Places to Stay

LEGOLAND Florida, SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds Cinco de Mayo Annual Pass Sales

3 May 2019 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

If traditional Cinco de Mayo celebrations aren’t really your speed, Merlin Entertainments Attractions has a deal for you. The four fun-filled Central Florida attractions of Madame Tussauds Orlando, SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium, LEGOLAND Florida Resort and LEGOLAND Florida Water Park, along with the LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Atlanta, are offering a big discount on “Awesomer” annual passes during Cinco de Mayo weekend.

Available May 3 – May 5, 2019, the “Awesomer” Annual Pass will be only $99.99 per person – a $70 discount! The pass includes 12 months of unlimited access to the FIVE attractions named above. In addition to park and attraction admission, the “Awesomer” Annual Pass includes free standard parking as well as discounts on dining and retail at LEGOLAND Florida Resort. “Awesomer” Passholders can take advantage of year-round discounts at LEGOLAND Florida Resort Hotel and Beach Retreat.

The sale comes just in time for guests to experience all-new summer offerings. Passholders can meet real-life mermaids at SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium every Friday through Sunday from May 31 through June 23. The mermaids will dive into the ocean habitat at Orlando’s only aquarium to mesmerize guests with their unbelievable underwater feats.

Visitors can also join forces with The Flash and Cyborg, the latest additions to Madame Tussauds Orlando’s Justice League: A Call for Heroes experience. Only in Orlando can guest complete daring missions alongside the ENTIRE Justice League cast, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and now, Cyborg and The Flash.

Guests can also experience the brand-new flying theater attraction, Masters of Flight, at LEGOLAND Florida Resort. Which you can read more about here on Zannaland!

LEGOLAND Florida Resort’s discounted “Awesomer” Pass will be available online and at walk-up admission windows (during operating hours May 3 – May 5) at LEGOLAND Florida Resort, Madame Tussauds Orlando and SEA LIFE Orlando. Learn more about the “Awesomer” Pass at legoland.com/awesomer, visitsealife.com/orlando/awesomer-pass-cinco-sale, or madametussauds.com/orlando/en/cinco-de-mayo-sale.

We bought this pass ourselves on the last sale like this, and it is SO worth it! If you plan on experiencing any of these fun attractions, especially LEGOLAND Florida, we highly recommend snagging this deal!

Disney’s Hollywood Studios 30th Anniversary

30 April 2019 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Love this DHS 30th wallpaper that the Disney Parks Blog shared!

Tomorrow is the 30th Anniversary of the park formerly known as (and still referred to by many die-hard fans) the Disney-MGM Studios. This fading gem of a little park holds a dear place in my heart as well as many others, and has certainly been through quite a few changes in an attempt to grow with the times. Will these changes conclude with a name change for the park? Will the quaint “Old Hollywood” feel be no more? Only time can tell.

Starting today and concluding tomorrow, we’ll be at a media event being held at the Studios. Who knows what news or updates will come from this event, but I figured it would be good to have one landing point to keep track of them all. Keep checking back at this link throughout the day today and tomorrow for any breaking news items from Disney Parks, and of course, follow along on social media with me on instagram, twitter, and facebook.

Here is our first set of updates from today’s event, if you haven’t already seen them on my Instagram story:

We learned about Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, including the Mickey short the ride will be based on – Perfect Picnic. We will be riding with Conductor Goofy on the Run Amok Railroad, traveling to Amok Park. Then, as the names imply, surprises ensue and things don’t go as planned.

Special care is being taken to ensure there are no shiny surfaces on the ride, in keeping with the 2-D animation style of the shorts. We saw a model of the train, then the hand-painted version, as well as being shown what it looks like in white light and black light.

We were also shown the attraction marquee, which will be animated neon in style. We’re really excited to see the finished version of this attraction. We’ll update again if we can get any further info or questions answered on the ride.

You can see more about the music in my instagram story!

You can also read my past posts on Disney’s Hollywood Studios, to pass the time until the updates:

First Impressions of the Disney Studios-Why I Fell in Love

You Can Leave Your Hat Off

The Hollywood That Never Was And Never Will Be

Diana, Princess of Wales in Disney: A real Princess in a Magic Kingdom

Remember the Magic

Another Spoiler Free EndGame Review

24 April 2019 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

I never used to be a Marvel fan. Just like I never used to be a Harry Potter fan, or a Lord of the Rings fan, or a Star Wars fan. Then, as with all fandoms, a story spoke to me. With Star Wars, it was those darn adorable ewoks back in 1983. I was 8, and during a time when my sticker collection and unicorns filled most of my time, Star Wars lured me in with fuzzy teddy bear-like creatures. What was their story? What was going to happen to them? And I became a fan. (As a side-note, that fandom has faded for me since I feel like it’s been overdone and shoved down our throats for a few years now, the original trilogy will always be where my heart lies.)

With Lord of the Rings, I took longer to discover this amazing series. I had read The Hobbit in 4th grade and haaaaated it. It seemed so boring to me and I did not enjoy the story at all. Fast forward to many years later, when the buzz was everywhere about The Lord of the Rings. I had grown up loving fantasy and fairytale stories, so I figured I better read the Lord of the Rings trilogy before the movies came out. I dug in and was lost in those books for an entire summer, following up with The Silmarillion and a Tolkien biography. I became a super fan. (Like, obsessed for a while. Tolkien was a genius and I am still in awe of the worlds and entire languages he created!)

With Harry Potter, I tried to avoid them as long as I could. I felt like J.K. Rowling was totally ripping off Lord of the Rings lore, and I refused to read or see any of the movies. One night, Chamber of Secrets was on ABC Family. I got sucked in. I actually liked it. (Oddly it’s now my least favorite of the movie series.) So I read all the books (that were out at that time) and even attending midnight release parties of the last few books. Yet another super fan was born. [And yes, I promise we’ll get to EndGame – but if you are going to see it, get used to long backstories leading up to the action. 😉 ]

But with Marvel, it was different. I never read Marvel comics growing up. I read Donald Duck and Casper and Archie comics to pass the time during summers in Ogunquit, Maine. I was never really into superheroes and aside from Superman movies in the 80’s didn’t care too much about any of them.

