How to get a Be Our Guest Fastpass+

Yahoo!  I am 24 days away from my next Disney vacation!  The family is getting very excited.

Our Magic Bands are arriving today in the mail.  I feel very positive all my ducks are in a row.

This morning I booked our Fastpasses for lunch at Be Our Guest Restaurant.  This trip we were very lucky because we received free dining with our vacation package. I can't think of a better quick service value then to eat lunch at Be Our Guest.  

However, Be Our Guest can be a tricky lunch to snag for so many reasons.

Not a Table Service meal-  No reservations needed. That should be easy right?  Nope, at one time park guests would line up for hours early in the morning to eat there for lunch. No thank you! We don't have time for that!

Fastpass only- The rumor is it is Fastpass only, eliminating the long waits. You might be like me scratching your head... huh?!  Fastpass pass only, but I can't find in the Magic Kingdom Fastpass selection.  Correct!  There is a seperate website you can use to secure your Fastpass and order your food in advance.  Some guests will receive an email invite from Disney to use this site.  Thanks to the internet, regardless if you receive the email or not you can still reserve your Fastpass by going directly to the site.

Here are my easy instructions to secure your Fastpass in advance:

Go to https://beourguestlunch.disney.go.com/  Do this 27 days from the day you want to dine.  This seemed to be the magic number for me.

Login with Disney user name and password

Next you be asked to enter in a 12 digit confirmation number.  It can be found a few places- hover over the Check in online in the my Disney Experience site. It can also be found in My Memory Maker.  I have also seen this number on some of our other dining reservations.

Proceed with making your Fastpass+ reservations.

2 return times will show up.  If you don't find the time that you need keep refreshing. I did this until I found the perfect time. 

Good luck!

Our family enjoyed last year's dinner at Be Our Guest.  I think the lunch reservation is worth the hassle of planning ahead for it.  It is definitely worth dining in Beast's castle some point in life, right?

Is the Frozen Holiday Premium Package worth the price?

We are fast approaching our next Disney vacation in November and I still have Frozen fever.  As soon as I heard about the Frozen Holiday Premium Package at Hollywood Studios, I wanted to jump on it immediately. 

My dear husband, who plays a big part in figuring out our Disney budget, asked "Is it worth it?"  With snowflake tears glistening in eyes, I said, "yes"  without even thinking about the hard ticket cost of $89 for adults, $59 for children. That day it was announced, we booked it. 

Now having a slight case of buyers regret I think I can reason why it is worth it. 

Is it worth it?  

The cost of the pin and lithograph ($30):  Pins can retail for $6.99-20.  I would estimate it on the high end of $15.  Even though I have not seen the litho I would estimate it's value at $15 for a total of $30.  It's nice to walk away from an event with some kind of hard memento.
Dessert party with alcoholic beverages:  If the desserts are full size and if you can eat 2 desserts at $6 each, for a total of $12  Figuring the cost of alcohol really depends on how much you drink.  I am bringing my father, who enjoys a taking the time to have a few different specialty drinks.  I know this will be up his alley.   Pricing the drinks at the high end of $10 each-total of drinks-$20.  I estimate the cost of food and drink worth $32.
Reserved seating: So what about the extra $27.  Is the reserved seating worth it?
 This Disney trip we are bringing my 75 year old Dad, who has had both knees replaced and back problems.  He wants to spend this special time with his 3 year old grandson.  It will be Grandpa and Grandson's first trip to Disney together. I think the preferred viewing for the Sing-a -long and the Lights is well worth it. It guarantees a spot for my father to sit.  It also provides a good spot for my shorty son to see his favorite gals sing some of his favorite songs.
Also I know my father will enjoy a nice drink and a good dessert in the evening.  (The apple doesn't fall far the tree.)  I know I am looking forward to it.

Wordless Wednesday

Before Magic Kingdom opens...

