Disney Special Events

2nd Annual Disney Social Media Moms Celebration!

10 March 2011 by Suzannah Otis 30 Comments

It’s hard to believe it’s been one year since the first-ever Disney Social Media Moms Celebration! It was such an amazing event and so much has happened since that time! I thought it would be great to go over some of my favorite moments from last year’s event as well as what I’m looking forward to this year. Then I thought it would be fun for all the 2011 attendees to link their blogs below so we can get to know each other and our blogs before we meet next week! It’ll also be a great way to connect during and after the event as well! Could I use any more exclamation points??!!

Last year I don’t think anyone really knew what to expect from Social Media Moms. One thing we knew, it was Disney, so it was going to be full of extra magic. We were definitely given the royal treatment and perhaps even a little spoiled with such great speakers like Guy Kawasaki, Chris Brogan, Maxine Clark, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Mary Ellen Hooper and Kathy Ireland. I know I l earned so much and became full of blogging passion by the end of the conference. We may have endured an unexpected cold snap, but pixie dust pulled us through and the surprises and special touches seemed to never end. (Feel free to check out my flickr stream of the 2010 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration!)

Chris Brogan and Zanna — Stalking Chris at a recent media event at Disney for another photo. 😉

One of my favorite moments was Chris Brogan’s speech, which makes me SO excited that he’ll be back this year. Another unexpected surprise was bumping into Chef Robert Irvine, who was there filming Dinner: Impossible and cooking for the amazing volunteers that Disney was honoring. Imagine my shock when I had the chance to meet Chef Irvine again later last year and discovered that the picture of Disney Moms Panelist Kathie and I with the Chef was in his desktop screensaver! These are just some of the amazing memories Disney is able to deliver, sometimes without even trying! I was also lucky enough to have the winning seat at our table for the Cinderella Build-a-Bear centerpiece and was able to take that home to share with the family. I cannot wait to see what magic this year brings.

As if knowing some of us were spoiled last year, Disney has upped the ante and given us accommodations at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. This will allow me to check off almost all the Deluxe resorts on property (the only one I haven’t stayed at is Yacht Club, but I’ve stayed at Beach Club a million times and toured every hotel on property, so I’m not counting that!) 😉 I am excited to be able to share this experience with my family.

I’m also super excited that I get to hang out with fellow Moms Panelist and bloggy idol Oh Amanda. I haven’t seen her since Moms Panel training and can’t wait to be in the World with her again! Of course I’m thrilled to see lots of friends and people I met last year AND meet lots of new friends too.

Disney's Wedding Pavilion — Dreaming at the Wedding Pavilion (no, I'm not a natural blonde either)

Another highlight I’m looking forward to is the opening presentation and tour by Disney Fairytale Weddings. I have mentioned before that a Disney wedding was always my dream, since the pavilion opened the year we moved down and I worked at the Magic Kingdom. Sure, I had my reception at the Dolphin, but it’s not quite the same. And yes, it’s now been 14 years since I said “I do” but I still hold out hope that I can have a magical vow renewal on property at some point. Maybe for the 20th… 🙂

Anyway, our pixie dust princesses in charge of the Social Media Moms Celebration have hinted that there will be “special guests” during this presentation. I am crossing my heart and hoping it is the one and only David Tutera. To say I am a fan of him and his show is an understatement. I cry at pretty much every episode and wish he was around when I got married! I will try to hold myself back from hugging him to death in the off chance they let hundreds of mom bloggers near him… 😉 I really think he needs to do a special vow renewal episode, no? I’ve already got a built in flower girl and ring bearer!

Attendees, what are you most excited about the upcoming Social Media Moms Celebration? Did you attend last year or is this your first time? Have you been to Walt Disney World before? Share a bit about you and your blog – don’t forget to link it below! And be sure to say hello if you happen to see a crazy red head trying to camp out in the wedding pavilion!!

If you’d like, check out two posts I did last year for attendees planning for their Disney vacation:

Top 5 Must Sees for First Time Disney Visitors

Solo Parenting Tips to Visit Walt Disney World

Explore my Disney News section as well – including Fast Facts on Disney’s Wild Africa Trek and some Disney Merchandise highlights to be on the lookout for!

Thanks for visiting and see ya real soon!

