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Reviews

Top 5 Must-do’s at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

21 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis 3 Comments

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Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
That familiar inflatable Mickey pumpkin at the Magic Kingdom toll booth let’s you know it’s a party night!

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is one of my favorites each year, an annual tradition to kick off the Halloween season. I’ve written about the event each year that Zannaland.com has been around, and enjoying all the party has to offer never gets old. In fact, it only gets harder to fit it all in. If you have a family with varying age ranges, it may be a “divide and conquer” night to make sure everyone sees and does all they want to do. Because of that, I thought I’d write up a Top 5 this year, of my personal favorites.

 

1. Get there early. While the ticket for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (or MNSSHP for short) starts at 7pm, you can actually enter the park as early as 4pm, to get the most out of your night. The trick-or-treating and official events don’t begin till 7, but you can grab a bite and get on rides beforehand.

2. Get your Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom card. If you are a sorcerer and enjoy the game, there is a special card just for the event. You can pick it up at the Main Street Fire Station or the Liberty Square sorcerer’s desk. You must have both your wristband for the event AND your event ticket to get the card, so make sure your whole party is together for this. There is a limited amount for each party, so this should be first on your list!

3. Trick-or-Treat. This is what most people are here for. They dress up, yes, they see the parades and fireworks, ride on attractions with almost no wait, but this is FREE CANDY! And with over 40 different kinds this year, you are sure to get your fill. You can find all the treat locations on your MNSSHP map, or by looking for the giant light up treat location signs. Don’t forget the Treat Trails over by Splash Mountain’s queue and the walkway between Storybook Circus and Tomorrowland for the most treats per square inch. My favorite is always the Werther’s Caramel Apple candies over at Pinocchio’s Village Haus!

4. Try the event-specific treats too. This year, the food and beverage team really went out of their way to create some delicious treats for MNSSHP. Caramel Apple Slush, Candy Corn ice cream, Pumpkin Waffle Sundae and MORE! These new Halloween treats are so yummy, I wrote a whole post on them. But after trying the Candy Corn ice cream and the Pumpkin Waffle Sundae (which I’ve heard is now available full time at Sleepy Hollow Treats) I was in love. I shared both of these with my family at midnight sitting on the new castle wall area. Perfect ending to a perfect Halloween party.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Two words: Get This.

 

5. Watch Mickey’s Boo-to-You Parade and HalloWishes Fireworks Spectacular! The Boo-to-You parade is many people’s favorite parade at Walt Disney World, and I am no exception. It is hard to top the dramatic entrance by the Headless Horseman as he trots down the parade route while Flight of the Valkyries plays around you. The floats are top notch and the Haunted Mansion ballroom dancers and Gravediggers with their sparks are always a crowd favorite. There are two parades each party night, and the second always has less guests. And don’t forget HalloWishes! This is one of the most exciting fireworks displays of the season, with 360-degree perimeter fireworks around the park and your favorite villains and villainous songs.

 Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party runs on select nights in September through November 1st. A few nights are already sold out, so check with DisneyWorld.com to purchase your tickets in advance. Some nights are available at a discounted rate of $62 per adult.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Jack Skellington balloons are sold only during the party
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Available at Cosmic Rays!
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Candy Corn ice cream!
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Amazing pumpkin waffle sundae!
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Mickey Pumpkin projection
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Boo to You!
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
The Mansion caretaker doesn’t look too confident!
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Gravediggers!
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Dancing ghouls
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
The Haunted Mansion always looks best on party nights!
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Carlotta provides extra fun
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
A spooky mist descends from Rapunzel’s tower…

 

 

Disclaimer: I was provided with complimentary tickets for MNSSHP for my family and me, but my opinions are my own. 

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Filed Under: Disney Dining, Disney Holidays, Reviews, Theme Park Holiday Events, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Disney holidays, Disney Special Events, halloween party, Magic Kingdom, Mickey's Halloween Party, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, MNSSHP, Top 5, Top 5 Mickey's Not So Scary, Walt Disney World halloween

DVD Release Round Up! Iron Man, Gravity Falls and Little Mermaid Out Now

19 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Little Mermaid DE Combo Pack Box Art There have been quite a few Disney DVD’s out lately, and the latest three I’ve gotten offer something for every member of the family! Now out on DVD and  Blu-ray is Iron Man 3, The Little Mermaid Diamond Edition, Gravity Falls: Six Strange Tales, and coming up soon, Monsters University, releasing on October 29. Here is a wrap-up of the extras and bonus features offered for each and why you should run out and add these to your Disney DVD (or Blu-ray) collection!

Iron Man 3 – I’m pretty sure Iron Man 3 is my favorite Iron Man movie of the series so far. I actually really like Tony Stark in Avengers, but in Iron Man 3 we really see what makes him tick (literally). I have a full review of Iron Man 3 here. But I was finally able to see the bonus features on the Blu-ray and was so entertained by all these extras. The “Agent Carter” one-shot was amazing. I loooved seeing more of Agent Carter – who you will immediately recognize as Peggy Carter, Steve Rogers (aka Captain America)’s long lost flame. As you will recall from the first Captain America movie, Peggy Carter can hold her own under any circumstance and when an emergency mission falls into her lap, she proves just this to the boys club who thinks of her as nothing more than a skirt with a typewriter. It was wonderful to see her in action again, and the ending makes me want an entire movie, or at the very least a TV series on the original members of S.H.I.E.L.D. A wonderful little treasure on the Iron Man 3 Blu-ray!

