Things to Do

The Thanks For Reading ZannaLand Giveaway!

30 March 2010 by Suzannah Otis 76 Comments

Those of you on my personal facebook page may have noticed my update about the milestone my little corner of the internet is about to reach. When I posted it, I thought I’d just say it there, and move on, not making a big deal about it. The more I thought about it all day, the more I realized I should be celebrating this achievement. After all, this site is devoted to Disney, and who does celebrations better than Disney, right? Also, the whole reason this milestone is happening is because of you, the readers, so I figured I should definitely be giving back to the very people that brought me here to begin with. So are you ready to celebrate??

There are 2 days left in March, including today – ZannaLand.com is really really close to getting 10,000 page views for the month of March. I’m so amazed by this – I remember when I started I was excited that the site had 10 views a day. Certainly a LOT has happened both on the site and in my life since that time, and I am so grateful for the exciting changes that have taken place.

I would not be here without the wonderful community of readers about which I’m always raving, and although I may not have the budget of Disney, what I’d do in real life is take you out for a coffee and thank you. Since for most readers, I can’t do that without involving airlines and lots of miles, I thought I’d give away 3 gift cards {of various mystery amounts} for a coffee on me {or tea or whatever else you might like to drink at Starbucks}.

In addition, I’m giving away a couple of fun surprises – 2 unopened Vinylmation figures! So that’s 5 separate chances to win. However, we have to reach that goal first – which means I need your help getting the word out about this giveaway!

To enter the giveaway:

Comment on this entry.

If you want some extra entries you can also:

Tweet about this giveaway and comment here with the url of that tweet.
Post on facebook or anywhere else you’d like to spread the word and let me know here!

I will then add all the entries into random.org and pick the winners there. I can’t wait to see who wins!

Disclosure: I am providing these prizes out-of-pocket and am not being sponsored by Starbucks, Walt Disney World or anyone else for this giveaway. Each comment meeting the above guidelines will be entered to win one of five prizes. Contest ends at midnight PST on March 31st and winners will be announced on April 1st. Good luck! 🙂

…

UPDATE: If you did not read on twitter, we surpassed 10,000 views after midnight on March 30th, so we definitely hit our goal and then some by the 31st! Thanks so much!! The winners have been picked at random.org:

$5 Starbucks gift card goes to – Jacqueline Hudson!

$10 Starbucks gift card goes to – icitea!

$15 Starbucks gift card goes to – Stephanie (VertigoDawn)!

1st Vinylmation goes to –Vader’s Mom!!

2nd Vinylmation goes to – Jon (disneylovndad)!!

Congratulations! I will get your prizes mailed out as soon as possible!

Thank you ALL for the amazing participation, for reading, and for spreading the word about ZannaLand. I promise this will not be the last fun giveaway!!

The Magic Of Disneyland and Walt Disney World by Valerie Childs 1979

11 March 2010 by Suzannah Otis 13 Comments

I can’t remember when I was given The Magic of Disneyland and Walt Disney World by Valerie Childs, but it must’ve been a year or so after it was published in 1979. I know we’d already taken our trip to Walt Disney World when I was around 6, but it was before we’d stayed at the Lake Buena Vista Vacation Villas. A friend of the family gave me this book, and it was pretty much my bible for the next few years. {I’d later graduate to reading the Birnbaum guides and my WDW Pictorial Souvenir books which I’d get every trip – I’ll scan some of those in soon.}

When I held the book in my hands, my first thought was how lucky Valerie Childs must be, and how much I wanted to be her when I grew up. This hardcover book was over-sized like a coffee table book and the full-color pictures were just beautiful. Our friend had also somehow gotten a few Mickey Mouse balloons {not inflated} and stuck them in the middle of the book, where there was a double-paged picture of the very same balloons. It was like a magical surprise every time I turned to that page.

The Magic of Disneland and Walt Disney World cover — I would stare at this cover wanting to BE that lady.

The Magic of Disneyland and Walt Disney World back cover — And I would stare at this back cover for ages looking at all the individual people.

I loved this book because it focused on Disneyland as well as Walt Disney World. I would take note of the differences between the two places; from the font of Land vs. World {not that I knew what a font was back then} to the rides locations of the rides. I’d never been to Disneyland {still haven’t, must remedy this!} so seeing pictures of the pirate ship or Storybook Land or the Matterhorn were like seeing snapshots of a foreign country I wanted to explore. Seeing the attractions and places I’d been to in Walt Disney World was like seeing pictures of “home”.

Now, looking at the book for the first time in quite a while and 31 years after it was published, it’s like a magical time capsule full of history. I would love to get all of the pages scanned in, but I’d have to find some industrial sized-scanner to get them all in. In the meantime, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite pages with you and we could stroll down memory lane together. For those that did not visit the parks during this time, it’ll be fun to see how things started out.

The Magic of Disneyland and Walt Disney World — The original Main Street Electrical Parade

I hope you enjoyed the pictures. I looked for the book online and it does appear to be on ebay. It really is one of my treasured collectibles both for the pictures it contains and the memories it brought me as a child. Do you have a favorite book in your Disney collection?

