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Guest Authors

REVIEW: Disneynature Penguins – An Icy Tale

17 April 2019 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Another guest reviewer on Zannaland, this time, good ol’ Otisney (aka my husband, Scott). He took Gio to see the screening of Penguins last weekend. As much as I loooove animals of all kinds, Born in China really did me in for nature movies. Sorry Disney! I don’t think I could even get myself together to post a review on that, I was so traumatized. I immediately left the theatre and sponsored a snow leopard, that’s all I remember. Anyway, from what I hear, like Bears, Penguins has no animal deaths to worry about, so I guess I could’ve gone, but I’m glad I played it safe. In any event, here’s a review on the latest Disneynature film, Penguins, released today:


Just in time for Earth Day, Disneynature is releasing its latest in a long line of gorgeous nature films. While previous films examined in beautiful detail the wondrous worlds of big African kitty cats, big Alaskan grizzly bears and exotic Chinese critters (pandas and snow leopards and golden monkeys … OH MY!), this new film checks out the unique world of the Adélie penguins.

As the film begins, we are immediately introduced to our hero penguin, Steve, who is returning to his Antarctic roots to find a mate, build a nest and start a family. In stunning visual splendor, we are given a close-up look of Steve’s daily routines, his struggles (sometimes due to the harsh climate, other times because of sharing very limited space and resources with millions of other penguins), all while trying to elude his natural predators, killer whales and leopard seals.

Penguins

Despite what you might think would be a monochromatic film (or black and white, as it were), set in the difficult climbs of mega-cold Antarctica, Penguins is such an exquisite and beautifully shot film, where everything looks super sharp and detailed. From the wavy glare of the ice floes that the penguins traverse across, to the extra fluffy powdery down feathers of all the baby penguin chicks, each frame is so incredibly detailed and crisp and bold to look at.

The filmmakers had to go through some extreme weather to shoot one breeding season of these amazing Adélie penguins that return to the exact place of their birth, find a life partner, build a suitable nest, lay, incubate and hatch eggs, and begin to raise baby penguin chicks, fattening them up for their harried march back to the ocean for the winter. The end credits, as always, showcases the amazing photographers and camera men and women and crew that had to endure these tough conditions.

Penguins is suitably narrated by the affable Ed Helms, who also occasionally provides the voices for Steve and others, oftentimes in a very silly way. His is a very familiar and comforting voice and it all feels natural and right.

Penguins

Of course, as with all Disneynature films, Disney is donating hundreds of thousands of dollars of proceeds from the admissions during the opening week in theaters to a great cause. For every ticket sold opening week (April 17-23, 2019), Disneynature will make a donation to the Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) to help protect penguins across the southern hemisphere with opening weekend profits going to support Earth Day charities.

At 76 minutes, Penguins is long enough to be extremely compelling and make you invested in the lovable characters on screen, but short enough to not become boring or just drone on endlessly.

It’s definitely a film that is okay to take the littlest of your family members to enjoy. There is a small amount of ensuing peril, but nothing too bad and mostly off screen. I can assure you, there is a happy ending for our hero Steve and his entire family.

Disneynature Penguins gets four cold, crisp, icy stars from this reviewer.

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Guest Authors, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews, Top Stories Tagged With: Disneynature, Guest Authors

What Would You Do with 24 Hours in the Magic Kingdom?

25 May 2015 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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In the past, I’ve attended the first three 24-hour days at the Magic Kingdom and they were always fun, and crazy, and by the end, I was delirious. This time around, I couldn’t make it, so friend and blogger Kira from Second Blog to the Right jumped in and covered the Coolest Summer Ever festivities:

How do you know summer has arrived?!?!

By the #CoolestSummer Ever kickoff party at the Magic Kingdom!

Oh and did I mention, the party lasted for 24 hours?!?!?!?!

Magic Kingdom Station CoolestSummerEver

The Magic Kingdom was open from 6 am to 6 am with lots of festivities for all.

Everyone’s favorite snowman, Olaf, hosted the party and he brought his friends, Anna, Elsa, & Kristoff along as well.

Anna and Elsa CoolestSummerEver

In year’s past, I have only done the nighttime happenings, so this year I got to experience the morning.

The highlight of my morning was meeting Snapchatters, @shonduras & @emgarber. They took over the @waltdisneyworld Snapchat account for the whole weekend. If you followed along, you got to see all the fun they had. They are some of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet; so go give them a follow on Snapchat or Instagram!

Shonduras Emgarber CoolestSummerEver Shonduras Emgarber CoolestSummerEver

I also got to experience a rarity in the Magic Kingdom thanks to being in the park prior to sunrise, the flag raising ceremony! I absolutely adore the tradition of the flag retreat at the Magic Kingdom and try to catch it whenever I can, but the flag raising happens at sunrise, which is usually before the park opens.

