• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About | Press
  • Up the Waterfall
  • Media Kit

ZANNALAND!

Magical Adventures & Memories

  • Latest News
    • Top Stories
    • Disney News
    • Disney Movie News & Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
  • Places to Explore
    • Walt Disney World
    • Universal Orlando Resort
    • Disneyland Resort
    • Orlando Area Resorts
    • Disneyland Resort Paris
    • Disney Cruise Line
  • Things to Do
    • Disney Dining
    • Disney Special Events
    • D23 Expo
    • RunDisney
    • Travel, Theme Parks, and Resorts
    • Florida Theme Parks & Attractions
      • Universal Orlando Resort
      • Medieval Times
      • LEGOLAND Florida
      • Busch Gardens
      • Sea World Orlando
    • Orlando Area Resorts
    • Central Florida Family Entertainment
  • Up the Waterfall Podcast

facebook

runDisney to Host a Special Fun Run for D23 Members at the 2013 Expo

16 July 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Taking a running leap off of the enormous success of the runDisney community of races, runDisney has partnered with D23 for the 2013 Expo in Anaheim, and created a Fun Run for select participants. I know many of my running friends will be thrilled about this! Take a look at the official details and how to register below:

runDisney is excited to be at the start line of Disney’s D23 Expo and lead the way with the disney-expo-run-disney-featrunDisney D2.3 Fun Run on Friday, August 9. 

A limited number of D23 Members will get the opportunity to experience the magic of a runDisney event and take part in a 2.3-mile fun run. The experience will include signature runDisney elements like Disney characters and the opportunity to run through a theme park, Disney California Adventure. In addition, runners will receive a shirt for participating and enjoy a little extra pixie dust along the way.

“runDisney is committed to helping people live a healthy and active lifestyle by providing races of various distances so the entire family can participate,” said Faron Kelley, director of Marketing for Disney Sports. “It’s exciting to be part of the D23 Expo and to provide a memorablerunDisney experience for some of the most passionate Disney fans in the world.”

This experience will only be available to D23 Members and a Membership number will be required at the time of registration. Fans can join D23 at www.D23.com and at www.DisneyStore.com/D23. Details on how to register to be selected for the runDisney D2.3 Fun Run will be available the week of July 22 on the Disney Parks Blog, Facebook (runDisney), @runDisney, and @DisneyD23.

disney-expo-run-disney-feat2

About runDisney
runDisney is a series of seven event weekends providing runners unique opportunities to run various distances through Disney theme parks. Race participants earn Disney-themed medals, experience legendary Disney entertainment and guest service, and ultimately celebrate their accomplishments with a Disney vacation. The original event in the series, the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna, takes place in January followed by the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend in February, Expedition Everest Challenge in May, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler in October, and the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend in November. Disneyland hosts the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend in January and the Disneyland Half Marathon in September during Labor Day Weekend. 

More than 125,000 running enthusiasts participate in runDisney events each year. For more information, visit www.runDisney.com and follow us on Facebook (runDisney) and Twitter @runDisney.

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Filed Under: D23 Expo, Disney News, Disney Special Events, Walt Disney World Tagged With: D23, D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2013, D23 Fun Run, director of marketing, Disney California Adventure, Disney characters, disney community, Disney entertainment, disney event, disney experience, disney fans, Disney parks, disney sports, disney theme parks, distances, facebook, faron, membership number, pixie dust, race participants, runDisney, runners, theme park

Gowalla and Disney Reveal Passholder Exclusive Virtual Pin

5 February 2011 by Suzannah Otis 5 Comments

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

GowallaIf you’ve ever gone anywhere with someone who uses location-based check-in apps like Foursquare, Gowalla, or even Facebook Places, you’ve probably rolled your eyes at the very least or perhaps cautioned us from walking into a fountain as we attempt to check in. Everywhere.

We are easy to spot; we’re the ones constantly looking at our phones, searching for locations to check in to and of course, share with the world (and cursing the lack of cell service to complete our check in!). Who doesn’t want to know that we are getting our morning coffee at Starbucks, buying socks at the mall, or enjoying seeing a movie with friends? As newbies find out quickly, quite a few people not only aren’t interested but actually get annoyed with constant check ins! Hrmph. Never fear, there are actually settings in all services which allow you to keep your check-ins to yourself, only share with friends, or share with twitter, facebook, or both.

