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Disney on Broadway – Up the Waterfall Episode 17

20 January 2020 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

With the 4th annual Epcot Festival of the Arts underway, we thought it would be great to discuss one of our loves, which is showcased at the Festival – Disney on Broadway! It’s hard to imagine a time before Disney had a presence on the Broadway scene, but they just celebrated 25 years last year. We head all the way back to the Disney Theatre Group and Disney Theatre Productions origins and discuss how they came to be, and how far they’ve come since inception.

Disney on Broadway 25 years

In this episode of Up the Waterfall, Zanna and Scott share their own experiences with attending musical theatre and how they first enjoyed Disney on Broadway, as well as the storied history of Disney theatrical productions and how different each show has been.

Have you been to a Disney show on Broadway or a national tour? What about a show on a Disney Cruise Line ship? Let us know in the comments below what your favorite(s) were or what you hope to see in the future. What Disney story would you like to see brought to the stage? Scroll to the bottom to watch the show on video!

Also discussed at the end of episode are some wonderful books showcasing the Disney Broadway productions, as well as the New Amsterdam Theatre, which Disney completely restored for the opening of The Lion King on Broadway. We’ve collected the list of books below in case you want to keep an eye out for one, or add it to your collection! Know of a book we’ve missed? Let us know!

A Day at the New Amsterdam Theatre (Disney) Hardcover – August 31, 2004 by Dana Amendola and Gino Domenico

 

The New Amsterdam: The Biography of a Broadway Theater (A Disney Theatrical Souvenir Book) Hardcover – October 11, 1997 by Mary Henderson 

How Does the Show Go On: An Introduction to the Theater Hardcover – November 27, 2007 by Thomas Schumacher, Jeff Kurtti 

Tale as Old as Time: The Art and Making of Disney Beauty and the Beast (Updated Edition): Inside Stories from the Animated Classic to the New Live-action Film (Disney Editions Deluxe (Film)) 2nd Edition – Hardcover – January 31, 2017 by Charles Solomon 

 

The Lion King: Pride Rock on Broadway Hardcover – November 7, 2017 by Julie Taymor

 

Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida: The Making of the Broadway Musical Hardcover – November 2, 2000 by Michael Lassell

 

Practically Poppins in Every Way: A Magical Carpetbag of Countless Wonders (Disney Editions Deluxe (Film)) Hardcover – November 6, 2018 by Jeff Kurtti

Tarzan: The Broadway Adventure Hardcover – March 16, 2007 by Michael Lassell

The Little Mermaid: A Broadway Musical: From the Deep Blue Sea to the Great White Way (A Disney Theatrical Souvenir Book) Hardcover – May 12, 2009  by Michael Lassell

Disney Aladdin: A Whole New World: The Road to Broadway and Beyond Hardcover – March 21, 2017 by Michael Lassell

How Does the Show Go On The Frozen Edition: An Introduction to the Theater (A Disney Theatrical Souvenir Book) Hardcover – November 5, 2019 by Thomas Schumacher, Jeff Kurtti (Updated 2019 edition)

 

We thank you again for listening and watching! Have an idea for a new episode? Let us know below! And tell your friends! 

 

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  • Up the Waterfall is a weekly Disney history podcast hosted by Zanna and her husband, Disney history buff and bibliophile, Scott Otis, where they share stories of Disney past, present and future. 
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Filed Under: Disney Past, Up the Waterfall Podcast Tagged With: Aida, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Disney, Disney Broadway, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line theater, Disney on Broadway, Disney parks, Disney parks past, Disney past, disney podcast, Disney Theatre Group, Disney Theatrical Productions, Disney's Hollywood Studios, New Amsterdam Theatre, Newsies, On the Record, Scott Otis, The Imagineering Story, The Lion King on Broadway, Up the Waterfall, Up the Waterfall podcast, Zannaland podcast

Halloween On the High Seas – Worth It?

1 November 2018 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Ok yes, I know, Halloween is SO 24 hours ago…but if you’re reading this, you probably know that planning a Disney cruise isn’t really a last minute thing, and something you should plan in advance and prepare for…unless you’re me and my family of course. I’d say about 75% of the Disney cruises I’ve been on have been booked within a couple of months of cruising, which, I’m not recommending. I’m just a spontaneous kind of gal, and when my daughter says in August,  “Ahhh, a Halloween cruise would be so funnn!” I think, “yes, yes it would. Let me look into that.” And here we are. I don’t recommend this, because with Disney especially, prices usually go UP the longer you wait, not go down. It’s very rare that Disney Cruise Line is thinking, “gee, I sure wish we could fill these empty staterooms…” It happens, but not on a 3-night Halloween on the High Seas cruise, ya know? So my first piece of advice, is plan ahead. I personally recommend MouseFanTravel.com* for all your travel planning needs!