#DisneySide #DisneyKids #DisneyWorld

Keeping the Magic Alive When You Can't Visit Disney

During the 355 days that we are not on a Disney vacation we try to keep that Disney spirit alive at home.
I thought I would take a moment and share some of Disney spirit activities we had this summer:
Children Theater Groups Productions We attended our first musical.  My son loved it!  We caught a showing of Shrek the Musical at our local Community College.  So what if Shrek was a Dreamworks production? They sneaked in some favorite Disney characters, like Anna and Elsa in the background. What a great way to get a Disney fix!
Local Water Parks and Resorts Living outside of Chicago we definitively have our choice of these.  Sometimes a weekend stay-cation can change everyone's mood instantly.
Museums:  We were able to catch the D23's Treasures of the Disney Archives exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry at the beginning of the summer.  (check out my review here) We have plenty of museums in the area to reproduce that EPCOT's learning experiences.
Themed Nights at the Ball Park Our favorite thing that we did this summer was Star Wars night at the Kane County Cougars. The Midwest Garrison was there greeting kids in costume.  My son loved wearing his Darth Vader costume at the game, keeping it on while he ran the bases.
Radio Disney Events We were lucky enough to catch two Radio Disney Junior Events.  One was at a local festival and the other was at a Big Box store.  We won some prices, played some games. My son got his Disney fix those days!
Medieval Times!  We took David to his first Medieval Times dinner and tournament.  I jumped on a Groupon special bringing down the price considerable.  David loved meeting the Princess and watching the fights.  Now his play fights end rather melodramatically, with rolling on the floor and long drawn out breathes.
Local Libraries  The public library offers so many children events. I am sue you can find something to feed your Disney craving. Joliet Public Library has a huge Star Wars day event that occurs during the summer. Can't get to any of the Star Wars weekends at Disney? Create your own!
Disney Stores  There are a few stores in the Chicagoland area.  We love taking a trip to ours and make a day out of it. Plus Disney has been offering some great in-store events.

These are just a few Disney Spirit ideas. What do you do to keep the Disney Spirit going throughout the year?

Huge Walt Disney World Frozen News!

Today Walt Disney World released wonderful Frozen news! 

Disney has officially announced the closure of Maelstrom in EPCOT, and a Frozen-themed ride will replace it! A new meet and greet will also be located the Norway pavilion.

Queen Elsa will transform Cinderella Castle to an ice palace starting in November!

Anna, Elsa and Olaf will make an appearance in the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas parade! 

The Frozen sing-a-long will be extended at Hollywood Studios. Wandering Oaken will be located close to this area and include a bigger play area with snow!

Can't wait to experience these events in November!  We couldn't have planned our trip at a better time. 

Read the full story at the Disney Parks Blog

A Farewell Tribute Disney's Spirit of America Fife and Drum Corps!

Just heard the news about upcoming changes to EPCOT's entertainment.

Mo'Rockin in the Morocco pavilion, Off Kilter in the Canada pavilion, the Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corps in the American Adventure pavilion and the World showcase players will be leaving EPCOT at the end of September.

David in the center, in the blue

I am so glad that we had the opportunity to see and participate in the Fife & Drum Corps on our last trip. It is a secret gem of EPCOT. My son loved marching with the other "soldiers."  He actually listened and followed the leader's directions with the best concentration a 2 1/2 year old boy  could do.  We were so proud of him, and we still have his copy of the US Constitution, rolled up but a little tattered. 

I highly recommend if you visit in the next month to take some time to visit these acts before they disappear. 

I trust Disney replace them with fun quality acts but I will always be nostalgic for the Fife and Drum Corps. 

The new acts coming to the World Showcase are the Sbandieratori Flags in Italy, a lumberjack-based thrill show in Canada, B’net Houariyat, a musical/dance act in Morocco and Scottish Musical Trio, a Celtic musical group in United Kingdom. I can't wait to catch these on our next trip in November!  Who knows maybe we will find another family favorite.

I am Groot!

