Magical Adventures & Memories
In my travels today, I saw these little beauties in World of Disney…the original Disney Dooney & Bourke Cindy Sketch featured in black or white as an iPhone case for the 4 and 4S. They are real cases that go over the front of the phone as well and not just the snap on the sides and leave the front exposed. Each case is $50.
There are so many movie/pop culture-make-up crossovers lately, it may be hard to keep up, but one I was instantly enamored with was Urban Decay’s The Glinda Palette
and Urban Decay’s The Theodora Palette. UD is my favorite brand of eye shadows (so many sparkles!) and I tend to get a little obsessed with their new releases. This is no exception. The two sets are just gorgeous and seem to have a color for any occasion, eye color, or style. See the hues below:
From UD’s description: Inspired by the Disney film’s theme of good witch vs. bad witch (and the good witch/bad witch dichotomy in all of us), Urban Decay created two collectible palettes loaded with beautiful, never-before-seen shades. Recreate Glinda’s ethereal, spellbinding look with eight all new and exclusive eye shadows in six pans (this set includes two duo-shades that are split in half, with a different color on each side of the pan).
Fellow blogger Estelle from ThisHappyPlaceBlog.com picked up the Glinda palette and had these photos to share:
From UD’s description: Inspired by the Disney film’s theme of good witch vs. bad witch (and the good witch/bad witch dichotomy in all of us), Urban Decay created two collectible palettes loaded with beautiful, never-before-seen shades. Recreate Theodora’s captivating, edgy look with eight all new and exclusive eye shadows in six pans (this set includes two duo-shades that are split in half, with a different color on each side of the pan).
Urban Decay’s The Glinda Palette and Urban Decay’s The Theodora Palette are $49 each and available now. Now go get them before someone drops a house on you too! 😉
Well, my personal opinion is that, as a local, I may have taken approximately 1971 photos of Cinderella Castle, and while it never gets old for me, I like to shake things up. Instagram and other photo apps make it easy and fun to focus on one castle spire, or close-up on the clock, do a tilt-shift of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, all sorts of FUN stuff. And, within the Instagram app lies a whole other community, connected by hashtags and common friends, of people that support and enjoy photos as much as you do. It really is a wonderful place. And you can in turn share the photos you create on Instagram over on twitter or Facebook or tumblr or even Flickr and Foursquare. It’s so easy. (And I mentioned fun, right?) One note of caution: many people feel like using social networks in the parks can lead to missing out on what’s going on around you. As someone who is guilty of that, I’ve come up with a sort of solution. I will take photos along the way, but still enjoy everything that’s happening and not get too engrossed in my phone. Then later, when we stop for a break, I’ll edit and post the photos then. It makes for a nice balance where you aren’t spending the entire visit with your head down in your phone.
Over time, I’ve downloaded quite the collection of photo editing apps, for making photos pop or adding some sparkles here and there, and it’s become quite an art form in its own right. Of course other times I just want to share a photo of my cat or my kids being silly. That’s the great part about Instagram, there are no rules. Another great part of the Instagram community are the hashtags, just like on twitter using a tag like this: #disney will allow you to find lots of other photos using that tag, and ensure your photo is seen by more people. It’s also fun to go back and look at hashtags later on and relive the memories you created. My friends, family and I have taken to using “#widdlebabygio” every time we post a photo of my youngest – just looking back on that set of photos puts a huge smile on my face. The use of hashtags then leads to other fun stuff, like photo challenges.
Our hashtag for this challenge is #WhimsicalDisneyGram and there you can see all of the daily topics and the photos participants have created. February just started and we’ve already seen some amazing content! So if you haven’t tried Instagram before, give it a go, you just may fall in love! And if you’re already up there, look me up – I’m @zannaland, Nicole is @sparklynicole and you’ll find so many other Disney friends there too! Nicole and I would love to have you take part in our February photo adventure, with more to come each month! No pressure, just drop in and out as you please, and have fun!
I hope to see you ‘gramming soon!
It may feel like winter will never end in some parts of the world, but Disney and LeSportsac are ready to infuse a little spring into your life with their latest designs for the Mary Blair-inspired collection. I wasn’t a huge fan of the winter designs, but they have won me over again with these whimsical colors and styles, this time paying homage to the country of Holland!
From LeSportsac’s blog: “…our carefree Dutch girls Saskia, Kalie and Brandie urge us to toss our devices and enjoy a sun-kissed afternoon on a bicycle! The Kalie Charm comes with the handkerchief-style print Well Wishes, as well as the embroidered placement tote Blooming Joy which features a Delft blue inspired needlepoint print brimming with bright pink daffodils and tulips.” Let’s see what’s in store for us:
Well Wishes print will be available in 14 styles: Rectangular Cosmetic, Travel Cosmetic , Kasey, Classic Hobo, Deluxe Everyday Bag, EveryGirl Tote, Medium Weekender, Large Weekender, Mini Basic Backpack, Basic Backpack, Small EveryGirl Tote, Deluxe Shoulder Satchel, Ryan Baby Bag, Lily Wallet.
