Disney Movie News & Reviews

Swampy Celebrates 1st Birthday With Exclusive Birthday Content in Where’s My Water

21 September 2012 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

When I got my iPad for Christmas, the first thing I did was download Where’s My Water and proceeded to pretty much play it not stop until I’d tri-ducked all the levels. The game is so addictive, fun, and constantly updated with new levels and content.

Now Swampy is turning one and you get the present in the form of an exclusive free birthday-themed level in Where’s My Water? titled, “Make a Wish,” in addition to 10 more free Lost Levels and 40 new Mystery Duck levels! Hint: Tap the birthday present on Where’s My Water?’s main menu to unwrap the secret birthday level tomorrow, September 22, 2012.

Until then, take a look at the amazing statistics “Where’s My Water” can boast on the following graphic: (click to enlarge)

Orlando’s Gaylord Palms Wants You to Get Scared Shrekless and Prepare for a Merry Madagascar!

21 September 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

I always love any chance I get to hang out at the Gaylord Palms Resort – it is like another little self-contained world. Actually, there isn’t anything little about Gaylord Palms. From the moment you walk in the lobby, the space is awe-inspiring and the attention to detail and theming just gorgeous. I think I could spend all day just wandering around and exploring the Florida-themed sections of the hotel (and they realize this and offer kids scavenger hunts as a result!). The rooms and dining are just as fabulous, making it a place a family or couple could truly escape and never leave the grounds for a mini-vacation.

Gaylord Palms knows how to entertain families as well. They have two holiday packages coming up, one for Halloween featuring Shrek and Kung Fu Panda – who wouldn’t want to trick-or-treat around 4.5 acres of hotel gardens?! Of course, their amazing Christmas experiences such as ICE!, decorations, shows and more! The official information follows – I can’t recommend the Gaylord Palms Resort enough, it’s just beautiful!

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Gaylord Palms Resort invites guests to come out and experience Halloween a little early this year during Scared Shrekless Family Fun, an interactive experience featuring beloved characters from DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc.’s Madagascar franchise and this summer’s hit film Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, along with friends from the Shrek and Kung Fu Panda franchises.

Package guests can dress up in their most spooktacular costumes; trick-or-treat around the resort’s 4.5 acres of gardens; participate in a kids’costume contest with prizes; make ooey, gooey Swamp Sludge; dive into fun at the Madagascar Crack-A-Lackin’ Pool Party and much more ghoulish fun!

Scared Shrekless Family Fun at Gaylord Palms offers families a safe and weather controlled environment to celebrate the Halloween holiday. Overnight packages begin at $179 and are available on October 13 and October 27. For more information visit www.DreamWorksExperienceatGaylordPalms.com or call 407-586-2000.

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ICE! featuring DreamWorks’ Merry Madagascar

Celebrating its 10th year, ICE! is back and features an all-new awe-inspiring tribute to the unforgettable DreamWorks’ Animation TV classic Merry Madagascar. Guests can relive the story of how Alex the Lion and his friends saved Christmas after Santa and his reindeer crash onto the island of Madagascar.

Thrill-seekers can take a trip down one of four, two-story ice slides. With more than 20,000 square feet of exciting hand-carved sculptures made of 2 million pounds of ice, the frosty 9-degree bliss of ICE! is Florida’s favorite frigid Christmas tradition. A team of 40 talented artisans from Harbin, China, spend more than a month in Kissimmee creating this one-of-a-kind attraction.

While visiting Gaylord Palms to take in the excitement of ICE!, guests can also amplify their Christmas experience with one of these special events available FREE of charge:

Majestic Christmas Tree Lighting — Guests looking for a more traditional treat can enjoy Gaylord Palms’ famous tree-lighting ceremony, complete with singers, carols, lights and the star of the show, a massive 54-foot-tall majestic Christmas tree! It towers over the St. Augustine atrium, waiting for the special moment to light up and cast holiday cheer on guests.
LIVE Stage Shows — As part of the holiday lineup, Gaylord Palms offers live stage entertainment, including the spirited Luminescence Christmas show, throughout the Christmas season. Shows take place in the Emerald Bay Plaza, and guests are welcome to attend, free of charge!
Polar Bear Pursuit Scavenger Hunt — Guests can take a joyful jaunt throughout the indoor atriums to spot cleverly hidden polar bears. Answers are entered online to be eligible to win a grand prize.