My son said, "I am Groot" and made this face. Pretty spot on! #IamGroot #Groot #Marvel#GaurdiansoftheGalaxy #DisneyKids #DisneySide

How many Disney Movies can you buy in a day?!

Whoa!  Today a ton of Disney movies were released on Blu ray! Okay maybe not ton but how about 6 movie releases.

Muppets Must Wanted: The Unnecessarily Extended Edition

Hercules and Tarzan are making their Blu-ray debut too.  I can't wait to introduce these movies to my son. I love when old movies become new again!

And don't forget these classics!

The Adventures of Icabod and Mr. Toad, Fun and Fancy Free, The Three Musketeers, and Bedknobs and Broomsticks

Being the Disney Geeks that we are, I know we will be adding all of them to our movie collection.   

Let the Disney Movie nights begin!

I have a feeling that Icabod will become a favorite of my Halloween loving child. 

Sharing my love for the Haunted Mansion!

Happy 45th Anniversary to Disneyland's Haunted Mansion!

My Memories of Haunted Mansion

Although I have never had the pleasure to visit Disneyland yet, I have much love for the Disney World version. I can't believe I wouldn't feel the same way about the original version!  Disneyland's Haunted Mansion gets a little extra love for me because at Halloween it changes to a Nightmare Before Christmas facade.  This is diffidently on my Disney bucket list. 

I would love to take this opportunity to share why I love this ride so much, and why you should not avoid it even if your young ones are fearful.

I have a huge confession I was way too scared to ride the Haunted Mansion when I was 4 years old.  I know I sound like I am contradicting myself by encouraging your little ones to ride this.  My sisters build it up into this terrifying ride where hitchhiking ghosts ride beside you when you leave and they might follow you home! Yikes! I couldn't even walk past it. The Haunted Mansion became a terrifying legend to me.

At the age of 23 I rode it for the first and it wasn't bad at all.  I rode it again and was fascinated with the effects... rode it again I was fascinated with the imagery... rode it again and fell in love the story.  This was my slow descent into becoming a Haunted Mansion fan.

Later when I started to vacation at Disney with my soon to be husband.  The Haunted Mansion became romantic.  We would hold tight to each other in "fear" and smooch in the dark parks of the ride.  Even though I was in my 30s I felt like a teenager again. 

Last year we took our 3 year old son to Disney.  I wanted him to ride Haunted Mansion but I didn't want him to have the same fear that I did.  We worked him up to it. We started him on toddler friendly rides building up to the darker rides.  Little Mermaid was a good place to start because it has it dark and light moments. Luckily he loved it!  No fear of the dark scary spots.  We tried Pirates of Caribbean. He love it more.  Next we tried Haunted Mansion.  There was some fear and wonder.  He held both our hands very tight.  We told him to think of it as a ghost party. He rode the ride with wide eyes not making a peep.  We were unsure if loved or hated it while he was on it. Afterwards all he kept taking (and still talks about to this day) is how he went to a Ghost Party!  He loves going to Ghost Parties! And a new Haunted Mansion fan is born!

Okay enough with all my cute (at least I think they're cute) Haunted Mansion stories.  

Here are some tips for riding dark rides with timid children.

-Don't feed into their fear.  For instance, we didn't stress that Haunted Mansion is a scary Haunted House filled with vengeful ghosts.  We stressed how it is a  fun ghost party.  We also stressed that is only make believe.  Although it depends on the age of child, they might understand that.  My 3 year old definitely cannot determine what is fantasy from reality.

-Build up to the ride.  If they are scared of the dark, try The Journey of the Little Mermaid or Peter Pan's Flight first.  Let them use a glow stick or your phone on the ride for some extra light.  Sometimes having that touch of light that they can control helps.

-Distraction-If your little one starts to get scared on the ride make a game of it. Count ghosts.  Look for the ghost dog.  Try to figure out what ghosts eat.  Make it fun!  Or at least try.

-The queue-I think that the new Haunted Mansion queue has been a great improvement to the ride.  Nothing lightens lightens up a ride when you can play before hand.  The queue is a great distraction from the fear!