In addition, the bonus features like the gag reel with bloopers and flubs, and the deleted scenes make for hours of additional fun and information about the making of Iron Man 3. Seeing Ben Kingsley reel off every accent he can do as “The Mandarin” is hilarious and it’s really fun to see the filming bloopers before the special effects have been added. There’s also a ton of ‘making of Iron Man 3’ featurettes and audio commentary to keep you entertained and informed. Definitely a must-add to your collection!

 

Gravity Falls: Six Strange Tales  was released on October 15 and offers over 2 hours of hilarious adventures, irreverent humor and unforgettable characters plus free exclusive Mystery Book: Journal #3. If you have anyone that loves the ridiculously crazy stories from Gravity Falls, they will love this DVD set. If by chance you haven’t seen this popular series on Disney XD, here is a synopsis of the animated series: In this animated adventure comedy riddled with mystery, twin brother and sister Dipper and Mabel are sent to spend their summer vacation with their great uncle. Upon arrival, their great uncle, also known as Grunkle Stan, enlists the siblings’ help in running The Mystery Shack, a fun tourist trap he owns that overcharges unsuspecting customers. While Dipper has a hard time getting used to his new surroundings, Mabel’s upbeat optimism comes in handy in her quest to find true love. When Dipper stumbles upon an elusive book, he discovers that it is the key to unlocking the town’s mysterious secrets, and the brother and sister duo soon realize they must rely on one another to navigate the unfamiliar place.

 

Six Strange Tales includes the following episodes:

1 – “Tourist Trapped”
2 – “The Legend of the Gobblewonker”
3 – “Headhunters”
4 – “The Hand That Rocks the Mabel”
5 – “The Inconveniencing”
6 – “Dipper vs. Manliness”

 

Lastly, a family favorite The Little Mermaid is finally out on Blu-ray! It was so wonderful to see this again and be reminded of the great songs and animation in this now classic. There are quite a few extras that will provide lots of mermaid-y fun for your little ones (or for you – you know you love this story too!) including the Crab-eoke, a fun sing-along to all your favorite songs, some wonderful behind-the-SEAnes features and audio commentary. Also included is this deleted scene for a character called Harold the Merman:

 

The scenes with Jodi Benson visiting Walt Disney World’s New Fantasyland with her two children totally made me tear up. It is pretty amazing to see the voice of Ariel riding Ariel’s Undersea Adventure in the Magic Kingdom. And she and her family look like huge Disney fans, which is wonderful to see. Other Blu-ray bonus features include:

All-New Music Video for Part of Your World by Carly Rae Jepsen
Behind the Scenes at Disney Animation Studios
Disney Intermission – press pause and see what happens
Deleted Character Harold the Merman
The Real Little Mermaid: Live Action Reference Model
Part of Her World: Jodi Benson’s Voyage To New Fantasyland
Howard’s Lecture – Music in the Movies
Classic DVD Bonus Features 

This is another must-add to your collection, whether you are sharing it for the first time with your children, or reliving your childhood with an old favorite. The Little Mermaid Diamond Edition is available now.

Stay tuned for future releases and reviews – I’ll have one for Monsters Universityup soon! The next Disney animated classics to get the Diamond Edition Blu-ray treatment are  THE JUNGLE BOOK and SLEEPING BEAUTY. Released from the Disney vault for a limited time only, THE JUNGLE BOOK opens to colorful new life on Blu-ray Diamond Edition in February 2014, while SLEEPING BEAUTY awakens on stunning Blu-ray Diamond Edition in October 2014. Can’t wait. I’m SO excited for Sleeping Beauty on Blu-ray!!

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Filed Under: Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews, Top Stories Tagged With: Disney Blu-ray, Disney Diamond Edition, Disney dvd, dvd reviews, Gravity Falls, Gravity Falls: Six Strange Tales, Iron Man 3, Iron Man 3 Blu-ray, Iron Man 3 DVD, Little Mermaid Blu-ray, Little Mermaid Diamond Edition, Little Mermaid DVD, Monsters University, Movie Reviews, Sleeping Beauty, The Jungle Book

SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular Creates Oceans of Family Fun

14 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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SeaWorld Spooktacular Pumpkin carving, jumping in raked leave piles, and.. SeaWorld? This marine life theme park may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Fall but SeaWorld has a unique offering for the spooky season. SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, celebrated weekends in October, is an added experience to a regular price park ticket with trick-or-treating, sea characters and bubbles. Lots of bubbles.
Spooktacular feels geared toward the wee ones but my boyfriend and I thought it was a cute addition to a day at SeaWorld. We did a little trick-or-treating ourselves and I really loved the plethora of bubbles that filled the park. It was the most bubbles I’ve seen at once and I told my boyfriend I wouldn’t be surprised if a million bubbles were made and popped there in a day. They are in multiple places around the park and in full swing with lots of machines sending waves of bubbles in and over guests.
Now for the characters. I’d say SeaWorld is mostly known for Shamu. However I was really impressed at the amount of aquatic and Halloween character meet and greets that were around for Spooktacular. Princesses, mermaids, witches, fish and more, all in brightly colored, elaborate costumes with high energy interaction. Every character area I saw was more than just ‘wait in line and take a photo’. For example, the witches and their tiny audience members ‘baked up a Halloween tweet recipe’ in a small area that looked like a kitchen with a cauldron actually brewing. Kids seemed to really enjoy playing a long.
Nicole Siscaretti at SeaWorld Spooktacular
There are also uniquely themed Halloween decorations, featuring the ever adorable pumpkin fish, and lots of interactive experiences for kids. One that grabbed our attention was a button board that squirted fountains in a lake when you pushed different buttons.
SeaWorld Spooktacular
This is all in addition to all the attractions, shows and experiences SeaWorld offers regularly. One that really took our breath away was the Blue Horizons show featuring dolphins, divers and aerialists. We also really enjoyed the excellent of the 3D in Turtle Trek. To see more from SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, watch this video:

SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular takes place weekends in October: 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 and 26-27, from 12 to 8 p.m., leaving the littlest of trick-or-treaters wide-eyed for all of the fun-filled activities. Halloween Spooktacular is included with park admission.

