Nov 11 2014

Do You Want To Build A Snowman? How To Draw Olaf

As I am writing this, the temperature outside my window has plummeted and the snow has begun to fall. By tomorrow, I might actually be able to go outside and build a snowman. However, I am not a fan of cold weather so I think I would much rather stay inside my warm and cozy house and try my hand at drawing a snowman instead. I love the Animation Academy at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. On every trip, my family and I go there to attempt to draw one of Disney’s beloved characters. Sometimes our creations are true works of art and other times they are just hilarious souvenirs. If you get the chance, I highly recommend trying it the next time you are in Disney World. In the meantime, please check out this video on how to draw everyone’s favorite snowman, Olaf, right in the comfort of your own home! And if you are like me and wishing for a just little more summer, please check out Olaf singing “In Summer.”

Happy Holidays!

Nov 5 2014

Disney World News – Big Hero 6 Arrives At Hollywood Studios

Anyone else excited for this Friday’s release of the new Disney film, Big Hero 6? My boys and I have been watching the preview of this movie for months and can’t wait to see it. Disney is preparing for its release as well by readying a new Meet & Greet and creating lots of great Big Hero 6 merchandise. Here’s the scoop from Disney Parks Blog:

Big Hero 6 Meet & Greet

After Disney’s new animated feature Big Hero 6 hits theaters in November, the stars of the film are heading to Disney Parks to greet their fans. At Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s Hollywood Studios guests can step inside The Magic of Disney Animation attraction to tour the lab from the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology, and then meet Hiro Hamada and his huggable buddy Baymax in Hiro’s garage workshop.

Big Hero 6 Merchandise

There are merchandise items that were developed specifically for Disney Parks. They include some apparel items and a six-pin, open edition pin set. In select merchandise locations in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort, guests will also find a limited release, graphic MagicBand. In order to purchase this retail MagicBand, guests must present one of the following for the MagicBand to be linked to at the time of purchase: valid theme park admission, Memory Maker card or an active MagicBand. A D-Tech on Demand case for the iPhone 5/5S will be released at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. In the D-Tech on Demand boutique at the Marketplace Co-Op in Downtown Disney Marketplace, guests will soon find six new art designs with characters from the film. The cases shown above are for the iPhone 6, but they are also offered for iPhone 4/4S, iPhone 5/5S, iPhone 5C, Samsung Galaxy SIII and Samsung Galaxy S4 at the boutique. We will begin offering cases for iPhone 6+ and Samsung Galaxy S5 later in November at D-Tech on Demand. Finally, there will be a limited release Vinylmation mystery series coming to Disney Parks in early November.

Please look for my review of Big Hero 6 this Friday, November 7!

Oct 29 2014

Disney World News – Move It! Shake It! Reimagined At Magic Kingdom

The Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Parade at Magic Kingdom has been reimagined. Beginning last Friday, the parade has taken on a new name and more of a dance party style. Now called the Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! Street Party, this updated experience is even more interactive and is filled with upbeat music and favorite characters. Here’s the scoop from the Disney Parks Blog:

The fun starts as a parade of giant gift boxes make their way down Main Street, U.S.A. toward the Central Plaza in front of Cinderella Castle. Everyone’s invited to follow the procession and dance along to the original song, “Party Up!” Once party hosts Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy pop up, it’s time to join in and dance with our party peeps and favorite Disney pals like Stitch and Phineas and Ferb.

You’ll “Move It!” You’ll “Shake It!” And when it comes time to “Play It,” you’ll even get to vote for the next song on the party playlist!

This street party promises to be so much fun, you’re going to want to share the excitement with all your family and friends. When you post those awesome selfies to Twitter and Instagram, be sure to tag them with #MoveItShakeItPics. They may just show up on the floats as part of a special finale moment!

Check out this video for more information about the exciting update!

Have you seen the newly reimagined Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! Street Party yet? What did you think? Please leave a comment!

Sep 12 2014

Disney World News – Frozen Attraction Coming To Epcot

So have you heard the news? For months we’ve been hearing the rumors and apparently it is true…Disney is transforming Maelstrom located in the Norway Pavilion at Epcot into a Frozen attraction. Here’s the post straight from Disney Parks Blog:

When Walt Disney promised that Disneyland would never be completed, so long as there is imagination left in the world, he made a promise to our guests that we take seriously at all our locations around the world. This year, one particular product of imagination — Disney Animation’s blockbuster hit “Frozen” — captured the hearts and minds of people around the world and gave us a new opportunity to make good on Walt’s pledge.

We’ve made “Frozen” a part of the guest experience in a number of ways already and our guests have both loved them and asked for more. So I’m pleased to say that we’re starting construction at Walt Disney World Resort on a brand new “Frozen” attraction at the Norway Pavilion in Epcot. The new attraction, which replaces Maelstrom, will take our guests to Arendelle and immerse them in many of their favorite moments and music from the film. The pavilion will also include a royal greeting location where Anna and Elsa can meet our guests. We think these “Frozen” elements are great compliments to the Norway Pavilion, which showcases the country and region that inspired the film.

“Frozen’s” popular characters will also have a bigger presence at Magic Kingdom Park this holiday season. In addition to the ongoing character appearances, Queen Elsa will use her powers to transform Cinderella Castle into an ice palace every night starting in early November. And Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party-goers can see Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf in “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.”

We’re extending some favorite elements of Frozen Summer Fun LIVE!, too, so that guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios can continue singing along to “Frozen” songs with Queen Elsa and Princess Anna. Wandering Oaken’s will set up shop closer to the show through the holiday season and will feature a larger play area with real snow (in Florida!).

From the moment we screened the film several months before its release, we were inspired by the possibility of bringing this great story to life for our guests. Frozen Summer Fun LIVE! has been extremely popular, and now we’re looking forward to doing even more to allow our guests to experience the “Frozen” phenomenon.

So what are your thoughts on this move? Will you miss Maelstrom? Are you excited about the changes? Please leave a comment!