Then, Iron Man happened. I have always loved Robert Downey, Jr. and instantly fell in love with his egotistic-but-brilliant-bad-boy-billionaire-with-a-change-of-heart character. The stories, the visuals, the blurring of lines between good and evil, I loved it all. What I found so interesting is that while the Marvel Comics already existed for decades, how a story ended or crossed over with another character, did not mean it would end up that way on screen. So there were still surprises in many cases for everyone, even the comic fanboys and girls.

I guess then I became a Marvel fan, because each movie drew me in and I wanted more. (I still have never seen 2008’s The Incredible Hulk but eventually I’m sure I will just for completist reasons along with Captain Marvel which I missed the screening for and just haven’t had time to see but I will, I swear!) I loved that they were funny while still having tons of dramatic action and also showing life lessons that each of the characters learn along the way. That’s part of what makes the series so great; there is a hero for everyone. I love something about every single Avenger. The dynamics that have grown and shifted between all of them are a great legacy for fans.

So as a fan, of course, the prospect of an “end game” of any sort was a tad depressing. Just as I did not relish the ending of the LotR trilogy in Return of the King, or the final book or movie in the Harry Potter series, I was not looking forward to the ending of such an epic, 10+ year set of stories. That said, it was an action-packed, shocking, cathartic, dramatic, draining, and satisfying (in most cases) ending to this phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

What follows is the rest of my spoiler-free review of Avengers: Endgame – (You can read Christian’s spoiler-free review here)

I was very glad that EndGame picked right up with what everyone had been doing since the end of Infinity War. After Infinity War ended, we were all dumbstruck. We needed to see that it we weren’t alone in our grief. I think we all hoped for the best to happen with most of the characters who became dust, and were less hopeful for those who had truly met their end, like my dear Loki (but you just never know with that trickster). I think this may be why the runtime of the movie was so long. There is a LOT to cover and explain and get to, and I’m glad they did. [sidenote: I was very worried about making it thru the entire movie without a bathroom break, but I drank nothing for 2 hours before and was fine :P]

I can’t really say too much else without giving away any plot points…I wish I could…if you see the movie and want to discuss, come find me! 😉 What I can and will say is that I cried. A LOT. There are thankfully also a lot of comedic moments to cut the tension of these big, serious themes, so it is a balance. (I anticipate quite a few memes being born from EndGame.) I definitely heard a few sniffs of crying in our audience, but nothing major, so I will just say that I am an emotional person, I cry at anything even remotely resembling any sort of relationship bond. I have always been a mushy person, a trait which has been further compounded by 20 years of motherhood and the passing of ever-fleeting time. Your mileage may vary.

These weren’t just sad tears, though. What I felt every time I cried was a gratefulness for the family that Marvel created and shared with all of us. If they didn’t do a good job of establishing these bonds of friendship and kinship, we wouldn’t care enough to even get emotional when it all ends. There are several moments throughout the film where this display of family is pretty epic.

To bring it back to Lord of the Rings again, it really reminded me of the final Return of the King. I remember being so sad that it was over, but thankful for being able to experience the entire journey over the years. These are the life-changing moments that allow us to see and appreciate how far they’ve come, how far we’ve come, and be able to move on.

It’s been eleven years. Eleven. How much has your life changed in that time? I know mine has changed immensely since then. Eleven years ago, I had 2 kids, not 3. And those two were 8 and 9 years old. Now they are 20 and 18, and I have a 10 year old. I have gotten divorced and remarried and moved 4 times, gone back to work full time. Even this blog didn’t exist 11 years ago (though we’re coming up on the 10th anniversary!). I’m pretty much a completely different person. And so are our Avengers. To quote that 90’s hit by Semisonic, “…every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” And that is what EndGame is.

Marvel Studios’ Avengers: EndGame opens everywhere April 26.

Disney provided us a complimentary press screening, but my opinions and thoughts are my own.

Edible Art – Grand Floridian Easter Egg Display AND Shop!

8 April 2019 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

The Walt Disney World chefs never disappoint when it comes to edible holiday decor. The Grand Floridian takes the cake (or egg) with edible art showpieces, from life-sized gingerbread houses to giant Easter egg displays, they have become a tradition at Walt Disney World Resort, and this year is no exception. This may be the most eggs yet!

This year, the Grand Floridian added a new feature, a shop at the former Bell Services counter, where you can buy Easter treats from chocolates to traditional hot cross buns. Scroll down to see the themes for 2019’s display – some old favorites, some new – can you name the inspiration for each one? (click to enlarge)

The eggs above greet you as you enter the Grand Floridian, but they are not the only ones you’ll find. Be sure to stroll around the entire lobby, even wandering into the Grand Floridian Cafe to see another egg on display!

Do you recognize past eggs? Here’s a brand new one, one of two eggs to celebrate the new Dumbo movie.

Lastly, here is the new shop set up to sell Easter goodies:

Will you be able to visit this majestic display? Which egg is your favorite? It’s hard to pick just one isn’t it? There are so many amazing works of art!

Thanks for visiting, be sure to follow @zannaland on instagram for any other resort Easter egg displays we come across!

The EVERYTHING IS AWESOME Guide to LEGOLAND Florida’s LEGO Movie World

29 March 2019 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

It is no secret that I LOVE LEGOLAND. It may be more of a secret that I love all things 80’s, from my Lisa Frank stickers to rainbows and unicorns and brightly colored everything. That’s not so much a secret as it is just something a normal woman my age might not admit, but normal is not fun. Anyway, I digress. My point is, The LEGO Movie features a particular character, Unikitty, which embodies many of those same qualities as my childhood. LEGOLAND Florida has taken the background, setting and characters from The LEGO Movie, and brought them to larger-than-life fruition. And it’s amazing.

