Reviews

Resort Review: Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

15 April 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Exterior Pond Front at Hyatt Regency GrandCypress MEDIUM

There have been so many changes in the Orlando area in the past few decades, many hotels and resorts have come and gone. Some in the Walt Disney World Resort area have completely changed, upgrading their 80’s roots to more modern styles and accommodations. Amid all of the resort choices, one stands out as an established, luxury choice for those wanting all of what central Florida offers. That resort, is the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress.

Celebrating 30 years of exceptional service, Orlando’s original luxury resort, Hyatt Regency GrandCypress, offers guests 1,500 acres of timeless fun just minutes from Central Florida’s most popular attractions. The Grand Cypress has really managed to combine the “old Florida” feel with state-of-the-art guest rooms and amenities.

I was recently given a chance to experience the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress and after driving by it for the past 30 years, was pleasantly surprised with all they had to offer. I fell in love with the look and feel of the resort, the wonderful, luxurious rooms and the amenities that really made me say, “theme parks? what theme parks?” It is amazing how a place a mile away from Walt Disney World Resort can feel so private and secluded and away from the hustle and bustle of tourist life. I really didn’t want to leave.

Grand Cypress offers families luxury amenities surrounded by a tropical oasis that features the resort’s signature lagoon pool. Inspired by contemporary design, the lagoon pool offers a tranquil escape coupled with vibrant activities for children of all ages. The 800,000 gallon, half acre, free-flowing pool boasts 12 waterfalls, heated and non-heated zones, two whirlpools, a rope bridge, walking paths, and expansive, wrap-around sundecks. The secluded grotto areas with padded, ridiculously comfy lounge chairs were in a word: heaven. You could lay back and watch the world go by, or jump in and enjoy the fun in the sun.

Lagoon Pool Deck at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress 2013 SMALL

Guests can also enjoy the new Water Slide Tower Pavilion, new Water Jet Splash Zone, and new children’s Rock Climbing Stations complement the resort’s numerous recreation activities including the family favorite S’mores pit, beach volleyball, tether ball, hammocks, watersports and marked jogging, walking, and biking trails. Additionally, Grand Cypress guests have easy access to 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus Signature Design golf and the award-winning Tennis and Racquet Club. I was really blown away with how many recreation activities the resort offers, all included in your resort fee. Did you see the S’mores pit part?? The trails were great too, I love being reminded that there is more to Florida than just attractions.

Family at Firepit at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress 2014 SMALL

From the lobby atrium and check-in with champagne, to the beautiful rooms, with stunning views, the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress truly has it all. I loved having access to the Regency Club too – it was the perfect place to grab a quick breakfast or snack throughout the day, and the seating and views were wonderful – a great spot for seeing Disney fireworks too!

We enjoyed dinner at Cascade American Bistro, whose motto is: “Thoughtfully Sourced…Carefully Served” This translates to all the food which is offered in the restaurant is locally sourced and always fresh. I loved the table-side herb garden that they brought over, and the main courses and desserts were a delight. Worth visiting even if you aren’t staying as a guest.

Visit Hyatt Regency GrandCypress for their always great offers and Florida Resident Rates.

If all of the above still hasn’t convinced you, give the video below a look, you’ll be making reservations in no time!

From Arrrr to Zarina, The Pirate Fairy Is Packed With Pixie Dust!

31 March 2014 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

I first heard about The Pirate Fairy at Disney’s D23 Expo back in August, and was treated to an appearance by stars Tom Hiddleston and Christina Hendricks. I really liked the premise, and looked forward to seeing it. So I was very excited to receive this dvd/BluRay to review. It did not let me down, and my family and I loved this film, perhaps best of all the Disney Fairy movies.