The festivities don’t stop there! Guests can also participate in a few of their favorite things (additional charges apply):

ShrekFeast Interactive Character Breakfast — Kids will love becoming an honorary Ogre and joining Shrek and friends for a fairytale feast fit for a king. Tableside hugs and photos included! This experience features a Magic Fountain bubbling over with delicious chocolate potions and Shrek-shaped waffles with syrup.
Gingy’s Gingerbread Decorating — This fun, sticky, interactive decorating tradition just got a whole lot sweeter! Hosted by Gingy, the most famous of all Gingerbread men, you can choose from several different design options. After you’ve decorated to your heart’s content (don’t forget the gum drop buttons!), make your way to meet Gingy for a heartwarming hug that you can capture with your own camera.

The best way to benefit from all that Gaylord Palms has to offer is to book a room and become immersed in the splendor of Christmas. Guests seeking to jingle all the way into their holiday hoopla can purchase special “Christmassy DreamWorks Experience” packages starting at $189 per room per night!

Specially designed with all of the activities above, packages include tickets to ICE! and the exciting adventures of DreamWorks Animation’s latest feature film, in theaters November 21^st, Rise of the Guardians Scavenger Hunt, in which the whole family will search throughout Gaylord Palms’ spectacular indoor atriums and enter their answers online to win a grand prize. Enthusiasts can then meet the whole DreamWorks gang with a “Character Passport” that allows them to stroll through Shrek’s beloved swamp for a face-to-face encounter with the green ogre himself; explore the island of Madagascar; discover China’s ancient Valley of Peace where Po, the Kung Fu Panda, has become a true kung fu master; and greet Gingy in a giant gingerbread house.

A DreamWorks welcome amenity package, character wake-up calls and a family photo are also included in overnight packages for guests to commemorate their unforgettable visit. Additionally, they can enjoy special holiday menus at the expansive dining outlets and attractive holiday merchandise at the myriad specialty shops.

ICE! is open daily from Nov. 10, 2012 through Jan. 1, 2013, including holidays. Ticket prices range from $13.99 to $29.99. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.ChristmasAtGaylordPalms.com.

Gaylord Palms Resort is located five minutes from the gates of Walt Disney World at 6000 W. Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee, FL 34746. For more information, visit www.gaylordpalms.com or call 407-586-2000.

Be sure to “Like” Gaylord Palms on Facebook to get the most up-to-date information and promotions!

DJ Skrillex to Make Cameo Appearance in Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph

20 September 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

My musical tastes have always been varied and eclectic, a trait which I am happy my 13 year-old has inherited as well. He loves most genres, but has been focused on dubsteb and club music for the last couple of years, even creating his own mixes and writing original music, when he’s not drumming for school. So we were both excited to learn that Skrillex would be working on the soundtrack for the upcoming Disney 3-D feature Wreck-It Ralph. This morning he let me know of an article he read noting a cameo Skrillex will have in the film. (I love when my kids give me blogging ideas!) I thought I’d share it here for the fans that may be interested – from the UK dance and club music site MixMag:

Disney aren’t strangers to grabbing hot DJ talent to cameo in their movies off the back of the soundtrack. Back in 2011 they got Daft Punk. Now it seems Skrillex is stepping into Disney-land.

A couple of months ago Mixmag reported that Skrillex would score some of the soundtrack to Disney’s upcoming animated feature Wreck It Ralph.

After Total Film magazine watched 30 minutes of the new film, it has emerged that Skrillex is not only providing the music but also lending his vocal talents and likeness to star in a cameo role.

Clark Spencer, the film’s producer, spoke about how Skrillex went from EDM superstar to Disney cartoon. “We went to him first and said, ‘Hey, we have this party scene in the world of Fix It Felix Jr, and we have a DJ and we think it would make a nice cameo if we put you into it.’ And he was ecstatic,” he said.

“We built his model, we put on his look, and we sent it to him to have him give us comments. And he said he would never wear non-black tennis shoes. He said ‘My tennis shoes will always be black’. So we changed the tennis shoes to black.