-Know your child's limits.  I have seen a child panic in the stretch room of the Haunted Mansion.  I have also seen a cast member allow them to exit the ride from the same room.  If it is too much for your child and they panic, DO NOT be afraid to ask for help from a cast member.  There is always a way off before the ride starts.

The Haunted Mansion queue at Disney World

Happy riding! 

Guardians of the Galaxy the Next Frozen? YES!

Okay Okay... I am going to go out on a limb and make a bold statement.  I think Guardians of the Galaxy has potential to be the next big hit for Disney, on the same scale of Frozen. I know.. some of you might be scratching your head. They are two totally different movies...  animated versus live-action... singing versus violence. My husband differs with me too.  He thinks it will be the next big comic book movie like Avengers, lacking the mass appeal like Frozen had.
I think Guardians will be the next Frozen because it will be a bigger hit than expected like Frozen. I predict that the merchandise will be hard to find once the word is out. I remember Frozen merchandise on the shelves before the movie hit theaters. Soon after Christmas it was near impossible (and still is) to find an Elsa doll.  We bought David an Olaf on our last Disney trip before the movie was released, because David just thought he was cute. Right now David has the same fixation with Rocket Raccoon. I highly suggest if you have a little one who is the least bit interested in the movie, buy the toys now, and save them for a special occasion later. (a sidenote: my husband and I collect action figures so this is coming from a collectors point of view)  We did.  Bonus: Target has great toy sale going on this week.  All toys (except for Legos) are buy one get one 40 percent this week
Another reason, this might be the first time that Marvel characters can appear at Disney World. Due to the Marvel contract with Universal, characters associated with the Guardians movie are not covered or mentioned.  If the movie becomes as popular as Frozen perhaps in the upcoming months we can hope to some of them in the park.  This would be great for my little boy, who seems very burned out on Frozen sing-a-longs. (However Mommy will never give up Let it Go- and will continue to conduct my own private sing-a-longs.)
Guardians is already getting rave reviews.  According to Rotten Tomatoes, it already has a higher top critic rating then Frozen. It has a great cast attached to it.  My son recognizes Star Lord's voice as Emmet from the Lego Movie. The unique characters like Rocket Raccoon and Groot fascinate him.
We already have a family movie date set in the upcoming weeks.  Grandpa (aka my Dad) is tagging along too.  My husband has fond memories of reading Rocket Raccoon comics when he was young and is excited to share it with David.  This should be a fun family experience!  I should note that this movie has a PG-13 rating, may not be suitable for a younger audience.  Frozen has a PG rating.  I am not opposed to letting my toddler watch this movie. My only concern is he might not have the patience to sit through the movie, but we are going to give a try!
I'll check in a few weeks and let you know if it really is the next Frozen!

Wordless Wednesday! Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2013

#WordlessWednesday #Disney #ToyStory #DisneyKids #DisneySide

Family Favorite: Visiting Disney World in the Fall

Our favorite time to visit to Disney is in the fall. Our last 2 trips and our upcoming trip have been between the months of October-December.  We want to take advantage of having a non-school age child and traveling during the non-peaks times.

Pros of Visiting Disney in the Fall

The Weather-In the Fall the temperature is just right. Expect to experience weather from the mid-80s to the mid-70s.  Instead of the usual hot muggy weather Orlando tends to be more mild.  However, it is warn enough for us to feel like we are escaping the Midwest chill.  Bonus: Orlando is not so rainy in the fall.

The Events-There are so many extra events happening at this time of year.  EPCOT's International Food and Wine Festival takes place from mid-September-beginning of November.  Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (a hard ticket event), which is our family favorite. Christmas themed events like Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party(a hard ticket event), Osbourne Family Spectacle of Lights, Candlelight Processional.  You can't beat a better way to get into the holiday mood then doing it in Disney. 

Plus we got a ton of candy trick or treating at Magic Kingdom during MNSSHP!