It’s impossible not to be cheerful in such a big, bright place. You walk in to this area of the park and feel as though you’ve stepped into The LEGO Movie itself.

Here’s the rundown of what to see and do:

Mrs. Scratchenpost and Jeff are ready for your photo ops!

WHAT:

The LEGO Movie World consists of 3 rides, a kids playground area, a Taco ~~Tuesday~~ Everyday quick service restaurant, a small gift shop, and an indoor character meet and greet area. We’ll break down each of these spots below.

WHERE:

As you enter the park, go to the right and right again through the Duplo Valley. You will see the GIANT dog building ahead, and that’s where you’ll find The LEGO Movie World. Very close to the front of the park.

If you are coming from the back half of the park or the Water Park first, head toward the Dragon Coaster area where the Lost Kingdom is, and Movie World is right next to the Dragon Coaster.

HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS/RIDE RESTRICTIONS:

Unikitty’s Disco Drop – Height/Age Requirements:

Guests under 40” in height or under 3 years of age are not allowed on the ride
Guests between 40” to 48”, and 3 to 6 years of age, must be accompanied by a supervising companion age 14 years or older and capable of ensuring the child’s safety
Guests 48” in height and above 6 years of age may ride unaccompanied

Masters of Flight – Height/Age Requirements:

Guests under 40” in height or under 3 years of age are not allowed on the ride.
Guests 52” in height and above 8 years of age may ride unaccompanied.

Battle for Bricksburg – Height/Age Requirements:

Guests who can sit upright without assistance may ride.
Children under 6 years of age or less than 48” must ride with a responsible person age 16 years or older and capable ensuring the child’s safety. The responsible person must be seated on the same bench as the child.

Ride Rundowns:

Unikitty’s Disco Drop – This is a super bright fun and quick ride that you can see as soon as you enter the LEGO Movie World area. There are no surprises for kids who may be a little wary to try a ride like this, you can see it when you walk in, and watch others ride before you. Unikitty narrates the ride, changing things based on her various moods, and it’s full of fun music to make you feel like you’re right inside the movie. This is a quick ride, so the waits shouldn’t be too long, and if it’s not crowded, that means you can ride again and again.

Masters of Flight – The premier ride of LEGO Movie World, this is probably the most technologically advanced ride in all of LEGOLAND Florida. It is definitely along the same lines as Epcot’s Soarin’ down to the fact that you don’t need any 3-D glasses to ride. There are three different levels to load into the attraction, we went up to the 3rd floor, and I think based on the screen vantage point, that was the best place to be, but we’ll have to go back and try them all.

Queue activities
You are given a spot to stand on so you know where to sit
Master’s of Flight seats

You load into a seating system very similar to Soarin’ except that you are facing the way you walked in. This made a few of us fear we were going to go upside-down to get to the screen part of the ride, but that was not the case. You tip back a little, then just turn around to the screen surrounding your viewing area. At first, I was afraid I was going to get a little motion sick, but I quickly adjusted and it was a SUPER FUN ride.

My 10 year old LOVED it, and I think any fans of the LEGO Movies and LEGO Movie video games will feel like they are right there with Emmet, Unikitty, Benny and more. You’re also treated to some fun scents to match your environment, but I won’t give anything else away. You’ll definitely want to check outMasters of Flight, and I don’t think you’ll be alone, so be prepared for a bit of a wait. Luckily there are several LEGO play areas throughout the queue to keep little folks entertained.

Battle for Bricksburg – Those familiar with LEGOLAND Florida will recognize this attraction as the former Legend of Chima boat ride. It has been completely re-worked and re-themed to fit in to the LEGO Movie World. Now you are battling aliens (made from DUPLO) to keep them from invading and stealing LEGO bricks, by spraying water at targets from your boat. If you’re not on the ride, there are water cannons outside, where you can spray guests (who are also getting soaked from water spraying as they sail by), making for lots of fun. You WILL get wet, in fact, you’ll probably get SOAKED, so be prepared for that and plan accordingly. It might be a welcome side effect on a hot Florida day!

Everything Else

The three attractions aren’t all in the LEGO Movie World, there is also a quick service taco stand straight from the movie, where it’s not just Taco Tuesday, it’s Taco Everyday! There you can grab a quick grilled chicken or brisket taco or some dessert sopapillas – the Double Decker Sofa-Pilla Bites, along with drinks as well.

There is also a play area called Benny’s Play Ship with two slides and lots of fun places to climb and run around. Despite all the rides, the play areas of LEGOLAND are always a must-do for my son!

Rounding out the area is Emmet’s Super Suite – a meet and greet area where throughout the day you can meet Emmet, Wyldstyle, Benny, and General Mayhem. The photo area is inside, and exits into a small LEGO Movie World themed gift shop, so you can leave with some souvenirs of your favorite LEGO friends.

Again, this is an amazing new addition to LEGOLAND Florida and I can’t wait till we can get back again. I’d recommend getting there early, and heading straight to Masters of Flight to start your LEGOLAND day off right, then enjoy the rest of the park, and maybe stop by on your way out.

For more info on LEGOLAND Florida hours, ticket prices and hotels, head to LEGOLAND.com/Florida.

*Disclaimer: LEGOLAND Florida provided us with complimentary admission to the park to preview the LEGO Movie World area, but my opinions are, as always, my own.

REVIEW: Burton’s Dumbo Soars Higher than Ever

26 March 2019 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

There’s no question that the original 1941 release of Dumbo is a landmark animation release. It’s truly a triumph of the techniques of the time that come together to cement a piece of Disney history unlike any other.