While each of us use the apps or services in a different way – some to meet up with friends in the same location, others to keep family informed, others just to chronicle their every move, we’re all in it for the fun, and yes, tiny pixelated rewards we may get for checking in. Disney teamed up with popular service Gowalla a few months back and created official Disney check-ins, virtual pins, trips to complete and items to pick up along the way. With the huge social media army nestled firmly within the Disney fandom, this was a natural and welcomed partnership.

 

Disney Gowalla places
Some of the most popular Walt Disney World check-in spots on Gowalla. There are Disneyland spots as well.


Fans could now share their Disney visits and experiences as they happened online. Users can take a photo of a location and leave it behind for future visitors to see. Gowalla also uses random items which may be found or dropped along the way and with the Disney partnership, those items now included Mickey Mouse ear hats, Hitchhiking Ghosts, and Walt and Mickey Partners Statues. Disney created their own official “trips” which include checking in to multiple locations, either within one or more parks, the resorts, or a combination of places within Walt Disney property. Committed users will be rewarded by the trip completion and a virtual pin to add to their collection. Another benefit is visitors themselves can make their own trips which guests can also complete, adding to the fun and competitive aspect of checking in.

 

Disney Gowalla trip pins
Some of the virtual Disney pins from Gowalla for trip completion


Gowalla has now announced a new Walt Disney World Passholder exclusive virtual pin. No details have been given as to whether proof of Passholder must somehow be shown to obtain the virtual pin. Perhaps just not publicizing it anywhere but the Passholder newsletter is the level of “exclusivity” mentioned. If there’s one thing the Disney community does, it spreads news, so I’d imagine many guests will be achieving this particular pin, Passholder or not. I’ll have to report back on it when I complete the challenge myself. One of the spots, Disney Junior – Live on Stage! does not premier until March, but the check-in spot is available currently, so there may be some dishonest checking in among die-hard Gowalla users. Below are the complete set of spots you must check in at to earn the Passholder virtual pin.


Gowalla Disney Passholder Virtual Pin check-ins
Disney Passholder Virtual Pin check-ins


Personally, I love the marriage of Disney and Gowalla and for an obsessive personality like my own (hence my blog), it’s just the thing to keep me excited about the next big thing at Walt Disney World. Much to the dismay of my family, my check-in addition is not going anywhere any time soon. Unlike many other Disney collections (Dooney & Bourke purses, Vinylmation, constantly updating Disney merchandise…) this virtual one is compact, portable, and best of all – free! I no longer fear ending up on an episode of “Disney Hoarders” (that would make an awesome show, btw), my fears now involve a drained battery in my phone. My 12 year old son is following along in my footsteps and we now challenge each other to see who can check in to a spot first. Makes a mother proud…

Gowalla is a free app available for Android, Blackberry, iPhone, iPad,  iPod Touch, and Palm devices.

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Filed Under: Disney News, Walt Disney World Tagged With: android, applications, apps, blackberry, Disney, Disney apps, Disney check-ins, Disney Passholders, facebook, foursquare, Gowalla, ipad, iphone, ipod, location-based apps, palm, Passholder exclusive, Passholder exclusive Gowalla pin, virtual pins, Walt Disney World, WDW Passholders

Disneyland Readers Take Note – Pirates of the Caribbean Fan Event!

1 December 2010 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Captain Jack is BACK and treating west coast fans to an exclusive look at the brand-new trailer for Walt Disney Pictures “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” in 3D on December 13, 2010, at AMC Downtown Disney Theatre 12 in Anaheim, California, as part of an exclusive “Pirates Fans First!” event. “Fans First!” winners will also have the chance on that day to be the first to experience the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction that started it all.    Fans can enter to win a vacation for four to the event by “Liking” Yahoo! Movies on Facebook (www.facebook.com/YahooMovies) or entering the sweepstakes via Disney Movie Rewards (www.DisneyMovieRewards.com). Fans can also gain access to this exclusive event by listening  to 102.7 KIIS-FM starting December 6th.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

In addition to being the first to see the new trailer for “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” and ride on the Pirates of the Caribbean theme park attraction, the lucky fans will be treated to a special Pirate after party, plus special commemorative gifts—but not until all of them have sworn to the “Pirate’s Oath” in a ceremony on the bow of the Columbia sailing ship. For added fun, fans who come to the event in pirate costume will have additional opportunities to win special prizing.

Following the “Pirates Fans First!” event, the trailer will premiere on Yahoo! Movies, Disney.com, and other premium online destinations around the world at 1 p.m. PST. Later the same day at 7 p.m. EST the domestic broadcast debut will occur on “Entertainment Tonight” as part of their December Event for “Pirates.”