Now let’s get to the point of this article – IS IT WORTH IT?! Well, let me digress here a bit and say that I am a little biased in that I do love Disney Cruise Line. It’s who I’ve cruised the most with, and who my children (2 of which aren’t children anymore I guess at 18 and 20) have cruised the most with, and we are all therefore extremely spoiled by the impeccable service but down to earth fun, and just overall experience of a Disney Cruise. We as a family tend to cruise for the ship, not the itinerary. [Unless it’s somewhere new that we haven’t been, we don’t even get off the ship until Castaway Cay. [We always stay onboard in Nassau (it’s the best time to visit Senses Spa!), and don’t really disembark in the Mexico ports either. In fact, last time we went on a Western Caribbean itinerary to Grand Cayman, I couldn’t convince them to get off the ship then either, and I actually love Grand Cayman. I of course love traveling to new places, but I feel like most cruise ports, especially in the Caribbean are extremely homogenized to the tourist experience: duty free shops that are the same in every port, locals trying to make a quick buck, and even dining that isn’t really authentic. I know there are places to find real experiences, and with research or talking to locals, you can then explore like a local, but that hasn’t really been a priority for us as a family up to this point.] For us, we have traditions that we love to continue on the ship. The familiarity of the dining rotation, the Cabana’s buffet, the pizza-or-ice-cream-whenever-you-want-it…ok I just realized these are all food related but what can I say…we also enjoy killing it at Disney Trivia every single time we sail (Trivia Winners 4 cruises running :P).

Our Disney Trivia prizes!

Anyway, my point is, we like the experience of a Disney Cruise. What better way to enjoy a Disney Cruise that much more, than a themed cruise? Here’s what I thought of Halloween on the High Seas:

First, we went on a 3-night cruise on the Disney Dream. Due to Disney cruises being more expensive to begin with, our last minute booking, and the fact that we had pretty much just come back from summer vacation when I booked it, I thought this would be a good quick getaway with minimal time away from work/school. A 3-night is my least favorite cruise to take, we always feel like we just got on board and then have to get back off again. Now add to that Halloween activities, and it felt even more rushed. But a cruise is a cruise, we had fun. Let’s run down all the Halloween extras on board.

Characters:

We aren’t usually into waiting in line for characters, we can do that down the street any time, but for those that are into that, the lines were long but moved pretty quickly, and there are many, many opportunities to meet various characters in regular and Halloween attire. Keep in mind there are some character greetings on Disney Cruise Line where you can make a reservation to receive a ticket to meet with them. You can find more about reserving Disney character meetings here. You can also see the characters in their Halloween costumes during the smaller shows on board your sailing.

Photo courtesy of Disney

Halloween Decor:

This is what I was most excited about, just because it was new to us. I loved the Pumpkin Tree, which apparently used to “grow” jack-o-lanterns overnight on HotHS sailings, but either they don’t do this any more, or don’t do it on 3-night cruises because when we got on board, the pumpkins were all fully grown. It’s still super fun to see, and we did enjoy the Pumpkin Tree show that happened the first night, with the Caretaker narrating and kids chanting to bring the tree to life. You can see the full video of the Pumpkin Tree Lighting on the Disney Dream below!

Click to see more Disney Dream Halloween decor: 
Admiral Donald
Overview of the Dream atrium
The Pumpkin Tree
Gio with the Jack-o-Lantern portholes
I also got the Halloween decor package (along with the Birthday package) for the cabin for extra festiveness
Door magnets that came with the packages
A special trick-or-treating bag that came with the Halloween package
More birthday decor
It was a fun obstacle course to walk in the cabin!

Halloween Activities:

There were plenty! Crafts for kids in the Oceaneer’s Club and Lab, The Pumpkin Tree show above, Trick-or-Treating, Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party, Nightmare Before Christmas Sing and Scream-along movie showing, and even adults-only Halloween events and a costume contest. I honestly thought there was a family costume contest which is part of why we went with a group costume and were dressing up, but since we had gone to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in the Magic Kingdom in costume, we were okay with just dressing up and letting my 10 year old trick-or-treat. I can definitely see how having a family costume contest with THAT many kids involved would be a subjective and “let me speak to your manager”-nightmare with some parents. We couldn’t compete in the contest without our Bert, so we chose not to leave him behind and go to the adult events.

Click to see more of our costume night!

Walking to the Mouse-Querade
A silly game Scott played with Gio during the party
Our fancy photo
Mary Poppins before dinner

Halloween Food Items:

Honestly, I didn’t realize there were specialty food items until I took the Disney Cruise Line survey that arrived in my email this week. Ooops. I did see a fun Pumpkin cupcake in Vanellope’s, my youngest son, who was celebrating his birthday early on board, was given a special spider dessert, and I noticed the Oogie Boogie and Cauldron popcorn buckets and Poison Apple cup for sale at the Walt Disney Theatre, but I totally missed the themed drinks or anything else. That said, I really wasn’t looking anyway. If that’s your thing, you’ll find plenty of ways to spend your money and get an instagram-worthy photo!