Flag Raising Magic Kingdom CoolestSummerEver

Some highlights of the 24 hour bash:

  • #INCREDIBLESSuperDanceParty at Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland.
  • Disney Channel and Disney XD stars appear as honorary Grand Marshals at the 3 p.m. “Festival of Fantasy” parade.
  • Main Street Electrical Parade featuring a Frozen Fantasy pre-parade celebration.
  • Previews of upcoming Disney Channel films and music videos, plus a DJ spinning tunes as Disney Channel hosted the new “Club Chill” party zone in
  • Tomorrowland with some of guests’ favorite Disney Channel and Disney XD stars.
  • “Frozen” movie screening at Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland.
  • Specialty cupcakes and other food items

Even if you missed the kickoff party, you still have plenty of time to experience #CoolestSummer Ever at Walt Disney World Resort.

…

Thanks, Kira! What would you do with 24 Hours at Magic Kingdom? (I know for me it involved a LOT of Peoplemover rides!) It’s always fun to experience some views you don’t normally get to see in the parks, like sunrises over Cinderella Castle and many other unique photo ops! 

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Filed Under: Disney Special Events, Guest Authors, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: #CoolestSummer, 24 Hour Disney Day, 24 Hours Magic Kingdom, Coolest Summer Ever, Disney 24 hour party, Disney Parks 24 Hours, Disney Snapchat, Emgarber, Guest Authors, Magic Kingdom Coolest Summer Ever, Second Blog to the Right, Shonduras, Snapchat

Guest Post: Trick-or-Treating in and Around Walt Disney World

30 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

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I would like to welcome guest author Michelle Rise who wanted to share her tips for spending Halloween in Orlando with all of you. Apologies for not posting this sooner, it’s been a busy month here in Zannaland – but this is great planning for last minute ideas this year or working on next year’s Halloween! Thanks, Michelle!

…

October is here along with changing leaves, cool breezes and Halloween. Everyone enjoys the costume parties, parades and scary decor but what everyone really looks forward to is Trick or Treating. If you plan to be in Orlando for Halloween, you’re in for a treat. The holiday is celebrated with gusto throughout the month of October and nobody does it better than Walt Disney World.

Halloween at Walt Disney World is delightful. The decorations are colorful with just a touch of not-so-scary ghoulishness for that extra bit of fun. How do you trick or treat while vacationing in Orlando?

20131030-124059.jpg

MICKEY’S NOT SO SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY

Dress up in your favorite costume and attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom. Kids of all ages can trick or treat throughout the park and nobody cares if you go through a candy line twice. We counted over 30 different places to trick or treat spread pretty evenly throughout the park and I’ve been told there are actually more than that.

Tip
Bring a bag unless you want to use the plastic one given out by cast members. The plastic bag is cute but a lightweight pullstring backpack works better.

Naturally you’ll see a lot of princesses and pirates which is why dressing as Snow White’s evil stepmother or Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty is so fun. You’ll stand out from the crowd. Your costume doesn’t have to be Disney related. In fact, you may be even more noticeable in something non-Disney. But whatever costume you choose, definitely go costumed! It’s just more fun that way.

Surprise
You probably don’t want to spend all the party hours trekking around trick or treating. Most nights of the Not So Scary Halloween event, there are two parades. Candy and stickers are handed out by cast members during the parade so you’re still trick or treating but without all the tiresome walking.

Fireworks are a big hit during the party with special fall colors in the sparkles and some that are ghost or pumpkin shaped.

Don’t forget the rides and attractions. Many are open and waiting for fun with short lines. As the night goes on, characters come out to play and greet guests for photo opportunities.

TRICK OR TREAT AT YOUR HOTEL

If you can’t make the Mickey Halloween party or don’t want to stay out that late, check with the concierge at your hotel.  Many hotels offer activities and events for Halloween, such as ghost stories, character visits, treats and costume contests.  Most are held poolside or in the lobby at designated hours but it’s a great way to enjoy Halloween on the go.  We enjoyed a s’more night one Halloween and were given a bag of various goodies and small games. After some quick research, Hawthorn Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa has a kids trick or treat through the resort area and the staff dress up every year including the General Manager.  The other StaySky Orlando hotels typically have their employees dressed up and a bucket of Halloween candy at the front desk.   Depending on the ages involved, a simple event is perfect.  Kids still have fun and parents save money and get to bed earlier.

 

Either way, you’re sure to have fun and create great family memories in the process. Happy Halloween!