The Crowds:  School is in session and not too many families travel during this time period.  Take advantage of it. 

The Characters:  They can be found  in seasonal attire, especially if you catch them during the Christmas or Halloween party.  During this parties it is perfect to meet some of the more obscure characters.  

David and Duffy

Mickey and Minnie at the Grand Floridian

Sales: Fall is prime time to jump on Disney sale promotions.  For our upcoming trip in November we scored free dining.  The year before we jumped on a room discount. It is a great time to take advantage of Disney Discounts. Check the current sales

I should add that I feel like some of the pros of traveling in the Fall can also be the cons.

Just like anywhere the weather can turn sour fast.  I have experienced record heat in October with highs in the upper 90s. And record breaking cold in December where we bought gloves, hats, and sweatshirts in the park because it was frigid!  Just be prepared!

Stay clear of the major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years if you are trying to avoid the crowds.  Must often the park reaches capacity and closes. 

The character meets can be very time consuming.  Jack and Sally were out last year for the Not So Scary Halloween Party and the wait times were over a few hours. 

The promotions sell out fast too.  Often when Disney releases a discount they only release a certain number of rooms at that rate.  You must act fast on a sale! 

In the future I would love to examine our fall family favorites more closely.  I can ramble on about the joys of celebrating Halloween in the park. This is just a quick overview of why we love Fall in the Parks!

Wordless Wednesday

#WordlessWednesday #WDW #Disney #Ariel #LittleMermaid

Happy 20th Anniversary Tower of Terror!

Today is the 20th Anniversary of my favorite Disney World ride!

On July 22, 1994 the ride open at MGM Studios inspired by the "Little Girl Lost" episode of the Twilight Zone.

Here's a unusual piece of Terror history for you.

Mel Brooks was involved in the early development.  The ride started out as a young Frankenstein castle ride in it's conceptual stage.

Personally I love the Twilight Zone theme instead.  Good move, Imagineers!

You can't beat the anticipation of the drop!  

Haunted Mansion special in works for Disney XD

I just heard great news through this Disney Press release!  
Disney XD is in the works of producing an animated Haunted Mansion special.  Horror artist and children's book illustrated Gris Grimly will be the executive producer and art director. 

Also disclosed in this press release, there are three new pilots in the works including one from Jhonen Vasquez, creator of Invader Zim.  The series is called "Very Important House."  The plot from the press release is : 11-year-old Frolie moves into the Very Important House and suddenly finds herself in the role of caretaker of the universe.

I am a huge fan of the Haunted Mansion. I have the only toddler that I know that likes to play Haunted Mansion too.  Our family is so excited for this special.  I think Gris Grimly will give it well deserved treatment.  
Personally been a huge fan of Jhonen Vasquez's work since his Johnny the Homicidal Maniac days.  I am absolutely giddy!

Wordless Wednesday

Pop Century 2008!

Why we don't rent a stroller at Walt Disney World!

Huh?  Did I just say our family doesn't rent a stroller in Disney?  My poor 3 year old, right?  Just kidding we don't make David walk around the World.  I am not cruel but I am cheap!  I believe in bringing your own, even if you're flying!

Why we bring our own?

Cost: In my opinion it is cheaper to buy a nice umbrella stroller.
Typically when we go to Walt Disney World we stay at least 10 days and so far we've been vacationing at the World once a year.  The average price for a stroller rental for our entire stay about $80.  The cost of our Chicco Lightweight stroller $140.  2 trips to Disney and our stroller would be paid for!
Convenience: We can use our stroller at the airport.
Comfort: I have the fussiest child.  Honestly I am not sure David would like a stroller that he is not used too. He even has a name for his stroller, his "cycle" as in motorcycle.