“You don’t see them in the film, as he’s behind the DJ booth, but they were in the model. He has seen the animation, and he’s very, very excited about it.” (see full article here)

See the new Wreck-It Ralph trailer here (I love that they added music from one of my favorite bands, fun. Yay!):

I know I’ll be looking for his cameo, I’m almost excited about this as I am seeing Q*bert again! Wreck-It Ralph opens nationwide on November 2, 2012. What are you most excited to see in Wreck-It Ralph?

Little Mermaid Section Photos & Review at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

20 September 2012 by Suzannah Otis 8 Comments

On my recent tour of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, I also checked out the newest area, the Little Mermaid section. These rooms are the traditional “value” rooms seen in other resorts, not the family suites or “value plus” experience found in the Finding Nemo, Cars, and Lion King buildings. The rooms here start at $94/night vs. the $248/night starting price for the family suite rooms. Having noted that, when I visited the Little Mermaid section, I was a bit disappointed – relatively speaking.

Disney's Art of Animation Little Mermaid buildings — Giant Dinglehopper awaits you!

On its own, the Little Mermaid fits right into the All-Star and Pop-themed buildings. However, down the road from the Cars buildings, there is just no comparison. Here we are met with giant and I mean GIANT characters and props from the film. When you first walk in, you have two photo ops, a very over-sized Dinglehopper and an even larger Snarfblat. Sure, they are familiar icons from the film, but why so big? Does this mean we have been shrunk to krill-size creatures upon entering this area? That would be plausible if we didn’t then happen upon the statue of Prince Eric which Ariel keeps in her grotto. It is slightly over-sized, but for the most part, on par with how it looks in the movie. Then to your right is a behemoth-sized Ursula and an equally towering King Triton. It is almost impossible to make characters that huge not look deranged somehow…and these are no exception. Also, with no interior doors and hallways, the buildings are also covered with 2-D cut outs of fish from the film and bubbles, which are a far cry from the expertly themed buildings in the rest of the resort.

Again, I get that it’s in keeping with the super-sized theme that the other value resorts are known for, but when you feel actually immersed over in the Cars section, it’s just hard not to wonder what the other buildings would’ve been like with those same rules applied. Perhaps it is because the Cars section is so wonderful that it stands out on its own and is the one out of place. I will say that I enjoy the details that are present, like the ship’s mast and crows nest themed light posts along the walkways, and the attempt at a beachy/underwater landscaping mix. I would just personally prefer to stay in the Cars or Lion King section, were I to stay in this resort. We’ll see inside a Cars section room in a later post, and I’ll also discuss the dining options and other resort information in the coming weeks. Until then, with my opinions out of the way, let’s take a look at the Little Mermaid buildings:

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What are your thoughts on the Little Mermaid buildings? Will you choose this section of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort over other value resort options?

Inside Disney’s Art of Animation Resort-Lion King Room Photo Tour

19 September 2012 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

After my initial tour of Disney’s new Art of Animation Resort, which has opened in phases, the last two buildings, Lion King and Little Mermaid are now open. I thought I’d venture back over and tour the new areas to share here with you. In addition to the exterior of the Lion King and Little Mermaid buildings, I was able to tour a Cars and Lion King room. I’ll be sharing the other photos in subsequent posts, but for now, let’s check out a Lion King family suite and its surrounding buildings.

Disney's Art of Animation Resort Lion King — Hakuna Matata!

Before I share the photos, a quick note about all of the buildings at Art of Animation. When I first saw the property back in April, what I was most impressed with were the tiny details. In the Finding Nemo section, it was the landscaping, made to look like you were actually under the sea, along with things like the swim mask featured in the film, famously marked with “P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney”. The giant sea creatures were fun for the kids, but it was those details that really made the theming work for me. The rooms were also pretty and full of muted colors like you saw in the movie.

By far my favorite section was Cars. It was as if you were walking into a less-vast Radiator Springs. After visiting Disney California Adventure and seeing the “real” version of Cars Land, of course this area cannot compare, however it’s an excellent second place. What makes it so great is the perspective. You see the cars, properly-sized, as you would in the film and you feel as if you are a part of the town. The landscaping, again, is a key detail, painting a desert scene in keeping with Radiator Springs. You’ve got the Cozy Cone motel and other landmarks that are again, properly sized so it feels natural. The rooms inside are in keeping with this theme and, I think, a nice mix of racing vs. Radiator Springs decor. We’ll see photos of the rooms in an upcoming post.