“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise—this time in Disney Digital 3D™. Johnny Depp returns to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow in an action-packed tale of truth, betrayal, youth and demise.  When Jack crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz), he’s not sure if it’s love—or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know who to fear more:  Blackbeard or the woman from his past.

The international cast includes franchise vets Geoffrey Rush as the vengeful Captain Hector Barbossa, and Kevin R. McNally as Captain Jack’s longtime comrade Joshamee Gibbs, plus Sam Claflin as a stalwart missionary and Astrid Berges-Frisbey as a mysterious mermaid.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” is written by “Pirates” veterans Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio.  The executive producers are Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, Barry Waldman, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio and John DeLuca.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” sails into theatres around the world in May 2011.  Official website: Disney.com/Pirates. “Like” Pirates on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PiratesoftheCaribbean.

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Filed Under: Disney News, Movies & Books, Official Disney Tagged With: AMC Disney 12 Theatres, Captain Jack, Disney Movie Rewards, Disney movies, Disneyland contest, Disneyland Resort, facebook, Pirate Fans First, Pirates of the Caribbean contest, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Walt Disney Pictures

Chef Robert Irvine Loves Helping Others, Meeting Fans and DISNEY!

24 October 2010 by Suzannah Otis 10 Comments

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Chef Robert Irvine and Suzannah DiMarzioAs you may have seen on twitter and facebook, a few friends and fans of Chef Robert Irvine of Dinner: Impossible fame were treated to an informal and cozy little meet up at the Crew’s Cup Lounge inside Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. I have to thank Amanda Tinney for informing me of this hush-hush event, put together in part by Marc Bigbie and another facebook fan of the Chef. The meeting was kept quiet for the purposes of not having the chef mobbed by fans, camera flashes and questions (otherwise you can be sure that with three local bloggers in attendance – myself, Amanda, and Leigh Caldwell from ThemeParkMom.com – we would’ve spread the word!).

At first there was question as to whether the chef would make it over, as he was still filming and I guess had been stopped by many fans along the way. A man of his word, Chef Irvine did indeed show up and was extremely kind and appreciative that all of us had waited for him. So often you hear stories of celebrities having a different personality in real life or being too ‘big’ to bother with fans but that couldn’t be further from the truth here. Robert Irvine is as funny and warm-hearted in person as he is on his show. It would’ve been all too easy (and understandable!) for him to say, after a long day of shooting, “Sorry, I can’t make it”. Obviously he didn’t say that and we were so grateful for his time!

[Read more…] about Chef Robert Irvine Loves Helping Others, Meeting Fans and DISNEY!

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Filed Under: Disney Special Events Tagged With: Chef Robert Irvine, Crew's Cup Lounge, Dinner Impossible, Epcot, facebook, twitter, Yacht Club, zannaland

Official Disney Content Available in Facebook’s Social City Game

20 September 2010 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

For the first time, Disney content is available in Social City – Playdom’s popular social game on Facebook.  Players will now find some of their favorite Disney rides and attractions in Social City‘s raffle and can add these buildings to their city. Fans can look forward to seeing some of Disney’s most beloved rides and attractions, including “The Matterhorn Bobsleds”, “Space Mountain” and the “Mad Tea Party”. Players who collect all seven Disney themed prizes from the raffle will be awarded the grand prize, “Cinderella’s Castle“.

I’ve personally been avoiding Facebook games like the plague but may have to make an exception for this exciting bit of news! Access the game application directly at – http://www.facebook.com/SocialCity Here are some of the icons you’ll see in the game:

Happy gaming!

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Filed Under: Disney News, Official Disney Tagged With: disney online, facebook, Facebook apps, Social City

Winner of Kevin Dundon Cookbook Giveaway and ZannaLand News

22 June 2010 by Suzannah Otis 3 Comments

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

First things first, I must announce the winner of the “Great Family Food” by Chef  Kevin Dundon giveaway. After inputting the number of entries into random.org, #14 was chosen – Jennifer P. Congratulations, Jennifer! I’ll be emailing you for your info to send the book your way. I wish you many happy hours of delicious cooking with it! Thank you so much to everyone that entered, tweeted, re-tweeted and spread the word about the giveaway and ZannaLand.

…

Some other news – I am now an official contributing author at TampaBay.com’s Whoa, Momma! blog. I know I mentioned I was writing articles for them before, but now I’m all permanent-like and my name’s on the header and my author bio’s on the side. Yee haw! 😉 Pretty darn cool and I am extremely grateful and honored that the fine ladies over at Whoa, Momma! for taking a chance on me. You can read my latest post on Activities Off the Beaten Path at Disney there now, with more to come in the coming weeks. Some pieces may even be picked up by the St. Petersburg Times and in turn their news wire and show up in your local paper.

