Category News

Mar 12 2015

Disney World 24-Hour Kickoff To The Coolest Summer Ever

24 Hour Disney Event

Have you heard the exciting news? Disney World is bringing back the 24-Hour event to kick off summer! Here are the details from Disney:

24-Hour Kickoff to Summer Travel

Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start of family vacation time, and Walt Disney World Resort will launch into the season full force. The Magic Kingdom will be open 24 hours to guests from 6am to 6am, Friday May 22 to Saturday, May 23. Guests will be invited to come in costume to show their Disney Side while a selection of favorite attractions, entertainment, special event merchandise, plus food and beverage are on tap all night long to celebrate the start of the “Coolest Summer Ever” at Walt Disney World Resort. The around-the-clock celebration features Disney character greetings, dance parties and surprises into the wee hours of the night.

Coolest Summer Ever“Coolest Summer Ever” Brings Excitement Throughout Walt Disney World Resort

During the “Coolest Summer Ever,” with Olaf as the official host, Walt Disney World guests can get their cool on all summer long at four theme parks and two water parks.

Among the highlights:

Frozen Fun – “Frozen” Summer Fun LIVE will bring together Princess Anna, Queen Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf with citizens of Arendelle, all appearing daily in shows and experiences at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, June 17 – September 7. Guests will find cool thrills this summer including a royal processional, a sing-along show, Frozen-themed treats and merchandise, plus a Frozen fireworks display above Hollywood Blvd.

Cool Thrill Rides – Guests will find thrills from mild to wild to out of this world in all four Walt Disney World theme parks. Don’t-miss attractions include Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom; Test Track presented by Chevrolet and Soarin’ at Epcot; Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom; Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Star Wars Weekends – Guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will find stars from another galaxy during Star Wars Weekends May 15 – June 14.

New Restaurants and Shopping – Throughout the summer, new waterfront dining and boutique shops flow into the Downtown Disney shopping/dining/entertainment district as its transformation into Disney Springs continues.

Epcot Entertainment – New entertainment acts will appear throughout Epcot World Showcase, which also brings a fresh summery twist on a fan favorite, Voices of Liberty.

A Splash at Water Parks – A cool new deal doubles the fun at Disney’s two iconic water parks – Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach. Purchase a one-day water park ticket and park-hop between the two water parks in the same day that both are open.

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Will you be attending the 24-Hour Summer Kickoff?
Are you excited for the “Coolest Summer Ever”? Please leave a comment!

Mar 11 2015

Epcot Egg-stravaganza Returns For Easter 2015

Disney Easter Egg Hunt

Returning this year just in time for Easter is Disney’s popular Egg-stravaganza at Epcot. Beginning March 27 through April 5, you can search for special Disney character hidden eggs throughout Epcot. As you find each egg, you can record your discovery by placing the corresponding sticker on your Egg-stravaganza map. The special map and stickers are available for purchase for $4.95 plus tax at Heritage Manor Gifts (American Adventure Pavilion), Pin Central, Port of Entry, and World Traveler (International Gateway). Whether you are able to locate all of the eggs or not, you can return your map to Port of Entry by April 30 for a prize. Please remember – supplies are limited.

Epcot Egg Hunt Map

Epcot Egg-stravaganza Map

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Happy Easter!

Mar 10 2015

Updated Entertainment At Epcot’s World Showcase

If you are going to be heading to Epcot soon for the Flower and Garden Festival, be sure to check out some of the new entertainment that Disney has added over the last few months. Here’s the scoop from Disney Parks Blog:

Italy Flag ThrowingItaly

Join in the music, energy and flair of the spectacularly choreographed flag-throwing team of Sbandieratori Di Sansepolcro. Featuring hand-painted flags, magnificent period costumes and live music, the Sbandieratori bring to dynamic life a rich, 500-year Italian tradition that’s not to be missed.

 

Acoustic Band UK EpcotUnited Kingdom

Strolling the quaint streets of the United Kingdom pavilion, you can enjoy a delightful, acoustic performance by Paul McKenna Band, a traditional four-piece group from Glasgow, Scotland, whose contemporary approach to songs never strays too far from their Scottish, folk music roots.

 

Canadian LumberjacksCanada

On the Mill Stage, the Canadian Lumberjacks demonstrate their professional skills in a safe and friendly competition, a time-honored tradition from Canada’s great timber and logging areas, featuring axe throwing, chopping, log rolling and more.

 

Morocco Berber MusicMorocco

B’net Al Houwariyate, a multi-generational Berber music and dance troupe from Marrakesh, takes to the Medina stage of the Morocco pavilion for a lively and interactive performance, illuminating the stories and experiences of women in Morocco.