The backstory is really interesting, and we learn about a Dust Keeper, Zarina (Christina Hendricks), who is always looking for new ways of using pixie dust and figuring out how to harness its power. Unfortunately, Fairy Gary, the keeper of the dust, does not approve of these experiments, which leads Zarina to try things on her own and that in turn has some disastrous consequences. Zarina is ousted and a year passes. A fairy celebration takes place and we learn that Zarina is now a pirate with sinister intent…

What follows next is a fun, colorful series of events which will leave you singing and cheering. The amount of pixie dust and sparkles and colorful visuals in this movie is almost overwhelming – it’s just so pretty! And cute – we get to see a baby Tic Toc Crock, and of course, cabin boy James (Tom Hiddleston) turns out to be a young Captain Hook. Here are some of my favorite parts of the movie, plus the full trailer:

Experimenting – The Pirate Fairy on Disney Video

Baby Croc – The Pirate Fairy – Scene on Disney Video

Trailer – The Pirate Fairy on Disney Video It’s definitely a new favorite around here, with the whole family. During one part of the movie, Zarina mixes up the fairies talents, causing them to have new outfits. As soon as that happened, I thought – they will probably have
dolls with those new outfits – and they do!

Disney Fairies Doll Set - The Pirate Fairy

Also, they have an irresistible Baby Croc Plush which I am definitely picking up…for my 5 year-old…yeah, that’s it.

They also have a 14″ Zarina Doll which I am totally getting – she’s a redheaded pirate who’s name starts with a Z – I have to! “The Pirate Fairy” sets sail April 1, 2014 – hopefully you’ll enjoy it as much as we did!

*Disclosure: I was provided with a complimentary dvd to review, but my opinions are my own. Product links are affiliate links, taking you to the same websites, but if you make a purchase, a small portion goes back to help with the costs of running zannaland.com. Thank you for your support!

Saving Mr. Banks Comes to Blu Ray and DVD

25 March 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Saving Mr. Banks has warmed the hearts of most who have seen it in theatres, and now it’s available on Blu Ray and DVD. I had not previously written about Saving Mr. Banks, mostly because I had very mixed feelings about it. Taking away the idea that this was “based on facts” or historically true, it was a beautiful movie. The problems come in when you think Tom Hanks on screen is Walt Disney…and that’s simply not the case.

There are certainly parts of the movie based on ideas or issues encountered during the acquisition and screenwriting process, but many of the things portrayed tend to twist the truth for the story that Saving Mr. Banks wants to tell. If you go into the film thinking it’s just an interesting story, funny in parts, then it is enjoyable.

The music, the Richard Sherman parts, and even most of the flashback scenes, were lovely. Emma Thompson’s acting was very fun to watch, even if what little I know about the real P.L. Travers made it seem completely unbelievable. Paul Giamatti as the limo driver was another fun subplot, completely made up for the film, but well done nonetheless. Thinking about Walt Disney saying “Get on the damn horse, Pam!” makes a Walt Disney fan’s skin crawl…and that’s one of several moments where I just have to think it’s a fictional film about people that sometimes resemble Walt Disney and those who made Mary Poppins come to life on film. And again, it was enjoyable for me, but I don’t look at it as factual or the way things happened. That said, I’m happy to own it on dvd and be able to watch it again because the music alone and funny parts are great. Here are the bonus features you’ll find on the Blu-ray:

· The Walt Disney Studios: From Poppins to Present (Blu-ray & Digital HD) – Join Director John Lee Hancock on a tour of the Disney Studios lot, reflect on studio life during the making ofMary Poppins, and discover how Walt’s creative spirit still flourishes today.

· Let’s Go Fly a Kite (Blu-ray & Digital HD) – Cast and crew sing break out in a rousing, heartfelt tribute to Composer Richard Sherman on the last day of filming.

· Deleted Scenes

Stargaze (Blu-ray & Digital HD) – A picture on Walt’s desk leads to a flashback of Pamela’s childhood.
Nanny Song (Blu-ray, DVD & Digital HD) – The Sherman Brothers perform a song for Pamela that she is less than thrilled with.
Pam Leaves (Blu-ray & Digital HD) – After yet another disagreement with Walt, Pamela leaves his office and heads for the airport.

*Digital HD bonus offerings vary by digital retailer

Disclaimer: I was sent a complimentary copy of Saving Mr. Banks for the purposes of review. My opinions are my own. Retail link is an affiliate link, which takes you to Amazon.com but any purchases send a small amount back to Zannaland. Thanks for reading!