More info from LeSportsac’s blog: “Adding to the Small World capsule is the latest installation of Mary Blair’s original artwork. See the World reworks the the world’s icons into a placement tote with beige and pastel contrasts, while our familiar geometric facade print continues with Global Journey in this color palette. Smaller styles in Global Journey include the Time To Share Double Coin Charm, while the larger styles and the See the World Tote come with the highly anticipated Multi Landmark Charm. It is sure to steal hearts all over!” I am pretty sure I need one of these styles!
Global Journey print will be available in 17 styles: Small Cleo Crossbody, Classic Hobo, Deluxe Everyday Bag, EveryGirl Tote, Medium Weekender, Large Weekender, Voyager Backpack , Carryall Tote, Basic Backpack, Small EveryGirl Tote, Deluxe Shoulder Satchel, Ryan Baby Bag, Jessi Baby Bag, Rectangular Cosmetic , Travel Cosmetic, Kasey, Lily Wallet.
“Share Your Dreams embroidery is a subtler beige and cream print, with small colorful embroidered impressions of the world’s icons sprinkled throughout and features cream tipped handles and straps. It includes the Share Your World Coin Charm on the larger styles, and the smaller styles come with the Time To Share Double Coin Charm.”
Share Your Dreams embroidery will be available in 8 styles: Classic Hobo, Deluxe Everyday Bag, EveryGirl Tote, Large Weekender, Small EveryGirl Tote, Deluxe Shoulder Satchel, Kasey, Small Cleo Crossbody.
New styles added to the Spring Disney It’s a Small World line-up include the Lily Wallet, Jessi Baby Bag, Basic Backpack, Small EveryGirl Tote, Medium Weekender, Deluxe Shoulder Satchel, and Carryall Tote.
Okay, maybe I need that one too, Love that charm too!
Which is your favorite design? I think they Spring 2013 collection will be a great success! Disney LeSportsac designs are available online and in select Disney Parks merchandise locations and the Spring collection will be out in February. Happy shopping!
After the great success of the Disney and Sephora collaboration on their Cinderella collection, Sephora recently announced the Princess Jasmine set will be the next in the series of Disney princesses. I know there are many of us grown-up princesses that absolutely love this partnership and it only seems right that glitter and sparkles should be available in the form of gorgeous make-up, accessories and even perfume. Check out the beautiful images below for the Jasmine collection, available this March exclusively at Sephora:
If you missed the Cinderella collection, some pieces are still available at Sephora:
Disney may have caused a bit of a national stir with their first incarnation of the Habit Heroes attraction, (which held soft openings about a year ago, and then closed less than two months later) but the entire show has been rewritten, revamped and ready for action.
The issue faced in the previous version was that two of the cartoonish characters depicted obesity as being easily solved by exercising and eating right, and, critics felt, used tools of shame to attempt to get their message across. Bariatric surgeons and National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance advocates spoke out against the attraction perpetuating negative stereotypes about obesity. At the same time, many in the local Disney community felt that too much of an overreaction was made toward the attraction’s characters. A show about bad habits included characters depicting the effects of those bad habits. One need only look at our schools and yes, theme parks, to see first-hand the effects of those bad habits. As someone who has struggled with weight all my life, I was not offended and definitely understood the message trying to be conveyed. Regardless, Disney closed the attraction while it retooled the storyline based on guest reactions.
Habit Heroes is now back and opens today in Epcot’s Innoventions East, right near the popular Sum of All Thrills motion simulator ride and the Vision House walk-through. I was given a special preview yesterday and even better, was able to take my four year-old with me to test out the changes.
This time around, according to Creative Director Brent Strong, the focus is on positive messages and at the core, trying to make sure everyone feels like a super hero, tapping into emotions to get guests engaged and excited about healthy habits. Rather than having “bad guys” fighting with donuts and sweets, the focus is on YOU, the hero, making good choices and keeping the effects of bad choices away. These bad choices are represented by the unseen forces that threaten our health – dehydration, inactivity and lack of nutrition.
Guests are taken into a series of 4 rooms within the attraction, starting with the training center and ending with the debriefing room. In the training center, we are introduced to our Habit Hero guides, who tell us about these unseen dangers, and how we can combat them by making the right choices. These stories are told in a simple manner that anyone can relate to, without making it seem silly or corny.
