If your kids are like mine, they are big fans of videos games and of Disney Infinity specifically. Now that Infinity 2.0 has been released, it is at the top of my youngest son’s Christmas list. If you happen to already have the latest version or you have someone in the family that receives it for the holidays, Disney has a special surprise available. In the newly released Infinity 2.0 version, anyone with a MagicBand can unlock the “it’s a small world” attraction into their Toy Box. All you have to do is place your MagicBand on your Disney Infinity base, it will detect it and unlock the “it’s a small world” attraction with no internet connectivity required. And that’s not all; you will also be able to enchant other game players with the iconic “it’s a small world” theme song. You will need to create a saved game in order to always have access to this content. I absolutely love this extra little bit of Disney magic and I hope they do more of this in the future!
What do you think of this idea and have you tried it yet? Please leave a comment!
Looking for a great gift idea for the Disney fan in your family? Do you know someone who is trying to decide between a trip to Disneyland or Walt Disney World? Maybe you know someone who has visited one resort and is curious about the other? Or maybe that someone is you! My new book, A Tale of Two Resorts: Comparing Disneyland and Walt Disney World, is now available from Amazon just in time for the holidays!
This reference book is loaded with facts and information about all of the hotels, restaurants, attractions, experiences, entertainment choices and resort extras that are available at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Each chapter includes handy side-by-side charts that compare the weather, crowds, events, accommodations, admissions, transportation, and dining that each destination offers. And of course, there’s helpful advice about budgeting, planning your trip, and organizing your day. My favorite feature? As a fellow mom who has experienced the highs and the lows of taking kids on a variety of rides, I have included a Word of Warning for each and every attraction that needs one, giving you a heads up on what you need to be aware of before taking your child on that particular ride.
Whether you, or the person you are purchasing this book for, is going to Disneyland or Disney World and especially if the decision between the two destinations is still being made, A Tale of Two Resorts will give you all of the information you need to make the better choice and plenty of advice for planning that magical vacation!
Looking for more incredible books for the Disney fans in your life? Please check out Theme Park Press! Theme Park Press is the world’s leading independent publisher of books about the Disney company, its history, its films and animation, and its theme parks. Their catalog includes guidebooks, memoirs, fiction, popular history, scholarly works, family favorites, and many other titles written by Disney Legends, Disney animators and artists, Mouseketeers, Cast Members, historians, academics, executives, prominent bloggers, and talented first-time authors.
It’s that wonderful time of year again when Disney goes all out decorating every square inch of the resort for the holidays. We aren’t just talking Osborne Family Lights and Frozen transformed Cinderella Castle friends, every resort hotel is also included in the festivities. This year at the Contemporary Resort, guests are being treated to an all-new Gingerbread Holiday Ice Castle on the 4th floor Grand Canyon Concourse inspired by Disney’s animated hit Frozen. This 17 foot tall masterpiece is embellished with snowflakes, sugar and chocolate-coated trees. And, of course, it wouldn’t be complete without our favorite characters Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff and Sven. There is also an Ice Castle Kiosk where you can purchase Frozen themed merchandise, build-your-own snowman marshmallow kits, Frozen ice desserts and gingerbread treats.
Thinking about making your own Frozen Gingerbread Castle? Here’s what they used:
423 lbs. of chocolate
514 lbs. of flour
212 eggs
67 lbs. of spices
35 lbs. of sugar syrup
311 lbs. of honey
222 lbs. of icing
1,500 gingerbread shingles
Check out this fun time-lapse video of the Gingerbread Castle being assembled:
If you get the chance to see this masterpiece in person this year,
be sure to look for the 14 “hidden Olafs” in the display.
Happy Holidays!
There are always changes happening at Disney World and one of the biggest that is taking place right now is the transformation of Downtown Disney into the newly reimagined Disney Springs. When Downtown Disney’s largest expansion in history is complete in 2016, the dining, shopping and entertainment options will have doubled, Buena Vista Drive will have been expanded to ten lanes (including a dedicated bus lane), an I-4 interchange will have been added to allow for direct access, two pedestrian bridges will have been built as well as two parking garages (the first of which opens tomorrow offering 4,000 guest parking spaces).
Disney Springs will include four areas known as The Landing, Marketplace, West Side and Town Center that will be host to over 150 shopping, dining and entertainment venues. A lot of progress has already been made with the addition of two Starbucks locations, nightly entertainment at the Waterview Stage, the announcements of THE BOATHOUSE and Morimoto Asia, and the recent installation of the Springs Bottling Co. sign. Check out this time-lapse video:
Another soon-to-be-realized change is the walkway between The Landing and the West Side will be fully opened by the end of November.