Spooktacular Highlights Include:

NEW this year: Spooktacular Dance Party

Princess Penelope and her undersea friends invite guests to join the Spooktacular Dance Party, where children can dance along to a Spooktacular mix of line-dancing favorites as clouds of bubbles fill the evening air. The party will kick off at the front of the park every event night an hour before SeaWorld’s park closing time.

Waves of Trick-or-Treat Fun

Offering more than two million pieces of sweet treats, costumed youngsters can trick-or-treat “under the sea.” Each trick-or-treat station features an assortment of ghoulish goodies including Tootsie Roll, Jelly Belly jelly beans, Airheads and other candy favorites.

Blue Horizons SeaWorld

Penelope’s Party Zone

Located at SeaWorld’s Bayside area, this dynamic underwater environment comes to life each day with a live DJ, a variety of interactive crafts to choose from, countless bubbles floating overhead and colorful pumpkin fish gliding around!

Sweet Treat Decorating

Kids and parents alike can have a “splash” creating their own sweet treats at the cookie decorating station. Kids will be able to decorate and devour their spooky cookie when they purchase a kit that comes equipped with a cookie, frosting and toppings.

Jelly Belly® Bean Art to Come to Life at Spooktacular

Jelly Belly artist in residence, Kristen Cumings, will use more than 10,000 Jelly Belly jelly beans to create a portrait of rockhopper

penguins, reflecting SeaWorld’s all-new, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin. Guests can watch as this handmade jelly bean creation comes together in front of their eyes during the final weekend of Halloween Spooktacular, Oct. 26 and 27. Kids can join in the fun too, with the opportunity to decorate a Halloween Spooktacular mural with a variety of Jelly Belly jelly beans.

For More SeaWorld Halloween Fun:

Count von Count’s Spooktacular Breakfast

1-2-3… Dine with me! Don’t walk around on an empty stomach, stay 1 step ahead of hunger! What goes great with your 2 morning eggs? How about infinite hugs from Count von Count, Elmo and his furry friends! Featuring a delicious buffet sprinkled with the hottest characters  in town, the Count’s Spooktacular Breakfast is a fun-filled experience sure to delight kids and parents alike. You can “count” on it! Adults $24, Child (2-9) $14.

 

Disclaimer: Zannaland.com was provided with free tickets to SeaWorld to experience Spooktacular, but Nicole’s opinions are her own. 

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Filed Under: Central Florida Family Entertainment, Disney Movie News & Reviews, Florida Theme Parks & Attractions, Guest Authors, Orlando Area Attractions, Reviews, Sea World Orlando, Top Stories Tagged With: family halloween, halloween spooktacular, Orlando area attractions, Orlando halloween, Sea World, SeaWorld, SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld Spooktacular, shamu, Spooktacular

Disney On Ice Presents Princesses and Heroes Orlando Giveaway

24 August 2013 by Suzannah Otis 8 Comments

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If you’ve ever been to any of the Feld Entertainment Disney on Ice shows, you know how spectacular they are. Well now you could win tickets for 4 to Disney on Ice presents Princesses & Heroes here in Orlando. This giveaway is super quick, so you can find out if you won in a matter of days and start planning!

Disney on Ice Princesses and Heroes

Here is all the official info on the Disney on Ice presents Princesses & Heroes show:

Believing is Just the Beginning! Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes Comes to Central Florida

-Tinker Bell Whisks Audiences through Classic Moments from some of Disney’s most Beloved Stories of Beautiful Princesses and their Daring Heroes –

Through artistic skating and graceful acrobatics, Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes beautifully recreates the defining moments when eight Disney Princesses’ wishes are fulfilled with help from their devoted Princes.  Tinker Bell guides guests through the inspiring stories of Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Tiana, Jasmine, Aurora and Snow White as their wishes are being granted and their dreams coming true.

In this new touring show produced by Feld Entertainment, audiences will go where imaginations soar and anything can happen if they just believe.  Ariel’s dreams are unlocked from under the sea and, in one magical moment, Prince Eric breaks Ursula’s slithering spell to reclaim his one true love.  In a race against time to rescue Sleeping Beauty’s Aurora, Prince Philip defeats the evil Maleficent as she transforms into a fire-breathing dragon.  Rapunzel fulfills her dream to escape the tower and see the floating lights; Tiana celebrates her ambitions of owning a restaurant down in New Orleans; Jasmine discovers a whole new world with Aladdin; and Snow White finds her one true love.  This beautiful presentation also reveals Cinderella and Belle’s deepest wishes.

“Before dreaming up this edition of Disney On Ice, we reflected on what makes Disney’s princesses and heroes so special,” said Producer Kenneth Feld.  “It didn’t take long to realize that every princess had one thing in common: each embarked on an adventure to find their heart’s fondest wish, and through believing, they come true.  We wanted to share that inspirational message with our audiences by celebrating the stories of these enchanting princesses and their heroic princes.”

Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes features the newest Disney Princesses, Rapunzel and Tiana, as well as their adventurous counterparts, Flynn Rider and Prince Naveen. “It’s always exciting to welcome new faces into the Disney family.  Being able to include these fresh, enchanting characters from the Academy Award® nominated film Tangled as well as the lovely Tiana from Princess and the Frog keeps our shows current and ever evolving,” Feld said.