I’ve mentioned on twitter but I know not everyone is there – I have also written a couple of guest posts for Mr. Hidden Mickey Guy himself, Steven Barrett. Again, the honor was mine and if you told me a year ago I’d be doing either of these things, I’d have laughed and said “yeah, right!” I’m so very grateful. You can read my post on Disney After Dark and Staying Cool in the Summer at Disney over on his site.

And of course, you can find me over at DisneyWorldMoms.com where I’ll be answering questions for a few more weeks. I’d love to get a question from a reader to answer on the panel! Just click on the “ask Suzannah a question” link on my WDW Moms Panel bio page.

If you are looking for other ways to stay connected, you can find me on twitter @zannaland, or the facebook page for the site: facebook.com/zannaland (close to 500 members now!) over there you can post comments or questions on the wall, interact with other Disney fans, add pictures to the group photo album and keep up with all the blog entries as well. I’d love to see more of you!


Thank you so much for reading!


Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Filed Under: Family Memories, Giveaways Tagged With: Chef Kevin Dundon, facebook, Giveaways, guest blog, guest writing, Hidden Mickey Guy, Steve Barrett, twitter, woah momma!, zannaland

NEWS: Disney Launches a Facebook App-Disney BookMarker-Cast Your Friends as Characters!

11 June 2010 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
DisneyBookMarker
Screenshot from the app - Here is your bookshelf to select stories to cast.

Disney Publishing is asking Disney fans the question – “Have you ever wished you could tag your friends as Snow White or Woody?”  Well now you can! They’ve  just launched a Facebook application entitled “Disney Bookmarker” that allows Facebook users to “cast” their Facebook friends as their favorite Disney characters.

Facebook users can cast their friends as their favorite Disney characters from:

  • Toy Story
  • Finding Nemo
  • Cars
  • Alice in Wonderland
  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
  • The Little Mermaid
  • Beauty and the Beast

Disney characters create emotions not only for kids, but also for parents. Now parents and adult Disney fans have the opportunity to tag their friends in a photo of the characters together. Have a friend that always reminds you of Dory? Or an Aunt that reminds you of Ariel? Now you can share that with all your Facebook friends and family.

Nemo DisneyBookmarker
Cast your own Nemo story book among your Facebook friends.

Facebook users will receive a 7-day free trial of Disney Digital Books (DDB) for using the application. DDB is a comprehensive library of over 600 children’s books online. Children will find favorites from popular Disney themes, such as Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Toy Story, Disney Princess, Cars, and Hannah Montana, along with many other classic Disney stories.

To access the Disney Bookmarker app directly, use this link: http://apps.facebook.com/disneybookmarker/

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Filed Under: Disney News Tagged With: Disney, Disney Digital Books, Disney Publishing, DisneyBookmarker, facebook, Facebook apps, Story Books

Help Toys for Tots Through 1-800-flowers.com

17 December 2009 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

ssflWhat better way to brighten up this holiday season than with a beautiful arrangement from 1-800-flowers.com and giving back with a donation to Toys for Tots? In order to make others’ holiday season brighter, 1-800-flowers.com has created a Secret Santa program on Facebook as part of a fundraiser for Toys for Tots. By using the Secret Santa application on Facebook, you can send a free ‘Warm Fuzzy‘ to as many friends and family members as you like, and both you and the recipient will also receive a 15% off discount code. The recipient won’t know who their Secret Santa is until December 21st. If 10,000 Warm Fuzzies are sent, 1-800-flowers.com will donate $5000 to Toys for Tots!


In addition, 1-800-flowers.com is  giving 10% of net proceeds from their Toys for Tots collection back to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. Just pick an arrangement or gift from their exclusive collection and enter code TOYS at checkout.



Be sure to become a Facebook fan of 1-800-flowers.com for more news and great deals for the season!

20091123toysioc

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Filed Under: All blogs, Giveaways Tagged With: facebook, Giveaways, Global Influence, Holidays

Disney’s A Christmas Carol: The IMAX Experience-Twitter Party & Giveaway!

4 November 2009 by Suzannah Otis 16 Comments

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

CC-FACEBOOK TAB

Walt Disney Pictures and Robert Zemeckis proudly present Disney’s A Christmas Carol in Disney 3D opening this Friday, November 6, 2009. IMAX wants you to experience this amazing new film in IMAX 3D and is giving away prizes all this week on their facebook page.