Later this month, we’ll also see the opening of the Food Trucks at Exposition Park in the West Side which will serve as their new permanent home. If you haven’t tried them yet, here’s the scoop:
Fantasy Fare Food Truck – This truck offers favorite foods from Disney Parks around the world such as hand-dipped corn dogs from Disneyland, chicken & waffles from Magic Kingdom and Croque Monsieur from Disneyland Paris.
Namaste Café Food Truck – This truck offers foods from Disney’s Animal Kingdom such as tandoori shrimp, naan with samosas, butter chicken and lamb kefta.
Superstar Catering Food Truck – This truck offers the flavors of Disney’s Hollywood Studios with menu items such as a pot roast sandwich, margarita flatbread and a turkey meatball sub.
World Showcase of Flavors Food Truck – This truck features favorites from Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival such as pierogies, beef sliders and a grilled chicken breast gyro.
Would you like to know more about the back story of Disney Springs? Check out this interesting video:
I’m so excited to explore all of the changes to Downtown Disney on my next visit and I can’t wait to see the World of Disney Store once it has been expanded. I better start saving souvenir money now!
What are you most looking forward to with the reimagined Disney Springs?
Please leave a comment!
(all photos, concept art and videos courtesy of Disney)
Happy Birthday to my dear friend, Mickey Mouse! Even though I am much older than most of Mickey’s fans, I still love that guy. Why would a grown woman still hold a special place in her heart for a Disney character? Well, I’ll tell you. To me Mickey Mouse embodies all that is good in the world. He is a symbol of fun, family, friendship, goodwill, charity, hospitality, love, peace, education, acceptance, hard work, determination and dreams. He stands for and represents daily all of things that we should strive to be and to teach our children become. I love to watch Mickey interact with kids, families and people of all ages from around the world when I’m visiting Disneyland and Disney World. He welcomes everyone warmly and with joy. If only everyone could be a little more like Mickey Mouse during this holiday season and every day!
A few of my favorite Mickey Mouse photos throughout the years…
Check out these fifteen fun facts about Mickey Mouse from Disney Parks Blog:
Walt Disney wrote the first script for “Plane Crazy,” the first short created to star Mickey Mouse, while traveling on a train from Chicago to Los Angeles.
Walt initially named Mickey Mouse “Mortimer,” until Walt’s wife, Lily, suggested “Mickey” was a better choice.
Disney LegendUb Iwerks was a lead animator for Mickey Mouse in “Plane Crazy,” and produced an estimated 700 drawings per day for the film, some during the day (as a part of a secret project for Walt) and others after hours in Walt’s garage.
The short film “Steamboat Willie” was the first short starring Mickey Mouse released, but was actually the third created. The first two, “Plane Crazy” and “The Gallopin’ Gaucho,” initially failed to find distributors, but were picked up and released later.
When penning Mickey’s movements, early animators drew inspiration from popular comedic film stars of the day – like Charlie Chaplin.
The first Mickey Mouse Club was formed by theater owner Harry Woodin in Los Angeles. On his own accord, Woodin devoted Saturday afternoons in his theater to showing only Mickey Mouse shorts and led children in a Mickey Mouse pledge. Walt later partnered with Woodin and spread the idea of Mickey Mouse Clubs to movie theaters across the nation.
The first Mickey short in which Mickey spoke was “The Karnival Kid,” the ninth Mickey short, which was released in July 1929. His first words: “Hot dog!”
Walt Disney wasn’t satisfied with the first few actors chosen to provide a voice for Mickey Mouse, so he did it, and continued to do so through about 1947.
A Mickey Mouse comic strip, penned by Ub Iwerks, launched in January 1930, and at its height was printed in 40 newspapers in 22 countries.
The first piece of Mickey Mouse merchandise was a tablet of paper that featured the mouse, designed for children. The first Mickey Mouse doll was designed in 1930.
Mickey Mouse made his debut appearance in the “Macy’s Santa Claus Parade” (now “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade”) in 1934. Measuring 40-feet-tall, the balloon was hand painted and guided by men and women dressed in Mickey/Minnie Mouse costumes.
When Walt was contemplating a name for his first theme park (Disneyland park), he once considered calling it “Mickey Mouse Village.”
Mickey Mouse was the first animated character to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which was given on his birthday (November 18) in 1978.
Mickey Mouse has been a prominent feature at Disney Parks since Disneyland park opened its doors in 1955, with guests interacting with him in character meet and greets, viewing him in parades or snapping up Mickey Mouse merchandise.
Disney World Enthusiast 