The Lion King buildings sort of straddle the line between the over-sized Finding Nemo and (as we’ll also see in later) Little Mermaid rooms and the proper perspective of the Cars section. The Lion King statues are bigger than life-sized, but not so huge that it feels just silly and not at all realistic. I like the unique layout of the Lion King buildings, with the famous “Hakuna Matata” log that Simba, Pumba and Timon dance across in the movie and the Elephant Graveyard where the three hyenas, Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed are found. Of course all of the wonderfully detailed scenes are riddled with “Please Do Not Climb” signs, which will probably make this a battleground for cast members trying to protect guests and those guests hoping to get that really cool photo from their vacation. I do love the lush look of the building entrances and the overall fun but not too over-the-top theme of the Lion King buildings. Later I’ll discuss the Little Mermaid buildings and my thoughts on their theming. Now, onto the photos!

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What do you think of the Art of Animation Resort in general? What about the new Lion King section? Share your favorite details in the comments below:

Watch Ashley Eckstein’s Video Diary from Star Wars Celebration VI!

18 September 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

When I attended Star Wars Celebration VI last month, the highlight was seeing Ashley Eckstein in all of her Her Universe glory. She was doing a photo shoot for fangirls to model their Her Universe shirts, and if they didn’t own one, she would provide one for the shoot – so nice! After checking out the Her Universe booth and speaking to Ashley’s wonderful husband, 2-time World Series winner and MVP David Eckstein, he let us know Ashley was upstairs at the photo shoot and we headed up to see the fans in action. It was great to see Ashley interacting with her loyal fans and see how she’s inspired them not only with her fashion designs, but to make their own skirts and dresses and hair accessories as well! I was lucky enough to ~~be persuaded to~~ pose for a photo in my own Her Universe shirt, and have Ashley join me as well.

Suzannah at Her Universe — My first “modeling” stint. 😛

Suzannah and Ashley Eckstein — Me with Ashley, she’s always so gracious!

While we were there, Imagineer Jason Surrell was on hand directing and recording Ashley’s video diaries for the weekend’s events. It was cool to see some Disney/Star Wars/Ashley cross-over since she’s always such a great part of the Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Here are what Ashley and Jason had to say in today’s press release:

Ashley Eckstein at Celebration VI — Ashley Eckstein at her Star Wars Celebration VI booth

“I’ve never been good at keeping a written diary and I wanted to capture the events and memories of Celebration VI for myself and the fans in a different way,” said Eckstein. “With social media being the way it is today, a video diary seemed like the best way to cover CVI.”

The video diary, directed by Jason Surrell, a screenwriter and Senior Show Writer for Walt Disney Imagineering and edited by Studio Say So, an Orlando-based video production company, is a collaborative effort with Eckstein. “I was absolutely thrilled when Ashley asked me to direct her video diary at Star Wars Celebration VI,” said Surrell. “After directing Ashley and her fellow Clone Wars cast members in Behind the Force at Disney’s Star Wars Weekends for so many years, I knew that there’s a whole other world out there that people typically don’t get to see. So I’m hoping that our series of video diaries will truly give Star Wars fans a peek behind the curtain at all the fascinating and truly funny things that happen when these people get together. I’ve never been happier to be a fly on the wall. We’re going to take you onstage, backstage and everywhere in between.”

The complete video diary is now available at StarWars.com, where you can watch all the galactic fun for yourself. It was a fun weekend for any level of Star Wars fan!

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Delivers Treats For All!

18 September 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Once the holiday decorations appear on the train station and light posts at the Magic Kingdom, the best time of the year begins in the place where dreams come true. The crowds are drastically reduced after Labor Day, and some really unique events start up for lucky visitors. One of my favorites to attend each year is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. The “Not-So-Scary” is important because so many area theme parks do offer super-scary events for those looking for a more haunted Halloween experience. However, in the Magic Kingdom, the tradition has always been to offer family fun with a sprinkling of Haunted Mansion-style spookiness.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a hard-ticketed special event, which means on certain dates, the Magic Kingdom will close early and a special ticket will be required to attend the party. Is it worth it? I always answer a resounding “YES!” when asked. Here’s a quick run-down of why:

No Crowds – The party is limited to a certain number of guests, which means you can ride Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain and yes, even Peter Pan’s Flight with almost no wait. Pro Tip: If you go during the parades or fireworks, it’s virtually walk-on.
Free Candy – That’s right, you can trick-or-treat during the event, and not just little ones. Adults and grumpy teenagers with no costumes alike can all fill their bags with candy at various locations throughout the park.