Respecting a classic…

For one reason or another, I was not very excited for the 2019 remake of Dumbo. It could’ve been because I personally was not a fan of the original for a handful of reasons. Or maybe it was because (despite him being one of my favorite directors) the recent work of Tim Burton has been rather sub-par. Either way, I didn’t know what to expect. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised. From the first scene of the film, where a familiar score introduces itself while we see a newer, updated Casey Jr., I knew everything was going to be okay.

WHEN I SEE AN ELEPHANT FLY — In Tim Burton’s all-new, live-action reimagining of “Dumbo,” former circus star Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) and his children (Nico Parker and Finley Hobbins) find themselves caring—and advocating—for a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughingstock in an already struggling circus. Directed by Burton and produced by Katterli Frauenfelder, Derek Frey, Ehren Kruger and Justin Springer, “Dumbo” flies into theaters on March 29, 2019. © 2018 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

And yes, you heard that right, I was not a fan of the original. This isn’t a review of that film, so I won’t get into it, but to sum it up, I think the original release of Dumbo is very outdated today. Comparing the runtime of the two films alone – 112 minutes to the original’s 64 – it’s clear that Burton has a much larger story to tell.

Where I find faults in the original, I find nothing but success in this retelling. But that isn’t to say that Burton completely erases any memory of the original. I think this remake pays homage to the original by respecting its legacy, and building upon it to tell a new story. You don’t need to have seen the original at all to understand this new film, but there are certainly a few nods to it that those classic fans will pick up.

…and bringing it to life.

For the past 5 years, we’ve been subject to a new kind of Disney film – the remake. It’s become something of a joke that Disney just keeps remaking their classic movies, creating an endless cycle of profitability. I personally have not been very kind to these remakes. At the base level, I don’t understand the point of remaking a classic movie as they have been doing.

2015’s Cinderella, 2017’s Beauty and the Beast, and (from the look of it) 2019’s The Lion King – just to name a few – all tell the exact same story as the original film they’re based on. The remake simply updates the graphics, or makes it “live action”, or adds a few new songs to the soundtrack, and doesn’t make any attempt at doing something radically different with the story. I don’t like these films because they seem like a waste of time. Yes, I would love to see Childish Gambino as Simba the lion, but I’d like even more to see him doing something I’ve never seen before, not exactly what I saw Matthew Broderick do 25 years ago.

I appreciated Maleficent for this reason. It wasn’t a remake of Sleeping Beauty, it was a retelling from a different perspective. Ultimately, I didn’t like that movie as a whole, but it’s the only “remake” that I felt actually justified its existence. That is, until Tim Burton’s Dumbo.

Dumbo (2019) takes the simple concept of the original movie, ‘a flying elephant in a circus’, and runs away with it. Burton’s movie does feature some of the same events as the original, but builds upon them in a way that is wholly unique and more powerful than the original was.

DREAMING BIG — In Tim Burton’s all-new, live-action reimagining of “Dumbo,” persuasive entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton) decides that a young elephant from a struggling circus belongs in his newest, larger-than-life entertainment venture, Dreamland. Directed by Burton and produced by Katterli Frauenfelder, Derek Frey, Ehren Kruger and Justin Springer, “Dumbo” flies into theaters on March 29, 2019. © 2018 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Burton was clearly the best choice to tell this story. Don’t go into this movie expecting his typical gothic atmosphere, but do expect his ability to turn a dark story or dark events into a bright and vibrant world. This movie feels very similar to his remake of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. From the soundtrack to the over-the-top visuals, they both respect the classic and truly bring it to life.

I’ll leave it at this – this is the movie we thought we were watching when we saw the original Dumbo. You can go back and watch the original and still respect it for its legacy, still honor the achievement it made, and still love the story it told. But watching Burton’s new take on the film brings back all of the wonder and amazement of truly seeing it for the first time. It’s the movie that made me a Dumbo fan.

GOTTA FLY – Visionary filmmaker Tim Burton helms the live-action reimagining of Disney’s 1941 animated classic “Dumbo.” “’Dumbo’ was always one of my favorite Disney films,” said Burton. “We’re trying to give it the same heart, feeling and emotion that we all loved about the original.” Starring Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Eva Green, Nico Parker and Finley Hobbins, “Dumbo” is currently in production in England. © 2017 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved..

Dumbo opens Friday, March 29, 2019 in theatres everywhere. You can read Zannaland’s original Dumbo animated feature review here.

NEW: Toy Story 4 Full Trailer -But…Do We Need THIS Toy Story?

19 March 2019 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

DisneyPixar just released the newest trailer for Toy Story 4, and unlike our previous short glimpses at new characters, this full trailer reveals the storyline and plot of the fourth Toy Story movie. If you haven’t seen it yet, here it is:

So, what did you think? My initial viewing left me scratching my head. I mean, I love most all of the Pixar films, even Cars 2 (for its visuals) which most people did not rave about. I appreciate a good cry, despite knowing Pixar is manipulating my heartstrings and leaving me a blubbering mess.

When former Disney Animation Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter spoke about Toy Story 4 at the D23 Expo in 2015, he mentioned that it was going to be Woody and Bo Peep’s love story. I was cautiously optimistic about that, even tho, Toy Story 3 had wrapped the toys’ lives up so neatly, I figured there would be a backstory/prequel aspect to Woody and Bo Peep, and perhaps they’d be reunited. Well, a LOT has happened since that D23 Expo, and obviously, whatever tale John Lasseter may have planned to tell, probably got changed a bit if not completely. Just as we no longer have “Gigantic” to look forward to (which I must admit I am thankful for, after learning a bit about it at the same 2015 D23 Expo), ideas change, directors change, and sometimes things get shelved altogether. I’m not sure why Pixar felt like this was a story they needed to tell, especially after Toy Story 3 left everyone with such warm fuzzy feelings (at least that’s what I was left with after sobbing uncontrollably for about 20 mins).