What to look for in a good stroller for travel:

Umbrella Strollers-Especially if you are flying, most airlines will let you check your umbrella stroller at the gate with the wheel chairs. There should not be an additional cost.  Added bonus! Now you would have your stroller with you throughout the airport.  No complaining of the walking.  Those airports have just much walking as Disney!
Lightweight and ease of use:  We shopped for a stroller that was relatively light and easy plus fast to fold.  I don't like to hold up a bus line trying to fold and pack up my stroller.  Plus if you are flying, you will need to fold it up and put it through the x-ray machine.
Cup holder: Our stroller has a cup holder for Mommy and Daddy. David had a strap attached to his stroller in order to keep track of his drink.  The cup holder was easily attached, which also made it easier to fly with. We removed almost all accessories for the plane ride.
Sun Screen:  We were able to easily pack our canopy in our luggage and we're able to pull it out for the parks.
Easy to clean:  I am not going to lie.  David ate most his meals in his stroller and many Mickey Bars.  Many ice cream spills occurred and they were relatively easy to clean up.
Under storage area:  My first time traveling to Disney with a child in stroller was awesome!  Now with the magic bands I am going totally hands free and purse free.  I have a baby bag backpack that hangs over the stroller handles.
Reclining back:  I feel like we scored big with this feature.  Our umbrella reclined all the way back.

Our stroller often doubles as an extra seat

Do you need to spend big bucks on an umbrella stroller?
Nope.  We did because we were in the market for a new stroller.  However, my sister has used a cheap $20 umbrella stroller with most of her kids and it worked out great for her.  If you buy a cheap stroller and don't want to take it back home with you, share the love and pass it on to another family.

I am not totally anti-stroller rental.  Rentals would work great for shorter stays, infrequent trips, and multiple kids in strollers.  Some of the stroller rental company also offer other baby items to rent like cribs, nicer pack n plays. Some will also provide a large case of water with your rental for a cost.

Happy travels!

Family Favorite: Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater

Family Favorite Thursdays!

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant is our family favorite restaurant. 

I have eaten there 4 times with my husband on all 4 of our Disney trips, and back in 1999 with my Mom and Dad. 

Why is it a family favorite?

The atmosphere!  You just can't bet beat eating dinner in classic car.  

There is picnic table seating in the back of the place but why do that when you are surrounded by cool retro cars.  When making our reservation we always make sure to note we want a car.  Be warned if you are a smaller party must likely you will share a car with other diners.

The movie clips! I swear since I've been dining here since 1999 the movie clips haven't changed. But who cares?!  I don't get tired of seeing trailers for The Blob, and Plan 9 from Outer Space.  Don't forget the News from the Future, clips from the Amazing Colossal Man, plus the bonus intermission breaks!

The Famous All-American Picnic Burger!  I have never really been impressed with the menu at Sci-Fi, until this bad boy came along.  I thought the Angus beef patty topped with a hot dog was excessive then throw on the sauerkraut, onions. Boy oh boy was I wrong.  I finished that burger with no problem!

I highly recommend checking out this restaurant next time when you are at Hollywood Studios.  In my opinion it is an easy reservation to get (when the free dining promo is NOT going on)  About 6 years ago we were able to score a car for a party of 6 the week of our trip, might be unheard of now a days, but worth a try. During Star Wars Weekends the Sci-Fi Dine-In was home to a Star Wars themed character breakfast.  I wish we could have attended that! 

Wordless Wednesday!

Scrapbooking Disney Character Autographs

I hate to admit it but I am not a crafty person.  I am notorious for starting projects and never finishing them. Just recently I completed my first craft project since my days when I dabbled as a college Art Major in early 2000. This time my 3 year old son was a major motivator.  

We took him on his first Walt Disney World trip in October 2013.  One of his favorite activities besides riding Dumbo multiple times so he can fly like Superman, was character meets!  He also loved all the character dance parties. 

 I created my own Disney autograph book by purchasing a small hardcover sketch book with acid free paper.  The one that I used also lays flat when open, which was super easy for the characters to manipulate.  I let David decorate with the stickers of his choice. We brought an assortment of sharpies with us and stored everything in a Ziploc bag, instantly waterproofed! Also I advise you to put your phone number or any other personal information in the book in case it is lost. 