…

Bio:

Michelle Rise is a homemaker and Mother of 5 and travel enthusiast. With many years of experience trekking through Disney parks with her Family, Michelle has become an expert on navigating families through Disney. She also enjoys travel to most other destinations worldwide and when not writing about her experiences or teaching her children to drive, Michelle can be found chasing the family dog up rainbow mountain with her husband of over 25 years, Ben. You can follow Michelle on Twitter, @Rise7Up, for all of her latest writings.

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Filed Under: All blogs, Disney Holidays, Disney Movie News & Reviews, Disney Planning, Disney Special Events, Guest Authors, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Disney Halloween, Guest Authors, Michelle Rise, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, Orlando halloween

Guest Post: One Man’s Journey to Marceline

7 March 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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“To tell the truth, more things of importance happened to me in Marceline than have happened since – or are likely to in the future.”

With those words, Walt Disney certainly set the bar high for Marceline, Missouri. The man created an entertainment empire, winning 32 Academy Awards and millions of admirers the world over, but he held up his adopted Missouri hometown as of chief importance. Whether the proof is in Walt’s own words, the proliferation of barnyard hijinks in the early Disney cartoon shorts, or his famous love for trains, Marceline clearly meant the world to Walt Disney.

But one aspect of this story has stubbornly puzzled me. Born in Chicago, Walt and his family lived in Marceline for only about five years, moving to Kansas City when the young Walt was ten years old. Just how could Marceline make such a big impact on a boy who lived there for such a relatively short time?

That question fueled my interest in visiting Marceline and experiencing Walt’s hometown for myself. This past July finally presented my opportunity to make this Disney pilgrimage. Although my visit lasted little more than one day, that was all the time it took to prove that Disney magic exists in abundance in that small Missouri town.

 

Main Street USA

 

Much like the Disney parks, the Marceline experience begins on Main Street USA. Main Street (née Kansas Avenue) has been renamed to reflect the significance Marceline’s town center had on Walt’s plans for the turn-of-the-century entrance to Disneyland. Lined with antique shops and eateries, Marceline’s Main Street oozes with the spirit of its Disneyland namesake. It is truly authentic, compared to the nostalgic fantasy of its California cousin.

My first stop was the Uptown Theatre. When the Disney brothers returned to Marceline in 1956 for the dedication of the town’s new swimming pool and municipal park, Walt and Roy arranged for the Midwestern premiere of “The Great Locomotive Chase” to be held there. The children of Marceline packed the theatre – often two or three to a single seat – for this special Disney film premiere.

Sadly, those seats now sit empty as the theater has shuttered its operation and now runs as a bed and breakfast. While several different suites were on offer, I couldn’t look past staying in the Walt Disney Suite. This spacious suite was decked out with Disney decor and only reinforced my desire to get out and explore the town. Many thanks to Debbie Foster, the bed and breakfast’s proprietor, who made the entire experience a delight. [Since my visit, Debbie has sold the Uptown Theatre and no longer runs either the bed and breakfast or attached bakery.]

All checked in, it was time to finally see the Walt Disney Hometown Museum. Run by the inimitable Kaye Malins and a cadre of volunteers, the museum is found within Marceline’s old railroad depot. It is the centerpiece of the town’s celebration of Walt Disney and is definitely not to be missed.

One of the more memorable aspects of visiting a Disney park is the boundless charm of the Cast Members. But the impeccable cheerfulness of the Disney employees just might have been outshone by the citizens of Marceline. Main Street was far from bustling, but everyone I met stopped, greeted me warmly, and asked if they could provide any assistance. All were undeniably proud of their town’s fame as Walt Disney’s hometown and equally enthused to welcome any and all visitors.

Walking towards the Museum, I passed by E.P. Ripley Park, named in honor of the Santa Fe Railway founder. After all, Marceline owed its very existence to the Santa Fe. In 1887 the railroad needed somewhere to stop for supplies and fuel on its run between Chicago and Kansas City. The town of Marceline sprung up from this new stop.

 

Gazebo at Ripley Park

 

Housed in a large red-brick building, the Walt Disney Hometown Museum is an impressive sight. Once inside, I could not believe my luck when I learned that today’s tour guide would be Inez. A museum volunteer, Inez holds the special distinction of being an actual family friend of Walt Disney. She recounted the story of how she and her husband, Rush, were asked to host the Disney family during their 1956 visit. Since the town’s hotel did not offer air conditioning, a cooler solution was sought, leading to Rush and Inez’s house.

 

Walt Disney Hometown Museum

 

Inez laughed that, in the run-up to the Disneys’ arrival, she was quite worried that her home was not nice enough for this important honor. Fearing that Walt would be unimpressed with his accommodations, the entire town pitched in and moved their very best furniture into Inez’s house. All was for naught, though, once the Disneys arrived. Their Hollywood guests were humble and unassuming – there had been no need to put on airs for them.