Let’s go through my initial reactions as I watched, and see if you agree…Ok, Bonnie makes “Forky” and Woody gloms onto him (having learned not to be threatened by new toys way back in the original Toy Story) and proclaims Forky to be the most important toy to Bonnie right now, and as such must be protected at all costs. Now this is where they lost me right off the bat. Maybe if this movie came out in 1999, I might relate better to this concept. That’s when I had my first child, and sure, if there was something that he created and loved more than anything, I could see myself going to extreme lengths to make sure this toy was always there. However, this is a spork with googly eyes and pipe cleaners attached. A craft project, that – and this is the joy of arts and crafts – you could create again and again. If my son made a spork guy and that spork got stepped on and cracked, or his eyes fell off, or he simply got lost, we’d make a new one. I understand that Woody may not know or understand this concept, but the majority of the audience watching should.

So while I can see what they were trying to do here with Woody “doing the right thing” and saving the spork, it just doesn’t hold as much weight as losing Buzz, or Slinky Dog, or even Bo Peep, who he seemed resigned to forget about in Toy Story 3. Additionally, if the message they are trying to send is “every friend a child ‘creates’ is special and must be preserved at all costs…” that’s not a very realistic parenting message.

Life is about growth; growing up, making changes, some harder than others, and yes, some things get left behind. A spork made in school simply does not equate to a childhood dog, or friend, or toy that never left your side. But as a parent of 3 children, if any of them did lose a special toy, and nothing could be done to find it or bring it back, we would move on and that toy would become a cherished memory. Because as much as we, as parents, may grow attached to certain things our children once loved or played with or even wore, chances are more than likely they will cast them aside as they grow up and move on to bigger and better things. (Which I am knee-deep in as my youngest, now 10, is finally cleaning out his room and donating some toys that he’s either had from birth, inherited from his older brother and sister, or were once beloved and now collecting dust.)

And THAT is the lesson that Pixar made so clear in Toy Story 3. After ripping our hearts out with “When Somebody Loved Me,” the song woven throughout Jessie’s backstory, we all felt incredible guilt for donating toys we once loved. Toy Story 3 wiped that guilt clean with the acknowledgement that toys can be passed on to new generations of children who will love and care for them, creating new everlasting memories.

So whether Woody represents a parenting mentality in this tale, not wanting to upset Bonnie, or one of a friend not wanting to leave another friend behind, it seems like a very weak storyline to build an entire movie on, even if it’s only a stepping off point to get to finding Bo Peep. And the spork doesn’t even want to be alive! So let him go. There are so many other sporks available to stick googly eyes on. But it’s happening. This is the path Pixar has chosen. Woody flies out after Forky, and their journey to get back to ~~Andy~~ Bonnie, now begins.

Next up, Woody spies Bo’s old lamp in an antique shop, and has to go in to see if she’s there. As is the case with Toy Story 2 (Stinky Pete) and Toy Story 3 (Lotso) there are “bad toys” (in this case ventriloquist dummy dolls under the command of a creepy talking doll) in the antique shop, which try to attack and capture Woody and Forky. I mean…is this the best they could do? I appreciate the nod to the original ventriloquist concept that Woody was once going to be before the first Toy Story was completed, but apart from that, it’s getting a bit repetitive here, no? And this time instead of Jessie coming to the rescue as she did in the Toy Story of Terror short, it’s Bo Peep who rescues Woody. From what we can see, Bo has become a strong, independent woman while she’s been away from Andy’s room.

At this point in the trailer, we also see Buzz has jumped out of the moving RV where all the toys began with Bonnie, and stumbles into a pretty permanent-looking carnival set up. Bo Peep also gestures to this same carnival, asking Woody if he wouldn’t rather live there than a kid’s room. Forky seems to have been converted to the cult of being a kid’s toy, and asks if they are going back to Bonnie. So the same hijinx will now ensue, with Woody and Buzz separated, both of them separated from their kid, Bonnie in this case, and new toys who either hinder or help them along their journey back to where they belong.

The whole thing just left me with a very “meh” reaction. It doesn’t seem like anything new will be learned here, it’s the same old story with a new location, and the same ending looks likely. I’m sure I could be mistaken, and I welcome being proven wrong and loving this movie. For now, though, it seems like Pixar is just trying to rewrite the same story (and I’m not sure who they are trying to appeal to). Maybe they are hoping a whole new generation of fans will just jump on the Woody bandwagon. But as mentioned before, they ended things so perfectly with Toy Story 3, it would’ve taken an exceptional story or backstory to top that.

So long, partner.

So what do you think? Did we need this new story? Do you like how the plot looks in the trailer? Do you think there’s a lot still missing that may make this a new Toy Story favorite? Share your thoughts below or with me on social media!

Backstage Magic Tour – for the Disney Fan Who’s Seen it All

25 February 2019 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

As a former cast member now married to a cast member of almost 30 years, we have between us amassed quite a bit of parks knowledge and history. I’ve been backstage at Walt Disney World more times than I can count, as a cast member, a guest of one, or during special events and tours. As excited as I was for the backstage tour I was about to experience, I was also a little jaded that it was probably “stuff I already knew.”

NOT JUST ANOTHER TOUR…

Within minutes of starting the Backstage Magic Tour, all of that (and any potential internal feelings of superiority) was thrown out the window. I took careful steps down the cement stairs, protective eye wear on my face, and looked to my right to see Mark Twain and Benjamin Franklin sitting together, mere inches from where I stood. I assure you, my safety glasses were not rose-colored!

Yes, I was now standing backstage at the American Adventure, something 8 year-old me would’ve sold her entire Barbie collection to experience. I even began to tear up a little thinking of my original, beloved EPCOT Center. I told one of our guides, Amber, that I thought I might cry. Without hesitation, she said “go ahead and cry, we understand, it’s really cool!” And it was then that I knew, I was going to love this tour. And I did.