Pumpkin Spice cupcake at Vanellope’s
The Spider chocolate mousse dessert

Halloween Merchandise:

I have a confession. I did not buy one piece of merchandise on this cruise. I know. I know. Who even AM I? I’ll tell you who I am, a crazed mother of 3, on a 3-night sailing with so much going on, I never even had the TIME to go to the shops. I walked through a few times after the shows, and said “Oh, I’ll come back when it’s less crowded.” But we had late dining, and were so tired after, we usually just went to the cabin. Then on the last night, “I said I have to go!” but that was also the night for Disney Trivia, at 10:45, and while it was only 15 minutes long, with the stores closing at 11pm, that was just enough time to not be able to go. At all. I could stare through the closed gates, cry my invisible tears, and wonder if I knew anyone going on a HotHS cruise in the next few weeks. I always get a t-shirt, and usually one for my son or husband or mom too. I always get a Christmas ornament. I was really debating getting a giant Tervis Tumbler themed to the cruise. ARGHHH. It really took me a moment to get over it. But at the end of the day, it was the universe saying “you spent enough….you have 4329 t-shirts….” but the tumblerrrrrr. Ok, I’m over it, I swear. I’ll just have to go back. I know there’s ebay, but with a cast member husband getting 35% off, I cringe at paying not only sticker price, but MORE because it’s on ebay. I’ll survive. Anyway, there is a ton of themed merchandise, make sure you go before 11pm when you are in international waters! 😉

 

••••

So much to do! So much to do!!

Sooo, that was mostly a list of what there is to do or eat or buy, but what did I really think? Well, I’m glad we did it. It was a fun family adventure. And let’s be honest, they could have a Superstar Limo on the High Seas sailing, and we’d have fun. It’s a Disney Cruise. What I will say is that it’s a LOT of stuff going on for 3 nights. Things are already action-packed without adding in additional, this-sailing-only activities and events, and it’s hard to do it all. The Halloween Mouse-Querade and trick-or-treating happens the same night as Pirate Night on the 3-night, so there was a lot of hemming and hawing about wanting to be in costume or pirate attire for dinner that night and the show before dinner too. There are of course, no wrong answers about what to wear or participate in (except forgetting to go shopping), it’s all fun, you’re going to have a great time, whether you are in full costume participating, or just watching it all around you. We did a little of both and it was a great mix. It did feel rushed, but if we were on a longer sailing, I’m sure that wouldn’t be an issue.

My final ruling would be, definitely go, but maybe not as a first time Disney Cruise Line experience. I think there are sometimes too many things going on for the theme and it felt like you constantly had to make sure you didn’t miss something. But again, a longer sailing probably wouldn’t have that problem. If it is your first sailing, try to go for a longer cruise so you can experience the best of both worlds.

Things to Consider: 

Costume Storage: We had quite a few articles of clothing and accessories for our group ensemble. A penguin suit, 2 full suits, 3 hats, dresses, a petticoat, high heels, dress shoes, and accessories (and that was with leaving Bert’s cane in the car by accident). SO, keep in mind you may need more luggage than normal. I also had shark onesies for my older two for Pirate Night, so we had a whole huge suitcase just for those items. We also are locals, so it wasn’t a big deal in any way to have one extra suitcase for us. If you’re flying in, it’s definitely something to organize and plan for ahead of time.

What’s Most Important to Everyone: Back when I was on the Walt Disney World Moms Panel, this was my main piece of advice for people overwhelmed by their first visit. It’s impossible to do it all. So make sure each member of your party figures out what they don’t want to miss, and try to plan those things into your schedule. If you want to take photos with characters, do some of that. If you want to see all the special shows, or play BINGO, figure out when to do those things. The best way to make sure you don’t miss anything is to download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. It has all of the info from the paper Navigators placed in your cabin each night, organized in your phone. You can set up notifications, and favorite items to get notified before they are about to start. You can also easily text everyone in your party, with nary a wi-fi package charged to your stateroom. Also make sure to plan in some down time. It is a cruise, it’s supposed to be a relaxing way to unplug from the real world. Don’t forget to actually do that, despite using your phone for the Navigator app, it’s so freeing to have no emails piling up in your notifications.

Crowds watching the Pumpkin Tree show

It Will Be Crowded: There were definitely more small children than I’ve noticed on our other sailings. The Pumpkin Tree lighting and the Mouse-Querade Party were swarming with tiny princesses and Captain Americas and Jedis and various Disney Channel characters in miniature form. All Disney Cruise Line sailings will have a lot of kids, but it seems this is amplified with the Halloween theme. I’ve sailed the Merrytime Cruise as well and didn’t find that to be the case here. The draw of costumes and candy are too great. Here are the dates Halloween on the High Seas sailings will be next year:

2019 Sail Dates

Disney Magic

September 25, 2019 – October 27, 2019

Disney Wonder

October 4, 2019 – October 27, 2019

Disney Dream

September 9, 2019 – October 28, 2019

Disney Fantasy

September 7, 2019 – October 27, 2019

All in all, it was yet another wonderful time on Disney Cruise Line. This sailing was especially memorable as it was my oldest two children’s first time sailing as adults. They got to experience Palo brunch for the first time, and the Senses Spa as we enjoyed the Rainforest during the Nassau day in port. It was a wonderful day with them and I’m sure the first of many times they stuff themselves at Palo and sweat it all out in the sauna!

