Monthly Archives: May 2015

Ten Disney Moms and Why They’re Great

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Helen Parr and JackJackToday is Mother’s Day – a great time to appreciate your mom and enjoy be appreciated as a mom (as the case may be).  Nearly all of the Disney Facebook and Twitter folks I follow will have mom-related posts in honor of the occasion.  Me?  I’m taking the day off.  And I’m sure it will be great!  Megan and Joseph are certain to put in an appearance and family time is the best time!

Seeing all those mom tributes, though, makes me think about some of my favorite moms of the Disney variety.  Disney movies often have important mom roles – although in a lot of cases, the role is filled by someone other than a character’s biological mother.  Those, unfortunately, often meet with an early demise…what is up with that, anyway?  Whatever kind of mom they are, there’s a group of Disney moms I think deserve to be celebrated.  What better time than Mother’s Day?

Ten Disney Moms and Why They’re Great:

10. Kala:  Yes, she’s an ape, but she rushed to rescue human little Tarzan from certain doom!  Then she loved him as much as any mother possibly could.  She’s absolutely phenomenal as a mom.

9. Mrs. Jumbo:  Back in the days when storks brought babies, Dumbo’s mom was completely and totally smitten with her big-eared arrival.  Who could ask for a better mother than that?  Don’t we all have our moments of feeling the unlovable misfit?Mrs. Jumbo

8. Bambi’s Mother:  Okay – granted, she wasn’t around for long, but made the ultimate sacrifice.  After loving and bonding with her darling baby, she knows what will happen if the hunters find Bambi and makes the ultimate sacrifice.  So sad!

7. Andy’s Mom:  Andy may or may not have had a dad around, but no matter, his mom totally rocks!  She supported Andy’s make-believe world, took him to Pizza Planet, and got him all the latest and greatest toys – what kid could ask for more?

6. Eleanor (Merida’s Mother):  Not sure I could forgive my kid for seeking out a witch, buying a spell with an important piece of jewelry, and turning me into a bear (along with my other children!) – this lady is certainly more woman than I could ever hope to be – seriously, if Merida had been my kid, not so sure she would have gotten off so easily – so, cheers to the forgiving and patient mothers everywhere!

Mrs. Potts and Chip5. Mrs. Potts:  Survives becoming china with all her offspring – Mrs. Potts is just as sweet and motherly as she can be!  Wow!  I’m a little bit jealous of her ability to remain calm under any circumstance.  Oh, and that voice!  Nobody makes you feel more loved than Angela Lansbury!

4. Coral (Nemo’s Mom):  First, points to Coral for even marrying Marlin in the first place – I’m pretty sure his OCD/worry-wart tendencies had to have been evident prior to tying the knot and would have been a deal-breaker for me.  Then…whoa!  Using herself as bait to keep certain death from claiming every one of her children.  That’s a MOM!  Luckily for her, Marlin figures out in the end how to be as great parent as Coral could have hoped for.

3. Frigga:  Thor and Loki’s mom clearly loved both her children (in all their imperfect beauty, arrogance and vulnerability) exactly the same – she was the epitome of maternal adoration to the very end – her end.  Managing to save virtually everyone else.  Excellent demonstration of maternal goddess-ness!

2. Nani Pelekai:  After losing both of her parents, Nani takes on the upbringing of both Lelo AND Stitch.  She could easily have played the “I’m too young for so much responsibility” card and opted out.  But no, Nani’s willing to do whatever it takes to honor her parents and keep Lelo by her side – even when things get really tough.

1. Helen Parr:  Tough, loving, caring, and, above all, flexible (ha!), this mom to Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack is the very best sort of mom – always rooting for her family, even when they seem determined to let her down.  Of all the Disney moms mentioned here today, Helen is the closest to who I’d like to be if I could be a Disney mom.

Well, there you have it – Living a Disney Life’s salute to Disney mothers everywhere!

Who made your top ten list?

 

 

 

Walt Disney Family Museum in California

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Welcome to the weekend and this addition of Saturdays with Nick.  Today we’re going back in time to the summer of 2013 when Nick visited the Walt Disney Family Museum – a place I’ve wanted to visit for a long time.  I love One Man’s Dream in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and thought the Treasures from the Disney Archives exhibit in Chicago was incredible, both would pale by comparison, I’m sure, to the museum in California.  Someday I’ll get there!

