Resort Review: Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
Magical Adventures & Memories
Over the weekend, I saw a friend on instagram post a photo of a new Muppets Most Wanted-themed scavenger hunt taking place around Epcot’s World Showcase. I grabbed the family and headed over to check it out, because if there’s one thing I love, it’s scavenger hunts, and the Muppets. Oh wait, that’s two things. Actually, there are hundreds of Muppets…so…if there are hundreds of things I love, they’re scavenger hunts and the Muppets! Anyway, I was excited to experience it in person.
We entered through the International Gateway to World Showcase, so I asked at the Agent P. kiosk where to find this Muppet adventure. We were told to head over almost to Mexico, so we did, with some pauses along the way for bunny-checks in Canada’s Victoria Gardens area (we couldn’t find any, so decided they were all inside the tiny cottage) , drooling over the Cronut counter (we were stuffed from Sanaa), and saying hello to Duffy. It’s quite easy to get happily distracted in World Showcase, especially with a 5 year-old in tow. Then we came upon a sign proclaiming it was the MBI – Muppet Bureau of Investigation, and we knew we were in the right place.
I decided to take photos to chronicle our entire Muppet mission – If you don’t want to read below, let me sum this attraction up for you in a few bullet points:
If you want to be surprised by the clues and the results of our quests, you may want to end your reading now…you’ve been warned! And now, There be spoilers (and evil frogs) ahead!
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Okay, now the fun stuff. I LOVED this experience. Unlike the Agent P. adventures, there was not TOO much to do – it is the perfect amount of walking, activity and attention-span capturing for little ones and above. For older kids, sure, they may think it’s kind of easy, but it definitely looks like this temporary quest was some sort of testing to see how it goes. I think it is a great success and hope for more in the future. It is definitely less intrusive as far as beeping, talking cell phones in Agent P’s adventure go. It’s also fun that you have to interact with cast members for this adventure (not sure they appreciate that part, but it’s fun to have to go out of your way to speak to international cast members that you may not have interacted with otherwise).
We started in Germany. You know up front when signing up that your choices are Germany, Italy and America, or the United Kingdom, France, and America. I love that you have the option and that it’s short enough that your whole day isn’t taken over by this adventure.
You look at your MBI booklet and it tells you to look for the world’s oldest and most expensive cuckoo clock. So we headed into the cuckoo clock store and looked around. Soon we discovered the subtle but fun clue. It definitely doesn’t overpower the store taking away from the regular experience of the German pavilion. Once we saw it was a note from Constantine, we opted to read it in his accent (which we have taken to doing around the house anyway, much to the dismay of my 13 year-old daughter). I’m sure the German cast member standing next to me appreciated my excellent Constantine impression.
We got our sticker and it told us to head to Italy and that we were getting there by train 301. This was important. Our Italy page told us to look for a Gonzo mask in Il Bel Cristalo store. Again, this was subtly done and did not take away from the rest of the store. Italy also had some fun Muppet details. I’m now wondering if we missed any in Germany! There is also now a train schedule posted right next to the Muppet Topiary display between Germany and Italy, showing another reminder of train 301, which you’ll need in Italy.
Now our next clue took us to the American pavilion and the end of our mission, so I’m going to show the other two countries of the U.K. and France before ending in America. (We actually worked backwards from France just to see if we could figure out the clues and get the stickers out of order. Thanks to a helpful cast member in France, we were able to do just that.) But I’ll put the details in the proper order below.
So we went back to France (not really we started there, shhh) to the perfume shop. I spotted the diamond, cleverly shaped like an actual carrot, a very Muppet-like joke. We are then prompted to enter our code again, this time asking how many carats the diamond is.
The cast member in France then told us we had to go to a very scary place – America! We didn’t head back since we already experienced the conclusion of the mission. But here’s how it ends:
The booklet has visual clues like Lady Liberty and hot dogs (Liberty Inn!) but the map shows the check-in point is actually to the right of the American Adventure entrance. There is a kiosk there, where you receive a final sticker, a certificate of completion, making you an official MBI agent, and you are allowed to go behind some landscaping to see…
And that’s that! We had a wonderful time, and even though there weren’t actual Muppets at every turn, it was, I think, perfectly themed and really well done. It will be interesting to see if Gio asks to do the missions again or if it’s a ‘one and done’ kind of experience for him. The MBI Muppet scavenger hunt adventure will be active during the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, through May 18. I’ll update as I get more information. I kept some of the visuals a surprise so you can experience the stickers, the booklet itself, and other details yourself.
I’d love to hear if you’ve experienced this yourself and what you thought. What was your favorite part?