 

 

 

 

What about you? Have you been on a Halloween on the High Seas sailing on Disney Cruise Line? What did you think? What was your most and least favorite part?

Bye for now!

*I also work for MEI & Mouse Fan Travel but I paid full price for my cruise and my opinions are my own. ☺️

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Filed Under: Disney Cruise Line, Disney Holidays, Top Stories Tagged With: DCL, Disney Cruise, Disney Cruise Halloween, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Cruise review, Disney Dream, Halloween Cruise, Halloween on the High Seas, Mouse-Querade, Pumpkin Tree

Tangled Takeover on Disney Cruise Line’s Re-Imagined Magic Ship

14 March 2016 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

My family and I recently took a cruise on the newly Re-Imagined Disney Magic which re-debuted back in October of 2013. I was able to attend the relaunching festivities back then, and I had wanted to bring my family aboard so they could see the changes and experience the first ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet for themselves (my husband had been on before, as had my oldest son with me back in 1999 – however at 10 months old, he didn’t remember much). When that same son’s 17th birthday rolled around and I saw this 5 night sailing out of Miami come up, I figured what better way to celebrate?

I was excited to show them what cruising on a smaller ship would be like (relatively speaking, compared to the Dream they had been on before) and since we traditionally enjoy the ship vs. many activities or shore excursions, I thought this would be perfect. We were all quite excited to get to see the all-new Tangled: The Musical show on the Magic as well. In fact, it was really what we were looking forward to the most (except maybe the food). I’ll write more about our impressions of the Disney Magic in a future post, but for now, let’s talk Tangled!

The first pleasant surprise was to see that the Tangled theming extended beyond the nighttime show on stage, but also to the forward elevator area on deck 4, and the Snuggly Duckling took over in place of O’Gills Pub. I stopped by the Snuggly Duckling before the takeover to see the decorations. There’s also a scavenger hunt where you look for various Thugs all over the ship which we had lots of fun locating. See the Snuggly Duckling Takeover below:

Snuggly Duckling Takeover
All the tables have these “woodgrain” overlays (watch for hidden Mickeys) and “flickering” candles
Snuggly Duckling Takeover
The bar at O’Gills becomes the Snuggly Duckling
Snuggly Duckling Takeover
Snuggly Duckling Takeover
“I’ve Got a Dream” lyrics on the wall
Snuggly Duckling Takeover
Be sure to look for all the details…they are pretty funny!
Snuggly Duckling Takeover
Snuggly Duckling Takeover
Snuggly Duckling Takeover
Snuggly Duckling Takeover
The “awards” are hilarious.
Snuggly Duckling Takeover
We later stopped by to see the Thugs in action
Snuggly Duckling Disney Magic
Snuggly Duckling Disney Magic
These “flickering” candles are so cool
Snuggly Duckling Disney Magic
Special Snuggly Duckling drinks
Snuggly Duckling Disney Magic
Special Snuggly Duckling drinks
Snuggly Duckling Disney Magic
Special Snuggly Duckling Pub Grubb
Snuggly Duckling Disney Magic
Even the windows get a make-over
Snuggly Duckling Disney Magic
Be sure to check out all the details, so many great little touches!
Snuggly Duckling Disney Magic
Snuggly Duckling Disney Magic
I would totally attend this seminar…
Snuggly Duckling Disney Magic
Snuggly Duckling Disney Magic
The Takeover extends to the aft elevators as you near the Walt Disney Theatre
Snuggly Duckling Takeover
The Takeover extends to the aft elevators as you near the Walt Disney Theatre
Snuggly Duckling Takeover
The Snuggly Duckling Takeover is noted on your Disney Cruise Line Navigator App
Snuggly Duckling Takeover
The Takeover also extends to dinner service, with guards from the kingdom on the hunt for Flynn Rider.
Snuggly Duckling Takeover
Comedy ensues…
Snuggly Duckling Disney Magic
Here is one of the Thugs that you can see on the scavenger hunt
Snuggly Duckling Disney Magic
Can you spot the Thug? That’s all the hints I’ll show, promise!

The anticipation of the Tangled: The Musical show did not disappoint, it was an amazing production. The way they did the sets and Rapunzel’s hair were so clever and unique to this show. One of my favorite parts (and the rest of the audience’s too) was Max the horse. Created by Master puppet designer Michael Curry, whose extraordinary creations are featured in Disney’s Tony Award-winning musical “The Lion King” on Broadway, Max was even more animated and full of personality than he is in the movie, and was a joy to watch on stage with his puppeteer performer inside.

Award-winning composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater, who created the original soundtrack for “Tangled,” teamed up again to adapt the score and story for the stage. Complementing the score from the film, three new songs have been added, which weave a delightful combination of narrative, humor and theatrics into the performance.