Walt Disney Family Museum in California

I’m not even sure where to begin to describe the scope of this tribute to a person who has brought joy to countless millions around the world.
While visiting, one word kept popping into my head. Overwhelming.
I visited the Walt Disney Family Museum located in San Francisco within the Presidio on a dreary Monday, arriving a little later than I’d hoped, about 11:15am.

The museums hours are Wednesday to Monday 10am-6pm, with last ticket sales at 4:45pm. Closed Tuesdays, New Year’s Day, Christmas and Thanksgiving.
If you intend to see everything, you can easily spend the entire 8 hours doing so. Indeed, if you are interested in the special exhibits being held as well, you could dedicate 2 days.
Upon entering, you are greeted by the ticket counter and cabinets containing some of the awards and honors Walt received throughout his all too short of a lifetime.

Venice International Film Festival Trofeo d’Arte della Biennale for Snow White, 1938
Honorary Academy Awards for Snow White

There were also pieces of art that hung in his home found here, and furniture from his apartment in Disneyland.
This is where the word overwhelming first popped into my head!
Ticket prices are $20 for Adults, $15 for Seniors and Students with valid ID, and $12 for children.
There are also different levels of Membership. If I was a California resident, or even within a reasonable distance to San Francisco, I would become a member. There are special programs, films, events, exhibitions and talks through the year. There are monthly film screenings, and “Animate Your Night” after hours museum parties!
Overwhelming.
I paid my $20 to enter, and then heard a young man next to me say he was a D23 Member, and received a $5 discount! I turned to the gentleman who gave me my ticket, and said I too was a D23 Member. He was very gracious in refunding my $5! So if you’re a D23 Member, bring your card!
By the time I was done looking at some of Walt’s accomplishments, it was nearly Noon!
I got lunch at the Cafe which is right next to the entrance. I had a tuna sandwich, which was phenomenal, chips, and an even more amazing cookie. It wasn’t cheap, but it was filling and delicious.
I was now ready to enter the Museum!
The first 2 galleries take you through the beginning of the Disney Family and Walt’s life leading up to his arrival in Hollywood in 1923.
You then take an elevator up to continue.

The following galleries on the 2nd floor take you through stages of his career, including his earliest successes and failures, creation of Mickey Mouse, the Silly Symphonies, merchandise, comics, innoventions, inventions…overwhelming.

   The earliest known drawing of Mickey Mouse!
Cel from the first Technicolor cartoon, “Flowers and Trees”.

Throughout are family photos and momentos from the time period represented.

 Walt and Lillian’s Marriage License

It was now coming up on 3pm, and I was only at Snow White which occupies one whole gallery; and I thought “Uh oh, if I keep going at this pace, I’ll be here until Wednesday!”

I needed a breather. So I walked through the rest of the galleries, just to get an overview. This made things worse!
Again, and I cannot stress this enough, if you are a fan of Walt Disney and want to see and read everything, you will need the entire day, if not two, especially if, like me, you spend time chatting with some of the absolutely amazing employees and other visitors for extended periods of time.
You can also spend an inordinate amount of time taking video and photos.
This is all fine and well, but pacing and planning, like visiting a Disney Park, is important.
I wound up skimming through the early animated features section much quicker than I would have liked; but, as I will absolutely be returning in the future, decided I needed to make a sacrifice.
I picked back up in the World War 2 era.

The galleries are so inventively laid out and artistic that you can be caught for extended periods of time just admiring the artistry.

When you come to the long hallway overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, stop and relax a moment. Take in the beauty. Prepare yourself for what is to come.

At the end of this hallway is a bench from Griffith Park where Walt would sit and watch his daughters Diane and Sharon play, which made him think how nice it would be to have a clean park where families could share time together. This started the emotional ball rolling. I sat in it. I burst into tears.

Then you enter a gallery so breathtaking you just need to stop and gawk.