Many of you may know that my day job is working at MEI & Mouse Fan Travel. I’ve been there for over 6 years, and along with many other fun hats I get to wear, I occasionally get to experience some amazing events. It’s a fun crossover from my blogging life where I’ve been sharing adventures like this for the past 10 years. This week I did just that as our agency got an invite to enjoy the 7 hour Backstage Magic Tour at Walt Disney World.

You’ve no doubt heard of the Keys to the Kingdom Tour at the Magic Kingdom, which is another 7 hour tour, but based solely within the Magic Kingdom. Keys to the Kingdom does go backstage but the Backstage Magic Tour is entirely facilitated by the Adventures by Disney team, and takes you out of the parks. You book the tour the same way, thru 407-WDW-TOUR (or having your Mouse Fan Travel agent book it for you when you book your next vacation package!).

In addition to walking through the famed Utilidor, the Backstage Magic Tour provides unprecedented access to areas of the Walt Disney World Resort usually reserved for Cast Members only.

Here are the highlights of the Backstage Magic Tour:

Epcot
Explore the inner workings of The American Adventure as we reveal the feats of engineering and artistry behind this inspiring Audio-Animatronics stage show.
Magic Kingdom Park
Become immersed in the story that started with Walt himself on Main Street, U.S.A.—navigate the “utilidor” tunnels, a network of underground passageways constructed beneath the theme park so Disney Cast Members and delivery vehicles can move around undetected.
Creative Costuming
Observe the talented professionals who design costumes for Character, show and parade performers.
Central Shops
Get up close with the artisans whose skill and craftsmanship make dreams come true all around the park—from the tiniest details to elaborate stage sets.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Settle in for a delicious family-style barbeque lunch at Whispering Canyon Café—included with your tour.
Textile Services
Unfold an experience like no other within one of the world’s largest laundry facilities—complete with a unique photo opportunity!

TOUR DETAILS:

Disney was kind enough to invite MEI & Mouse Fan Travel out to experience this tour first hand. Not to sound dramatic, but it was life-changing. The 1970’s technology used to run the American Adventure show has aged well in its 37 years. In fact, they still use the same computers to run the show. I don’t want to give away too much of the process, since it was so impressive to me. I hope everyone can have that same jaw-dropping experience. Suffice it to say, the entire American Adventure portion of the tour was full of fun facts and history that any EPCOT Center fan will appreciate. Even I learned a new fact or two!

CREATIVE COSTUMING:

I thought the American Adventure section was my favorite, but then we arrived at Creative Costuming. I was again blown away by what goes on while we are riding rides and eating popcorn down the road. This location creates and updates costumes for all 12 Disney parks, Disney’s Aulani Resort, and Disney Cruise Line. We saw the entire costuming process from sketch and CAD design, to pattern, to construction and embellishment.

There are quite a few surprises within the Costuming building too. I’ll just say fans of the Great Movie Ride and the original Red Head will be very happy. There is so much history there – you’ll see a lot of old favorites and new designs. Creative Costuming did not disappoint.

TEXTILE SERVICES:

Another surprise winner on the tour was the Textile Services building. One of four on property, they are the 4 largest facilities of their kind in the nation. You might be thinking, “what could possibly be exciting about laundry?!” but just you wait…

When you see the largest track system in any theme park (think a laundry bag roller coaster) – machines washing 150lbs and drying 300lbs at a time – other machines pressing and folding. The end result of which is 2.5 million pounds of laundry washed and folded a week – you may change your mind! It is an impressive and efficient assembly line. You may not think about it, but it’s an extremely important part of the Walt Disney World Resort experience!

CENTRAL SHOPS:

The next part of our tour took us to Central Shops; the favorite of many guides for a reason. You just never know what you’re going to see when you step inside! Here at this backstage location is where ride vehicles, animatronics, props, and even trash cans receive maintenance, updates and refreshing. Sometimes it’s a quick fix or a coat of paint, but everything undergoes “cyclical maintenance” at certain intervals of time. This is when each ride vehicle, animatronic, etc, gets stripped down to its frame. Hardware is replaced, new paint or skins are applied. Whatever is required to appear as fresh as when it first appeared in the park, happens here.

Our guides shared (and we got to touch!) the different types of animatronic skins:

realistic silicone, which was really realistic feeling!
hot melt molds (which you see in older animatronics)
tougher plastisol – for animatronics exposed to harsh Florida weather conditions (blazing sun, daily rain, even hurricanes). Think Jungle Cruise animals.

We also saw several ride vehicles and parks items in various stages of maintenance, including:

Expedition Everest
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Space Mountain
Primeval Whirl
Pandora’s Flight of Passage “banshees”
Several animals from Jungle Cruise

Quite an eye-opening portion of the tour! Before we left, we were treated to an epic photo-op. The now-retired giant polar bear from the Maelstrom attraction in Epcot’s Norway pavilion was pretty exciting for this Maelstrom fangirl.

THE UTILIDOR:

We ended our day with a tour of parts of the underground (well, it’s at ground-level really) Utilidor beneath the streets of the Magic Kingdom. As a former Main Street, U.S.A. cast member, this was like going back home for me. It’s always exciting to see the bustling activity and efficiency under the kingdom. There have definitely been improvements since I walked to work this way back in 1995!

WHAT ABOUT FOOD?!

The halfway point of the tour is marked by lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe. We enjoyed an all you care to eat skillet (any food allergies or special dietary needs are met as well). Lunch is a nice break, and a great way to get to know your fellow tour members and guides a little better. Snacks and water are available on the coach as you travel to each destination.

IS IT WORTH IT??

Our fabulous Adventures By Disney guides share stories, trivia, and tales of Walt Disney World history throughout the tour. Amber (mentioned at the start of this post) felt like an old friend by the time our tour was over. Part of the charm and enjoyment of this tour is hearing accurate stories of Disney past and present. Hearing the stories from cast members who clearly love their roles, and embody the ideals Walt would be proud of. It is a very full 7 hours, but the content makes the time fly by.