“Boo-to-You” Parade – Veteran Disney guests may think, “eh, a parade, how exciting could it be?” but let me tell you, this is the best parade of the season and worth the party ticket! First, you get a visit from the Headless Horseman who trots down the parade route prior to its start. It’s always an exciting sight to witness and gets everyone fired up for the parade to follow. The parade itself is full of unique and amazing floats. The Haunted Mansion attraction is brought to life, with dancing gravediggers who make quite the “spark” followed by hitchhiking and ballroom dancing ghosts. Next up, the villains we know and love pass by, and just for fun, some cowboy and cowgirl action followed by Clara Cluck, a crowd favorite. Goofy rounds out the parade with his Candy Company contraption, as more candy is handed out among the crowd. Pro Tip: visit attractions during the first parade and stick around for the second one at 10:30.

Here is the Headless Horseman’s ride:

Boo to You Parade — The Gravediggers are my favorite part of the parade!

Happy HalloWishes Fireworks Spectacular – You may have seen fireworks, you may have even seen Wishes, but HalloWishes will blow them all away. Favorite spooky music and villains’ voices fill the air as fireworks fill the sky, and I do mean FILL the sky. HalloWishes is known for its perimeter fireworks, meaning you are surrounded by them at various points in the show, especially the finale. It’s a truly amazing experience.

Costumes – one of my favorite parts of attending the Halloween party is just people watching. You see some real creativity on display as folks appear as their favorite Disney or other characters, sometimes as a group theme. It’s just so fun, especially when you see really obscure things that you have to try and guess. There are always some great Hitchhiking Ghosts on hand, and over the last few years I’ve seen quite a few characters from Disney-Pixar’s UP, including young Carl and Ellie, Russell and Carl, and more. It’s a unique experience at every party of the season! Also – you’ll find some of your favorite Disney characters in their own costumes for photo opportunities too, so keep an eye out.

In addition to the above, there is a fun Villains Mix & Mingle show at the Castle stage, and a few Character Dance Parties throughout the park, if your little ghosts have some sugar to burn off. Speaking of, there are healthy non-candy choices available for trick-or-treating as well, just ask the costumed cast members where those options are as you get your treats.

Some of my other favorite parts of attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party are the unique decorations and lighting designs throughout the park. Keep an eye out for spooky shadows projected on the ground – new this year is a skull shining on Big Thunder Mountain, and the Halloween-colored lighting down Main Street, U.S.A. is a fun sight to see.

Bottom line, get thee to the Halloween party! It is so worth it and I think it’s virtually impossible not to have a good time. I haven’t even touched on all of the things you can only see during these special events, some of them, you’ll just have to head over and experience for yourself. I did mention the free candy, right?

Party dates in 2012 are:

Sept. 11, 14, 18 21, 25, 28, 30;
Oct. 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 22, 23, 25, 28, 30 and 31;
Nov. 2.

Advance savings of $6 per ticket are available for select dates. Special after-hours tickets are required. For additional information, guests may visit www.disneyworld.com/halloween. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling 407/W-DISNEY.

Disclosure: Disney provided me with four tickets to this event, but did not ask me to write about it. All opinions are my own.

Exclusive Disney Baby Store Glendale Grand Opening Photos and Review

17 September 2012 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

Those who follow on Twitter or Facebook, or fellow bloggers in attendance, may remember my surprising grand prize win at Disney’s Social Media Moms Celebration back in April. I was thrilled to hear I had won a trip for four to California, to attend the grand opening ceremonies for the new Disney Baby exclusive store in Glendale, as well as some time in Disneyland. Having gone to Disneyland for the first time last year for the Disney D23 Expo in Anaheim, I was so excited to be able to bring my children out with me to see the park I fell in love with. As fate would have it, I ended up being in the Disneyland Resort a month before this special trip, for the D23 Destination D event, but that’s another story entirely.