“Tangled: The Musical” Aboard the Disney Magic

In addition to new melodies, audiences enjoy live performances of favorite songs from the movie, including “When Will My Life Begin,” “Mother Knows Best,” “I’ve Got a Dream” and the Grammy Award-winning ballad, “I See the Light” – which of course, brought me to tears and was adapted perfectly for the theatre. It’s hard to imagine how one of the most beautifully animated scenes in history can translate to a theatre show, but they did it so well. You’ll feel engulfed by lanterns.

“Tangled: The Musical” is the newest original Disney Cruise Line stage spectacular. Presented exclusively aboard the Disney Magic, it combines a heartfelt story, an enchanting score and lavish production numbers to showcase the thrilling adventure of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider as they face ruffians, thugs and a budding romance on an exhilarating journey of self-discovery. (Ryan Wendler, photographer)

“Tangled: The Musical” premiered aboard the Disney Magic during the Nov. 11 four-night Bahamian sailing. The ship will continue to sail four-night Bahamas and five-night Western Caribbean cruises from Miami through the new year.

 

Disclosure: This cruise was entirely paid for ourselves and not sponsored or complementary. These opinions are my own. As a side note: I was recently invited to experience Tangled: The Musical on the Disney Magic when it is docked in Port Canaveral and have updated the post with more photos from that visit. My opinions didn’t change, I loved the show even more the second time!

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Filed Under: Disney Cruise Line, Disney Parks, Resorts, & Entertainment, Top Stories Tagged With: Disney Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line Entertainment, Disney Cruise Line Tangled, Disney magic, Rapunzel, Snuggly Duckling, Snuggly Duckling Takeover, Tangled The Musical

Two New Disney Cruise Line Ships on the Horizon

3 March 2016 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

While we only have an artists rendering and not much more for these 2021 and 2023 Disney Cruise Line ships, the news is no less thrilling! Read more about this exciting update from this morning’s shareholders meeting below:

New Disney Cruise Line Ships

The Walt Disney Company announced plans today to build two additional cruise ships, each of them showcasing the immersive family entertainment, enchanting storytelling and unparalleled service that only Disney can deliver.

The company has entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. The schedule calls for the new ships to be completed in 2021 and 2023.

“We pride ourselves on the unforgettable vacation experiences we deliver to our guests each and every day, and the expansion of our Disney fleet will allow us to create even more magical memories for families at sea and in incredible cruise destinations around the world,” said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company.

Each new ship will be approximately 135,000 gross tons – slightly larger than the newest Disney Cruise Line ships, the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy – and each is currently planned to include about 1,250 guest staterooms. While design plans, ship names and itineraries are still in development, the Walt Disney Imagineering team is already dreaming up exciting new ways to create the world’s most magical oceangoing adventures.

Since first setting sail in 1998, Disney Cruise Line has provided a quintessential family cruise vacation experience that combines the magic of Disney with the thrill of exploring different parts of the world. Guests step aboard majestic and beautiful ocean liners to enjoy legendary Disney entertainment, exquisite dining, spacious and well-appointed staterooms and magnificent public spaces.

The company also has been an industry leader in innovation and game-changing creativity. With the launch of the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy in 2011 and 2012, the company introduced several firsts for the industry, including a water coaster at sea (AquaDuck) and virtual portholes in interior staterooms (Magical Portholes) that provide real-time views of the sea as well as sightings of animated Disney characters.

Plans for the expansion of Disney Cruise Line come during a period of momentous growth and innovation for Disney properties around the globe.

“The expansion of Disney Cruise Line only adds to our excitement for the unprecedented growth taking place across our vacation destinations, from new Star Wars experiences coming to the Walt Disney World and Disneyland resorts to the 25th anniversary of Disneyland Paris and the grand opening of our newest park, Shanghai Disney Resort,” said Bob Chapek, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

More details about the Disney Cruise Line fleet expansion and onboard offerings will be announced at a later date.

My theory on names: I think because they will be twins like Dream and Fantasy, which kinda-sorta mean the same thing, that they’ll need to be similarly-meaning names too. So far, Imagination and Vision, or Imagination and Inspiration…Innovation…well, I have 5 years to think of many more! [Edit: I’m now going with “Disney Adventure” for at least one. I think that sounds like a winner. I still think Imagination would be good, despite the Carnival ship of the same name. There will be no confusion. Totally different class of ship!] We’ll update here and on social media as we hear any news.

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Filed Under: Disney Cruise Line, Disney News, Disney Parks, Resorts, & Entertainment, Official Disney Tagged With: DCL, Disney Cruise Line, new Disney Cruise ships

NEW Disney Cruise Line Dooney and Bourke Pattern to Debut on Fantasy

8 July 2014 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

In more Disney Dooney & Bourke news – Steven Miller recently shared on the Disney Parks Blog that a new pattern will be launched on July 12 on a special sailing with Disney Cruise Line. No word on whether the pattern will be exclusive to the Disney Fantasy, or if it will be featured on all DCL ships after this sailing. We’ll keep you posted. Until then, here’s the official scoop from Steven:

For the seven-night, Eastern Caribbean cruise setting sail on July 12, 2014, we will be holding a special product launch featuring a brand new Dooney & Bourke pattern shown above. This specially designed Disney Cruise Line pattern will be included on several items including classic favorites like totes or Crossbody bags.