We see Walt’s train, the Carolwood Pacific, the TV era, and the creation of Disneyland.
I was told that the gigantic model of Disneyland represented the years and attractions Walt was personally involved with.
We come to the 1964 New York World’s Fair, the many innoventions this brought, and the plans for the Florida Project and Epcot.
Then we come to the inevitable.

No more words need be said. Except maybe one. Overwhelming.

You can find and follow Nick on all his social medias:   Disney Musings Blog / Disney Musings on Twitter / Disney Musings on Instagram / Disney Musings on Facebook

Five Ways to be an Awesome Parent at WDW

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Ready for Toy Story Midway Mania Sure, it’s plenty easy to consider yourself a pretty darn amazing parent for just handling the logistics and footing the bill for a family vacation to Walt Disney World – and you’d be sort of right.  It IS a big deal to plan and pay for a Disney vacation these days, I’ll give you that.  But if you want to get the most out of these trips, you have to keep a few things in mind.  Yeah, I’m showing my age again, but I have been taking my children on Disney vacations for almost 20 years – benefit from my mistakes and pay close attention now.

Five Ways to be an Awesome Parent at Walt Disney World…

1.  Stay out of the shops – Your family will be exposed to a toy, treat, or souvenir buying opportunity about every six feet while visiting each park.  Balloon vendors, Disney pin kiosks, souvenir carts, pre-parade light-up-toy sellers…the temptation to buy is literally everywhere!!!  If you don’t intend to purchase something every ten minutes, try not to expose little ones to so many opportunities for you to say NO!  I’m aware that you cannot exit many rides without passing through a gift shop, but over-exposure to all that merchandise is a meltdown waiting to happen.  Cut down on this by pre-purchasing some sale t-shirts or dollar-store Disney items before you ever leave home & bring those with you as special treats.  If you need to shop, try to do it on your own.Balloon Vendor on Main Street U.S.A.

2. Put your smart phone or tablet away – I know those devices have become an enormous part of everyday life, but if ever there was a time to focus on the little people you’re raising, it’s while you’re away from home.  There is so much to take in at Walt Disney World, so many opportunities to focus on new and exciting (and sometimes scary) things – what a great gift we can give our kids if we stay in the moment, relaxed and happy, soaking it all up with them.  Think for a minute how lonely it might be to be much shorter than those around you all the time (or being confined to a stroller) while the people you love most in the world are constantly texting or filming a parade or show instead of enjoying this time with you, on your level.DSCN3755

3. Make wait times family times – As a lifelong habitual people-watcher, I tend to notice what other people do while waiting in line.  Most of them are doing nothing but looking bored or unhappy or impatient.  We like to talk.  To each other.  We might ask “ice breaker” questions – open-ended queries intended to make us think about or look for particular things.  This is where Disney trivia, Hidden Mickeys, looking up, looking down, and focusing on those magical Disney details will help you raise a new generation of Disney fans.In line at Disney

4. Get drenched – Little ones love those resort pools, water rides and parks, and splash-and-play areas.  These are especially fun and exciting at Walt Disney World.  Stop worrying about how you look and what you’re wearing.  Plan ahead so you have no excuse not to jump right on in there and play!  Nobody cares about your hair or makeup except YOU.  Hats, sunglasses, quick-drying clothing, and water-friendly shoes are invaluable.  Take the time to gear up and be ready to have a soaking good time!  These are the times your kids will remember most.Kali River Rapids / Disney's Animal Kingdom

5. Have fun and don’t be crabby – Part of being the parent sometimes involves the challenge of letting things go.  Let go of worry, stress from home that may have followed you on vacation, irritation from getting less-than-magical service, being hot, bored, lost, hungry – you get the idea.  Fake it ’til you make it if you have to, but put on a happy face, focus on the positives, and remind yourself that your offspring’s childhood is but a fleeting moment in the grand scheme of things.  You don’t get a do-over on these memories – make ’em count.

Let me hear from you!  What are your best tips for being an awesome parent at WDW?

Our Next Disney Cruise

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DSCN3322I don’t get as many questions from friends, family and coworkers about why we’re taking another Disney cruise as I usually get about returning to Walt Disney World again and again.  But I still get asked why we keep choosing Disney Cruise Line since our children are now adults.  Raise your hand if you feel my pain here!  We sail with Disney Cruise Line because we love the atmosphere (no casinos, lots of family-friendly activities), the service, the food, the shows, and the large, well-appointed staterooms.  Oh, and we love the itineraries.  Speaking of which, our next trip is coming up this summer and excited doesn’t begin to describe how we feel about this particular Disney vacation!