Frozen on Blu Ray and DVD March 18

20 March 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

There isn’t much to be said about Disney’s latest animated feature, Frozen that hasn’t already been said…except that you need to get it on Blu-Ray and DVD. Oh, wait, that’s probably already been said too! Well, if you are on the fence for some unknown reason, or for some other unknown reason haven’t seen it in theatres yet either, get thee to a retailer of some sort and bring Frozen home!

You can read my previous review of Frozen if you’d like, and check out the bonus features below:

The Making Of Frozen (Blu-ray, Digital)

· D’frosted: Disney’s Journey From Hans Christian Anderson to Frozen (Blu-ray, Digital)

· Breaking The Ice – The Real Making Of Frozen (Blu-ray, Digital)

· 4 Deleted Scenes with introduction by Directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee

· Original Theatrical Short – “Get A Horse” (Blu-ray, Digital & DVD)

· “Let It Go” Music Videos by Demi Lovato, Martina Stoessel & Marsha Milan Londoh (Blu-ray, Digital & DVD)

· Frozen Teaser Trailer (Blu-ray, Digital & DVD)

*Digital bonus offerings will vary per retailer
Click below to purchase Frozen right now!

Disclaimer: I was sent a complimentary copy of Frozen for the purposes of review. My opinions are my own. Retail link is an affiliate link, which takes you to Amazon.com but any purchases send a small amount back to Zannaland. Thanks for reading!

The Jungle Book Swings onto Diamond Edition Blu-ray 2/11/14

10 February 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

I was recently sent a preview copy of The Jungle Book Diamond Edition, and I have to say I had forgotten what a fun movie this was. Truly a classic that my 5 year old enjoyed as much as I did. He knew some of the characters, but he really hadn’t seen the whole movie that he remembered, but he instantly loved every animal and song. A few days later, he started randomly singing “Bare Necessities” on his own. I love the diverse music within the film, from the background music, which reminds me of the old Adventureland music from the opening of Disneyland, to the swinging jazz numbers – eight original songs from the Sherman Brothers and The Bare Necessities, written by Terry Gylkinson. I have always loved Phil Harris and Sterling Holloway’s voices, so this movie is one of my favorites because of that.

The film itself looks great on Blu-ray, it’s been wonderfully restored. The opening selection screen is a fun addition too. There are some great bonus features for Disney buffs – concept art, deleted scenes, an alternate ending and backstory from Richard Sherman and Diane Disney Miller. There’s also a great featurette from Walt Disney Animation as well as things to keep the kids happy, like “Bear-e-oke” sing a longs. The movie also opens with a lovely preview of Sleeping Beauty, which looks gorgeous on blu-ray and Frozen. Can’t wait for those releases!

Here is a slideshow of Jungle Book concept art:
The Jungle Book is available tomorrow 2/11/14 everywhere. Click to bring it home now for your Disney collection:

*link is an affiliate link, exactly the same as a regular link but a small portion goes back to zannaland to help offset costs here. Thank you!

The Lego Movie Has Laughs For All Ages-Celebrate at Legoland Florida

5 February 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

After seeing several commercials for The Lego Movie in our house, my kids were pretty excited to see it. I thought it was a joke at first; some independent filmmaker deciding to have some fun with Lego. The characters seemed to be poking fun at their own personas and even Lego-building itself. Surely this couldn’t be an official thing, I thought. But I was wrong. It was official and after seeing the film at a screening last Saturday, thanks to Legoland Florida, I have to applaud all involved. Following local theme parks and entertainment like I do, it is very rare to see huge corporations have a sense of humor about their own reputation. The Lego Movie was a refreshing and human take on the cult and culture of Lego-building, covering everything from following the included instructions to the way Lego figures move, to the crossing of Lego themed sets from one ‘universe’ to another. I wont give away all of the ending, but it was definitely a surprise, and made me get a little emotional about the act of play itself, using imagination, and the bonds between parent and child.

As far as kids go, they will love the movie just because of the cool Lego action – things being built, Legos they’ve known and loved actually moving and talking, and that absolutely everything is made out of Lego bricks. Filmed using a combination of stop-motion animation and computer animation, filmmakers took great lengths to make sure the animated parts looked like real Lego figures and bricks. The use of water, smoke and bubbles as well as other special effects make you laugh with the realization that yes, that’s what Legos would look like in that situation.