VIDEO: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party-Once Upon a Christmastime Parade

30 November 2010 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

It is difficult to surpass the wonder that is the Boo to You Parade during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party – but if anything can, it’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. I was saying just the other day that I think I’m related to Buddy the Elf, because of my intense love for all things Christmas-related. Disney knows better than anyone how to amp up the holiday magic for the season.

Just walking into the Magic Kingdom or any of the parks with holiday decorations up and you’ll be in the spirit. However to really create some magical memories, you simply must head over to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. This separate ticketed event runs on select nights in November and December and believe me, it is worth the price of admission.

Boo to You! Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2010

21 September 2010 by Suzannah Otis 3 Comments

In addition to meeting Duffy the Disney Bear this past Saturday, some fellow Disney bloggers and I also got a chance to enjoy one of my very favorite special events at Walt Disney World – Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party! It’s so so hard for me to decide between this and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party…but MNSSHP as it’s commonly abbreviated has candy AND the Headless Horseman, so it might win.

I’ve reported previously about the fun that is MNSSHP – check out part 1 of my “Boo to You!” Parade pictures, part 2 with the “Boo to You” Villains from the parade and my Headless Horseman video from 2008. Last year and now this year again, the Horseman has slowed to a trot from an eerie gallop (perhaps for safety issues) but it’s still impressive nonetheless! New to the parade this year is the evil Dr. Facilier from Princess and the Frog fame. My favorite are still the gravediggers with their shovels!

The Benefit Sale at Downtown Disney – Save & Give Back!

17 September 2010 by Suzannah Otis 3 Comments

I love shopping! And when my shopping can benefit the Orlando local community, why then my ADOS (Attention Deficit OOOOOHHHHHH SHINEY) makes me a model citizen.

The Disney Community Relations team has been working with Downtown Disney, the Heart of Florida United Way and their local agencies to create an early morning shopping experience on November 6, 2010 from 5:30 to 9:30 am.

With the purchase of a $5 voucher, all proceeds go directly to the Heart of Florida United Way, shoppers will get a wristband to gain entrance into exclusive sales offering deeply discounted park merchandise, doorbusters, designer boutiques (Dior, Pucci, Acqua di Parma & Guerlain), and product launches at several locations in Downtown Disney.

The things that really stick out to this shopper are:

Launch of a 9” Rocketeer Vinylmation figure {reason enough for me to go! ~Z}
Launch of the newest Urban 5 3” Vinylmation Pin Mystery Set (Limited Edition of 1000)
The Designer Boutiques will be offering “Purchase with Purchase and Gifts with Purchases”
Select Dooney & Bourke purses will be offered at a discount
Select Vinylmations will be included in the sale

The Benefit Sale site www.thebenefitsale.com, will be updated to include more information about the specials and event activities on October 1, 2010.

I have gone to the Annual Passholder sales that are held this early in the morning at World of Disney, and while getting there was a little rough the sales were totally worth the extra bags under my eyes!
I know that I’ll be there in my finest shopping PJs…will you?
~Shelley

EDIT: The Disney Parks blog has added some updated info about The Benefit Sale which takes place in just a few days —

Disney Theme Park Merchandise has never done a sale to this magnitude with select items up to 75 percent off, over 125 door busters, Authentic Disney Theme Parks T-Shirts for $5, fragrance and beauty boutiques from Guerlain, Givenchy, Acqua di Parma, Dior, and Emilio Pucci with special gifts and SO much more…this single day sale event will be THE sale of the year. The prices have never been and will never be this low again…so shop, give back, and save BIG!

So what are the special offers and discounts you can expect to see at The Benefit Sale? While there’s too much to tell you about, here’s a sneak peek of the great offers you’ll find this coming Saturday:

50% off Select Plush & Dolls
40% off All Board Games
40% off Select Dooney & Bourke Handbags and Accessories
70% of Select Graphic Apparel
50% off Select Major League Baseball Apparel
25% off All Disney Trading Pins and Trading Accessories
70% off Select Vinylmation Figures and Series
75% off K’Nex Space Mountain and Flying Dumbo Building Sets
40% off Select Art & Collectibles from Jim Shore, Precious Moments and Walt Disney Classics Collection
75% off Halloween Merchandise
Nearly 100 Door Busters under $5
75% off 2010 Dated Merchandise (excluding Holiday Merchandise)

Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members don’t forget that this is your ONE shopping event this holiday season to save big on your Disney Theme Park favorite!