Details were worked out and I ended up taking my three children and my mother on this most recent visit out west. They were just as excited as I was and none of them had ever been to Disneyland before, or Glendale for that matter. The trip was a lesson in travel, being the first plane ride for all my children, my first attempt at driving in Los Angeles, and my first time venturing outside of the bubble of Anaheim’s Disneyland area. As you can imagine, we all survived and had a wonderful time.

Due to difficulties with our flights on the return, we were kindly offered a Disneyland area hotel, which was heaven-sent since we decided to extend the visit by a few days, so I was sure the kids would see all of Disneyland. We were booked into the Grand Californian, which, if you’re going to see Disneyland for the first time, is a highly recommended way to go about it! We were also given a rental car (resulting in me freaking out about driving in L.A.!) and one-day Disneyland tickets. I was relieved to learn they were still sending a car service to get us to and from Glendale, for the Disney Baby opening. I think I would’ve been okay driving, but it was nice to sit back and enjoy the scenery vs. worrying about Freeway exits! I’ll be writing more about our family experiences at Disneyland Resort in the coming weeks.

My Disney Baby was excited for the day’s events!

Disney Baby in Glendale is the first of its kind and I’m sure more will follow across the country. This first store is located at The Americana at Brand, which is a lovely way of saying a super cool outdoor mall in Glendale! I loved this area and it was a beautiful setting for Disney to hold its grand opening ceremonies, which, in typical Disney style, gave back as well.

The opening doubled as a baby shower for 20 expecting military moms, who received special gift baskets, prizes and all sorts of pampering before heading in to check out the Disney Baby store. When the spokesperson explained the purpose of Operation Shower, it was hard not to get emotional at these moms, many of them already raising families, while their spouses were stationed overseas. It was truly wonderful to witness.

The event was also full of fun activities for the kids in attendance, ranging from arts and crafts to technology to product samples and clothing typical of what Disney Baby would offer, in store and online. The DisneyBaby.com site launched the same day so you don’t have to wait for a location to reach your neck of the woods to order some Disney magic for your little prince or princess.

Some of the interactive booths at the Disney Baby grand opening

We were treated to a visit from Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet who arrived by trolley car. They helped Alison Sweeney, (host of The Biggest Loser, star of Days of Our Lives, and author of the new book “The Mommy Diet^*“) and her family press the button to reveal the Disney Baby store in all its adorable glory. Also on hand were Blue Sky Riders (comprised of members Kenny Loggins, Georgia Middleman and Gary Burr), who serenaded us with classic and new hits. Other Disney Channel and ABC Family stars were in attendance to complete the celebration. Here are some photos from the event:

Kenny Loggins and Blue Sky Riders

Some familiar friends arrive by trolley!

Ali Sweeney and family (and some friends from the 100 Acre Wood) drop the curtain on Disney Baby!

Here’s a video of the big moment:

Outside the Disney Baby store

Inside the Disney Baby store

Disney Baby is adorable!

Of course there are dress-up clothes too!

Diaper Bags and more inside the Disney Baby store

All in all, my family had a wonderful time playing games, enjoying the entertainment and of course, experiencing the actual star of the show – the Disney Baby store! More than just a store full of baby-sized clothes, the new boutique offers small toys, supplies for new parents like diaper bags, car seats and strollers, and of course, adorable plush that you will want to fill your nursery or playroom with.

A bouncing, baby Tigger!

It was an honor to be in attendance with other local bloggers and media, and of course, the deserving military moms from Operation Shower. Huge thanks go to Disney Baby for having my family out, and the wonderful team behind Disney’s Social Media Moms Celebration for making it happen. Look for the Disney Baby stores to pop up around the country, and of course, check out DisneyBaby.com for all your baby magic – follow @DisneyBaby on Twitter and Facebook.com/DisneyBaby for more updates!

Stay tuned for a Disney Baby GIVEAWAY in the coming days!

Disclosure: I was provided with airfare, hotel, transportation, 1-day Disneyland tickets for four, and a $200 Disney Baby gift card as my prize package but was not asked to write about the event, I am just doing that because I wanted to! 🙂

^*affiliate link – if you purchase using that link, I will get a few cents toward keeping zannaland running. 🙂

Photo Highlights From Raglan Road Pub’s First “Great Hooley” Celebration

2 September 2012 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

Saturday my daughter and I were invited to experience Raglan Road Pub’s Great Irish Hooley, or celebration. Nestled between Downtown Disney’s Pleasure Island and Marketplace, the Great Irish Hooley is central Florida’s first boutique Irish festival, taking place from Friday to Monday this Labor Day weekend.