Additionally, Ian Ray, director of new product development for Dooney & Bourke, will be sailing on this cruise. You may recall seeing Ian in this previous Disney Parks Blog video. For this cruise, he will be hosting a special presentation, highlighting the history and future of Dooney & Bourke at Disney Parks. Ian will also meet with guests in the White Caps merchandise location each evening.

Finally, there will be a silent auction featuring a selection of Dooney & Bourke items, including framed patterns and more.

For more information on how to book this cruise on the Disney Fantasy, please visit DisneyCruiseLine.com.

Disney Cruise Line Dooney pattern

 

 

Don’t forget to 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!

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Filed Under: Cruise Travel, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Merchandise, Official Disney, Top Stories Tagged With: DCL, DCL Dooney, DCL Dooney & Bourke, Disney bags, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line Dooney & Bourke, Disney Dooney, Disney Dooney & Bourke, Disney Fantasy, Disney Merchandise, Disney purses, Dooney & Bourke

Newest Disney Vera Bradley Print Mickey’s Perfect Petals to Debut May 4

28 March 2014 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

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:

Mickey's Perfect Petals
Mickey’s Perfect Petals. Photo ©Disney

…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.

Mickey's Perfect Petals
Mickey’s Perfect Petals. Photo ©Disney

 

Mickey's Perfect Petals
Mickey’s Perfect Petals. Photo ©Disney

 

Where's Mickey
The previously released “Where’s Mickey” pattern. Photo ©Disney

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!

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Filed Under: Disney Merchandise, Top Stories Tagged With: accessories, colorful bags, colorful prints, Disney Cruise Line, Disney designer bags, Disney Merchandise, Disney merchandise news, Disney parks, Disney Perfect Petals brunch, Disney purses, Disney Vera bags, Disney Vera Bradley, handbags, Mickey's Perfect Petals, soft fabric, Steven Miller, vera bradley, Vera Bradley Disney prints, Vera Bradley handbags, Vera Bradley Mickey Mouse

EXCLUSIVE: Dooney and Bourke Disney Cruise Line Charms Bags

31 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

I was recently lucky enough to be on the “Re-Imagined” Disney Magic cruise ship, the first in Disney Cruise Line’s fleet of magical ships. While I loved every inch of the new updates, restaurants, adult lounges and kids clubs, imagine my excitement when I strolled past the newly designed shopping area to see BRAND NEW Disney Cruise Line Dooney & Bourke bags! This design is in the same style as the “Charms” print, which at Disney Parks comes in black or white. Here on the Magic, it comes in a nautical blue, with DCL-specific charms, like the DCL logo, the Mickey cruise logo, and sailor Mickey and Minnie, along with some fun accents like anchors, a porthole, a ship and a treasure chest. My friend and I had a wonderful time choosing just the right pattern for our purses, which is half the fun in getting a Disney Dooney & Bourke.

Now I had assumed this would be a new print available on ALL Disney Cruise Line ships, but we were told it was actually exclusive to the Disney Magic ship. There is nothing on the bags to designate being just from the Magic, in fact there are no ship names at all. That news definitely convinced me to pick one up, since I’ll be sailing on the Fantasy in 2 days, but didn’t want to miss out on this new bag! I will confirm or deny this fact about being a Disney Magic exclusive next week when I return!

And now, without further ado, here are the new Dooneys!

Disney Cruise Line Dooney Charms Bag
Admiring these through the window before the shop opened!

  Disney Cruise Line Dooney Charms Bag

Disney Cruise Line Dooney Charms Bag
The large tote was I believe $225
Disney Cruise Line Dooney Charms Bag
The cross-body was $175
Disney Cruise Line Dooney Charms Bag
I believe this is the medium satchel and was $250 – that was all we were told they made as far as bag styles go. I know we were wishing for a wristlet!

Disney Cruise Line Dooney Charms Bag

Disney Cruise Line Dooney Charms Bag

 Which is your favorite? I picked up a cross-body because I just couldn’t resist – perfect park (or cruise) bag!

 

 

Where to get Disney Dooney & Bourke bags in Disney Parks – 

Walt Disney World Resort:

  • Tren-D and the World of Disney Store in the Downtown Disney Marketplace
  • Uptown Jewelers in Magic Kingdom Park
  • MouseGear at Epcot
  • Keystone Clothiers at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
  • Summer Lace at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Disneyland Resort:

  • Disney Vault 28 and World of Disney Store in the Downtown Disney District
  • Disney Clothiers at Disneyland park
  • Elias & Co. at Disney California Adventure park

The Disney Parks online store carries many Disney Dooney & Bourke designs. See other new Dooney and Bourke Arrivals Exclusively for Disney Parks Now Available at DisneyStore.com! Shop Now!*

 

*Affiliate links – same Disney Store destination and shopping experience, with a small portion of any purchase going back to zannaland.com. No additional fees to you. 