Disney Interactive and Nintendo will be launching Disney Magical World for the Nintendo 3DS on April 11 – basically Animal Crossing for Disney fans but here’s the official description:
In Disney Magical World, players pick from a selection of characters and can customize with Disney-themed outfits and accessories. The personalized character explores the world by managing a café, planting crops, and collecting Disney character cards in a new magical world. Favorite Disney characters also join in the fun to find missing items and solve problems.
To coincide and celebrate this release, Disney is also releasing a special “Mickey Edition” Nintendo 3DS XL, and it sure is pretty! Covered with golden Mickey heads, it will be released exclusively at WalMart, on the 11th. Look:
Will any of you Disney Gamers be picking this up? Early Easter Bunny gift, perhaps?

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:
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!
Medieval Times is celebrating March Madness by offering a ticket sale of $28 for all seats! (This offer expires 3/31/2014 and is not valid at the New Jersey or Dallas castle.) I was able to enjoy Medieval Times here in Orlando when they premiered a new show a couple of years ago, I think it’s time I go back! We had a wonderful time and the food was great too. It’s hard not to enjoy the action and be a part of the show, cheering for your knight. You can check out the photos from that visit on my Zannaland Facebook page album page (and feel free to “LIKE” my Facebook page while you’re there!).
This offer expires in just a few days on 3/31 so use code 28MM right now and get ready to joust!
Find more info at MedievalTimes.com and book your visit today online or by calling 1-888-WE-JOUST.
You can also find Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament on Facebook and Twitter.
As with all other Disney partnerships with handbag designers, the Disney Collection by Vera Bradley is another successful venture. I’ve reported on the original debut of the Disney Vera bags, and also shared photos on social media of the additional designs released (stay tuned for an upcoming post on the Disney Vera Bradley bags available on Disney Cruise Line!). Now, according to Steven Miller at the Disney Parks Blog:
…a new event titled, “A Perfect Petals Brunch featuring the Disney Collection by Vera Bradley,” is coming to World ShowPlace at Epcot on Sunday, May 4. This ticketed event will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and will feature the release of a brand new color called “Mickey’s Perfect Petals.” In addition to a scrumptious brunch and a special gift, event guests will have the first opportunity to purchase seven new items. The event store will also carry some previously released colors from 2013, including “Midnight with Mickey” and “Where’s Mickey.”
The best part of this brunch, however, will be a special appearance by Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, co-founder of Vera Bradley. Barbara has wonderful stories to share, especially about her mother who played an important role in her life and in the founding of Vera Bradley (it’s fitting that this event will take place the weekend before Mother’s Day!).
If any quantities are remaining following this event, the new “Mickey’s Perfect Petals” items will be released when Cherry Tree Lane opens in the Marketplace Co-Op at Downtown Disney Marketplace (stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for that opening date). There are no immediate plans to carry this color at Disneyland Resort or on our Disney Parks online store.
Tickets for this event are $125. Admission to Epcot is also required to attend. To register, please visit DisneyParksMerchandise.com beginning at 1:00 p.m. EDT on March 20, 2014. If you are active on social networks, I invite you to join the conversation by using the hashtag – #DisneyVera.
Will you be attending the Perfect Petals Brunch, or hoping to get a bag after at a Downtown Disney store? What do you think of the new design? I love the color palette!
It’s no secret that we love bringing you the latest Disney designer purses here at Zannaland, and there are certainly no shortage of them lately! I have personally loved the Disney LeSportsac designs from the start because of both the versatility of the bag designs, as well as the tribute to original Disney art that LeSportsac offers. With such wonderful bodies of work from Mary Blair and now Marc Davis, it’s no wonder these bags are instant hits and loved by so many. LeSportsac is truly a great choice for use within the parks as well, with multiple zippered pockets, lightweight, easy-to-clean styles and a choice for every occasion. I know the “it’s a small world” styles were so popular, and I have no doubt the new Tinker Bell patterns will be as well.


This is just one style, of course you can find so many more at LeSportsac.com AND enter their giveaway for a Tink bag too! Which is your favorite design? The Marc Davis or the Neverland? (I think I’m partial to the Marc Davis personally.)
We’ll be having a giveaway here at Zannaland too, I still have a few “it’s a small world” designs to giveaway, so stay tuned!
Disney and Dooney & Bourke keep surprising us! Here is another unannounced new Disney Dooney pattern spotted on instagram and ebay! Available at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Center, the Daisy pattern is available currently in the crossbody Letter Carrier and Satchel sizes. Personally, I LOVE this color scheme, it’s some of my favorite color combos. I think this is a great, subtle Disney pattern for those that don’t want to scream MICKEY! on their handbag. These bags are made with the lighter nylon material, not the coated canvas of the other traditional Dooneys.