Adapting the inspirational moments to the ice presented an interesting challenge to the creative team that collaborated on Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes.  To cause audiences to re-experience the emotions evoked by the films would take glittering sets, dramatic lighting, breathtaking choreography and a few surprises. Each member of the creative team approached this challenge with their own unique perspective.

For Director Patty Vincent, it was about realizing her goal for the overall vision of the show.

Disney on Ice Jasmine “My favorite part of this entire experience was actually piecing it together from my original dream,” she noted.  “Starting with a blank piece of paper then gathering ideas, finding music, working out the choreography and costumes – I really loved creating it from scratch.  One of the most perfect moments for me was when I found the song “If You Can Dream” on the Disney Wishes album.  It just embodies the wishful and inspirational tone of the show. There’s nothing like seeing ideas that start with your imagination become something real – it’s an incredible experience.”

An example of this creative process is evident in Vincent’s favorite part of the show.  “I love the ‘Under the Sea’ production number because I was able to combine bubbling special effects with the most fantastic costumes and high-energy skating.  The scene is even more fun than I imagined it would be.”

Recognizing the timeless nature of the stories, Creative Director Jerry Bilik sought a cast whose talent would make the stories more real and inspiring.

“To me, the most exciting part of the show is really the cast,” Bilik said.  “These exceptional performers help make the stories translate to the ice magnificently.  Their portrayal of the princesses and princes sweeps the audience away because they capture the essence of the characters’ hopes, dreams and heroism.”

For Costume Designer Ilona Somogyi, this experience was similar to her work on costumes for the hit Broadway production Spamalot, where she also used a very well-known film with many beloved characters as her primary resource.  For Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes, she sought inspiration from the original films and some other, more unusual places.

“In addition to the films, specific scenes also had their own sources of inspiration,” Somogyi said.  “For the Cinderella ball, Fabergé eggs were the basis for the full-flowing waltz gowns.  My underlying inspiration was the little girls who go to Disney On Ice shows dressed as their favorite Disney princess.  Seeing them made me nostalgic and took me back to what dazzled me as a little girl.”

Choreographer Cindy Stuart focused on crafting numbers that highlighted the unique story of each princess and her hero.  For example, in the Aladdin segment, there is a busy, fast-paced opening scene in the marketplace where Aladdin is being chased by the guards.  Then when he meets Jasmine, the scene gives way to a dreamy, magical escape from reality in “A Whole New World.”

Set Designer Robert Little’s goal was to create a set that would be as beautiful and surprising as the princesses themselves, but flexible enough to allow the telling of so many classic stories.  The core setting is a cascading, multi-tier waterfall with actual flowing water.  With a little pixie dust, Tinker Bell magically transforms the set into a different backdrop for each princess’s wish.

Disney on Ice
How cool is this?!

“We had this idea early on about wishes and the types of places where you’d be compelled to make wishes, and we hit upon the waterfall,” said Little.  “Like Snow White, who wouldn’t be inspired to wish for their dreams to come true at such a beautiful, magical place in the woods?”

Little also had a hand at crafting the dragon from Sleeping Beauty, one of the most exciting and dramatic elements of the show.  “The effect is truly magnificent – and there’s a thrilling surprise in store for the audience that will really ignite their interests and the ice itself.”

In this, his fifth ice show credit, Emmy® Award winning Lighting Designer Peter Morse sought to complement the set design with the appropriate lighting that would transition smoothly between the stories.  For instance, Morse used leafy designs of greens and sepia tones to establish the forest where Snow White wishes by a well.  He also recreates the night when Cinderella’s dreams come true with bursts of bright white stars.

“When telling eight distinct stories, it’s important to be able to create a new environment to set the stage for each tale,” said Morse.  “Robert Little did this with the transformable set, and it was my mission to fill the rest of the ice with radiant lighting that would place the audience in the heart of these stories.”

Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes invites audiences to come along as Tinker Bell shows them the timeless tales of inspiring princesses and their heroes.  Focusing on the moments where the princesses’ dreams come true, the show uses high-energy music, glittering sets and dramatic choreography to make a truly breathtaking experience.

 If you don’t win the giveaway, you can also purchase tickets with a special discount: Get $4 off per ticket with promo code MOMDOI. 

Valid for Sat 11am, Sat 7pm and Sun 5pm. Offer not valid on Front Row or VIP Seats. Not valid day of show. Click to purchase tickets.

You can also follow Disney on Ice on Facebook and Disney on Ice on Twitter.

Just follow the Rafflecopter instructions to enter the giveaway!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Filed Under: Central Florida Family Entertainment, Disney Movie News & Reviews, Giveaways, Top Stories Tagged With: acrobatics, artistic skating, defining moments, Disney On Ice, Disney on Ice Princesses & Heroes, Disney princesses, evil maleficent, Feld Entertainment, fire breathing dragon, imaginations, magical moment, owning a restaurant, prince eric, prince philip, race against time, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Tiana, tinker bell, whisks

Review: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Quest for the Crystal Mickey on DVD

20 June 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Quest for the Crystal Mickey Around my house, the promotion for the Quest for the Crystal Mickey on Disney Junior was quite a build up. My four-year old was SO excited, we had to show him on a calendar just how many days until it premiered and of course set up to record it as well. So when I saw it was coming to DVD, of course, I knew he had to have it. He was not disappointed and it is still one of his favorite shows to watch. I think anything with “quest” in it instantly makes things more exciting, don’t you? The best part is the DVD comes not only with that episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, but also 3 others so it really is a DVD you can pop-in and ensure your little ones have quality family entertainment for a good while. The episodes included are:  Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Quest for the Crystal Mickey, Donald of the Desert, Donald the Genie, Goofy’s Coconutty Monkey, and Goofy’s Giant Adventure.