Still need to get your voucher for The Benefit Sale? It’s not too late! You can still purchase a Benefit Sale Voucher online at TheBenefitSale.com or you can purchase your voucher at Downtown Disney the morning of The Benefit Sale on Saturday, November 6!

Farewell to Captain Rex – D23’s Last Flight to Endor Celebration

9 September 2010 by Suzannah Otis 11 Comments

Star Tours Last Tour to Endor — He's smiling on the inside, right?

Many of you may have heard about the Last Tour to Endor party associated with the Star Wars Celebration V that took place at the Orange County Convention Center last month. I know I was disappointed that we couldn’t get it to work out logistically, so when I saw the D23 event for the Last Flight to Endor (which was an essentially free event save for the $5 per ticket processing fee), I was all over it! What’s more, this free event was going to take place on the actual last night of Star Tours operation before it closed for refurbishment and would be limited to the number of guests that could fill the speeders in the attraction for the actual last flight. It was too cool to pass up. I am so glad I didn’t.

{I apologize in advance for the photo quality. I was using my cell all night – convenient, but not so great at night and when you are pretty much constantly moving. Hopefully the spirit of the evening comes across in the pictures, despite the blurriness! }

I make no claims to know all there is about Star Wars, but I know enough to make obscure references or movie lines when needed and get suitably excited when our escorts for the evening turned out to be some of the 501st Legion‘s finest Stormtroopers (even though my first response upon seeing one of them was “Aren’t you a little short to be a Stormtrooper?”). It was great to see so many excited fans and fellow bloggers/Disney media people there as well as meeting some twitter friends. We all checked in and were given a commemorative boarding pass and FastPass for the evening, and the first 100 guests received a limited edition Star Wars coin set as well. Soon the Stormtroopers arrived and we were on the march to our destination: Star Tours.

Star Tours Last Flight to Endor — I wish I could say this was the first time armed guards escorted me somewhere...

Disney Dooney and Bourke Princess Handbag Designs

30 July 2010 by Suzannah Otis 10 Comments

NOTE: If you are looking for the Disney World Princess HALF MARATHON Dooney & Bourkes – click here!

In an interesting turn of events, Disney has decided to release its newest design collaboration with Dooney & Bourke online first. The new Princess designs are at the Disney Store online. The new designs are a Disney Princess twist of the Pop Novelty design at DooneyandBourke.com. Here are the currently available styles:

Disney Dooney Princess tote — Disney Dooney & Bourke Princess Tote - $220 Click to see on DisneyStore.com

Disney Dooney Princeses — Disney Dooney & Bourke Princess Domed Satchel - $220 Click to see on DisneyStore.com

Dooney & Bourke Exclusive Disneyland 55th Anniversary Collection

11 July 2010 by Suzannah Otis 12 Comments

Following in the vein of Disney Cruise Line exclusive Dooney & Bourke bags, Disneyland park now gets its own special collection of these wildly popular handbags. Once again featuring Dooney & Bourke designer Ian Ray, Disneyland fans are sure to enjoy this newest offering from perhaps the most popular marriage of fashion and fun.

The bags showcase so many iconic images from the different silhouettes of Mickey through the years, to Mickey Mouse Club I.D. cards as well ticket media and famous phrases associated with ‘The Happiest Place on Earth.’

Disney Vault 28 will be the first to offer these Disneyland® Resort Dooney & Bourke co-branded bags. This fashionable collection highlights the essence of Disney with color, art and a nostalgic touch.

Click each picture below to head to the DisneyStore.com and purchase these bags!

Bags and prices are as follows:

Medium Tote – $270.00

Small Messenger – $ 255.00

Letter Carrier – $155.00

Large Wristlet – $70.00

Checkbook Wallet – $175.00 (not pictured)

Dooney & Bourke Disneyland designs — Disneyland 55th Anniversary collection featuring Dooney & Bourke's Ian Ray - photo ©Disney

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!

The Greatest Bathroom and Lounge On Earth!

9 July 2010 by Suzannah Otis 24 Comments

Disney certainly is no stranger to circus themes, what with the whole Dumbo/Casey Jr. connection. However you may be surprised to hear there is actually a circus-themed lounge and bathroom within a now long-extinct attraction inside Epcot. A little bit of “The Greatest Show on Earth without the scary clowns.