Voices of LibertyAmerica

Voices of Liberty has a fresh new look and sound for their appearances on the outdoor stage at America Gardens Theatre. Two days each week, this remarkable 8-part a cappella group is bringing their talents to even more guests, performing fresh arrangements of popular American songs, both classic and contemporary. Voices of Liberty will continue their traditional performances in the rotunda of The American Adventure pavilion Wednesday through Sunday each week.

If you aren’t familiar with the Voices of Liberty, they are an incredibly talented a cappella group. Here’s a video to give you a sneak peek of one of their recently added songs.

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

What about you? Have you seen any of these new acts?
What did you think? Please leave a comment!

Mar 9 2015

Disney Movie Review – McFarland USA

McFarland USAA couple of weeks ago, my friend Freddie and I decided it was time for a girl’s night out. Both being fans of the movies and all things Disney, we thought an evening seeing the newest Disney release, McFarland USA, would be perfect. Although Freddie and I aren’t former high school athletes (she was in gymnastics before her high school days and I was on dance team in high school – a fun team activity, but not exactly competitive in nature), we were still looking forward to the story of the film. So we grabbed our popcorn and soda and settled in for the show!

McFarland USA

McFarland USA is based on the true story of coach Jim White (played by Kevin Costner) and the team that he puts together and eventually leads to California’s first statewide cross-country championship. The film begins with White getting fired from his high school football coaching position and relocating his family for the only job that he can find in a small rural town in northern California – McFarland. Things are rough for White, his wife, and two daughters as they struggle to begin their new life and fit in to McFarland; a town known only for its prison and fields. After some set backs at his new job, White notices one of his students running home from school and times him. He discovers that Thomas, his student, can run a five-minute mile. With his newfound information, White gets permission to start a cross-country team and puts together an unlikely group of runners that include Thomas, who is only running so that he doesn’t get suspended, and the three Diaz brothers all of whom spend their free time in working in the fields. The movie follows the story of Coach White and his team through their struggles and triumphs as they make their way to the statewide cross-county championship.

McFarland USA

Freddie and I loved McFarland USA! If you are a fan of sports movies and unlikely heroes, this film is for you. Like other classic sports films, the characters in McFarland USA go through many difficult times and have to put in much hard work to achieve their common goal. Important life lessons are learned not just by the team members, but by Coach White as well. This movie and its underlying themes of cooperation, teamwork, and inclusiveness were truly inspiring. I would recommend McFarland USA for children 8 years old and up. Due to the film’s sports theme and many male lead characters, you may find that boys enjoy it and can relate to it a bit more. I’ve included the trailer below and for more details, reviews, ratings and for help determining if it might be right for your family, please check out this link.

Have you seen McFarland USA?
Did you enjoy it? Please leave a comment!

Mar 7 2015

Covears For Your Mickey Mouse Ears Giveaway Winner

The Winner

Congratulations to Cathleen who won a pair of The Yellow Polkas Covears! Thanks to everyone who took the time to enter and be sure to follow me on Twitter and Facebook to hear about more free giveaways throughout 2015!

Interested in getting your own pair of Covears? Please click this link to purchase a pair today!

The Review

Have you seen these adorable Covears? A few weeks ago Jason and Taren, the founders of Covears, contacted me and asked if I would like to review a pair of these cuties. Of course, I jumped at the chance. In case you aren’t familiar with this new fashion trend, Covears are these fantastic fabric covers that slide right over the ears on your hat so that you can change it up to match your outfit or mood for a day in the parks.

CovearsI was amazed at how quickly my Covears arrived. Their turnaround time for orders is just one business day and they offer shipping via USPS First Class Mail for $1.50 (no estimated delivery date) or Priority Mail for $6.10 (estimated delivery within two to three business days). Taren sent my Covears via First Class mail and they arrived in just a couple of days. The packaging was so precious, I almost didn’t want to open them!

After I admired the wrapping and snapped a few pictures, I tore into the package. The first thing that I was impressed with was the fabric quality. The Covears are made of a nice polyester and Lycra blend so it gives them a smooth and sleek look. Next up was putting them on my ears.

The process was super simple. They slid right on and in a matter of seconds we were trying them out!

These cute Covears were exactly what we needed to brighten our snowy day here in Colorado!

Here’s all of the important information that you’ll need to get yourself a pair:

  • Covears are available for purchase on GetCovears.com.
  • They are $9.95 per pair.
  • They do not come with the ears hat.
  • They are machine washable.
  • They fit standard youth and adult size hats.
  • They come in these eight delightful styles:

Covears are a great way to get a new look!