Disney World – The Christmas Touch

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IMG_0988Disney World – The Christmas Touch

As I’ve mentioned many times, Disney’s all about details.  That’s what makes a Disney vacation so amazing and keeps bringing people (like US!) back time after time.  No matter how often you visit a Disney park or resort, you will always notice new details, big and small.

The Christmas season brings on a whole new level of Disney detail magic.  It gives those Disney magicians the opportunity to go all out and delight you with their imagination, style, humor, and flair for presenting guests with unexpected surprises.   If you’ve neverIMG_0971 been to the World during the holidays, you’ve been missing out on some wonderful experiences guaranteed to fill you with holiday spirit.

We’ve had the privilege of visiting Disney World twice during the holiday season – and yes, because we went during the school break, the crowds were huge!  Except for trying to get out of Epcot once after dinner on New Year’s Eve, the throngs of visitors did not detract from our enjoyment of all the special Disney touches we found.  I’m sorry we aren’t able to visit this year – I hate to miss out on the Jingle Cruise – a new Disney magical surprise this year at Disney World that gives the Jungle Cruise a holiday IMG_0968overlay and seasonal Skipper dialogue!

I’ve put together a list of five of the special Disney holiday surprises we experienced once upon a time:

Chocolate sculpture at the Contemporary – this was an amazingly extravagant scene from Pinocchio entirely made of chocolate.  I’m sure this was a one-time-only bit of magic and I felt very lucky to have been there to see it! IMG_0970

Main Street USA and the streets of Disney’s Hollywood Studios all decked out in their holiday best.

Christmas Trees!  Everywhere and each one had its own design and special ornaments; themed for each tree’s particular location.  I was especially taken by the ornaments on the large tree outside the entrance to Animal Kingdom – fantastic!

IMG_1135Santa hats – on everyone!  Even the Spitting Stitch at Downtown Disney and the gigantic Dinosaur at Dinoland in Animal Kingdom.

Best of all – Cinderella Castle.  Pictures (mine, at least) cannot do justice to the beauty that is the castle covered in 200,000 lights.  Some people say it looks dipped in sugar – I think it looks like Elsa from Frozen covered it in ICE!  Stunningly gorgeous and completely breathtaking – for me, this is the very best holiday touch at Disney World.

IMG_1244If you’re been to Disney World at Christmastime, what was your favorite bit of Disney holiday magic?

Disney Mickey Bars – How We Love You!

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IMG_1237I read lots of Disney blogs.  Disney snacks are a hot topic!  Disney bloggers and their readers are very opinionated about their favorite, must-have Disney vacation snack.  You know, that one food item that calls to you and when you bite into it, you know you’re at Disney?  Having no shortage of my own opinions, I’m wading into the fray.

I know there are big-time Disney churro lovers, and soft Mickey pretzel fans, folks that dig those frozen lemonades, and those who consider the chocolate croissant or a Mickey shaped ice cream sandwich a must.

As for me, even born without a sweet tooth, it’s the Mickey ice cream bar – all the way!  I must have one at some point on my Disney vacation.  IMG_5182Personally, I think they taste the best when eaten under a blue, sunny Florida sky while walking in Future World at Epcot.  While I wait in line to make my purchase, I can just imagine how the chocolate will feel when I take the first bite – the muffled crunch it will make as that smooth delicious exterior gives way.  Then I’ve got to eat pretty quickly or wear drips of ice cream on my shirt for the rest of the day!  I know – it’s just a plain old chocolate covered vanilla ice cream bar.  But this one’s special.  It’s sweet, cold, just the right size and shaped like Mickey’s head!  How could any vacation food be better than that?

IMG_2370Last time I went to Disney World, I brought a Mickey Bar home with me.  I saw a package of souvenir Disney snack magnets and couldn’t wait to buy them.  Reminded gently by Raymond that we have a stainless steel refrigerator – where would those magnets go?  Not to worry!  I turned them into Christmas ornaments!!!

So, what about you?  Dole whip, turkey leg, school bread, citrus swirl, a funnel cake perhaps?  Which snack makes your Disney visits special?DSCN2572

Songza App Review for Disney Fans

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General Dis Pics 11.13 109Not long ago while riding in the car with both of my children – a very rare occurance these days, I can tell you – one of them took over our musical entertainment by plugging in their iphone to the car’s audio jack and playing… Disney tunes!  I was happily surprised by the choice and jealous of their playlist.  When I asked if they’d downloaded all those awesome songs from itunes, they said, NO – it’s an app called Songza!  WHAT?

Songza is a music streaming site with a free app (you can pay $3.99/month to have an add-free version) that will quite literally play any and all types of music, courtesy of a “music concierge” based on what you want to hear aGeneral Dis Pics 11.13 111t any given time.  I couldn’t believe it!  How had I never heard of this before?  I’m always listening to music when I run and it can get expensive to keep adding songs to make new playlists when one gets boring.

Skeptical by nature (probably growing up in Missouri has something to do with it), I said, “show me!”.  People!  This thing is awesome!  When you open the app, you see information from the concierge – what day it is, what time of day, what your playlist options are (based on what you’re doing) for a quick selection (if that’s what you want) – like songs for singing in the shower, for example.