Raglan Road Pub is always a favorite for my family, featuring great food mixed with authentic Irish musicians and dancers throughout the day and night. The Great Irish Hooley enhanced all of that fun, with more bands, more dancing and lessons, and of course, great food – with no cover charge. It was wonderful to learn the stories behind the Irish dances being demonstrated along with the music and edible delights!

Here are some photo highlights of our experience on Saturday:

Irish Dancers and me — Anyone can dance!

Irish Dancers — Irish dancing demonstration outside Raglan Road for the festival

Raglan Road Beer Flight — One of the Raglan Road beer flights available for tasting

Lobster Club with peas — Lobster Club – Lobster & avocado salad, crispy prosciutto, watercress & citrus herb mayonnaise.

Beef Curry Pie — Beef Murray – Beef curry pie with spinach, potatoes, mushrooms & apple chutney.

Shepard's Pie — Keen eye for the Shepherd’s Pie – my daughter had this and loved it.

Raglan Risotto – Risotto with shiitake mushrooms, garden peas, shaved parmesan & rocket lettuce. You can add chicken or shrimp but I had it without and it was delicious!

Cashel Castle salad — Cashel Castle – Crumbled Cashel blue cheese, carmelized pecans, grape tomatoes, raspberries, prosciutto crisps, crostini’s & raspberry vinaigrette. You can add chicken or shrimp.

Chicken fingers and chips Raglan Road — Chicken fingers and chips – not on the menu, but on the kids menu with 2 fingers, just ask your server!

Appetizer Sampler Raglan Road — An appetizer sampler brought out for our table – Scallop Forest – Georges Bank Scallops in a golden batter served with citrus lime dipping sauce & sweet chili jam. Heaven on Earth – Baby back ribs tossed in a Guinness glaze. Nom Nom Wings – Sweet ‘n spicy wings tossed in a honey, chili flake, soy & ginger sauce. Dalkey Duo – Battered cocktail sausages with a Dalkey mustard dipping sauce

Kiss Before Prawns – Pan seared prawns in a garlic & chili lemon butter sauce with crostinis.

Tart Art goat cheese tart with asparagus and peas – delicious!

Irish Soda Bread with sweet Guinness dipping sauce

Jay'Gail Sangria — Jay’Gail Sangria – A refreshing blend of Magners Cider, Peach Schnapps and Fruit Liqueurs & squeezes.

Inside Raglan Road — I love the stained glass inside Raglan Road!

An Irish dancer on the raised stage in the middle of Raglan Road

And here is a quick video of one of the Irish dancing demonstrations taking place during the Hooley:

The Great Irish Hooley is still going on now through Monday, September 3 – check out performance times at TheGreatIrishHooley.com and more information and menus at RaglanRoad.com. Special thanks again to Raglan Road Pub and Disney for providing lunch for my daughter and I.

Disney Classics Old and New Now On Blu-ray Combo Packs

24 August 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

One thing I love about Disney Pictures bringing out new movies on special edition or Blu-ray release is that I get to see movies I haven’t seen in decades, and usually hold some wonderful childhood memory for me or now, my family. Disney has now released a handful of new-to-Blu-ray films, and I was lucky enough to be sent them for review here. Released on August 21, 2012 are:

The Tigger Movie: Bounce-A-Rrrific Special Edition Combo Pack

Pocahontas and Pocahontas II: Journey To A New World – Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Lady and the Tramp 2: Scamps Adventure – Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Special Edition

The Rescuers: 35th Anniversary Edition with The Rescuers Down Under – Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo

The Aristocats – Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Special Edition

Now believe it or not, some of these movies I’d actually never seen. Pocahontas II, The Rescuers Down Under, and The Tigger Movie somehow all escaped my viewing eye. I was happy to be able to share them with my children, as well as see them for the first time myself. My almost-4 year-old is currently obsessed with Tigger, so he now watches the Tigger movie on rotation daily! It was also great to see what I’d missed with the other two sequels.

Most of all, I loved sharing The Rescuers with my daughter. I truly loved this movie when I was a little younger than her, and it also terrified me. It was interesting to see it from an adult perspective as well as having quite a few years pass since the movie was first released. It was great to finally see The Rescuers Down Under too.