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Filed Under: Cruise Travel, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Merchandise Tagged With: DCL, DCL Dooney & Bourke, designer bags, designer handbags, designer purses, Disney, Disney charms pattern, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line Charms bag, Disney Cruise Line Dooney & Bourke, Disney Dooney, Disney Dooney & Bourke, Disney Dooney & Bourke Charms, Disney Fantasy, Disney magic, Disney Magic exclusive, Disney Merchandise, Disney parks, Dooney & Bourke, exclusive Dooney and Bourke, fantasy, handbags, Nautical, nylon, purses

Vera Bradley Partners With Disney for New Handbags and Accessories

5 March 2013 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

That’s right, Disney has done it again, partnering with an extremely popular fashion brand to make a winning combination of style and whimsy. With the incredible success of the Disney Dooney & Bourke collaboration, it’s no surprise that Vera Bradley was next in line for a Disney twist. I know as I walked through the parks, Vera Bradley is what I see most aside from the Disney Dooneys. Now, I think the parks will be a colorful, floral explosion of Disney fun!

For those unfamiliar with Vera Bradley, the designs are known for floral and bold, colorful prints in a soft fabric style. Each bag usually has as much function as it does form, with pockets for cell phones, strap options, and, best of all – they are machine washable! I know that is a big concern with accessories you take on a vacation, especially to Disney Parks where bags can take a beating getting put in and out of attractions. I think the Vera Bradley and Disney partnership will be a long and successful one!

Vera Bradley Disney Prints
Photo ©Disney

Here is some more information from Steven Miller’s Disney Parks Blog post today:

Disney Theme Park Merchandise worked closely with Vera Bradley to develop two new patterns that will appear on items this fall. I spoke with Cathy Dawson, merchandiser for accessories at Disney Parks, about these colorful additions. “We are thrilled to introduce Vera Bradley to our accessories assortment,” exclaimed Cathy.

“In recent years, we’ve seen several guests in our parks and resorts sporting fun, colorful bags by Vera Bradley. Even our Disney Cruise Line team recently added some items by Vera Bradley to the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. We thought it would be wonderful to add a splash of Disney to these popular and colorful accessory items.”

The new Disney-inspired patterns have names, which is something Vera Bradley does for all of their patterns. Cathy said the black pattern is called “Midnight with Mickey,” while the pink pattern is named “Just Mousing Around.” These patterns will be seen on duffel bags, totes, cosmetic bags and more.

Vera Bradley Disney Prints
“Mousing Around” and “Midnight with Mickey” patterns – photo ©Disney

When released this fall, guests will find these items at select locations in Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. They will also be sold via the Disney Parks online store at a future date.

What do you think of the new collaboration? Are you a current Vera Bradley fan or will this make you a convert?

 

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Filed Under: Disney Merchandise, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: accessories, colorful bags, colorful prints, Disney Cruise Line, Disney designer bags, Disney Merchandise, Disney merchandise news, Disney parks, Disney purses, Disney Vera bags, Disney Vera Bradley, Epcot Flower and Garden 2013, handbags, Midnight With Mickey, Mousing Around, soft fabric, Steven Miller, vera bradley, Vera Bradley Disney prints, Vera Bradley handbags, Vera Bradley Mickey Mouse

NEW Disney Dooney & Bourke Cruise Line Nylon Backpack

13 November 2012 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

I was recently on the Disney Dream, (for the first time ever!) and of course, had to check out the Disney Dooney & Bourke options on board. The first night we were at sea and the stores were open, I got some photos of the Disney Dooney DCL bags but nothing jumped out at me as a ‘must-get’. Then, we were at Nassau and Castaway Cay for the next two days and the shops were closed tight. On our last day at sea, I sauntered back in and something caught my eye. The new nylon Disney Dooney backpacks which we’d seen a few months ago at the TrenD debut and meet-up, were in front of me – in the Disney Cruise Line Fantasy Inaugural design! This design was already my favorite, but it was hard for me to justify another bag when I rarely use something big in the parks, and the smaller sizes didn’t really show much of the beautiful design. This backpack called to me, however and I knew then, it had to be mine! 😉

DCL Disney Dooney
Disney Cruise Line Disney Dooney & Bourke nylon backpack

 

DCL Disney Dooney
Disney Cruise Line Disney Dooney & Bourke nylon backpack

 

Isn’t it adorable? It’s got a gorgeous hot pink lining too, with ample pockets inside. I just love the color palette and how it incorporates all the Disney Cruise Line ships of the Magic, Wonder, Dream and Fantasy, as well as little touches of things you’ll find on the ships. This is the same design from the Fantasy Inaugural, without the Inaugural hang-tag addition. It’s the perfect size for the parks and the non-leather straps and nylon fabric make it lightweight and easy to care for. I’ve used it in the parks only one time and was stopped by about 10 people telling me how adorable it was and how that was exactly the purse they wanted. Definitely a fun accessory!

I’ll have more DCL Dooney updates from my cruise coming up, but I had to share this one first!