Every guest walking into Epcot has probably seen the effects of dehydration, represented here via “Scorchers.” Inactivity is translated into a young boy wanting to go out and play on his skateboard, but getting distracted by the “Sappers” who do anything they can to keep you from activity. Lastly, we are shown the effects of not having proper nutrition. The “Blocker Bots” are what appear when you just eat whatever you want, leaving no room for good choices like fruits and vegetables to get into your system. These lessons are very well portrayed, in such a way where you could see the effects of your choices and how being a Habit Hero will ensure good health.
Next, we enter a room full of “blasters” which correspond with the habits we just learned about. Blue for hydration, red for activity, and green for nutrition. We then use the blasters to zap away the cartoon representations of Scorchers, Sappers, and Blocker Bots as they try to attack people. A fun little addition is each blaster gives off a little “surprise” as you hit your target – blue gives off a mist of water, red a puff of air, green a little vibration. Another round is played where teamwork comes into play, showing the importance of neighbors and community as you battle to be a Habit Hero.
The community aspect is also utilized in the next room, where you are given a colored card as you enter. The room is surrounded by a screen showing Scorchers, Sappers and Blocker Bots attacking from above. Guests place their card on stands around the room, activating a shield and destroying the bad habits. The habits are attacking all around, so guests must run around to the different stations, and are encouraged to ask for help when they see a different card is needed, “we need a red card here!”
Once the world has been saved, you are ready to head to the debriefing room to take the Habit Heroes pledge. The fun doesn’t end there, however. Guests are given a wrist band bracelet in the color representing the habit they most identified with, red, blue, or green. Guests are also given a special card with a mission to embark on in the real world – Epcot! The cards show a cut out to match up on an Epcot map displayed within the debriefing room, and they follow the clues to find a hidden code word somewhere in a nearby Epcot attraction. They are then instructed to return to the Habit Heroes kiosks outside the attraction and enter their code word for a special message from the Habit Heroes leader and an option to enter their email address to receive more information on the Habit Heroes app which is available for Apple and Android mobile devices. Right now, there is just one mission and code word per card, but the attraction itself plus the app ensure lots of return visits to Habit Heroes.
While the Epcot mission takes the Habit Heroes attraction one step beyond, the app truly brings it to the real world, creating healthy families along the way. The app provides the same missions on the cards at the end of the show, as well as backstory on all the Habit Heroes, along with interactive tracking of activity which allow you to unlock content and real world tools for healthy living. The overall message here is positive, healthy changes and how those healthy choices affect us, our friends, and our family.
Guests leaving the attraction were already commenting on how they will now make sure their family stays hydrated throughout the day. This is definitely an interactive attraction that stays with you and keeps the entire family working toward healthy goals. As Brian Wansink, Ph.D. from Cornell University and the Director of Cornell Food and Brand Lab puts it, “Habit Heroes is incredible because it’s not just about learning…it’s about learning and turning it into action. That’s the nice thing about this is that when people leave, they’ve got a plan of how to make their life healthier.” That is definitely the message I took away; kids and adults alike are given the lesson and the tools to turn those lessons into life changes.
In addition to all of that – it’s just plain fun. My four year old loved it the two times he got to play and couldn’t wait to bring his older sister and brother back so each of them could be a different color and get all the bad habits. The app is a great addition to keep the lessons and the momentum going, leading to lifelong lessons and positive habits down the road.
Habit Heroes is sponsored and presented by Blue Cross/Blue Shield. I was provided with a preview of the attraction from Disney – my thoughts and opinions are my own. You can also learn more at HabitHeroes.com.
See more photos from Habit Heroes:
The Sofia The First character will make her Disney Parks debut in the 29th Annual “Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade” airing nationwide on Christmas Day, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25 (10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., ET; check local listings) on the ABC Television Network. It was also recently announced that Sofia will be joining the Disney Junior – Live on Stage! show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney California Adventure in early 2013 – joining Doc McStuffins as a new addition.
Disney’s first little girl princess, Sofia was introduced in the music-filled animated television movie “Sofia the First: Once Upon A Princess” which debuted on November 18, 2012 and became the #1 cable telecast of all time in Kids 2-5 and Girls 2-5, and the #1 preschool cable TV telecast ever in Total Viewers and Women 18-49. A “Sofia the First” television series which continues Sofia’s journey as she learns how to adjust to royal life, premieres FRIDAY, JANUARY 11 on Disney Channel (9:30-10:00 a.m., ET/PT) and Disney Junior (5:30-6:00 p.m., ET/PT).
The beautiful and moving Candlelight Processional is now a favorite tradition each holiday season. Each celebrity narrator adds their own touch and something special to the Christmas story as they speak the words we all know so well. This year I was able to enjoy both Neil Patrick Harris and Lea Salonga, both very different, but wonderful in their own right.