Disney’s Tables in Wonderland Discovery Dinner Experience at The Wave

1 March 2010 by Suzannah Otis 12 Comments

Last week on ZannaLand, I posted the menu for the Tables in Wonderland Discovery Dinner at The Wave, featuring local Florida farms and ingredients. The dinner was, in a word – exquisite. I am not a wine drinker, but I discovered that good wine, makes all the difference and actually enjoyed all the selections. The food was phenomenal, as was the personalized experience and attention to detail the Tables in Wonderland staff provided. I’m happy to share our evening with you here, in picture form…{as always, click to enlarge the photos}

The Wave wine glass — Our first wine tasting, a lovely Riesling, in The Wave lounge

August Kesseler Sylvaner/Riesling, 2007, Rheingau, Germany {my favorite of the night}

Appetizers at The Wave — Our deep fried avocado fries with chili aioli and grilled naan (on napkin)

[Read more…]

Rainbow Brite Back & Better Than Ever! CD Giveaway

1 March 2010 by Suzannah Otis 19 Comments

Remember Rainbow Brite? If you grew up around the 80’s I’m sure you remember Rainbow and her colorful friends. She’s back with a whole new look and thanks to Hallmark and MomSelect (who provided me with CD’s to review and share) I have 10 interactive CD’s to giveaway to readers of ZannaLand!

The Rainbow Brite Adventure Pack CD includes:

Rainbow Brite animated short
Games and Puzzles
Rainbow Brite theme song
Meet Rainbow Brite and Friends
Coloring pages, printables and more!

To enter the giveaway {mandatory}-

Comment here and tell me what other toys from the 80’s you wish would come back again!

Additional entries {optional}-

Subscribe to ZannaLand’s feed
Add ZannaLand to your Google Friend Connect (scroll down to bottom right and click “Join This Site” on Google Friend Connect)
Follow ZannaLand on Facebook or Networked Blogs
Follow ZannaLand on twitter

Please comment separately with each additional entry so I can properly pick a winner through random.org. Giveaway ends on March 20th 21st, winner will be announced March 21st 22nd. Thanks and good luck!

YoBaby Winner and a Sneak Peek of The Wave Discovery Dinner

26 February 2010 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Last night was spent in food and wine wonderland as my mom and I enjoyed the Discovery Dinner featuring local Floridian specialties at The Wave restaurant. I’m working on editing pictures and writing up a full report, but until then I thought I’d leave you with a couple of pictures to whet your appetite. 🙂

Table at The Wave Discovery Dinner — Our table in The Wave's private dining room

As promised, I entered all the comments for the Stonyfield Farms YoBaby 3-in-1 Meals giveaway into random.org. The winning comment was #10 – Lorna Marion. Congratulations! I’ll be contacting you for your info to receive your prize pack!

YoBaby giveaway winner — #10 was chosen!

Tables in Wonderland Menu for Discovery Dinner at The Wave

19 February 2010 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

My family has been Tables in Wonderland (formerly the Disney Dining Experience) members since its inception – when it started out as an option only for Florida residents. The program is now open to Florida residents, Annual Passholders and cast members too. Tables in Wonderland offers 20% off food and alcohol for up to 10 guests in your dining party, at select locations. The card has paid for itself in a matter of visits with the amount of table service restaurants we enjoy.

In addition to the card benefits, Tables in Wonderland also offers exquisite gourmet dining experiences throughout the year. Experiences such as dining inside The Great Movie Ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and other unique offerings limited to a small number of lucky diners. When I heard about the following dinner, I immediately thought how much my mom would enjoy it, and wanted to try and secure a spot as a thank you to her for all she’s done for us. I was lucky enough to get those spots, thanks to Nicole at the Tables in Wonderland team (I just emailed our info like anyone else who was interested in attending). My mom is so excited and I cannot wait to experience this with her next week!

Since I can’t wait, I thought I’d share the menu with you all so you can drool get excited too. I’m especially interested in this dinner because it features all local Florida area ingredients and specialties. In fact, we live a few towns over from one of the farms which is featuring items on the menu. Rest assured I will be taking pictures right and left and will report back after the event!

Win a Trip to The View!

18 February 2010 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

The wonderful folks at Mom Central created a Brand Ambassador program for fans of The View. I am proud to announce I was chosen to be a brand ambassador for The View! At Mom Central they’ve put together a great group where you can learn more about becoming an official brand ambassador for The View and discuss Hot Topics, show guests and hosts.

You can also win a trip to The View!

One lucky winner will be randomly selected to receive an all-expenses paid trip (with a friend) to New York to visit the set of The View and sit in the audience for a show taping!
Fill out this survey by February 28, 2010 for the chance to win. Sweepstakes rules.

Be sure to join Mom Central, check out the group forum there, sign up for the sweepstakes and check back here and on twitter for further updates on great topics from The View.

I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other The View branded items to facilitate my review.

Favorite Picture and Commercial from Super Bowl 44

8 February 2010 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

It’s no secret I am a Patriots fan, but since the Pats were out of the running I am more than happy for the Saints to have won Super Bowl 44. I think the best part of the game for me was following it on twitter with all my friends. The comments on the commercials and half-time show were hysterical. To show my support for the winning team, I thought I’d share my favorite photo from after the win last night:

08brees_CA2-articleLarge — Brees with his adorable son. Photo: NY Times

And my two favorite commercials from last night:

Super Bowl? Go Pats!

7 February 2010 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

sbg — Baby G in hand-me-down Patriots gear from C

Xbox 360 Controller Cake!

6 February 2010 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

xboxcake6 — Xbox 360 Controller cake with glowing buttons

As you know, I discussed my past cake creations earlier and it was within the comments of that entry that the suggestion came in from my good friend Luis to make an Xbox controller cake. I instantly agreed that would be the perfect idea for my Xbox Live-addicted 11 year-old. It also seemed like it could be do-able with some fondant and a little creativity. So last night, I embarked on the journey to create the ultimate Xbox 360 controller cake! (Thank goodness I had the help of my husband or I’d still be working on it now.)

Click to see more of the Xbox Controller Cake!