Parents and adults can relate to all the old-school Lego references, the relationship humor and the personalities we get to know in the movie. Batman (voiced by Will Arnett) is pretty full of himself, as both a superhero and a boyfriend, while Lord Business (voiced by Will Ferrell) plays the stereotypical bad guy perfectly. And surely we all know someone like Uni-Kitty (voiced by Alison Brie), from Cloud Cuckoo Land, the capital of rainbows and puppies – spouting positivity and happiness at every turn while avoiding reality until their pent up emotions and anger within eventually explode…or is that exclusive to the Disney community? Regardless, the characters and jokes are hilarious and they did not skimp on the voice actors, with greats like Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Will Ferrell, Will Arnett, and Elizabeth Banks on board.

I absolutely loved the opening scene, showcasing the “life of a Lego” or at least how “President Business” (voiced by Will Ferrell) deems life should be. Following instructions to a tee, this sequence will make you want to watch the movie again and again to catch new little references or jokes here and there. We follow Emmet, a construction worker who wants desperately to fit in and have friends, so he follows the instructions every day. When he happens to see Wyldstyle (voiced by Elizabeth Banks), his ordinary life changes forever. He discovers President Business is actually Lord Business and he is seeking to destroy the planet with the ultimate weapon – the Kragle (super glue to you and me). Emmet stumbles upon the “piece of resistance” (the only way to stop the Kragle) and Wyldstyle takes him to Vitruvius, the somewhat kooky prophet (voiced by Morgan Freeman) as they attempt to save the world. Emmet finds himself in the process and the ending will have you wanting to run out and build an entire Lego world yourself. Definitely a must see (and see again!).

In coordination with the launch of the first-ever, full length theatrical LEGO^® adventure, “The LEGO^® Movie^TM”, LEGOLAND^® Florida celebrates with a movie-themed weekend in the park on Feb. 8 and 9. Guests can head to their local theatre to watch “The LEGO Movie,” opening nationwide on Friday, February 7, and then come to LEGOLAND Florida to see LEGO come to life amidst more than 50 rides, shows and attractions and special movie-themed fun all geared for families with children ages 2 to 12.

“The LEGO Movie” Weekend at LEGOLAND Florida includes the following activities:

“The LEGO Movie” Scavenger Hunt – Miniland USA
Movie characters Emmet, Wyldstyle, Lord Business and MetalBeard are lost in Miniland USA. Guests can help find them to save the day! Guests can submit an entry to win a LEGO Prize Pack at www.LEGOLAND.com. See website for official rules.
“The LEGO Movie” Video Game Challenge – Warner Bros. Games Zone
Gaming fans can test their skills and play the latest action-packed video game, “The LEGO Movie.”
Build Your Own World Competition – Imagination Zone
Guests can use their imagination to build their own unique LEGO model. LEGOLAND Florida Master Model Builders will select a winner from each event day to receive a LEGO prize pack. Official rules will be available at the park.
“The LEGO Movie” Mural Build – Imagination Zone
Families can build together and help create a giant LEGO poster of “The LEGO Movie.”
Character Meet & Greets – LEGO City
Fans can walk the red carpet and meet two of the stars of “The LEGO Movie.” Emmet and Wyldstyle.

“The LEGO Movie” Weekend is included with park admission and guests will have complete access to a full day of theme park fun with more than 50 rides, shows and attractions. The best way to experience LEGOLAND Florida is with the LEGOLAND Florida Resident Annual Pass as low as $99 each. Pass members receive unlimited admission for 12 months to LEGOLAND Florida and the LEGOLAND Water Park, as well as all other Merlin US attractions (LEGOLAND California & Water Park, LEGOLAND Discovery Centers, Sea Life Centers and Madam Tussauds), free parking and 10% off food and merchandise with no black-out dates. For the most current information on special events, daily operating hours and to purchase tickets, visit www.LEGOLAND.com.

I’ll be at Legoland Florida this Sunday live-tweeting, instagramming and posting on Facebook so be sure to follow along! Thanks again to Legoland Florida for providing my family with tickets to see the movie, and tickets to their park this weekend. My opinions and thoughts are my own, as always!