Stories such as this made the tour fly by. After a quick talk about Walt’s life in Marceline, the group was turned loose into the larger galleries in the building’s rear and upper floor. The Hometown Museum has a remarkable collection – ranging from an actual Midget Autopia car to seemingly endless personal correspondence between members of the Disney family. Although my time was in short supply, many more hours would have been well spent fully reading through the many letters Walt exchanged with his sister, Ruth.

My next stop was Walt’s old home, located just a quick drive from the Museum. While the house is privately owned, the owners have been gracious enough to provide a small parking area where guests can get out and walk to the Dreaming Tree and barn.

 

Son of the Dreaming Tree

 

Well, what is left of the Dreaming Tree anyway. A victim of repeated lightning strikes, the tree’s lifeless remnants are all that remain of the site where Walt would regale his sister with imaginative tales of wit and whimsy. Long summer days were spent playing and daydreaming beneath that tree, making it even more heartbreaking that it has been ravaged by nature.

To Marceline’s credit, they could not stand to see lightning rob the world of Walt’s Dreaming Tree. A descendant of the original was planted nearby – the Son of the Dreaming Tree. The Son has a long way to go before it will rival the size of its father, but the new Dreaming Tree serves as a simple reminder that imagination cannot be defeated.

Walt’s barn is then just a short jaunt further onto the property. The barn offers something extra special for the visiting Disney fans – everyone is encouraged to sign the interior walls with a short message to honor Marceline’s famed son.

 

Walt's Barn

 

The only problem? In my shortsightedness, I had forgotten to bring a marker. While trying to shrug off this memory lapse, I was reminded of another of Inez’s stories from the Museum tour.

In that very barn, young Walt had once held a makeshift circus for the children of Marceline, charging a small amount for admittance. His show-stopping trick was to fill a sack with cats and then have them jump free. As that was the high point of the show, the audience was less than amused and demanded a refund. Walt’s mother, Flora, made her son return the money to his dissatisfied friends. But he was left with something of far greater value than a handful of dimes. Walt had learned his first lesson in showmanship – always exceed your audience’s expectations.

Marceline has a special peacefulness at night. As the sun set, so too did all of the activity on Main Street. It presented a great chance to fully take in all that I had learned about Walt Disney that day. I had also driven out to the Municipal Park and the Elementary School (which both bear Walt’s name), but the majority of my trip was devoted to those areas that might explain how his time in Marceline shaped the man Walt Disney would later become.

After a restful night in the Walt Disney Suite and an unforgettable breakfast buffet (prepared by Debbie Foster), it was finally time for my long trip home. Yet, as I drove down Main Street USA on my way out of town, I was already mentally planning my next trip to Marceline.

And perhaps that craving to return was the best answer to my quest to learn how Marceline had so deeply affected Walt in such a short time. The true magic of Marceline is that you only have to spend a short time there to be moved and inspired forever.

–Kevin Carpenter

About Kevin Carpenter: Kevin first visited Walt Disney World in 1989 and has been studying the life and career of Walt ever since. When not writing, he works in professional soccer from his home in Ohio. You may also find him on twitter at @kejca.

 

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Filed Under: Disney Past, Guest Authors, Reviews, Top Stories Tagged With: barnyard, Disney magic, Guest Authors, guest post, Kevin Carpenter, Main Street, Main Street USA, Marceline, marceline missouri, missouri town, The Dreaming Tree, uptown theatre, Walt Disney, Walt Disney history, Walt Disney Hometown Museum, Walt Disney's childhood, Walt Disney's hometown, Walt's Barn

New HARVEYS for Disney Couture Good vs. Evil, Princess and Villains Seatbeltbag Collection

3 March 2013 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

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Zannaland would like to welcome a new writer and roving reporter – Corinne Andersson, who will be bringing us merchandise updates and other Walt Disney World news as she roams the parks. You can find great videos from Corinne and her husband Daniel at their DisneyLifestylers YouTube channel. Welcome, Corinne!

…

This week while running around the parks looking for merchandise I found these really beautiful Harvey’s for Disney Couture Princess and Villains seatbeltbags! Princess and Villains merchandise are very popular right now in the parks.

Harveys Seatbeltbags

The bags come in four different styles and all have a princess and villain featured on them to fit the Good vs. Evil theme. They measure around 11”(L) x 11”(H) and are made from durable seatbelt, which makes them the perfect bag to bring with you to the parks! The inside have 1 zip pocket and special storage for things like your cell phone. Price is $178.

Right now I have only spotted these bags in Tren-D at Downtown Disney and Uptown Jewelers at Magic Kingdom but you can also buy them directly from Harvey’s own site.