I have been holding onto this Hallmark pre-made scrapbook for almost 7 years... like I said I never can finish a project.  This work nicely for David's autograph collection.  I combined his autographs with the awesome photographs taken with Photopass + .  I just cut out the sketchbook pages and crafted away.  I did debate over scanning the autographs to preserve the original autograph book but this worked nicely for us.  David helped with adding any embellishments to the page like stickers.  Sometimes he almost enjoys looking at the stickers more than the autographs. 

At the end of the scrapbook I put all our Disney maps in separate sleeves.  My soon loves to look through them and point out his favorite rides. 

The scrapbook worked out great for us.  My 3 year old is very hard on the books he looks through.  At  least the pages are protected behind plastic. He has yet to rip, fold, or drool on any of them. 

Very Merry Disney Christmas in July

One of my favorite July events is Hallmark's Ornament Premiere, which is coming up on Saturday July 12. Our family has a huge ornament collection and we look forward to adding to it every year.  

I love to get up extra early in the morning and try to get my hands on some of Hallmark's limited edition ornaments.  This year I have my heart set on the High Flying Hero: The Rocketeer ornament. 

They are offering this neat Mickey Mouse ornament stand to compliment the Disney in Year ornament series.  However I think I might pick it up to display some of our favorite Disney themed Christmas ornaments. It is on sale during the Premiere weekend.

I just noticed that they added this cool Elsa ornament to be released during Hallmark's Holiday Open House event in November.  I would highly recommend putting your name on a list at your local store now to ensure that you get it when it is released. 

Of course they are offering many more Disney themed ornaments.  These are just a few that I have my eyes on. Perhaps closer to Christmas I will have a countdown to Christmas ornament a day post featuring some of family's favorites. 

Check out Hallmark's Dreambook here.  

And here is my disclaimer: Although I used to work for a Hallmark retailer many many years ago, currently I do not. I have not received any compensation for this post.  I am just a fan of their ornaments, and get wait to get my hands on them! :)

Congrats Chicago! We landed the George Lucas museum!

Coming in 2018, Chicago will be home to the Lucas Narrative Arts Museum (pending today's vote on the name change).  Tentatively it will be built on the parking lots between Soldier Field and McCormick Place. In the Fall of this year we can look forward to seeing some of the architectural renderings of the museum.
According to the Chicago Tribune article the Museum will house a Norman Rockwell collection, examples of the special effects from Industrial Light and Magic, movie memorabilia and posters.
I noticed that this museum will be located very close to McCormick, Chicago's main convention center.  I wonder what type of cons this will lead too.  I would imagine the attendance at C2E2, my favorite pop culture and comic book convention, will increase.

I can't wait to see what the future holds!

Chicago's Disney Social Media Celebration

Disclosure: I participated in the Disney On-The-Road Social Media Moms conference, a free event. I have not been compensated for this review.  I did receive a bag of free (and awesome) Disney swag.  All opinions are my own..

On Tuesday I attended Disney's Social Media Mom's On the Road Celebration in Chicago.  It was an awesome experience to hear from the Disney Social Media team and writers of the Disney Park's Blog. It was a wealth of information about the behind the scenes of the their recent social media campaigns, like show your #DisneySide and Rocking your DisneySide 24 hour event. 

Disney just finished off New Fanastyland this year with the opening of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, a new, literally, rocking roller coaster the features our favorite miners from Snow White.  Did you know you can currently apply to be the eighth miner? Check out this link.  Not only are there weekly giveaways, but Disney Bound fashion tips to show your miner DisneySide. Also Disney also has many new dining experiences to explore this year including the opening of Spice Road Table and the ticketed event, Harambe Nights at Animal Kingdom.