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Filed Under: Cruise Travel, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Merchandise Tagged With: backpack, DCL, DCL Dooney & Bourke, designer bags, designer handbags, designer purses, Disney, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line Dooney & Bourke, Disney Dooney, Disney Dooney & Bourke, Disney Fantasy, Disney Merchandise, Disney parks, Dooney & Bourke, exclusive Dooney and Bourke, fantasy, handbags, Nautical, nylon, purses

What is #DisneySMMoms? Disney’s Social Media Moms Celebration!

13 April 2012 by Suzannah Otis 8 Comments

Disney's Social Media Moms CelebrationFrom the first moment I discovered a little thing called “social media” I realized that the Disney online community was a powerful and devoted force. Disney knows this too, and Walt Disney World has had a team in place for many years now, inviting bloggers to experience the World and share those experiences with their readers. Of course the Walt Disney World Moms Panel (which now includes Adventures by Disney, Disney Cruise Line, RunDisney, and Disneyland) was perhaps the company’s first real visible foray into the worlds of social media and it has only grown from there. Even before I was selected as a member of the 2010 and 2011 Moms Panel, I was witnessing tweets from mom bloggers being hosted by Disney, organized by charter moms panelist and public relations maven, Laura Spencer and the Social Media/Public Relations team. I thought it was such a great idea to have bloggers of all types – mom bloggers, food bloggers, latina bloggers, bloggers of color, even Disney bloggers, see the Walt Disney World Resort first hand, and in turn spread that knowledge to readers everywhere. I know as a Disney/theme park/travel blogger, I have a certain readership that may expect Disney news or updates. However, for those who typically blog about day to day parenting topics, write reviews, or have another niche altogether, Disney knowledge may not be as widespread.

With the success of other blogging conferences, Disney decided to throw their mouse ears in the ring and hold their own pixie-dusted blogging conference. First held in 2010, the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration has been a coveted conference from the start. Abbreviated on twitter with the hashtag #DisneySMMoms, each year has offered attendees and their families an amazing opportunity to experience the Walt Disney World Resort at deeply discounted prices, enjoy a Deluxe Resort hotel, Disney park tickets, Disney dining and special tours. All while hosting some incredibly inspiring and informative speakers for the blogging crowd. Along with the process of connecting with other bloggers and receiving valuable tips on business, writing, and promoting yourself and your site, attendees are also given something Disney is most famous for – memories to last a lifetime.

Disney Social Media Moms Celebration Platinum Soiree Candy BarIn the past, attendees have gotten to see the Muppets, experience gourmet food and healthy kids alternatives, experience the special tours and events the Walt Disney World Resort has to offer, and hear famous personalities from Guy Kawasaki and Maxine Clark to Chris Brogan, Renee Sylar and David Tutera, share their business and personal successes. This year, we will again hear inspiring stories, but a lot of the focus also seems to be on the resort itself, with optional breakout sessions including meeting author Ridley Pearson, the amazing Wild Africa Trek, meeting with some of the amazing teams behind the Disney Parks blog and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, and a behind the scenes tour of the all new Fantasyland expansion. The difference this year is that attendees were given these choices, so we will all be experiencing something different. For those following along the tweets, facebook and blog updates from attendees, you will now be reading completely unique updates. It certainly gives you a reason to check out the other bloggers and see what they are doing and sharing.

With that said, and with the 2012 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration less than two weeks away, I thought it would be a great opportunity to link up the bloggers who will be in attendance so we can all get to know them better. And before you think it’s JUST MOMS that will be there – guess again. There have been dads and non-parent bloggers each year. Truly, something for everyone – just like Disney!

Edit: The 2013 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration will be held from May 9-12 at the Walt Disney World Resort. I will not be attending this year, but feel free to submit your blog info in the comments below if you’d like to add yourself to the list. 🙂

I’m asking Disney Social Media Moms attendees to submit their blog links below and for all of us to check them out and be sure to follow along April 26-29 May 9-12 as they embark on their magical blogging conference! Thank you to Disney, especially Laura Spencer and Leanne Jakubowski and their teams for tirelessly organizing these events each year!

(check back to these links below as more attendees add their info!)

Disclosure:  many thanks to Disney’s Social Media Team for inviting me to register for the 2012 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration.  All opinions are, as always, my own. I have not been compensated or asked to post about Disney (I just can’t help myself!)

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Filed Under: Disney Special Events, Walt Disney World Tagged With: #DisneySMMoms, 2013 Disney Social Media Moms, blog conference, Blogging, blogging conference, Chris Brogan, deluxe resort, Disney Cruise Line, Disney News, Disney parks, Disney Social Media Moms, Disney Social Media Moms attendees, Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, Fantasyland Expansion, Gary Buchanan, hardhat tour, Laura Spencer, Leanne Jakubowski, linky, mom bloggers, New Fantasyland, parent bloggers, Ridley Pearson, Social Media Moms, Thomas Smith, Walt Disney, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Walt Disney World, walt disney world resort

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