Our Next Disney Cruise – The Top 10 Things I’m Most Looking Forward to…  (Sure, I coulda said, The Top 10 Things to Which I’m Most Looking Forward, but I want you guys to like me!)

10.  Traveling to far off lands on a grand adventure!  We’ll be visiting Denmark and Norway, both for the first time, and cannot wait to see the beauty of these countries while learning a bit about their cultures.IMG_4758

9.  The Disney Magic!  On one hand, having sailed on the Magic three times before, it’ll be a bit like visiting an old friend.  We haven’t seen her since her makeover though, so we’re looking forward to her new-and-improved form.

8. The Food!  We think the restaurants on Disney Cruise Line’s rotational dining are wonderful – add in a visit to Palo for an adults-only dining experience and we’re set for some pretty amazing meals.  Oh, did I forget to mention the on-deck quick-service pizza and treats?  The soft-serve ice cream?  The no-extra-charge in-room dining?  Oh, yeah, we’re stoked about the food.DSCN0624

7. The Entertainment!  Disney’s live shows are top notch – renowned as being the best in the cruise industry.  We’ll also be able to enjoy just-released movies, live music, comedians, and more.

6.  The Service!  We may be changing dining rooms each evening, but (except for Palo) our servers will stay the same.  They quickly learn guests’ likes and preferences and can be relied on to deliver friendly, efficient, and personalized service throughout the entire cruise.  Our cabin steward will, based on prior cruise experiences, seemingly never sleep and remain nearby, waiting for an opportunity to be of assistance.  As a family of complete slobs, whose suitcases seem to explode everywhere, the fact that our cabin continuously stays neat and orderly is magical indeed.  The towel animals, turndown service, and bedtime chocolates don’t hurt either.sc0001ec3b01 DSCN1721

5.  The Characters!  I know, if the kids were little, you could understand this one better.  But there is nothing that compares to the charm and excitement of seeing your favorite Disney characters and Princesses everyday, sometimes unexpectedly, always willing to pose for a picture.  I once ran into Mickey and Minnie in their formalwear on the Red Carpet before The Golden Mickeys show and I got such a kick out of it!

4.  Frozen!  Oh, hush up.  I know I’ve said a thing or two in the past about the Frozen-ization of Walt Disney World and how hurt I was when Anna and Elsa booted Snow White and Aurora from Princess Fairytale Hall, but if Frozen fits in anywhere, it’s on a cruise to the fjords of Norway!  We get a Frozen-themed deck party! (and more!)Norway-Magnet-Pic2 (2)

3.  Copenhagen!  I could go on and on about Hans Christian Andersen, Tivoli Gardens and the Disney connection to them both.  And I probably will.  Go on and on, I mean.  Check back when I get back and brace yourself for tons of posts packed full of all the deets!  First we’ll explore the city on a Segway tour and then we’ll spend an evening experiencing the Tivoli Gardens.  If jet lag doesn’t slow us down too much, this will be an excellent day.

2.  The Excursions!  In Stavanger, we’ll be hiking to Pulpit Rock!  In Alesund, we’ll be kayaking!  In Geiranger, we’ve chosen a “Sky to Fjord Bicycle Adventure” and in Bergen, we’ll explore via the “Hanseatic Bergen And Mount Fløien Walking Tour”!  Lots of action-packed, fun-filled excitement awaits!!!IMG_6407 IMG_6402

1.  Spending time with our kids!  They’re grown = we hardly ever see them.  We’re busy, they’re busy – our intentions are good, but we don’t get to spend as much time together as we’d like – and that is the beauty of a family vacation – lots of time to reconnect, catch up and celebrate what we love so much about each other.  I’ll get to have all-of-the-above, in their company, for more than a week!  (Now I’m secretly hoping they’ll do their best to make me sick of them, so I won’t miss them too much after we get home.)Norway DCL Luggage

Do you have a Disney cruise in your future?  What are YOU looking forward to?