Gary Buchanan, Walt Disney World Manager Editor, introduced their new social media campaign #DisneyKids.  We saw the cutest clip, the younger version of the Dapper Dans, The Diaper Dans:

 Now we can look forward to sharing our children's Disney first experiences.  For instance many children get their first haircut while they visit the park, ride their first roller coaster, or meet their first princess.  I think my son's first crush happened, when he met Ariel for the first time.  Often our children might ride the same ride that us parents might have ridden with our parents. I am looking forward to riding Peter Pan's Flight for the first time with my son. I remember riding it so vividly with my mom when I was his age.  Luckly I was able to ride Peter Pan again with my Mom as an adult before she passed away.  Plus it is now easier to fulfill some of these goals as Disney focuses on multi-generational vacations.
As they stressed in their presentation about how to storytell, and engage an audience through social media, the Disney Parks blog have managed to create excitement and intrigue about what's next in the Disney parks. Some of their most popular posts have been about the creation of New Fantasyland.   What do we have to look forward to next? Avatar Land will be opening in 2017 in Animal Kingdom.

Lori Lorenz from HP Direct Print Services also presented about "The Solution Side of Motherhood."   Moms often get stuck in a bind, such as a needed last minute gift, an unexpected thank you card for a teacher, or activities to keep your little ones busy.  HP offers many solutions to this. My favorite go to is HP's TwoSmiles website.   I never know when I might need a card or a gift card on the fly.

We also heard from Moms,Lily Winnail of Padalily and Alicia Overby of Baby Elephant Ears, who have successful created their own product line.  As a Mom, how often are we inspired to invent a gadget because of the our little ones?  Often I find myself saying, "I should have invented that!"  These two woman are perfect examples of following through with their ideas by working hard.  Also they were recipients of the MomInspired Grant from Huggies.  It was inspiring to hear about how they put their ideas into motion and now have successful product lines carried in major retailers.

The morning was an awesome experience.  I walked away with a wealth of knowledge about blogging, and how to use social media effectively.  I feel like I was "sprinkled" with some Disney magic.  I am beyond inspired by the successful Moms out there through their personal experiences, blogs and other exciting adventures.  Sign me up for the next Disney Social Media Moms Celebration!

Disney Social Media Moms Chicago, here I come!

Tomorrow morning I will be attending the On the Road Disney Social Media Mom Celebration in Chicago. This is my first time attending anything like this but hopefully it won't be my last. When I started this blog I just wanted to share my love of Disney and demonstrate how I can work Disney into my family life even if we can't make it to the park.  For me Disney means quality family time, a shared family interest and something that sparks my 3 year old son's imagination.

I can't wait to hear from the interesting line-up of speakers.  I hope to walk away with inspiration about how to grow my blog and to meet other Mom bloggers!

 Plus my ears will definitely be in tuned to any Disney park information that I hope to share with you. I love any behind the Disney scenes information I can get my hands on. I promise to share anything juicy with my readers. 

In the meantime I think I will have a Disney Geek-Out night once I get home from work. I am ready to "Let it go" and embrace my Disney Side!

Radio Disney Junior came to town!

Last weekend we went to our town's Taste of event.  Radio Disney Jr. made an appearance with Doc McStuffins Toy Check Up Clinic.  It was a very cute event where you could bring your toy in for a check up (or use the ones provided), sponsored by our local medical group and hospital.  Doc McStuffins did not make an appearance but her helpers were on call to assist with the check ups. 

The check-up included this free cardboard medical kit and stickers, which are always a big hit with David.

We also participated in few activities.  The first one was a Disner Junior version of Simon Says. 

We received this magnetic frame as a prize

 

Afterwards David and I participated in a relay race to get the toy doctor supplies in the medical bag. Which was so much fun especially for David who is 3 is finally starting to understand directional games. 

Of course both teams were winners! 

We won this Doc McStuffins reusable bag.  I know it will come in handy for our trips to the library this summer.

If Radio Disney or Radio Disney Junior stops by your town be sure to check them out.  It was a perfect way to incorporate Disney themed activities into your summer without traveling too far, especially when you have a child who asks everyday, "When are we going to Disney?"