I remember getting Lady and the Tramp II on VHS when my oldest son was little. He loved little Scamp and his adventures, so it brought back fun memories from when he was little. Pocahontas has such wonderful music and visuals, and having the sequel together was fun to see. The Aristocats has also always been a favorite, so it’s great to get all of these films in wonderfully restored digital quality on Blu-ray.

The best part is that each of my children can identify with the different movies in their own way, and choose their own favorites. So many of my Disney movie memories are tied to when they were first released in the case of the 70’s – present, or if they were shown in theatres again. Now kids can see all of the old classics and newer ones as well, whenever they please.

Here are the bonus features you’ll find on these releases:

The Aristocats –

The Lost Open: legendary songwriter Richard Sherman introduces an early story board iteration of an opening scene complete a deleted character named “the Maid” and demos for the deleted songs “How Much You Mean to Me” and “Court Me Slowly.”

“Oui Oui Marie” Music Video

Deleted Song – “She Never Felt Alone”: This deleted song, complete with animation, will tug at the heartstrings of any animal lover, as Duchess explains to Thomas O’ Malley why she must return to her beloved owner Madame Bonfamille. Richard Sherman discusses the song he co-wrote with his brother Robert, which captures the special relationship between a pet owner and their animal. It’s a moving sequence that will stir everyone’s fondest memories of their favorite pets.

The Sherman Brothers: The Aristocats of Disney Songs: A tribute to the legendary Disney songwriting team of Robert and Richard Sherman, with particular emphasis on “The Aristocats.”

The Great Cat Family (Excerpt): This animated excerpt tells the history of cats from ancient Egyptians to the present.

The Classic Disney short “Bath Day”: Figaro has been freshly bathed and perfumed by Minnie when he meets up with Lucifer and his gang who chase him. In the ensuing fight, the gang is fooled into beating up Lucifer and making Figaro the winner. But the victor is soon putback in the tub by Minnie.

Disney Song Selection:

“The Aristocats”
“Scales and Arpeggios”
“Thomas O’Malley Cat”
“Ev’rybody Wants To Be A Cat”

The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under –

3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack: “Peoplitis” deleted song; The Making of “Rescuers Down Under;” “Three Blind Mouseketeers” animated short; Water-Birds, A Walt Disney True Life Adventure documentary; “Someone’s Waiting For You” Sing-Along

2-Disc DVD: The Making of “Rescuers Down Under;” “Three Blind Mouseketeers” animated short; Water-Birds, A Walt Disney True Life Adventure documentary; “Someone’s Waiting For You” Sing-Along

Lady and the Tramp II –

Blu-Ray Combo Pack: The Making of Lady and Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure; Sing-Along Songs; Pluto Animated Shorts; Puppy Trivia Tracks; Audio Commentary

Pocahontas II –

3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack:

Drawing Inspiration: The Lost Story of Hiawatha
Deleted Song: “If I Never Knew You” The Music of Pocahontas
“Little Hiawatha” Cartoon Short
Deleted Scenes
“Pocahontas” Audio Commentary
Virtual Vault

The Tigger Movie –

2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack:

Disney Intermission – While the film is paused, young viewers are entertained with fun and engaging Hundred Acre Wood themed games and activities.

· “A Tigger Tale” – This featurette includes interviews with director Jun Falkenstein, producer Cheryl Abood, art director Toby Bluth, animator Jeff Johnson and composer Richard Sherman who discuss how Tigger’s literary and film history influenced “The Tigger Movie.”

· 10 Mini Adventures of Winnie the Pooh shorts – The journey continues with these 10 animated shorts featuring all of the Hundred Acre Wood characters.

· “Round My Family Tree” Sing-Along Song – In this feature, fans can sing along with Tigger as the lyrics are highlighted on screen.

· Kenny Loggins Music Video “Your Heart Will Lead You Home” – Singer/songwriter Kenny Loggins reunites with the Hundred Acre Wood characters in this heartwarming music video.

Enjoy these films with your family, or by yourself and create even more Disney memories for years to come.

^*Disclosure: I was provided these movies for the purposes of review but my opinions are my own. Links above are affiliate links, which, if used to purchase these discs, will give me back a few cents to keep zannaland running. Thank you!