Disney’s Golden Oak Summerhouse Tour: Markham’s Restaurant

30 January 2014 by Suzannah Otis 8 Comments

Each time I’ve driven past the entrance signs for Golden Oak, Disney’s multi-million dollar residential home community, I’ve thought “I wish I could just drive around in there…”. Well that desire came true last weekend as a good friend invited us to experience lunch at the resident-exclusive restaurant at the clubhouse. I was quite impressed with the grounds and attention to detail, and the food was some of the best on property. I was given the green light to share some of the photos from our personal tour here with you. After reviewing my photos, I decided to separate this into a four-part series, giving each section of our tour proper attention. Let’s start with the good stuff – the food!

Summerhouse is the resident-only clubhouse located in the center of Golden Oak’s property. Inside is a resident reception area, where residents can get assistance with everything Walt Disney World Resort related, as well as generic concierge-type services for the rest of the Orlando area. Also inside are an entertainment/recreation room, a fitness center with locker rooms, a meeting room, and Tyler’s Lounge, attached to Markham’s restaurant. It is a lovely place to walk around and enjoy, with well-purposed outdoor areas as well.

The Tuscan feel of the Summerhouse lends itself to a luxurious setting without being too conservative. This extends to the dining options as well. I did not feel out of place at all, as a day visitor and not a multi-million dollar resident. As we heard that day, the restaurant has the ability to become a white linen fine dining establishment; creating the ultimate in elegant private dining in the blink of an eye if requested. Staffed by hand-selected Walt Disney World cast members, who have earned their ears at places like Victoria and Alberts, and have completed a separate interview process to be placed at Summerhouse. There is no question that residents will be receiving the best attention possible.

As far as the food itself, Markham’s chefs create things like aged sausages and charcuterie on-site, with the benefit of an herb garden right outside the kitchen. It is one of only 3 restaurants on Disney property designated as Signature Plus (Victoria and Alberts and California Grill being the other two); an internal designation which allows the chefs and leaders more creativity with ordering, creating menus and hosting events, less hindered by operating partners involvement.

Summerhouse herb garden — Summerhouse herb and vegetable garden with lemon trees

I am no food critic, but I do appreciate culinary adventures, and Markham’s does not disappoint. Each dish seems to be carefully hand crafted and created to expose the ultimate in flavor combinations. It was very difficult to choose just one thing to try as it all sounded unique and enticing. In addition to the dishes, they also make their own lemonades and lemonade/tea drinks as well as sodas. Again, it was hard to choose just one thing to try.

If you’re wondering about the names chosen for the Summerhouse lounge and restaurant, as with other areas of Golden Oak, they derive from Disney heritage. Toby Tyler was the 1960 Disney movie about a 12 year old who ran away to join the circus, while Marty Markham was the city kid from the Disney TV serial which ran for one season in 1956 on the Mickey Mouse Club: “The Adventures of Spin and Marty.” You can find more nods to Disney past in the street and neighborhood names, which we will explore in the next post in this series.

Tyler’s Lounge features some artwork celebrating Tokyo’s Hotel MiraCosta as well as some concept art for Epcot’s Italy pavilion in World Showcase. The bar offers pretty much any potent potable you could desire and is staffed by bartenders whose knowledge extends far beyond the “standard drink menu” at any other Disney lounge.

Markham’s is a rustic yet light environment, with reclaimed brick and thick wooden beams throughout. Leather banquettes complement contemporary chairs and decor, mixing old world and modern style. Large windows let the natural light in, keeping it airy and not a bit stuffy, while offering views of the grounds. There are a few nods to Walt Disney within the dining area, but nothing over the top. If you were a resident, and wanted to enjoy each meal here, you could do so comfortably and without pomp. But if you wanted to plan a private event for family or friends and use the dining room, you could do that without hesitation or disappointment. I felt quite at home, and as I write this, I’m missing the lunch I enjoyed that day and wishing for more!

Enjoy the gallery below of Tyler’s Lounge, Markham’s restaurant, and our food choices that day:

[RFG_gallery id=’2′]Stay tuned as I’ll be sharing more from our Golden Oak visit, including a tour inside the rest of the Summerhouse and the unique Triple R meeting room, bursting with treasured Disney artwork.