Here are more details, if you happened to miss the show when it came out:

Join Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and all their pals in the newest Clubhouse crusade. When the legendary Crystal Mickey
goes missing, Mickey and friends go on an adventure to save the Clubhouse from losing its magic. Grab your hat,
buckle your seatbelt, and get ready to embark on a thrilling adventure in “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: The Quest for
the Crystal Mickey!”
There’s no time to lose after greedy Plunderin’ Pete snatches the legendary Crystal Mickey statue from the Clubhouse. Without this sparkly statue’s magic, the Clubhouse will
disappear forever!
Can the world’s most extraordinary hero “Kansas City Mickey,” get the magical statue back in time? Only with help from young viewers at home…and the right Mouseketools can Mickey journey across the Sandy Desert, brave the Rushing River and make his way through the Hidden Jungle. But watch out for Pete’s trickiest traps!

You can bring the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Quest for the Crystal Mickey into your home today, as it is currently out on DVD. You’ll be singing along in no time! You can also check out Mickey Mouse Club House daily on Disney Junior.

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews, Top Stories Tagged With: Disney Junior, DVD review, family dvds, favorite shows, kids dvds, mickey and friends, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, quality family entertainment, Quest for the Crystal Mickey

Oz the Great and Powerful on DVD and Blu-Ray

11 June 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Oz Blu-ray DVD Oz the Great and Powerful comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray today. In addition to the great (no pun intended) movie full of fun new characters and stories, there are some fun bonus clips featuring behind-the-scenes action and the creative processes behind making the film.

Watch Mila Kunis go from sweet to wicked in seconds flat thanks to award-winning special effects make up artist Howard Berger! See how Disney Classics like Pinocchio, Snow White and Cinderella inspired the team when creating Oz! Danny Elfman describes the inspiration behind the score he wrote for the Wicked Witch. See this and more in the clips below!

 

Here are the bonus features on the DVD and Blu-ray:

Bonus Features:
 
Blu-ray:

The Magic of “Oz The Great and Powerful” (Second Screen Experience) – An immersive Second Screen experience that details all thingsOz.  From an interactive map full of secrets and surprises, to an inside look at the spectacular world of Oz. All fans need to do is download the special “The Magic of Oz The Great and Powerful: Second Screen” App (which is free and currently available for immediate download at the iTunes Store for iPads) which provides fans with infinite opportunities to remain connected to their favorite film, its cast of characters and to dive deeper into the magical world of Oz. This App provides exclusive access to invigorating and exclusive content including:

The Enchanting Characters and Creatures of Oz – From Munchkins and Tinkers to good witches, bad witches, and flying baboons, this piece follows each character and creature of the Land of Oz from inspiration to final outcome.

The Sounds of Magical Oz – What adds fragility to the sounds of China Girl’s footsteps; ferocity to the tornado; or weight to the flutter of Finley’s flapping wings?

Sleight of Hand: Zach Braff Puppet Theater – Actor, and voice of Finley, Zach Braff introduces viewers to the Finley mockup.

Mariah Carey Music Video

Bloopers

My Journey in Oz by James Franco – A personal story produced and directed by James Franco.

Mr. Elfman’s Musical Concoctions – An interview with composer Danny Elfman unveils his inspiration in scoring “Oz The Great And Powerful.”

China Girl and the Suspension of Disbelief – This feature uncloaks the several forms of movie magic employed to bring China Girl to life, from the initial artwork and character design, to the on-set puppeteering during filmmaking, and finally, through each stage of the visual-effects process; and includes an interview with Joey King, the voice of China Girl.

Before Your Very Eyes: From Kansas to Oz – Production designer Robert Stromberg takes viewers through the set design of the Land of Oz, from sketching his original ideas on a napkin, through to the final set pieces and the accompanying visual effects.

Mila’s Metamorphosis – Lead makeup artist Howard Berger expands on one of the oldest, most tried-and-true forms of movie magic: makeup design and effects.

Walt Disney and the Road to Oz – It is well known that Walt Disney had a fascination with the Land of Oz since he was a child.  See how that fascination grew into inspiration as he began planning for his own adaptation of the stories in the classic Baum books.

DVD:

Bloopers

Walt Disney and the Road to Oz

Oz the Great and Powerful comes out today- be sure to add it to your Disney movie collection!

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews Tagged With: bonus, clips, Danny Elfman, Disney, Disney classics, mila kunis, Oz, Oz blu-ray, Oz dvd, Oz the Great and Powerful, special effects, wicked witch

4-D SpongeBob Movie and Bikini Bottom Breakfast Make Nick Hotel the Place to Be!

7 May 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Lagoon Slide Tower I’ve been a fan of the Nickelodeon Suites Hotel since it first opened (in fact, I stayed there while it was under construction waaay before Zannaland existed). I think the combination of a family suite with bunk beds and a separate adult bedroom, mixed with SO many fun activities and characters that kids know and love, is just perfect for any family visiting the Orlando area.

I recently had the opportunity to attend the Nick Hotel’s new Bikini Bottom Breakfast and see their brand new 4-D movie experience featuring the whole SpongeBob gang. It was a super fun day and I can’t wait to take my kids back to see it first hand. The character breakfast is not your average breakfast with characters coming to the table and that’s it – here they dance, they sing, it’s action-packed and fun for all. The breakfast buffet and omelet station was a great complement to the fun.

The 4-D movie  – The Great Jelly Rescue – was better than some I’ve seen in theme parks! The interactive “4-D” level of sights, smells, and action was spot on and the computer animated version of Bikini Bottom and its inhabitants were enjoyable for all. The Nickelodeon Suites Hotel has a bunch of new things for this summer:

  • Make a splash at SpongeBob’s Bikini Bottom Breakfast. Hula your way to the breakfast buffet and hang out with SpongeBob SquarePants and some of your other favorite deep-sea dwellers. It’s high tide at the Nicktoons Cafe, so catch a wave and come on by! Check out the photos of the breakfast below:

 

Bikini Bottom Breakfast

Bikini Bottom Breakfast

Bikini Bottom Breakfast

Bikini Bottom Breakfast

Bikini Bottom Breakfast

  • Discover Dora’s Friendship Fiesta as Dora takes us on an amazing adventure, exploring everything about friendship on our way to the Meet & Greet Fiesta. With Boots, Team Umizoomi’s Milli and Geo, and other friends, you’ll help find the way to this one of a kind celebration.
  • Dive into SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D: The Great Jelly Rescue! The 4-D Attraction joins SpongeBob with his friends in tow on a rollicking adventure when the villainous Plankton abducts all the Jellyfish with his pollution-belching contraption.  It is up to SpongeBob SquarePants to save the day, free the Jellyfish and destroy Plankton’s terrible machine.  See how SpongeBob’s big heart puts him oceans above the rest! It’s all in digital 3-D with awesome 4-D effects like bubbly bubbles, windy wind and more sensory surprises.
4-D Experience Theater
The grand opening of the new 4-D movie The Great Jelly Rescue!
4-D Experience Theater
Bubbles and more make this movie a must-see!

There’s always something fun happening here, and I was really impressed with the property and especially the “mall” area with different food options (including dinner with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), an arcade and shops,  the 4-D movie and of course, SLIME! Definitely add the Nick Hotel to your list of must-sees when you visit Orlando! Here are some photos of the suites:

 

SpongeBob KidSuite
Kitchenette in the suite
SpongeBob KidSuite
The master bedroom, kid-free decor!
SpongeBob KidSuite
Kids room with tv
SpongeBob KidSuite
Bunk beds!
SpongeBob KidSuite
Peeking into the kids suite

 

SpongeBob KidSuite
Kids suite without bunk beds

You can find out much more about the Nickelodeon Suites Hotel, pricing, special packages and costs for the character meals, movies and Double Dare Challenge at NickHotel.com.

Disclosure: I was provided complementary breakfast and 4-D movie showing – my opinions are my own.

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Filed Under: Central Florida Family Entertainment, Disney Movie News & Reviews, Orlando Area Resorts, Reviews Tagged With: bikini bottom, Bikini Bottom Breakfast, breakfast buffet, bunk beds, character breakfast, fun activities, Nick Hotel, nickelodeon, nickelodeon suites hotel, orlando area, SpongeBob breakfast, spongebob squarepants, The Great Jelly Rescue

Spoiler-Free Review: Iron Man 3 Changes the World

3 May 2013 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

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Iron Man 3 I’ve said before that it is very difficult to choose a favorite Avenger movie; I do love Captain America and his storyline (and am excited for part two to come out soon), but I do believe Iron Man holds the biggest place in my heart as far as the Marvel movies go. I never really got into super hero movies until Iron Man came out. I had always been a fan of Robert Downey Jr. and when I saw that he had imbued the role with his famous RDJ charm and wit, I was hooked. Of course, the storylines and action were a plus too. So, when I saw the first trailers for Iron Man 3, I was absolutely thrilled with how it looked; so many visual ‘wow’ moments and it truly left me excited to see more. And more is definitely what I saw, earlier this week at a media screening of Iron Man 3. My review of the film follows, but given the almost crazy amount of twists and turns within the plot, my review will be safely major-plot-point-spoiler-free for your reading pleasure!

I think part of why I love Iron Man, and Tony Stark so much is that at the end of the day, he’s just a man. He has no super powers when the suit is off, he’s just a guy trying to figure life out too. And those human struggles are where Iron Man 3 begins its story. Tony Stark has been having difficulty dealing with “New York” -as the events of the Avengers film are referred to in this movie. Just as he is at his breaking point of handling the stress, a villain appears on the scene and gives him no choice but to get back into action, save the world, and in the process, save himself.

What proceeds from there on in Iron Man 3 is a series of events that you could never see coming and challenge your belief that it will all be okay in the end. We see Tony Stark pretty much at rock bottom and being forced to rely on others as well as returning to the most base elemental components that make up “Iron Man” and Stark as a human being – he “fixes things.” I loved it from start to finish and really enjoyed the humor throughout the film, even poking fun at traditional villains, and of course, Iron Man himself along the way. It really humanized the super human, and made me feel for all of the characters within the film. The theme here is rebirth, reinvention, and getting back to what you know, and it’s a message that so many can relate to, myself included.

 

Here is the latest released clip, showing some of Tony Stark’s struggles
 

I will say one thing, there is a sub-plot within the film where Tony interacts with a young boy, and I thought this was a great addition to the movie and story. The scenes may have worked just as well without this character, but what this young actor brought to the screen was wonderful, and as a parent, even heartwarming to see. It was a great counter-point to the non-stop action going on around the rest of the story. In addition to this, the entire cast works so well as an ensemble, it’s great to see more of Don Cheadle and Gwyneth Paltrow in their respective roles.

I can’t really say too much else without giving things away, so I’ll end my brief but no less heartfelt review here. As I said on twitter after seeing the screening, “Iron Man 3. Amazing. That is all.” And really, that’s all the review you need, go out and see this movie – today! (And stay past the credits as always!)

Iron Man 3 is open today in theatres everywhere! I was provided a free media screening of the film, but my opinions are my own.

Like IRON MAN 3 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ironman

Follow IRON MAN 3 on Twitter: @Iron_Man

Visit the website: http://marvel.com/ironman3

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews, Top Stories Tagged With: avenger movie, Disney Marvel, don cheadle, gwyneth paltrow, human struggles, IM3, Iron Man 3, Iron Man 3 review, Iron Man Three, Marvel, marvel movies, movie review, robert downey, Robert Downey Jr., super hero movies, villain

Kings Bowl Rolls Into Orlando With Flair, Food, and Fun!

25 April 2013 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

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Kings Bowl Orlando Last week a new kid on the block opened up over on I-Drive – Kings Bowl, a luxury bowling and dining establishment, hailing from the great city of Boston (proud Boston girl here!) opened its doors to those looking for a fresh spin on a classic pastime. As seems to be the norm with these new, deluxe bowling alleys, the emphasis is on great dining, great drinks, and a place for adults to kick back and enjoy.

Kings Bowl features a really fun atmosphere with a definite adult vibe. 60 Big screen HD TV’s show the latest sports action, two separate 40-seat bars offer unique alcoholic creations and two tables over in the dining area actually feature kegs IN the table, chilled to a perfect temperature, the spinning tap allows you to choose up to 4 of your favorite brews and serve yourself. Truly a unique draw and something I think every beer drinker will want to try. One of the bars is located in an outdoor, climate-controlled patio, perfect for the summer months (or most of the year) here in Orlando.

The food at Kings Bowl was incredible. Definitely not what you’d expect at just any old bowling alley, and I dare say it rivals most dining spots around town. The Steak Tips were my favorite, but the Pulled Pork BBQ and the Buffalo Chicken Wontons were delicious too. I can totally see folks just hanging out here for the food, drinks and atmosphere, but the bowling offers another element to keep the party going. Be sure to try the Fizzy Lifting Drink if you’re up for something stronger!

Kings Bowl Orlando
One of two bars, featuring HD TV’s and a live sports ticker

Speaking of parties, Kings Bowl has two private available to book, accommodating 50 or 100 people. One features a closed-in glass walled area, where you can bowl and have access to the outside bocce court. The other opens onto the billiard and shuffleboard area. This area is also home to the VIP room, where two lanes can be curtained off, with a private back entrance to the building for any celebrities wanting to bowl a few frames. There are 22 full-sized lanes to test your skill on, and yes, there are bumpers for the kids (or grown-ups).

Kings Bowl Orlando
The lighting and decor is swanky and cool

 

I think Kings Bowl is a wonderful addition to I-Drive and the kitchy, 50’s feel to the design makes it a fun experience for all. The place switches over to adults-only (21+) after 6, so leave the kiddos at home after then. Perfect for a date night, girls night or guys night out – there’s something for everyone! Kings Bowl is the first partner to open up in the I-Drive Live project, an area of the burgeoning I-Drive District which will feature a new Madame Tussaud’s wax museum, Sea Life Aquarium,  giant observation wheel, multiple shops, restaurants, and more.

 

Here’s a gallery of photos from the swanky Kings Bowl Orlando (click to enlarge):

Kings Bowl Orlando
Woody, the Kings Bowl mascot!
Kings Bowl Orlando
General admission bowling lanes
Kings Bowl Orlando
Ready to roll!
Kings Bowl Orlando
Kings Bowl…ing ball!
Kings Bowl Orlando
Lucky 13
Kings Bowl Orlando
View from the VIP room
Kings Bowl Orlando
Menus at the bowling tables
Kings Bowl Orlando
VIP room
Kings Bowl Orlando
Table Tap – pick your 4 favorites and keep pouring!
Kings Bowl Orlando
Mac and Cheese bites
Kings Bowl Orlando
Buffalo Chicken wontons
Kings Bowl Orlando
Soy Ginger glazed wings
Kings Bowl Orlando
Hawaiian Pizza
Kings Bowl Orlando
Cheeseburger and Pulled Pork sliders
Kings Bowl Orlando
Steak Tips – so good!

Pricing is as follows:

Bowling Pricing/Shoe Rental

Before 6PM
Every Day – $5.oo
After 6PM
Sun-Thurs – $6.00
Fri & Sat – $7.00

All prices are per person, per game.
There is a two game maximum when on a waitlist.

Shoe Rental – $3.00
Socks – $3.00

Billiards & Shuffleboard Pricing

Before 6PM
Every Day – $8.oo
After 6PM
Sun-Thurs – $10.00
Fri & Sat – $14.00
All prices are prorated to the minute

Bocce Ball Pricing

Before 6PM
Every Day – $20.00
After 6PM
Sun-Thurs – $24.00
Fri & Sat – $32.00
All prices are prorated to the minute

You can follow Kings Bowl on twitter at @Kings_Orlando or facebook at facebook.com/KingsBowlOrlando for the latest happenings and specials, and check out KingsBowl.com for further info. I can’t wait to go back! Let me know if you check it out.

 

*Disclosure: I was invited to a media preview of Kings Bowl Orlando where we were provided with complimentary food, drinks and bowling. My opinions are my own.

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Filed Under: Central Florida Family Entertainment, Disney Movie News & Reviews, Florida Theme Parks & Attractions, Orlando Area Attractions, Reviews, Top Stories Tagged With: adult bowling, bocce court, Boston, bowling alley, city of boston, deluxe bowling, gourmet food, hd tv, I-Drive, I-Drive Live, kings bowl, Kings Bowl Orlando, luxury bowling, Orlando, Orlando bars, Orlando dining, table tap, vip room

Top 5 Oz-tacular Moments in Disney’s Oz the Great and Powerful

8 March 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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I was recently treated to two screenings of the highly anticipated Oz the Great and Powerful (one through the Disney Parks Blog’s Oz Meet-Up and a media screening). When deciding how I would put my thoughts about the movie into words, some things kept popping out at me. Eye Candy.

Oz the Great and Powerful
Rainbow Sparkle Clouds!

Here are the 5 pieces of eye-candy I enjoyed while watching Oz the Great and Powerful: {there will be spoilers in the review below, proceed at your own risk!}

  1. Rainbows
  2. Sparkly Rainbow Cloud Fog
  3. Rainbow Horses
  4. Giant Shimmery Bubbles
  5. Sparkly Giant Emeralds

Did I mention rainbows? I’m only sort of joking with the above list; after seeing Oz the Great and Powerful twice, I realized that what I enjoyed most about the film was how pretty it was in parts. The way the opening scenes are handled, in black and white and in a smaller screen, are of course a nod to the original Wizard of Oz, and a nice contrast to the vibrant colors of the land of Oz. That’s not to say there isn’t more to the movie than its pretty looks (although I couldn’t stop staring at Theodora and Glinda’s eye make-up and wondering if they used Urban Decay…) but overall I think the visuals are what carry the film.

We know the story of the Wizard of Oz; now with Oz the Great and Powerful we are sort of deconstructing exactly what made The Wizard who he is, and how the Wicked Witch came to be. While the first quarter of the movie is necessary to establish just the kind of selfish, greedy, self-serving cad Oscar Diggs is, it does drag a bit. Even when he first arrives in Oz and is exposed to the wondrous sites and sounds of such an unusual universe, the whole scene really serves no purpose other than to show off some cool effects.

When we pass the reeds in the river and they bend to make a sound, I instantly thought of the sound of the carnival organ that had flown past Oscar in the balloon, which would go along with the whole “it’s just a dream…” theme that the Wizard of Oz used. Combined with Finley the monkey being Oscar’s assistant from the carnival, the China Doll being the girl in the wheelchair, and of course Glinda, it would make sense that this fantastical world was all in Oscar’s head as he was knocked out from the effects of the twister. But it is never established or confirmed that Oz is just a dream. Perhaps because of the possibility of future sequels…either way, it was odd to have those elements and then not to explain them or develop them further. The river fairies were another example of this. Cute, somewhat funny, but they really have no point in the film as we see them for 30 seconds. It just felt a little forced, as if we were supposed to view Oz as a Wonderland sort of place, but nothing was ever really delved into more than a very cursory visual. Another thing that was never really established or explained in the film was where these witches came from and why Evanora is evil, as well as what makes Theodora evil, even before she changes, though she doesn’t realize it. Perhaps these are questions which will be answered in future films…

Oz the Great and Powerful
I loved this homage to the Wizard of Oz with the iconic first viewing of the Emerald City.

Once Oz gets his quest, and repairs China Doll (why doesn’t she get a name?!) and Finley joins them as they find Glinda, then the story really gets moving and I enjoyed the film a lot more. Up until that point, Oscar Diggs is not a very likeable guy, which is the point. Once he finds his passion, he leaves his selfish ways behind and finally does the right thing.

Of course it’s too late by then and he has incurred the wrath of the true Wicked Witch and her sister. The final battle scenes against the wicked sisters are really fun and well-played. Plus we get to see more rainbow cloud fog! It was a relief to see Oscar become The Wizard and do right by the citizens of Oz, though we have to wonder, did he really learn his lesson with women? He seems to have been humbled elsewhere and learned important lessons about friendship and family, and true magic, and that was lovely.

The 3-D effects within the film were really wonderful. Usually I leave a 3-D film not even realizing what I just watched was in 3-D, because it’s just sort of there. But in Oz, you definitely experience the 3-D and it makes it all the more exciting and adventurous when those scenes happen.

Oz the Great and Powerful
Some of the beautiful visuals in the land of Oz

Another star of the movie was the soundtrack. When the film opens, the very detailed, animated title sequence has a beautiful song behind it, which is then interwoven throughout the film. Danny Elfman really does a great job of giving Oz the Great and Powerful
a unique soundtrack, while instilling his signature sound too. I would definitely purchase the soundtrack to listen to. {For those visiting Epcot any time during the Flower and Garden Festival, you can hear the soundtrack playing in the Oz garden on the walkway from World Showcase to the East side of Future World. It’s worth a listen!}

Overall, I enjoyed the movie, despite its slow or underdeveloped parts. We were definitely left with an open enough ending to allow for a sequel or two, so I do hope it is successful enough to warrant that, so we can see the growth of all the characters. Oz the Great and Powerful opens today in theatres everywhere. I’d love to hear what you think when you see the film!

Disclosure: I attended a media screening of Oz the Great and Powerful. My opinions are my own.

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Top Stories Tagged With: Danny Elfman, Disney movies, Disney Oz, giant bubbles, james franco, Joey King, land of oz, Michelle Williams, mila kunis, Movie Reviews, movies, oscar diggs, Oz, Oz movie, Oz movie review, Oz review, Oz the Great and Powerful, Oz the Great and Powerful soundtrack, rachel leigh, rainbow cloud, The Wizard, wizard of oz, Zach Braff

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