 

  Harveys Seatbelt bag AuroraHarveys Seatbeltbag Maleficent

Sleeping Beauty Aurora and Maleficent

Harveys Seatbeltbag ArielHarveys Seatbeltbag Ursula

Little Mermaid Ariel and Ursula

 Harveys Seatbeltbag Snow WhiteHarveys Seatbeltbag Evil Queen

Snow White and Evil Queen

Harveys Seatbeltbag CinderellaHarveys Seatbeltbag Evil Stepmother

Cinderella and Wicked Stepmother

So which one is your favorite Princess/Villain bag? My favorite is probably the Ariel/Ursula bag!

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Filed Under: Disney Merchandise, Top Stories Tagged With: ariel, Aurora, Cinderella, designer handbags, designer purses, Disney, Disney Merchandise, Disney Picture of the Day, Disney princesses, Evil Queen, Fashion, Guest Authors, handbags, Harvey's bags, Harvey's Bags for Disney Couture, Harvey's Seatbelt bags, Harveys, Harveys seatbeltbags, little mermaid, Maleficent, princess, princesses, shopping, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, ursula, Walt Disney World

Gift Guide: Disney Magic for Your iPhone!

25 November 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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It’s holiday time, and that means it’s time to pick up some Disney swag for the main Mouse in your life. But what should you wrap up in pretty paper and put under the tree this year? Jen from MickeyFix.com has put together a quick list to help you select the perfect protection for your giftee’s ever-present iPhone.

Best Disney iPhone Case for … Epcot Nerds

What do all Epcot nerds love more than a geodesic sphere? A retro-styled geodesic sphere! This Spaceship Earth iPhone case will not only protect your holiday honey’s precious device, it’ll also allow him to show off his unrelenting love of the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.

epcot-case

 

Best Disney iPhone Case for … Haunted Mansion Spooks

If the thought of damaging her iPhone gives your Mouseketeer hot and cold running chills, we have the perfect gift for her: this perfectly disquieting Haunted Mansion iPhone case. There’s no turning back now …

mansion-case

 

Best Disney iPhone Case for … Star Wars Geeks

This is not the case you were looking for … it’s so much better! The Force is strong with this one, and your Star Wars geek will carry the Mickey Ear Death Star iPhone case with pride.

deathstar-case

 

Best Disney iPhone Case for … Disney Dreamers

If thoughts of Pixie Dust and Neverland make her heart skip a beat, let her enjoy it on a daily basis with this Peter Pan iPhone Case. Just make sure she avoids that Hook…I hear he’s no good. 😉

Peter Pan Case

 

Which of these cases is right for the Disney obsessive in your life?

 

About the author:
Jen S. spends her free time chronicling v. cool Disney things over at MickeyFix.com. If you don’t see something you like here, check out other Disney Gift Guides on Mickey Fix!

 

 

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Filed Under: Disney Merchandise, Guest Authors Tagged With: death star, Death Star iPhone case, Disney artwork, Disney designs, disney gift, Disney Gift Guides, Disney iPhone covers, Disney magic, Disney Merchandise, Disney shopping, Disney shopping guide, Epcot, Epcot iphone case, experimental prototype community of tomorrow, geodesic sphere, Guest Authors, Guest posts, Haunted Mansion, Haunted Mansion iPhone case, iPhone covers, Mickey Fix, MickeyFix.com, peter pan, Peter Pan iPhone case, pixie dust, Spaceship Earth, star wars geeks

Guest Post: Guide For Bringing First-timers to Walt Disney World

8 November 2011 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Today brings another great guest post, this time from Scott Gustin, a Senior Web Producer at MyFox8.com in North Carolina, and major Disney fan. You can find Scott on twitter @scgustinwdw and writing for his tech-savvy site, TheSocialMouse.com, where he discusses Disney’s social media forays and use of technology. I love his blog and tweets and am so happy to share his post here today. Below he shares his tips – from personal experience – about visiting Walt Disney World with guests who’ve never experienced the wonder before.

…

10 Tips for Taking Newbies to Disney World

 

At some point in your Disney-filled life, you will accept an incredibly scary challenge: taking someone to Disney World for the first time.

Now, let me begin by stating I will primarily focusing on adult touring. While taking a child to Disney World for thefirst time is likely one of the greatest things you will ever do, taking another adult that doesn’t quite appreciate Disney the same way you do can be a real challenge.

A few years ago, my wife and I took two of our best friends to Walt Disney World. We have been dozens of times and go several times each year. After hearing us rave about Disney, they decided they wanted to tag along for a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth. Our friends, also married, flew down to Orlando and met us for the second half of our vacation. They were both making their first-ever visit to Walt Disney World. During this trip, I learned some valuable lessons for making the trip enjoyable for you and the first-timers.