Wonders of Life pavilion — The Wonders of Life today…

I know it’s no secret that Wonders of Life has been used for festival events both during the Epcot Flower and Garden and Food & Wine Festivals, but I actually had not been inside the building since around 2003. I recently attended a preview event held in the pavilion and as sad as it was to see no Cranium Command marquee, Wonder Cycles with video screens, or Body Wars, my sadness was quelled by a trip upstairs to the VIP lounge. I wish I’d taken pictures of the elevator because it really was beautiful; dark wood, mirrors on all sides, you could watch yourself watching yourself watching yourself riding the elevator.

Once upstairs, you are greeted with an instant circus theme. I know in the past for Food & Wine Festival dinners, the reception area had a full-on red and white striped tent treatment going on. I was able to find some pictures on a Disney fan message board of how the space is used for wedding receptions:

Rewinding the Magic-The Return of the Main St Electrical Parade

8 June 2010 by Suzannah Otis 15 Comments

Sunday I asked for picture requests for last night’s visit to the opening of Summer Nightastic! at the Magic Kingdom, with the Main Street Electrical Parade and Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular. Sadly, I only received one real request (I know you readers are out there somewhere!? ;)). However, while I was sitting on the sidewalks of Frontierland with my 19 month-old son plopped on my lap, I realized that I could take a million pictures, and certainly you can see a million pictures and video everywhere right now…but I cannot replicate the experience for you here in text and photographs.

Pete's Dragon Elliot MSEP — photo ©Disney

Therein lies the magic of Disney in one of its many forms – holding your baby in your lap as your 11 and 9 year-olds sit next to you, to watch a parade you saw at their age…and haven’t seen since they were both your baby’s age. After you’ve wrapped your head around that math, pause for a moment to think about the layers of memories there. I can write about sitting on the warm concrete with the smell of smoked turkey legs wafting around me in the thick, humid air. I can try to pinpoint the moment when the music first hits the area you’re sitting in and you crane your neck to spy the first twinkling light. I can share with you the look of wonder and joy on all of my childrens’ faces as they witnessed the Main Street Electrical Parade for the very first time. But I cannot do it justice. It is simply something you must experience. Like most things at Disney, it is a multi-sensory adventure that is truly felt as much as it is seen.

Truly, to be a fan of Disney Parks, is to be a time-traveler. You can rewind the magic and experience it again and again. There is not a single time I visit Epcot or Magic Kingdom that prior visits and memories don’t come flooding back. In a world that’s ever-changing, it’s nice to have a place that has figured out how to keep time in a bottle. Sure, there are some things we loved about Walt Disney World that we’ll never again see…but it was just as important a memory for me to explain what was once there to my 11 year-old son as we stood in front of the old Fantasyland Skyway station. I’d give anything to ride on the Skyway just one more time with my children in tow, but at least now they know the history and what used to be. With the Main Street Electrical Parade, we are able to get ‘what once was’ back again.

So I urge you to get to the Magic Kingdom this summer. Whether it’s your first time seeing the parade or your 40th, how often do we get to rewind the magic and relive our childhood – or experience a whole new one? Even every 10 years is a long time to wait. Come on down and give your old memories some new friends.

It’s Summer Nightastic! Night! What Would YOU Like to See Pictures Of?

6 June 2010 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

Tonight I’m heading over to the Magic Kingdom with my family to experience Summer Nightastic! first hand. We’ll be seeing the Main Street Electrical Parade and the new Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular. I’m really excited because none of my children have seen the Main Street Electrical Parade. Ever! Last time I saw it was in 2000, right before we packed up and moved back to Massachusetts and it packed up and moved to a different Disney park. While Spectromagic is perhaps most dear to me because it reminds me of my time as a cast member on Main Street, the Main Street Electrical Parade embodies my childhood visits to Disney World and transports me back to that time. It was amazing to see it backstage, but I can’t wait to see it live on Main Street again.

So my question to you, my faithful readers, is what do YOU want to see pictures or video of? (I can’t promise too much with the video as it’s not my strong-suit and I only have the video function on my regular camera ;)) Comment here with your requests and I’ll do my best to capture them tonight and post it tomorrow here on the site. Of course it doesn’t have to be limited to the parade or fireworks; it could be an attraction, a sign, heck even a trash can!

Disney Special Events

Comment here, and your request may show up tomorrow!