Nick Hotel’s Let It Snow Celebration is Full of Festive Fun

4 December 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

The Nick Hotel is a great place for families and kids to keep the fun and action going during their Orlando vacation – or a great place for locals to come experience a staycation nearby! Now Nick Hotel is offering their 3rd annual Let it Snow holiday event. My family was invited to check out the festivities and it was really a fun night. How fun is it to have it “snow” poolside in Florida? The shows are big hits with the kids too and of course, Santa was on hand for photos and wish list discussions. Here are some photos and the official info below:

Celebrate Florida’s winter at Nickelodeon Suites Resort’s one-of-a-kind LET IT SNOW holiday event – a free experience for all of our registered guests. Every weekend and on select nights between November 22 and December 30, 2013, the Oasis Pool Deck becomes a winter playground with thousands of lights, music, delicious treats and “SNOW”.

Get in the holiday spirit with bright holiday lights
Sip hot chocolate and snack on s’mores around fire pits
Soar down a two-story inflatable slide
Cozy up with Nickelodeon characters dressed in their holiday best or Santa for a family photo opportunity
Catch the “snowflakes” as the “snow” falls on the Oasis Pool Deck
Splash in the pool that’s always a comfortable 84 degrees

And head over to Studio Nick for our spectacular holiday show, Celebrate Nickmas, starring SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer! All of this is included in your stay when visiting select nights November 22, 2013 through December 30, 2013.

Nick Hotel character dinner at Let It Snow

Kids can pick an ornament from the “snow” and get a prize

SPECIAL: Readers can book now and receive 20% off using code SNOW13 for a suite booked now through December 30, for travel through April 1. Blackout dates apply, call 407-387-5438 to book.

About Nickelodeon Suites Resort

Located in the heart of Orlando’s tourism district, Nickelodeon Suites Resort, otherwise known as the Nick Hotel, is much more than a place for guests to lay their heads at night. From two over-the-top pool complexes with slides and flumes, to live entertainment and Character Breakfast featuring Nickelodeon’s beloved characters, to a multimillion dollar 4-D Theater, to the colorfully themed Kid Suites and gallons upon gallons of slime, Nick Hotel offers nonstop activity from dawn to dusk for the entire family any time of the year. For more information about the Nick Hotel, visit www.nickhotel.com or call (877) NICK-KID.

Enter to Win an UNBirthday Button Designed by Keith Lapinig!

3 December 2013 by Suzannah Otis 30 Comments

When I first saw Keith Lapinig‘s Unbirthday Buttons on twitter, facebook and instagram, I fell in love. I also turned into Veruca Salt and wanted one NOW! Keith has held a few giveaways across his social media platforms but I know many many people (like me) didn’t win and were still hoping to get one of these beauties to wear in the parks, at the grocery store, to Starbucks – anywhere!

Well Keith came to the rescue and reached out to several Disney bloggers to share the unbirthday love and giveaway more buttons. I now have one button to giveaway to a lucky reader! So let’s get right to the unbirthday festivities.

Enter below using the Rafflecopter widget. It’s so easy to do, you don’t even have to leave this page to enter. There are quite a few optional entries as well to give you more options and chances to win!

A big thanks to Keith for being so generous with his time and creativity – let’s hope there’s much more to come! (If you haven’t checked out Keith’s YouTube videos, you are missing out – he is great and gets right to the core of what Disney fans want to see!) Click play below to see Keith giving the Mad Hatter and Alice some Unbirthday Buttons!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Frozen Took Me By Surprise and Melted My Heart

26 November 2013 by Suzannah Otis 3 Comments

I will fully admit, as I saw the endless promotion for Disney’s 53rd Animated Feature, Frozen start to begin, I was less than interested. Olaf the Snowman, clearly designed to appeal to the youngest of Disney fans, didn’t excite me at all. I wanted to know more about the story of Frozen: the sisters, their background, what happened to them and why. Not watch a lop-sided snowman chase his carrot nose for an hour. Adding in Sven, the reindeer who seemed like a carbon-copy of Max the canine-like horse from Tangled, and I didn’t hold out much hope for Frozen. I was given some images from Disney showing background animation and concept art, and that excited me a bit. It was what I was most looking forward to when I attended a screening a couple of weeks ago, but little else.