1. Lower your expectations of your friends.
The bottom-line: your friends will never love Disney as much as you do, no matter how much you want them to. Despite gathering dozens of fastpasses, buy them free Dole Whips and locating the perfect spot for fireworks, it’s likely not going to happen. Instead of expecting your friends to reach your high level of Disney fandom, just do your best to show the first-timers the “best of the best.”

Celebrate a Dream Come True parade2. Take it slow!
One mistake I have made is feeling obligated to show the first-timers EVERYTHING. While it is well known being at the gates at 8 a.m. is the best way to get the most out of your day, your friends don’t know this. You can recommend getting up early by mentioning shorter wait times, but ultimately, I would leave it up to the first-timers to decide if you will be at the park for rope drop.

 

3. Do the parades!

We have seen most of the parades several times. However, with first-timers, you must hit the parades. While I’m not a huge fan, I know that parades are a big part of the Disney experience and what people expect when they visit the parks.

 

4. Make a list of the “best of the best”

I always write down the must-do attractions for each park. Then, before the trip, I go over the list with the first-timers and find out what they are most interested in. If your friends don’t ride roller coasters, there’s no need to have them speed walk to Everest at 9 a.m. An itinerary is also a good idea when planning the trip. While your friends will likely make fun of you, I find it necessary when taking first-timers.

 

5. Know the first-timers   

Before the trip, talk to them about their expectations. You should have a clear understanding of what they expect, their knowledge of Disney, dietary expectations, cost limitations, etc. Talking before the trip will help you avoid unnecessary stress while at Disney World.

 

6. Be knowledgeable

I find that first-timers really appreciate those little “secrets” about the parks. Share your knowledge!

 

7. Be cliché

Buy the Mickey hats, get your first-timers the “first visit” pins, ride ‘It’s a Small World.’ Do all the cliché things to help fulfill the first-timers’ expectations of the Disney experience.

 

Cinderella Castle Dream Lights8. Pick the perfect time of year

If possible, be sure to pick a time of year that is best for the first-timers. If possible, pick a time of year that has low crowds and cooler temperatures. If the first-timers are less about rides and more about the experience, consider going after Thanksgiving so they can see the Christmas decorations at Disney World.

 

9. Bring snacks into the parks  

While this seems like an obvious tip for everyone, I find that first-timers always have a hard time with the cost of food inside the parks. By packing snacks, it can help offset that frustration when the first-timers realize food inside the parks can be expensive.

 

10. Don’t stress out!

Planning a trip for other people is always stressful. However, if you clearly understand the first-timers’ expectations, you can better plan a trip that is fun for all. If you get stressed out, so will everyone else. As always, never forget – you’re at Disney World!

…

What are your top tips for traveling with newbies? Share them below! Big thanks to Scott for sharing his thoughts with us today. Be sure to follow Scott on twitter ( @scgustinwdw & @thesocialmouse ) and check out TheSocialMouse.com.

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Filed Under: Disney Planning, Guest Authors, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Disney planning, Disney tips, First-timers at Disney, First-timers at WDW, Guest author, Guest Authors, Guest posts, Scott Gustin, The Social Mouse, TheSocialMouse.com, Top 10, WDW Tips

Guest Post: Snow on Big Thunder Mountain

13 October 2011 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

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One of my favorite things about connecting with blog readers and Disney fans online is hearing their stories from Disney parks I’ve never been to. It’s always fun to see things from a different perspective. Today I’m pleased to share a post from Nick Sim of ThemeParkTourist.com. Here Nick shares a very magical moment he and his wife experienced at Disneyland Paris – As always, click to enlarge photos.

Disneyland Paris entrance and hotel

Visiting a Disney park at Christmas is always a magical experience. So when my wife and I boarded a Eurostar train to the Disneyland Resort Paris last December, our expectations were sky high. Only one thing played on our minds – a weather forecast that pointed to heavy blizzards. Were we about to hit the Disney jackpot, and see arguably the company’s most beautiful park covered in glistening snow? Or were we racing along the tracks towards a disaster, in which the resort’s major attractions would be closed throughout our stay?

Our first impressions weren’t good. The roads leading to our hotel were covered in several inches of snow, with desperate drivers wheel-spinning their cars along at bizarre angles (and frequently into each other). Disneyland Paris requires thousands of employees to operate. Without a seriously rapid change in conditions, how were they all going to get to work the next day? It seemed impossible.

Sleeping Beauty Castle Paris
Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Paris

 

Discoveryland
Discoveryland

Of course, being English, we hadn’t imagined that a public transport system could cope with heavy snowfall. Fortunately, the one in Paris can, and Disneyland Paris threw open its gates exactly as scheduled. An impressive image awaited those who spilled through, with Sleeping Beauty Castle receiving the type of holiday makeover that Disney’s Imagineers could only have dreamed of. Surrounding it, all four of the park’s themed lands – even the futuristic Discoveryland – had undergone a similar transformation. Walking up Main Street USA as the snow continued to fall, we felt like we were characters inside a magical snowglobe.