Just by being a reader of ZannaLand, you can also enter to win a prize pack consisting of one Disney’s A Christmas Carol movie poster and one Disney’s A Christmas Carol: Movie Storybook. To enter simply become a fan of IMAX on Facebook and let me know by leaving a comment here on this blog entry. That’s it!

In addition, IMAX and Resourceful Mommy are hosting a Twitter party this Thursday from 9:00 – 10:00pm ET. Just log on to Twitter at that time and join in the fun conversations using the hashtag #xmasIMAX. Be sure to follow @IMAX and @ResourcefulMom to keep up with the giveaways! I’ll be there too, feel free to say hello – @zannaland

There will be more than a dozen winners during the Twitter party on Thursday night so be sure to RSVP for the Twitter party, EDIT: The Twitter party was a great success, but has now ended. The contest for the prize from participating blogs will end on 11/11, so you can still enter! Become a Facebook IMAX fan, and comment here!

See you Thursday night when we’ll turn those Bah Humbugs into Woo hoos!! 😉

CC-TITLE TREATMENT

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: Disney, facebook, Giveaways, movies, twitter

Where the Wild Things Are IMAX Experience-Prize Pack!

18 October 2009 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

You may have heard that the film adaptation of beloved children’s author Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are opened in theatres across the country last Friday. Did you know it is actually available as an IMAX Experience as well? Starting Monday, October 19th, IMAX is launching a special Where the Wild Things Are promotion for their Facebook fans!

wtwta banner

Each day from October 19-23, two lucky fans who put the Where the Wild Things Are crown on their profile picture and comment on the IMAX Wall will be entered to win an exclusive IMAX Where the Wild Things Are poster, book, and a pair of IMAX movie tickets! The crown image and full instructions will be released on the IMAX Fan Page on Monday!

In addition – just for reading this blog, you can be eligible to win an exclusive Where the Wild Things Are PRIZE PACK! Two readers from across the participating Momfluence blogs will win the following Where the Wild Things Are Prize Pack:

  • An adult Where the Wild Things Are t-shirt (L or XL)
  • A kids Where the Wild Things Are t-shirt (size large)
  • A Where the Wild Things Are Crown
  • An exclusive Where the Wild Things Are IMAX poster
  • Where the Wild Things Are book
  • A pair of IMAX movie tickets

Here are the two simple steps to enter:

1. Become a fan of IMAX on Facebook here: http://facebook.com/IMAX
2. Fill out this secure document: http://bit.ly/1kjn8H

The contest ends Friday, October 23rd at 11:59 p.m. ET and is open to all legal U.S. residents age 18 years or older.

If that’s not WILD enough for you, join us for a Twitter Party to sitewarm the IMAX Facebook page! The party will take place on Monday, October 19, from 9 to 10pm ET on Twitter, using the #IMAXWildThings hashtag. Please visit ResourcefulMommy.com to RSVP and for more information details and chances to win!

See you Monday when the wild rumpus will start!

Brought to you by Momfluence.This contest and party are part of a campaign sponsored by IMAX.

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Filed Under: All blogs Tagged With: facebook, Giveaways, momfluence, twitter

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe to Our Up the Waterfall Disney History Podcast

Up the Waterfall podcast

Get Some Park Candy!

Park CandyUse code ZANNA at checkout for 10% off your entire order!

FAVORITE VLOG

https://youtu.be/jUQvxcguh9o

Click below to SUBSCRIBE to our latest Vlogs & LIVE Shows!

Recent Posts

  • D23 Events for 2023 – Destination D23 Returns to Walt Disney World
  • Hocus Pocus Cottage in Salem, MA Airbnb – Book this Unique Stay for October 20, 2022
  • LIVE Updates from the 2022 D23 EXPO in Anaheim California
  • Walt Disney’s Grumman Gulfstream I Airplane Makes its West Coast Return for D23 Expo 2022
  • Lilly Singh and Raven-Symoné To Host ‘Disney’s Epic Entertainment Showcase: The Musical: The Extravaganza!’
  • ICE! To Return to Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando for 2022
  • DIS Con 2022 Fan Expo Will Take Place at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
  • Disney+ to Highlight Upcoming Content Throughout D23 Expo Panels
  • D23 Expo 2022 Full Schedule Lineup – Including Muppets Christmas Carol
  • LEGOLAND Florida Brick-or-Treat presents Monster Party

Zannaland Archives

Recent Vlog

https://youtu.be/aRB70OJelLc
DisneyStore.com

Subscribe to our podcast

Free Shipping on New Kate Spade Collection now at shopDisney.com!

Copyright Zannaland © 2023