Then, the theatre darkened and the music began. Rich, hearty Norwegian chanting. It made me sit up and take notice. What followed was me being glued to the edge of my seat, soaking up every pixel of gorgeous animation, every word of enticing story, every note of exquisite music and lyrics. I was, in short, in love. I walked out thinking “This is my new favorite Disney film.” and “I must have this soundtrack.”

Without giving major plot points away, I want to convey how refreshing it was to see this storyline unfold. Not knowing anything about the movie other than there was a silly snowman and a reindeer, I was completely taken in by what I thought was happening and really couldn’t guess the end at all. I loved how the sisters were portrayed, loving each other, caring for each other, and when unable to be together, missing each other. Unlike most previous Disney animated films, the first real main character song fits in so well as something that is really happening, vs. just breaking into a nice song that helps propel the story but seems a little out of place. We learn so much about the sisters’ upbringing in “Do You Want to Build a Snowman” and it’s a beautiful song to boot. We then learn more about Princess Anna in her subsequent songs and really begin to feel for her, as well as Elsa. The whole soundtrack is very Broadway-esque and I instantly thought of Rent when I heard Princess Anna and Hans singing “Love is an Open Door” it’s this kind of refreshingly good music that makes the difference here. Princess Anna is pretty identifiable (at least personally) – she may be a princess but she’s clumsy and even a bit gullible and clueless (which could be called trusting and innocent too), and most importantly of all, she wakes up with bedhead. How many other Disney princesses would admit to that? I instantly loved her. While we don’t know much about Elsa after she was hidden away as a child, what we do know is that she was a loving, caring sister. This sisterly bond above all else is an important message of the film.

When Idina Menzel as Elsa, newly crowned as Queen, finally gives in to her icy powers, the resulting “Let it Go” song is perhaps the most powerful moment in the film. The accompanying animation here is beyond amazing as well. You’ll wish you could hit repeat on this section of the movie, it’s that good. THIS is what Frozen is about. Family, secrets, struggles, love, and figuring out how to combine them all and be happy. While I understand the gigantic marketing machine that is the Walt Disney Company and how they must promote and sell merchandise with every movie they produce, I truly wish they could find a way to give the audience some credit and showcase the real highlights of their talented animators work. This film is so much more than has been advertised so far. That said, Olaf is less annoying than I thought he’d be. His song, “In Summer” is pretty classically funny without relying on toddler humor. It reminded me of Josh Gad’s stellar performance in Book of Mormon. It is also refreshing to see Disney working with the guy that wrote the music for Book of Mormon and Avenue Q, unafraid to take risks and push boundaries. Now the marketing team just needs to catch up!

The only disappointments in the film for me were the unnecessary troll characters which were as annoying as I mistakenly thought Olaf would be. They served no real purpose and their song was unmemorable and pointless. However, in listening to outtakes on the Deluxe Edition of the soundtrack, we learn a bit more of the trolls role, which made me wish some of the eliminated songs were actually used. Oh well. The other sad thing was that the talented Jonathan Groff was only given one very short song in the film. I can understand why; the film is really female-focused with the sisters, their bond and how they grow and learn, but I do wish we heard more Jonathan.

All in all, I walked away from this film proud of Walt Disney Animation, amazed by Kristen Anderson Lopez, Robert Lopez and Christophe Beck’s work with the soundtrack, feeling like Princess Anna was my spirit animal, and ready for more Frozen. It is definitely a must-see and a must-see again and again. Disney’s Frozen opens tomorrow, 11/27 and is the perfect way to spend some time during the Thanksgiving holiday. The wonderful soundtrack is available now and I highly recommend investing in the Frozen Deluxe Edition for even more insight into the film-making process with the songwriters commentary before the outtakes and additional pieces of the score. Idina’s “Let it Go” has been on repeat for 24 hours straight here and I don’t see an end in sight. Frozen will melt your heart!

I’d love to hear your thoughts below when you’ve seen the film!