Big Thunder Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain entrance

We had an incredible day, despite spending much of it traipsing around with soaking wet feet thanks to our hideously inappropriate footwear. Eventually, the snow melted and the park returned to normal. Only one ride had remained closed throughout: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I couldn’t possibly feel disappointed in the circumstances, but I did miss it ever so slightly. It’s an attraction that I’ve obsessed over ever since I was a little kid, staring at it in the brochures for Walt Disney World that I collected every year.

To our amazement, we opened our curtains the next morning to discover that Paris was once again blanketed with fresh snow. Even better, every single ride at Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios was fully up-and-running. A quick FASTPASS-grab later, and the scene was set for my ultimate Disney experience: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in the snow. At sunset.

Frontierland
Frontierland in Disneyland Paris

 

Disneyland Paris’ version of the coaster, with its setting in the Rivers of the Far West and backstory based around a mine in Thunder Mesa, is visually stunning at the worst of times. Add in layers of snow and a beautiful Paris sunset, and the scene as we crested the first lift hill was virtually perfect.

Big Thunder Mountain
The wildest ride in the falling snow!

 

Racing around the ride’s circuit, I had fun spotting my favorite landmarks. The washed-out bridge. With snow on it. Phantom Manor, across the water. With snow on it. A couple of friendly donkeys and a goat pulling on a clothesline. With snow on them. Seriously, is there anything that doesn’t look better when it’s covered in snow? OK, so it probably didn’t snow that much in the Wild West. Who cares?

Phantom Manor
View of Phantom Manor in the snow

 

Returning to the station with an enormous grin on my face, I realised that it would be difficult for any ride experience to ever top that spin around Big Thunder Mountain. I’d achieved theme park perfection. I’d won the Disney lottery. I’m sure I can’t be alone in having one theme park memory that stands out above the rest. Is there one particular experience that stands out for you above any other?

 …

Nick Sim is the editor of Theme Park Tourist, which features news and reviews from parks all over the world. When he’s not staring longingly at Walt Disney World brochures, he can be found on Twitter @ThemeParkNews and Facebook.

 

 

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Filed Under: Disneyland Resort Paris, Guest Authors, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Big Thunder Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain in the snow, Disney in the snow, Disneyland Paris, Disneyland Paris in the snow, Disneyland Resort Paris, DLRP, EuroDisney, France, Guest Authors, Guest blogs, Nick Sim, Theme Park News, Theme Park Tourist

Guest Post: Kingdom of Courage

12 October 2011 by Ryan P. Wilson Leave a Comment

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AFRICAN CATSOn Earth Day in 2010, after seeing the trailer for Disneynature: African Cats for the first time, I tweeted out something to the effect that followers should be marking their calendars as the return of True-Life Adventures would begin on 22 April 2011. Today, having viewed the movie in theaters and now in my home, I stand by that unsubstantiated assertion that I felt down in my gut.It isn’t that the creatures featured have been given names to make them more relatable, you find the true depth to the film in its natural narrative of life. The joys of children, the heartache of loss, the thrills of success, and the agony of defeat at the hands of a rival are all present within African Cats, and they are captured without the meddling hands of man. This can cause many stomach churning dilemmas, such as when a cub is lost and the immediate thought is to swoop in and keep a toddling cheetah cub to its safe when hyenas are on the prowl or when one of our heroines is continually injured and seeks a quiet place in the field to move on peacefully when all you want is for someone to give the graceful creature the medical attention she so desperately needs. In a reserve,  the rules is no interference, if simply for the fact that once you begin intruding how do you decide where to stop, what is the line you won’t cross.

The entire feature was shot in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, which borders the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. One of the best preserved savanna systems in the world, Masai Mara provided stunning backdrops and gorgeous vistas which are dropped in throughout the movie. Even with an abundance of animal life and fantastic scenery, it took the filmmakers two years and hundreds of hours of filming to craft the story of African Cats.

African Cats
A little humor here, there were two scenes in the movie that, whether intentional or not, reminded me of counterparts in Walt Disney World. First, the ever-present Thomson’s Gazelles immediately made me shout out, “Tommies!” Secondly, a scene where the lions have hunted a zebra and are standing around the carcass was eerily reminiscent of the Jungle Cruise scene where the pack of lions take care to watch over the sleeping zebra.The bonus features of African Cats are, in a word, lackluster and, if given a second and third word, too brief. One focuses on the Save the Savanna initiative tied to the film’s theatrical and home theater releases. A second gives an introduction to the ties between Disney and the wild corners of the world. Lastly, there is the requisite music video, Jordan Sparks’ “The World I Knew” in this instance.