Unlike Keys to the Kingdom tour, guests aged 12 and up can experience Backstage Magic with a guardian 18+present. So if you have a budding Imagineer or Cast Member, you’ll be able to enjoy this tour with them too! I know when my youngest turns 12 in 2 years, we’ll definitely be going on this tour again.

Photos are not allowed backstage, but as you can see above, the guides take several fun photos along the way. You have instant access to download these photos at the end of the tour. You can then share your amazing experiences with your friends and family as soon as you get home!

TOUR UPDATE NEWS:

At the end of our tour, we were given some insider info, which Disney will be announcing this week. Starting June 1, the Backstage Magic Tour will experience two new changes! Lunch will now no longer be at Whispering Canyon, but rather Tiffins restaurant inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom park. Tiffins will make more sense, since the Textile Services tour will be replaced by a Rivers of Light backstage experience! We love the Rivers of Light show, so this is an exciting update! Now you have a choice! Book this tour in the next 3 months to see the mind-boggling Textile Services building (which will be inaccessible after June 1)…Or wait and experience the new parts of the tour? A tough choice – maybe both?!

HOW TO BOOK:

Contact your MEI & Mouse Fan Travel directly, to book the amazing Backstage Magic Tour with your next vacation package. Or, call 407-WDW-TOUR to book directly with Disney. The cost is $275 per person, but in my opinion, worth every cent! In addition to the 5-days-a-week Backstage Magic Tour, three more ABD-run tours are available to book:

Gardens of the World – during the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, in partnership with the Epcot Horticultural Department.
Yuletide Fantasy – behind the scenes of all it takes to create and display the holidays at Walt Disney World
Holiday D-Lights – an enchanting evening reveals some of the secrets behind the most special traditions at Walt Disney World

Have you experienced an Adventures by Disney or any Disney parks tour? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Disclaimer: Disney invited MEI-Travel to experience this tour at no cost, but my thoughts and opinions are our own.

12 Parks 1 Day?! YES!

11 January 2019 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

As many of you know, Zannaland began almost 10 years ago, as a place for me to share my own stories, tips, reviews, and experiences at Walt Disney World. Those experiences of course included my children, who at the time were 10, 9, and almost 1 year old. They have essentially grown up with Zannaland and all of the amazing adventures we’ve been lucky enough to enjoy. When I started this blog, I’d only ever been to Walt Disney World (and SeaWorld and Busch Gardens in middle school!). I’d never even traveled further west than Chicago for 2 days when I was a travel agent (I did go to Paris and Madrid in high school too, but that was pretty much the extent of my travel). Now, we’ve been to Disneyland and other California destinations about 10 times. We’ve visited 11 different National Parks across the country, and all the area theme parks. And all of our adventures are only just beginning. This travel isn’t all because of Zannaland of course, but it’s been a constant in the background of my childrens’ lives, and we’ve definitely gotten to do some amazing things because of it. Which brings me to the purpose of this post.

My children are now 20, 18, and 10, and yes, two of them aren’t even children anymore. Growing up in the past 10 years, they’ve seen social media take over and become a part of daily life, and how video has replaced blogging in many senses (is anyone even reading this? 😛 ), and how anyone can open up their lives and share it with the world. They’ve now taken the next step and started their own vlog, with a very auspicious first video. After we completed a 6 Parks One Day cross-country challenge last year (which you can see on my Instagram Story Highlights), they took it to the next level and did 12 Parks in One Day here in the central Florida area. Needless to say, I’m incredibly proud of their efforts and love that the video shows their fun (and funny) personalities and a little bit of what it’s like to have grown up in the Orlando area with access to all the fun theme-park opportunities around us. Obviously, this is not a “way to see the parks” video, but just a fun “let’s see if we can do it” video haha. Riding one attraction in 12 parks in 1 day is not the best way to experience Orlando, but it does make for a fun vlog!

12 Parks 1 Day Video!

This will not be the last of their vlogs, just the beginning! I’d love for you to watch and leave a comment or a thumbs up for them. Be sure to subscribe and click the bell to get notifications of their next adventure! What would you like to see them cover in a future video? Let me know what you think in the comments below! Thanks for reading, and thanks for watching!!

REVIEW: Mary Poppins Returns to Warm Our Hearts

19 December 2018 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

If you’d like my review in very shortened form, it is this – Mary Poppins Returns was a visual delight, I cried several times, and left the theater full of hope, joy, and love. Now, let’s dive in to the long version…

I have a problem. I love (most) all things Disney, but at the same time, I can be pretty critical (not necessarily publicly) about choices they may make either with the parks or movies etc. but it’s still Disney, it’s still a theme park, it’s still a movie. And I love those things. So I was a little worried about Mary Poppins Returns, because I LOVE Mary Poppins (and yes, I realize I am not unique in that love, it’s pretty universally well-loved and adored) and was worried about tampering with that practical-perfection. But as already stated, I loved it.

I am not going to post huge spoilers in my review below, but I am going to cover the already-revealed-in-trailers portions of the film, and a few other topics, and the movie’s out now, so go see it and then come back and discuss with me! Now, let’s begin!

A Love Letter to the Original Story

What I love about Mary Poppins, the original film, is that in 2018, it is not just a classic family movie. It is a time capsule of Walt Disney Company history. We hardcore Disney fans know all about the history of making that movie. The involvement and disapproval of P.L. Travers, Walt’s personal connection to the books with his daughters, and the fact that it was made during the golden age of the Walt Disney Studios, with some of the best players and names of the time. So when I watch Mary Poppins, I don’t just watch that story and hear those songs, I think about the Sherman Brothers composing the theme songs to our lives. I think about how people didn’t think Dick Van Dyke could do a Cockney accent, but he became one of the most beloved names in Disney history because of this film. I think about Walt strolling through the studio and watching it all unfold and adding his own touches to the story. I think about how I sang these songs to my children when they were babies, and how I have friends that do the same.