EDIT: Now available online at DisneyStore.com!
Here are some current photos:
Thoughts? Will you be heading to Epcot to get this Disney Dooney?
Check DisneyStore.com for sales of select current released Disney Dooney & Bourke purses and Zannaland’s Disney Dooney & Bourke page with ALL handbag photos and info.
*DisneyStore.com links are affiliate links, which means it costs you nothing extra to click or buy, but if you do, I get a small commission. Thanks for reading!

FROM AMERICA SINGS AND IF YOU HAD WINGS TO DISNEY’S GROUNDBREAKING PARTICIPATION IN THE 1964–65 WORLD’S FAIR, GUESTS WILL ENJOY PRESENTATIONS, SCREENINGS, UNIQUE SHOPPING, AND MUCH MORE, NOVEMBER 22 AND 23 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT
BURBANK, Calif. – March 26, 2014 – Walt Disney once said, “We keep moving forward—opening up new doors and doing new things—because we’re curious. And curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” It’s in that spirit that guests this fall will have the opportunity to visit—or revisit—some of the most beloved Disney attractions of yesteryear. D23 Destination D: Attraction Rewind presented by H2O Plus will take place November 22 and 23 at Walt Disney World Resort. D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will bring Disney archivists, Imagineers, Legends, and luminaries together to celebrate fan favorites such as Adventure Thru Inner Space, If You Had Wings, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with rarely seen concept art and images; vintage video clips; and hours of revealing stories. In addition, there will be a full day of presentations dedicated to the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair, which debuted beloved attractions like it’s a small world and Carousel of Progress.
Presenters and panelists include Disney Legends Marty Sklar, Bob Gurr, and Alice Davis; Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline; Disney and World’s Fair historians Bill Cotter, Stacia Martin, and Michael Kelley—and more to be announced.
During the weekend, guests will be able to explore a special exhibit designed by the Walt Disney Archives in honor of the event.
The weekend will end with an exciting evening event—Pleasure Island: Rewind. This celebration of the Downtown Disney nightlife district will include areas dedicated to the Adventurers Club, Comedy Warehouse, Mannequins, and 8 Trax. And of course there will be a “New Year’s Eve” celebration to cap the night.
Plus, for the first time, Mickey’s of Glendale, the famed Walt Disney Imagineering store, will set up a pop-up shop at the event for attendees, featuring a selection of exclusive Imagineering merchandise as well as limited-edition pins, T-shirts, and collectibles themed to the event. The shop will also carry a special line from H2O Plus, whose products are featured at Disney Resort Hotels.
Highlights of D23 DESTINATION D: ATTRACTION REWIND presented by H2O Plus will include*:
The weekend event will take place in the convention center at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Tickets, available Wednesday, April 16, are $190 each and available exclusively to D23 Gold and Silver Members for a limited time. Any remaining tickets will be made available to D23 Free Members on May 28 for $250 per ticket. All guests will receive a special gift in honor of Disney’s contributions to the 50th anniversary of the 1964–65 World’s Fair in New York City. A limited number of “Top of the World” tickets will be available featuring reserved seating, early shopping on November 21, an exclusive dinner reception, special collectibles, gifts from H2O Plus and Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, and more.
More details about the program and tickets for D23 DESTINATION D: ATTRACTION REWIND presented by H2O Plus, as well as a special offer just for members of D23, can be found at D23.com/Events. Additional schedule announcements will be made in the coming months.

Coincidentally, I was just in Downtown Disney over here at Walt Disney World yesterday and Tren-D did not have any new designs in the store, but hopefully we will see them soon. Disneyland saw the “It’s A Small World” Dooney & Bourke pattern first as well.
Huge thanks to Chrysty Summers for spotting these new bags and sharing her photos with us here. I’ll of course update as we get more info on availability here at WDW or on the Disney Store Online. For now, it looks like Sweethearts is available at the Disneyland Resort in a larger Shopper Tote style that fully zips up, then the crossbody Letter Carrier, and Barrel styles as well.
Here are the photos (all ©Chrysty Summers):
What do you think of Sweethearts? Will you add this to your Disney Dooney & Bourke collection?
Check DisneyStore.com for sales of select current released Disney Dooney & Bourke purses and Zannaland’s Disney Dooney & Bourke page with ALL handbag photos and info.
*DisneyStore.com links are affiliate links, which means it costs you nothing extra to click or buy, but if you do, I get a small commission. Thanks for reading!