn decorations. There are some great photo opportunities at both ends of Downtown Disney so get your cameras ready.

Also now through Halloween night, Happy Haunting is taking place in shops and restaurants throughout Downtown Disney. How cool must it be to go Trick-or-Treating at Downtown Disney?! If you’re in the area, be sure to stop by and enjoy!

NEW Peace-Love-Mickey-Live-Laugh-Minnie Disney Dooney & Bourke Bags

18 October 2010 by Suzannah Otis 12 Comments

On the last Disney Dooney & Bourke Balloon Design post, I mentioned there was another style – a blue denim background with writing on it – the Erica style of Dooney & Bourke’s fabric line. Thanks in part to Tonya2426 on the DIS Boards, I am able to share some more pictures with you.

EDIT: I have now been to Tren-D again and seen these new designs in person so I have a bit more to add. I tried to capture this on the picture below, but the writing on these new bags is actually raised up and has a velveteen flocked feel. I didn’t realize that in all the other pictures, so I wanted to pass that information along to those making their lists and checking them twice with these new styles that keep coming out! 🙂

Disney Dooney and Bourke Peace Love Mickey Minnie bag — I love Tren-D for taking pictures! Always great lighting. 😉

denimdooney — Erica in Turquoise image from ebay

ericared — Erica in pinkish/red - image courtesy of Tonya2426

ericaredblue — Disney Erica Dooney & Bourke styles - image courtesy of Tonya2426

ericabluetag — The Erica style sells for $150 - image courtesy of Tonya2426

This style is definitely more subtly “Disney” while being graphically trendy. I’m not a big denim person, but I can see how this would appeal to lots of teens and those that want to show their Disney love without big Mickeys everywhere. What do you think of the new style?

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!

Take the Tacky Out of Lawn Flamingos and Add Some Magic!

18 October 2010 by Suzannah Otis 7 Comments

While Florida has many wonderful things to offer, including of course Walt Disney World, amazing natural resources and beauty…some people still think one lawn ornament is synonymous with the Sunshine State. Of course, I’m speaking of those pink plastic flamingos that you stick in your yard. Tacky, kitch, retro – yes, but magical? They are now!

I spotted these little guys hanging out by the door at TrenD in the Downtown Disney Marketplace. A classic example of Disney taking something simple and improving upon it, these little birds are full of personality, mouse ears and all. I can almost hear their voices talking to each other and commenting on your lawn or passers by – they’re so animated!

Each Disney flamingo sells for $24.95 and you should find them anywhere Disney outdoor decorations are sold. We spotted some outside the Soarin’ queue too.

NEW Disney Dooney and Bourke Balloon Design Purses!

16 October 2010 by Suzannah Otis 24 Comments

Thanks to my twitter followers for looking out for me, I was able to discover these adorable new Disney Dooney & Bourke Balloon styles!

As of now there are 6 new styles plus the snap wristlet, which was only available in white. I asked if the wristlet came in black and was told no.

EDIT More new Disney Dooney & Bourke Balloon print styles have emerged! Available for purchase in the Parks AND ShopDisney.com – Shop Now!

The Susanna Tote for $270

The Patty Pouchette for $145

The Mini Margot Crossbody for $145 In addition to the previous styles shown here below –

The white background Balloon design is called Colette and sells for $225. The white wristlet is $49.

The black background Balloon design comes in the Classic Satchel style with rainbow zipper for $220 and Drawstring for $225. The material for the black purses is a glossy finish unlike previous designs.