The true hidden gem of the film’s extras, however, comes in the form of the commentary viewing option. This presentation included pop-up informational tidbits, picture-in-picture interviews with the filmmakers, and breakaway featurettes which could be viewed or passed on by the viewer. These breakout videos include a wealth of information on the Masai Mara, slow motion filmmaking, aerial filming, cinematographers, elephants, flimmakers’ camp, vehicles, rain, filming with Cineflex camera, field assistants and tracking the animals, life in the field, and the musical score.

African Cats originally came with the subtitle, Kingdom of Courage, a title befitting the experience of the filmmakers capturing these tales on film and the cats struggling to raise their precious families. The ability to see and explore these wild arenas, where animal families interact in ways that are similar and strikingly different to our own family groups, is remarkable. African Cats will stun you with its beauty and stories that hit remarkably close to home. The filmmakers have done their job well, you will feel for the cheetahs and lions and, if we’re very lucky, this new True-Life Adventure is only just the tip of the iceberg that will renew our, and our children’s, interest in preserve the wild places left in the world.

African Cats
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Filed Under: Guest Authors, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews Tagged With: African Cats, African Cats review, Disney dvd, Disney live-action films, Disney movies, Disneynature, Guest Authors, Guest blogs, Kingdom of Courage, Movie Reviews, Ryan P. Wilson

Guest Post: Disney-LEGO Studios?

9 September 2011 by Ryan P. Wilson Leave a Comment

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Here’s another fun post from Ryan P. Wilson of the Main St. Gazette. A truly dedicated Disney and LEGO maniac! 😉
…
I’ve been working on a personal project for the past couple of years, a labor (literally) of love that combines two of my favorite passions, Walt Disney World and LEGO. For years now, LEGO has been developing building sets based off of popular franchises, the longest of these collaborations being Star Wars. In 2008, with the introduction of Indiana Jones LEGO sets I had a thought, what if I could build my own Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or a variation of, out of LEGOs?With the spark in my heart and mind I set out to create a park brick by brick. Early on I made the decision that while I could cannibalize various sets and Pick-A-Bricks (LEGO’s online service that allows you to purchase only the bricks you want) to construction spots such as the Hollywood Tower Hotel or Chinese Theatre, that I really wanted to stick to sets everyone could pick up. After years of collecting and assembling, here is the current, though I doubt final, version of LEGO Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Should I dare to call it Disney-LEGO Studios?).

LEGO Studios from Ryan P. Wilson
The Main Street Gazette edition of LEGO Studios!
While I may have purchased and built the entire sets, I did not always include the entire set, occasionally this was due to the fact that the entire set couldn’t be seen inside the Studios. So, what do we have? Representing Star Tours We have the Endor bunker, speeder bike and AT-AT Walker, hosted by R2-D2 and C-3PO (I will admit, Threepio came from a set not listed here, but it felt wrong not to include him). Pixar is embodied by meet and greets for Buzz and Woody, their ship and sheriff’s office respectively, the Green Army Men, and Mater and Lightning. While several scenes from Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular could be utilized, I picked the Cairo scene, for its charm and for the fact that it is the scene that extras (like myself) get to jump into the action. Last, but not least, I’ve included the Pirates of the Caribbean cannibal cage, which can be seen along the Studio Backlot Tour.There are additions or substitutions that could be made. For instance either the Indiana Jones Temple Escape or Flying Wing could be used in place of the Cairo set. Similarly, Jabba’s Sail Barge comes complete with a skiff that could also be used for the Studio Backlot Tour. Also, LEGO has just released an Ewok Attack set whose Endor trees could be used to shelter the AT-AT Walker.

Is it perfect? No. Is it a complete picture of Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Absolutely not. Does it make me smile to have found a way to combine two of my favorite things? You’d better believe it! And yes, yes I am the boy who never grew up.

Sets Utilized:
Pirates of the Caribbean The Cannibal Escape 4182
Indiana Jones Ambush in Cairo 7195
Toy Story Buzz’s Star Command Spaceship 7593
Toy Story Woody’s Round-Up 7594
Toy Story Army Men on Patrol 7595
Star Wars The Battle of Endor 8038
Star Wars AT-AT Walker 8129
Cars Classic Mater 8201
Cars Radiator Springs Lightning McQueen 8200

Supplemental Sets:
Indiana Jones Fight on the Flying Wing 7683
Indiana Jones Temple Escape 7623
Star Wars Ewok Attack 7956
Star Wars Jabba’s Sail Barge 6210

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Filed Under: Guest Authors Tagged With: Guest Authors, guest blog, LEGO, LEGO creations, Main St Gazette, Main Street Gazette, Ryan P. Wilson

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