In between the Christmas story pieces, the talented orchestra and Voices of Liberty singers join a Cast Member chorale and area high school students to bring traditional holiday favorite songs to life. The songs are a perfect mix of classics which move you and fill you with the spirit of the season. This year, a new story prefaced Silent Night, adding to the rich tapestry of the candlelight performance. We were told about a town without an organ and a man who wrote a poem to welcome the birth of Jesus. The man’s son could play the guitar, but only 4 chords, and thus Silent Night was born.
At the end of each performance, I am left filled with joy and appreciation for the true meaning of the holiday. It is a must-do for anyone visiting Walt Disney World during the holiday season. The best bet for guaranteed seats is purchasing a Candlelight Dining Package, available by calling 407-WDW-DINE. Several shows remain this season, be sure to head out to see this beautiful spectacle.
Disclosure: I was provided with Gold Badge seating for my family at the Lea Salonga performance. My opinions are my own.
Set in the former Virgin Megastore building, Splitsville has completely redesigned the building and it is a marvel to see first hand. The process at Splitsville is a little different; you sign up for a bowling lane and tell them your shoe size and they bring the shoes to you and set you up in a lane. Then you get 1.5 hours of bowling and can enjoy drinks and dining while you bowl. If you’d like to just hang out for the music or food, that’s cool too. The second floor of Splitsville in Downtown Disney is only open to those 21+ after 10pm. Regular hours are from 10am-2am, 7 days a week. Pricing varies based on when you go, but for now it is $20 per person for an hour and a half of bowling, including shoe rental, during the peak hours of 5-10pm. If you’d like to bring your whole family, you are welcome to bowl downstairs where there is no age limit – drinks and food are still available downstairs as well – including a sushi bar!
After experiencing the vibe at Splitsville in Downtown Disney twice now, I am excited for the potential this brand has to invigorate and enliven the Downtown Disney atmosphere. I know there is a great need for things to do at Walt Disney World “after hours” since most things close at midnight or before, so this seems like a natural fit for couples and solo travelers visiting the World, as well as, of course, locals. Whether there will be discounts for locals, cast members and annual passholders remains to be seen, but I am sure Splitsville will be a great fit and personally look forward to the future with possible bowling leagues and fun get-togethers among friends.
The decor and theming in the Downtown Disney Splitsville is just fantastic. They have kept the retro 50’s bowling theme going with shiny red and black vinyl and mid-century modern lighting everywhere, along with adding some touches specific to our location, like Orlando-specific landmarks and nods to our orange grove history. In addition, downstairs is an absolutely amazing mural designed after the 1970’s merchandise bags which Walt Disney World history buffs love so much. It is just a perfect fit and a detail which did not go unnoticed or unappreciated by the many fans who visited the lanes before its official opening. Well done, Splitsville and Disney!
In addition to the nightly bowling, billiards, dancing and dining, Splitsville Orlando will be offering New Year’s Eve 21+ packages, with ($175 per person) or without ($100 per person) bowling which will include food options, drinks and Champagne with a reserved table for 3.5 hours. You can contact [email protected] or call 407-938-PINS for more information and reservations. You can also make lane and special event reservations online for birthdays and more.
Here’s a gallery of more images from Splitsville Orlando:
Disclosure: I visited the Splitsville Downtown Disney location as media during a special dedication event on December 7, and also as a guest of the Disney Parks Blog meet-up, held on December 17. I was provided with free bowling, food and drinks during both visits. My opinions and thoughts are my own and unaffected by this access from Disney. My thanks to Walt Disney World and the Disney Parks Blog for the opportunities. Keep an eye on the official Disney Parks Blog for future meet-ups, as well as the @WaltDisneyWorld twitter account for a hint or two before the meet-ups are announced.
Walking around the corner at Disney’s Hollywood Studios onto New York Street and seeing the overwhelming amount of holiday lights displayed at the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights is one of those must-do moments for me, that takes my breath away every year. If I could figure out a way to move into one of those Brownstones on the street, I would pack up in a heartbeat. Heck, I’d even live above the T.P. Tree! 😉 It is such a gift that Disney gives us each year, the beautiful lights, the music, a way to pause and enjoy the wonder and spirit of the season. It’s impossible not to go home happy.
I have so many wonderful memories tied into these lights – with my dad, who loved them as much as I do and loved the Studios too, my mom, as we tear up remembering the times with my dad, my older kids when they were little – I can still picture my now almost-14-year-old son sitting in his stroller, reaching his hand out to catch the “snow” as it fell, and now my youngest gets to experience it all as well and more and more memories are made each year. The past few years I’ve added memories with friends and other locals too. It’s just such a great place to wander and hang out. No parades or fireworks to line up for, just relax and enjoy the sights and sounds that envelope you at every turn.
So without further ado, lets take a look at some highlights from my most recent visit:
