Things to Do

Disney’s “Royalty” Prepares for a Viewing of the Royal Wedding

26 April 2011 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

I do have a love for all things British and the Royals are no exception. I was dazzled by serendipitously following Princess Diana around the parks when she visited Walt Disney World with Princes William and Harry way back in 1993. Before that I remember watching her wedding on television as an even younger girl. Now as fate would have it, I’ll be able to watch this latest Royal wedding in the Place Where Dreams Come True…

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — In celebration of the long-awaited Royal Wedding, Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons will host its first-ever “Tweet Up” and a viewing party on April 29, 2011, from 4-8 a.m. at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion at Walt Disney World Resort.

The first 250 people who responded to a “tweet up” invitation have already secured their seats in Disney’s Wedding Pavilion. [UPDATE: The response to the “Tweet Up” mentioned above was so astounding — the 250 RSVPs for which the event was originally planned poured in during a period of about two hours — that Fairy Tale Weddings event organizers convened, broadened the plan for the viewing party, and re-opened the invitation … and then closed it again when a second wave of RSVPs poured in Tuesday, April 19, 2011. The number of guests expected for the event is now in excess of 500.]

“Everyone remembers where they watched the last royal wedding,” said Korri McFann, marketing director, Disney’s Fairytale Weddings & Honeymoons. “April 29 is another royal occasion and we are thrilled to offer such a special viewing to help create lasting memories for moms, daughters, families and friends.”

Guests are invited to dress up in “princess or prince attire” — or come in their pj’s — for the early-hour gathering to watch, via live television, the royal couple tie the knot. Deemed as the biggest royal wedding since Princess Diana and Prince Charles, the exchange of vows between Kate Middleton and Prince William will take place at Westminster Abbey with the Archbishop of Canterbury officiating.

In addition to the viewing, the occasion at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion will include:

An English-inspired breakfast will be served to honor the occasion.
Cinderella’s Coach, which was crafted by Bennington Carriages — coach maker for the British Monarchy — will be available as a backdrop for pictures.
Newly-released Disney Fairy Tale Weddings Jewels and tiaras, as well as Disney Princess-inspired wedding gowns from Disney Fairy Tale Weddings by Alfred Angelo will be showcased.
There’ll be a few entertainment surprises in store.

I can’t wait to see the magic Disney has in store for this event. I will be there, tweeting and perhaps even live-blogging so be sure to follow me on twitter @zannaland as well as the official Disney Fairytale Weddings account @DisneyWeddings!

David Tutera Visits Social Media Moms at the Disney Weddings Platinum Soiree

25 April 2011 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Things have been so busy around here at ZannaLand so I’m just now getting around to my recaps of the amazing 2nd annual Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. One of the many highlights for me (and as you remember, something I was hoping for!) was getting to meet wedding planner and ultimate dream maker, David Tutera. It was wonderful to hear him speak about making brides feel special, and to speak to him about how much he enjoys visiting the Disney Parks as well!

Disney Social Media Moms Celebration Platinum Soiree — Our Welcome sign - I love that you can see the Polynesian Resort in the background here!

The Disney Social Media Moms Celebration kicked off at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion, where attendees were treated to a Platinum Soiree welcome reception. Champagne flutes and a buffet of candy – not sure what could be much better than that. We were able to see some of the amazing wedding cakes that Disney Fairytale Weddings offer and meet with “Franck” from Father of the Bride (after whom the Wedding Pavilion salon is named) and “Edna Mold” from The Incredibles who entertained us in between speakers. Check out this photo tour of the evening’s events:

Disney Social Media Moms Celebration Platinum Soiree Candy Bar — The Candy Bar awaited us - what a cool wedding reception idea!

Disney Weddings candy bar — Close-up of the Candy Bar - thanks to OhAmanda.com for the photo!

Franck and Edna Mold — Thanks to OhAmanda.com for this photo of Franck and Edna!

We then headed over to the pavilion for some amazing speakers and presentations.

Disney's Social Media Moms Celebration Platinum Soiree — The Princess collection gowns were on display for us - Snow White

David Tutera speaks about changing bridal expectations and bringing wedding fashion ahead of the curve.

Next, we were treated to a real, live Disney Fairytale Wedding vow renewal ceremony! The “wedding party” (aka Disney performers) danced down the aisle in fabulous attire as our almost-still-a-newlywed bride of 2 years joined her prince to renew their vows once again at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion.

Outside, we awaited the bride and groom and I was lucky enough to stand across from David Tutera where I got a little more time to talk (okay, and take some pictures..he’s just so darn handsome – look at that profile!)

Suzannah and David Tutera — David was SO gracious and patiently posed for pictures with all who asked. It was a dream come true for me!

The event was, in a word, breath-taking. I have been a fan of Disney’s Fairytale Weddings from the start, but it was such a treat to be able to experience a little of what their magic is like in person, not to mention the wonderful speakers and sites we were able to see. It is still a hope and a dream that I will someday have a Disney vow renewal. My 15th wedding anniversary is coming up this October, but that might be a bit too soon to pull something off, so I’ll shoot for the 20th. 😉

Stay tuned for more recaps from the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration coming up on ZannaLand!

Happy Easter from Mr. and Mrs. Bunny at the Magic Kingdom!

24 April 2011 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Happy Easter to all!! Hope you have a wonderful day no matter what you celebrate!

Easter bunny at Magic Kingdom — Happy Easter from the Easter Bunnies!

Thanks to @JEFF_EMT for sharing this fun photo!

Get Your PINK on with Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure on DVD

18 April 2011 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Everyone’s favorite diva from Disney’s High School Musical series is back in her very own adventure in New York City. Just how fabulous do you have to be to make it big in the Big Apple? One aspiring diva is about to find out…the hard way! Ashley Tisdale shines in this totally captivating comedy.

After a talent scout spots her performing with her dog Boi at a charity gala, Sharpay Evans (Tisdale) sets off for the bright lights of NYC, convinced instant fame and fortune are in the bag (designer, that is). But the theatre is a dog-eat-dog world, as she and Boi discover when they encounter the devious owner of a pampered Pooch named “Countess” and a scheming Broadway starlet who will do anything to crush the competition. Fortunately, Sharpay also meets Peyton (Austin Butler), a handsome student filmmaker who finds Sharpay nearly as fascinating as she finds herself.

Sharpay finds out that sometimes dogs are not allowed…

We were recently sent an advanced copy of the dvd/Blu-ray combo pack and I can tell you it passed the 10-year old Tween girl approval test with flying colors!! It’s been on repeat in my house since its arrived (in between repeat showings of the Disney Channel’s Lemonade Mouth!). My daughter isn’t even a fan of pink (altho she’s all about sparkles!) and she loved it.

Ashley Tisdale shares her own thoughts on Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure in this recent interview:

How would you describe Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure?
Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure is a fun, energetic new adventure for Sharpay. We get to step into Sharpay’s world in the new movie and we see her at home with her parents – but then she heads off to New York City to follow her dreams!

How would you describe Sharpay?
Sharpay is a fun-loving, pink diva. She has always had everything she ever wanted, but that soon changes in the new movie. She goes to New York to fulfill her dream of being on Broadway, but it’s not as easy as she thought it was going to be.

What was life like on the set of the movie?
Life was great! It was a big job and we didn’t have loads of time to shoot it, so I worked six-day weeks to get everything done. I was in every single scene, so it was the biggest role I’ve ever taken. It was crazy, but it was cool.

What can you tell us about your new co-stars?
The cast was really fun! We all had a great time and it was really cool hanging out with them. Austin Butler plays my love interest in the movie and he’s an old friend of mine, so I knew I was going to have a laugh with him. And then there was Bradley Steven Perry and Cameron Goodman… I love them all.

What did you get up to when the cameras stopped rolling?
I didn’t have too much time off, but I’m very social, so I’d always hang out with the cast. I’d go shopping or I’d head to the pool with my mom. We’d all go to dinners together and things like that. It was fun.

What’s your most embarrassing memory from the film shoot?
I celebrated my birthday on the set of Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure and something really funny happened that day. Austin Butler wasn’t supposed to work, but he turned up on set at midnight and I thought he’d come to wish me a happy birthday.

What happened?
I made such a big deal about Austin’s arrival on set. I was screaming, “Oh, wow! Look everybody: it’s Austin. I can’t believe you’re here for my birthday!” I stopped everything, but he just smiled at me. It turned out that he got called into work on a scene, so he wasn’t there for my birthday at all!

Eek! How embarrassing…
I know! It was so funny. At first, he just smiled – but he eventually told me the truth. He said, “I’m actually here to work, but I did come in extra early to see you.” I felt so embarrassed because I made such a big deal about it in front of the crew. It was really funny!

How does it feel to be the star of your own movie?
It feels great! It was really strange not having Zac, Vanessa, Corbin and Lucas around me because they were my comfort zone on High School Musical. It was easy to play Sharpay when they were around, but now she’s a little different and I’m a little different, too. For starters, I am an Executive Producer on the movie. That was definitely different to anything I’d ever done before!

Did you enjoy being an Executive Producer?
It was really exciting because I got to learn a whole new side to movies, but it was also a challenge to juggle being an actress and an Executive Producer. Whenever I needed to executive produce, I’d put on my Executive Producer hat and I’d be the boss. But when I needed to be the lead actress, I just put on the diva hat!

Which job do you prefer?
I love them both. Acting is a huge passion of mine, but it was fun to learn something new by being an Executive Producer. I got to be creative and I got to have a say in the movie.

And finally… Why should we go and buy the DVD?
I think you should go and buy the DVD because it’s a really fun movie! It’s the perfect ending to a character that everybody enjoyed watching in the High School Musical series and you’re going to love watching her again. I think you’ll be shocked and surprised by the new movie because you’ve never seen Sharpay like this before. Trust me, you’re in for a real treat!

SHARPAY’S FABULOUS ADVENTURE FROM WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT AVAILABLE ON DVD & BLU-RAY APRIL 19TH!

Check out these FASHION TIPS from Sharpay herself – (Click to enlarge)

Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure is available April 19, 2011!

EDIT: This just in! Here’s a coupon code for $8 off the Combo Pack and a bonus clip from the dvd!

sharpay coupon — Click for your $8 coupon!

Adorable Easter Treats and Gifts at Walt Disney World

14 April 2011 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

A couple of weekends ago we wandered in to the Magic Kingdom’s Main Street Confectionery and discovered these sweet Easter treats. I’m kind of hoping the Easter Bunny stops here before visiting my house!

Easter rice crispie treats at Disney — Look at these cute bunny rice crispie treats!

Easter cupcakes at Disney — Delicious-looking Easter cupcakes and cookies at Disney

In addition to the edible goodies, Easter Bunny Duffy was hanging out, along with these cute Mickey and Minnie plush, dressed in chick costumes, inside a zippered egg. Really cute! Those pretty Spring colored glass Mickey plates were hard to resist too!

Easter Duffy and Mickey and Minnie plush "Eggs" — Easter Duffy $30, and Mickey and Minnie plush "Eggs" $11.95/ea

Has anyone tried any of those yummy cupcakes or cookies?? They almost look too cute to eat! Almost. If you plan to be in Walt Disney World for Easter, check out these Disney Easter dining options too.

The Only Walt Disney World Dining Guide You’ll Ever Need!

12 April 2011 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

Faithful readers of ZannaLand will of course know of my love for AJ Wolfe and her Disney Food Blog. Her site is simply the place for up to date, in-depth information on Disney dining reviews, menus, news, photos and more. She has built up a loyal following, with good reason. The Disney Food Blog is committed to bringing Disney dining details to your screen and making sure they are the most accurate you can find. AJ has now combined her years of writing and researching into an easy to download 265-page e-book FULL of dining plans and reviews: The Disney Food Blog Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! The photos accompanying the pages will leave your mouth watering!

As AJ notes in the preface, “There’s no guidebook I’ve found that covers Disney World dining the way I’d like it to be covered. This e-Book has twice as much dining information and advice than any official Disney dining guidebook on the market. And, due to its digital format, it’s completely portable in the parks.” Since it downloads in a .pdf file, you can pop the book open on your smart phone, iPad or laptop and double check information on the go. That way you can also click directly on links or phone numbers and not have to write down a thing. Brilliant!

What’s included? Well, it would be impossible to list it all there is so much, but here’s a sample:

A 5-Step Guide to Stress-Free Dining to help you easily plan your Disney dining in one sitting. There is a section on budgeting, with average costs for counter and table service dining as well as beverages (alcoholic and non-) to help you prepare for costs, or consider the Disney Dining Plan.

A Dining With Kids section, which offers restaurant choices and unique menu suggestions for kids, so no one gets bored with chicken nuggets! Need to know which characters are in each character dining location? She’s got you covered. Tips for avoiding meltdowns? Yep! And if you’d like a kid-free night out, the guide shares what to expect at the Kids Clubs too.

Dining reviews, which are perfect when you have indecisive family members!! If that’s not enough, there are also sections on special celebrations, a comprehensive list of all lounges and bars, even sample dining itineraries. It really lives up to its promise to offer “steps for a stress-free, personalized plan!” And if by chance you are unhappy, there is a money-back guarantee!

Not convinced? Check out some of the amazing reviews by top Disney authors and see some sample pages here. If you’re a Disney veteran and wonder what this guide could offer you, AJ reminds us, “Even if you’ve been to Walt Disney World hundreds of times, the Imagineers, chefs, and cast members will always keep surprising you. You deserve to know what incredible dining opportunities and experiences are available to you, and new ones are being added all the time!”

If you’re ready for all the info now, you can purchase The Disney Food Blog Guide to Walt Disney World Dining by clicking here. The price is $18.95, which includes four downloads, that’s a great deal!

*Disclosure: I was given a complimentary copy of The Disney Food Blog Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, which did not influence my review one bit, it’s just that wonderful! In addition, the links contained in this review are affiliate links which means if you purchase the e-book after using these links, I will get a small commission. Win-win! 😉

See African Cats-Save The Savanna!

7 April 2011 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

ZannaLand first showed you the trailer for this awe-inspiring DisneyNature movie back in December. African Cats is now set to open in just a few weeks on Earth Day, April 22, 2011. During the film’s opening week (April 22-28), a portion of the proceeds from that week’s ticket sales will be donated to the African Wildlife Foundation through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund to protect the Amboseli Wildlife Corridor, a passage between the Amboseli, Tsavo West and Chyulu Hills National Parks that is frequently used by lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, giraffes and a host of other animals in the African savanna.

An epic true story set against the backdrop of one of the wildest places on Earth, “African Cats” captures the real-life love, humor and determination of the majestic kings of the savanna. Narrated by Oscar®-nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson, the story features Mara, an endearing lion cub who strives to grow up with her mother’s strength, spirit and wisdom; Sita, a fearless cheetah and single mother of five mischievous newborns; and Fang, a proud leader of the pride who must defend his family from a rival lion and his sons. Disneynature brings “The Lion King” to life on the big screen in this True Life Adventure directed by Keith Scholey and Alastair Fothergill (“Earth”). An awe-inspiring adventure blending family bonds with the power and cunning of the wild, “African Cats” leaps into theatres on Earth Day, April 22, 2011.

You can view the trailer again here below:

You can also download this cool African Cats Educational Guide and AfricanCats Activity Sheet for African Cats. Great for kids activities and homeschooling!

Like AFRICAN CATS on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/Disneynature.

New Monthly Personalized Tote Giveaway from Pixie Vacations!

6 April 2011 by Suzannah Otis 88 Comments

Beach season is almost upon us! (Unless you live down here in Florida like me, when it’s pretty much year-round!) Our friends at Pixie Vacations decided to offer a wonderful giveaway every month for the next 12 months! A super cool, beach tote, with a Mickey head and personalized with your name. Perfect for visiting the theme parks, water parks or even just the beach.

Pixie Vacations is run by a family that lived and worked in Florida and have countless years of experience as former cast members and long-time visitors to the Walt Disney World Resort. They pride themselves on obtaining the lowest possible prices for your Disney vacation and offering a concierge level of service and attention to detail.

Here’s a look at an example of one of the fun beach totes:

Disney Beach Tote — (contents not included, just the tote!)

disney tote autographs — Look what one family did with their tote: character autographs!

Here’s how to enter: Simply comment below telling me what one thing you make sure you bring with you to a Disney park each time you visit!

You can earn Extra Entries too:

LIKE ZannaLand on Facebook (1 entry)
Follow Pixie Vacations on Facebook ( 1 entry)
Share this giveaway on Facebook (1 entry)
Follow @zannaland on Twitter (1 entry)
Tweet about this Giveaway: “I just entered to win a personalized #Disney beach tote #giveaway from @ZannaLand & Pixie Vacations! http://bit.ly/pixietote” (one entry per day)
Subscribe to ZannaLand by email (box to the right at zannaland.com) or RSS feed. (1 entry)
Blog about this Giveaway on your public blog ( 10 entries)

Leave one comment per entry so I can count them properly and choose a winner using random.org. Comment even if you already follow/subscribe/etc. so I know you are.

This Giveaway will end April 20 at 11:59PM EST. Winner will be announced on this post, via a reply to the winning comment, and on twitter if winner has a twitter account. Winner will then need to email me their mailing address to [email protected]. All items will be mailed from the Sponsor. US mailing addresses only.

Good Luck!

April’s giveaway has ended, congratulations to Princess Mandy for being our first winner!! If you didn’t win this month, don’t worry, May is just around the corner and we’ll have another beach tote giveaway then! Thank you for all the entries!

Concept Art from Disney•Pixar’s BRAVE

30 March 2011 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

UPDATE: Since the first promo poster has been released by Disney Pixar, I thought I’d add it here – it’s simply gorgeous in my opinion and after seeing a teaser trailer before Cars 2, I am even more excited to see this film. Click to enlarge the poster:

HIGHLAND OF THE “BRAVE” — The rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland serve as the backdrop for BRAVE, a new tale that joins the land’s ancient lore—stories of epic battles and mystical legends passed down for generations. Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, BRAVE is the grand adventure of Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald), a skilled archer who confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts to discover the true meaning of courage. The film also features the voices of Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly, Julie Walters, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson and Robbie Coltrane. BRAVE, full of heart, memorable characters and Pixar’s signature humor, takes aim at theaters on June 22, 2012, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

Disney Pixar Brave — I love Merida already!

A redheaded girl as the main character set in Scotland? I’m in heaven!! 😉 These concept art pictures look amazing, I can’t wait to see more about this film. What do you think?

Tangled DVD+Prize Pack GIVEAWAY!

28 March 2011 by Suzannah Otis 107 Comments

I recently received the Tangled DVD/Blu-Ray combo pack and I can tell you it’s been playing non-stop in ZannaLand ever since it arrived! I’d forgotten how simply beautiful the animation was in this film, not to mention the wonderful songs and funny lines. It is quickly becoming one of my favorite Disney films, if not the favorite. I know it’s my 10 year old daughter’s fav! (In fact, it’s playing right now as I write this!!)

We’ve been enjoying the bonus features as well, seeing the deleted scenes in a sketched animation format is really cool. Finding out that “The Snuggly Duckling” was almost “The Jaunty Moose” was great! There are some wonderful commentaries as well, so even if by chance you get tired of playing on repeat in your home, you can switch it up and find out some great behind-the-scenes facts about the process.

And who can forget faithful sidekicks Maximus and Pascal??

Tangled is now available on DVD, Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack AND 3D Blu-Ray/Blu-Ray/DVD and Digital Copy 4 disc set —

Thanks to the Tangled promotional team, I can offer a giveaway of a Tangled dvd and a surprise bonus gift (one of the following: a Pascal Beanie Baby, Flynn Ryder or Rapunzel T-Shirts, or Official Disney Paper Lanterns) to one lucky reader!

Here’s how to enter:

1. Rapunzel discovers that she is a strong woman and can take care of herself outside of the tower. Check out the Tangled Widget below and explore your family’s hidden talents. What are your hidden strengths? Comment below sharing your strengths or talents.

Contest now over, thanks to all who entered and spread the word!!

CONGRATULATIONS to Tony Mendyk who was picked from random.org as the winner!

Additional entries:

2. “Like” ZannaLand on facebook. Leave a separate comment letting me know.
3. Follow @zannaland on twitter and tweet the following:

“I just entered to win #Disney’s #Tangled on dvd from @zannaland and you can too! http://bit.ly/tangledgiveaway #giveaway #contest“

Leave a separate comment letting me know. You can tweet as many times as you like, but don’t spam your twitter friends!) 😉
4. Subscribe to ZannaLand posts via email or RSS feed (email box is to the right) and comment letting me know.
5. Share this this contest link on facebook, stumble it, or share it any other way you’d like and comment letting me know. (there are buttons to share on popular sites below this post)

Each entry must be in a separate comment. Winner will be chosen on Friday, April 1 (no April Fool’s joke, I promise!) using random.org and announced on this entry. Item will be mailed directly from the Tangled team. Good luck!!