If you’re like me and you want a very specific playlist, move General Dis Pics 11.13 104onto the next screen and choose “Genres” and then on the screen after that – you’ll be presented with tons of choices ranging from Bluegrass to Disco, Hawaiian, Indie, Jazz, several types of Latin, Pop, Rap, Reggae, and more – The last choice on the list is Showtunes!  In that category alone there are TEN playlist choices – like Songs From Animated Movies –  Most of which are DISNEY!!!  The Animated Movies playlist also appears under the “Children’s” genre section along with other choices like Pretty Princess Magic Mix, Superheroes and Dinosaurs!, and Sweet Lullabies (and more).

If you choose “Activities” or “Moods” instead of “Genres” and you can choose playlists suitable for doing things like Ballroom Dancing, Being Creative, Breaking Up, Curing Road Rage, Pleasing A Crowd or acompanying moods like Angsty, Celebratory, Funky, Motivational, Nocturnal. (Loads of other choices)

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Using the search function, you can, for example, enter a particular artist you like, let’s say Randy Newman for instance.  You’ll be presented with a list of different playlists to choose from – all based on your search for Randy Newman.  Not all of the songs will be Randy Newman songs, but his songs will be among the ones making up the playlists – a sort of if-you-like-Randy-Newman-you-should-also-like-these sort of thing.  There are many more options and features – it’s a pretty amazing array!

If you like music of any type of music and Disney music in particular, Songza is pretty fantastic and FREE!  Have you tried it?  What did you think?

In case you’re curious – I have no sponsors on my blog, so if I’m telling you about a product or service – it’s purely because I like it, not because I’m being paid to do so.  If that ever changes, I’ll make a full disclosure – promise.

General Dis Pics 11.13 105

 

Ten Excellent Disney Supporting Characters

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I like a good story – any good story will do.  The Fam pretty much all feel the same way ’cause we LOVE movies.  In the theater, on pay-per-view, TV, DVD, it doesn’t matter.  If it’s a good story, we want to see it.  Of course our favorite stories are of the Disney variety.  One of the things that makes Disney movies so wonderful is the ever-present side-kick for Disney heros and heroines.  Our favorite toy, prince, princess, clown fish, lost boy or super hero wouldn’t make it to the happily-ever-after part without a steadfast companion by their side.

Today I’ve put together a list of ten excellent Disney supporting characters and why we love ’em.

In no particular order:

1.  Jessie – Little bit tom-boy and part girly-girl – Happy by nature, Jessie’s learned from the school of hard knocks how painful loving people can be.  Jessie is a major worrier at times, but finds happiness in the little moments – like dancing with “Spanish Buzz”.  She’s at her best when overcoming her fears to prove herself a brave, loyal and trust-worthy friend.

2.  Edna Mode – Edna’s rough exterior hides a marshmallow center.  Forced to design for the IMG_2322fashion industry after the Supers go into hiding (“Super models, HA!  Nothing “super” about them.  Spoiled, stupid little stick figures with poofy lips who think only about themselves – FEH, I used to design for GODS!”).  Edna’s bark is much worse than her bite – clearly she loves the Parr family and is ecstatic to be included as an integral part of their return to the spotlight in the fight against evil – NO CAPES!

3. Lumiere – a little more fun-loving than his buddy and co-worker Cogsworth, Lumiere not only gets to sing the best (to us) big musical number of Beauty and the Beast, he remains calm under pressure and lights the way to victory in battle.

4. Abu – a monkey of few words, he stands by his BFF even when he doesn’t like Aladdin’s decisions.  Abu puts up with a lot:  hunger, poverty, homelessness, freezing, mushy lovey-dovey parts, and even being turned into an elephant – but stays the course admirably and loves our hero selflessly to the end.

General Dis Pics 11.13 1025. Jiminy Cricket – like many of our picks, Jiminy is given an assignment – to be Pinocchio’s conscience.  Appointed by the Blue Fairy, Jiminy is cheerfully up to the task – remaining by Pinocchio through thick and through thin, proving himself to be a steadfast, “got-your-back” kind of guy.  And now he gets to host Wishes – and it just wouldn’t be the same without him!

6. Sebastian – a crab with a very tough job – Keep the god of the seas happy while “managing”  King Triton’s wayward, strong-willed yet lovable teenaged daughter.  Luckily, Sebastian is Aerial’s biggest fan and believes in her happily ever after.  Bonus points for the smoothly awesome Jamaican accent.

7. Mushu – like Sebastian, Mushu has a tough job and his own agenda – sent by the ancestors to keep up with another wayward daughter, Mushu thinks it’ll be the easiest and quickest way to reclaim is Guardian status.  Little does he know he’ll have to put his own ambitions on the back burner to help our heroine save China – which he does with aplomb.  Honorable mention to “Cricky” who is the luckiest bug we know.

8. Dory – she may be forgetful, but she’s got no shortage of patience, love and understanding – plus, she speaks a mean whale – and you never know when that’s going to be a critically important skill.  We are anxiously awaiting Finding Dory in 2016.

9. Sven – another character of few words, this reindeer-that-acts-like-a-dog is Frozen’s version of a conscience for Kristoff.  Like so many of our favorite supporting characters, Sven is loving and loyal, even when Kristoff makes horrible decisions.  Believing in a hero’s ability to be a hero – even when they don’t believe in themselves – is a great side-kick’s most important task.

10. Baloo – he’s the good cop to Bagheera’s bad – fun-loving and care-free, Baloo knows in the end that he’ll have to go along with whatever is best for Mowgli, even if it means being separated – He gets to croon “Bare Necessities” while teaching Mowgli to survive in the jungle – one of the best Disney tunes EVER!

Piglet, Pascal, Tinkerbell, LeFou, GusGus and Jacques – there are SO many more!  Who are your favorite Disney supporting characters?