Adding to this story would be like saying, I know It’s a Wonderful Life ended perfectly, but what if we went back 20 years later when George and Mary Bailey were both dead and their kids are not doing so well…It definitely would be a story, but should it be told? That’s what I was worried about with Mary Poppins Returns. And honestly, I’m still not sure it needed to been done, but we could say that about most things these days. The way I came to terms with it is: you just have to know that the original existed, and leave it at the door. Mary Poppins Returns, while technically a sequel, is really more of an homage to the original, a love letter, a beautifully hand-written thank you card.

From the very first scene to the last, we are treated to an updated tribute to the original Mary Poppins. Both movies open with Bert/Jack setting the scene, followed in the original by Peter Ellenshaw matte paintings, and in Mary Poppins Returns, Ellenshaw-esque paintings to accompany the overture, giving us a hint as to what we are about to enjoy. The similarities don’t end there, with each song or story point almost mirroring the original, sometimes expanding and updating our Mary and how she would act.

Not My Mary!

At first I took some issue with this, as I thought “Mary Poppins would never sing about someone being “on the sauce” or dance that way!” But then I had time to reflect on it and came to this conclusion (whether it lines up with the intent is up to Rob Marshall I guess!): Mary Poppins is timeless, ageless. She’s always been elegant, yet could hang with the chimney sweeps as if they were kings. So when she returns, 20-some years later in the middle of “The Great Slump” or Great Depression, she isn’t the same Mary that appeared in Michael and Jane Banks’ nursery. She is a modern nanny equipped with modern clothes, mannerisms, and a catalog of songs and dances in keeping with the timeline in which she appears. So of course she is going to a music hall and able to sing in a variety act-like comedic-song-and-dance. It all made sense to me when I thought of it that way.

In addition, something that struck me the second time I saw the film before finishing up this review was how Mary Poppins herself was acutely aware of the passage of time, nostalgia, and how things may disappear, but are never really gone.

During the song “The Place Where Lost Things Go,” there were several times when Mary looked around the nursery or touched an original toy from when Jane and Michael slept there, and looked wistfully as if she realized that this song she was singing to comfort the children at the loss of their mother, was also a comfort to her, at the loss of the original Banks’ children being children. She has this look many other times throughout the film, when Michael says something particularly adult-like, or sounds like his father, seemingly missing or wishing he would remember the lessons she taught so long ago.

Emily Blunt is a marvelous Mary, and she could tell a story of a thousand words with just one look – I loved her. She sang beautifully as well, making repeat listens of the soundtrack something that will definitely happen.

Speaking of Music…

I really loved almost all of the songs from the movie. I found Michael’s melancholy song in the beginning to be one of the sweetest and most emotional, and of course when the children sang the Lost Things song back to him, it was a definite tear-jerker. One of the best decisions however, is how the orchestral parts in between scenes or songs are nods back to the original score and the Sherman Brothers classics we all know and love. Make sure you take note of that while watching, it really is lovely.

Again, when I first saw it, my initial reaction to some songs were, “oh, they’re just trying to make this be the ‘Step in Time’ of the movie!” and later, when I had my moments of realization and it all made sense, I thought, “Oh! They’re making this be the ‘Step in Time’ of the movie!” and I appreciated it all the more.

The only song I wasn’t super into is the only scene I wasn’t super into, which was the Meryl Streep/Cousin Topsy “Turning Turtle” song. I get that that was the “Ed Wynn” moment of the film, but it just seemed out of place and forced a bit. But they all learned a lesson, so that was good at least.

The over-the-top numbers were all perfectly over the top as they should be and grand and fun to watch and listen to. The slower songs served their purpose too and overall everything flowed together nicely (except “Turning Turtle“ :P)

It’s Today or Never, I Always Say

Much like the original Mary Poppins, this movie is chock-full of Mary-isms that will have you smiling and remembering what’s truly important in life; having fun, using your imagination, remembering that everything is possible, and to sit up straight because we are not sacks of flour!

I love the dynamic of Mary and the children in this film, because much like the original Banks children felt they didn’t need a nanny, these three have proven that they don’t, as you see right from the start they’ve been taking care of themselves and the family. But as Mary reminds them, they are children, they can have fun and still help the family.

One of the things even my 10 year old noticed when we saw the preview screening back in November, was that there are villains in this movie. And while we could say that in the original, the bank and even to an extent Father was a villain, in Mary Poppins Returns, there is a scene where the children are literally in danger from the villains of the film. Of course we are then left to wonder if it was real or just a dream, but the villains are there nonetheless. I think, much like Mary growing with the times, the storyline itself grew with it as well. Times were tough during The Great Slump, and it affected the Banks family in more ways than one. Their biggest problem wasn’t cleaning their rooms, but the fact that they lost their mother and were about to lose their house. Not exactly kids stuff. But Mary guides them through (the older Banks children too), and of course they are all the better for it.

I’m sure there are a million things I’m forgetting to say that I wanted to discuss, but that’s what edit buttons are for, right? Overall, I loved this film, even more the second time I saw it, as I thought I might. It is truly a feast for the eyes, ears and heart. I cried many times, but not because it was all sad (it was in places), but mostly because of the great nostalgia it stirred within me. I wasn’t born when Mary Poppins came out, and I don’t even remember when I first saw it, but over the years, it became a well-loved favorite and as mentioned at the start, a huge part of Walt Disney company history. Just seeing Dick Van Dyke on screen filled me with joy, as did Angela Lansbury. Ms. Lansbury was not in the original Mary Poppins of course, but was in Bedknobs and Broomsticks with David Tomlinson, and she is a Disney Legend. Seeing these two icons on screen was truly a gift to us all, as is Mary Poppins Returns.

Mary Poppins Returns is now open in theaters everywhere – go see it! I was invited to a pre-screening by the Walt Disney Company, but as always, my opinions and thoughts are my own.

Have you seen Mary Poppins Returns? What did you think? What was your favorite part and your favorite song?