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VIDEO! Trying the New L’Artisan des Glaces Sorbet and Ice Cream Shop in France

Published June 9, 2013 by Disneyways.com

By now you know all about my friend Sarah, (Sensational Sarah as I like to call her!) her awesome website for folks with food allergies at Walt Disney World – and her spectacular event coming up in October at Disney. There are still a few tickets left for the event by the way – and all of the profits are going to charity.

The famous Chip of the Chip and Company website asked Sarah and I to team up and do a review of  the highly anticipated–  L’Artisan des Glaces Sorbet and Ice Cream Shop over in the France Pavilion at Epcot!

How could I NOT be completely excited about this? First of all, I love Sarah and I treasure her friendship very much so just getting to hang out with her is fun. Second of all, writing for Chip and Company is like a dream come true for me – and third – well it’s ice cream – which in itself is something I consider to be the 5th food group.

Here is a photo that Chip made – and I think you can see the excitement on my face over this whole ordeal. It reminds me of an opening scene from Laverne and Shirley or some other comedic sitcom, and it just might be one of my favorite pictures of all-time. Thank you Chip!

chip picture

On my way to meet Sarah that day, I thought about asking her to film a quick video of my very first visit to this shop. It was just a last minute decision. I had no script and no idea what I was going to say – as you can clearly tell. Just for laughs though, I posted it on facebook…and I actually got a really great reaction!

I have always had a dream in my heart to make videos like this at Disney. Short, and hopefully helpful and fun to anyone who love Disney as much as I do. Sarah and my facebook friends have really encouraged me to go for my dream – so you can expect to see more stuff like this coming to my YouTube channel. My team and I will film everything live and on-location inside the Disney parks! Ideas and suggestions on the kind of Disney magic you are interested in seeing is highly encouraged and welcomed! You can reach me in a number of ways, and I would really love to hear from you.

Please click this link to see Sarah’s article that came from our visit on this day. She did an awesome job and I felt so very proud to be a small part of this project!

L’Artisan des Glaces Sorbet and Ice Cream Shop Opens in France Pavilion at Epcot

Here is a link to more information on Sarah’s Fireworks Dessert Party in October. Any profits she makes from this event will go to charity.

World Secrets: A “Backstage” Interview With a Tokyo Disney Performer

Published June 8, 2013 by Disneyways.com

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Recently I was very lucky to be introduced to an amazing Tokyo Disney Cast Member. Of course, I could not resist interviewing them for you here on the blog! I am so touched that this person took time out of their busy schedule to share with us. The Cast Member asked to remain “anonyMouse” due to the fact that they play several different Disney characters in the shows. I very much respect, and hold in high regard, that they are truly “keeping the Disney magic alive” by hiding their identity. I hope you will agree with me that the secrecy does not decrease the value from the interview in any way. This is exclusive information you just won’t find any where else!

Tokyo Disney

1. What do you think gives Disney and it’s characters such global appeal? 

Disney offers a sense of belonging and happiness, expressed through its characters. Each Disney story has a happy ending, but also shows the struggles and sacrifices each character has to make in order to find their happiness. It teaches lessons to its viewers and gives them something to smile and be happy about. The parks themselves, bring the Disney magic alive, through shows, greetings and parades, presenting Disney in the way it should be presented, through spectacular displays. No matter how down or depleted you feel, Disney will always put a smile on your face.

disney smile

 

2.What do you wish Disney lovers in the US knew about being a dancer at Tokyo Disney? 

I don’t think people realize the effect Disney has over the world – and I can definitely tell you that Disney lovers in the US are not alone. The Japanese go above and beyond to express their adoration for Disney and we definitely get appreciated for working here. There’s not anything new to reveal to Disney lovers in the US about being a dancer in Tokyo Disney, other than the overwhelming support we receive from our fans who watch us daily. They send us constant gifts, photos, letters, and it definitely brightens our day.

letters

Photo Source Joyce Huang

3. What has been your favorite magical moment so far in your career?

I think it would have to be the kids. Every day in the audience, there are children dressed up as either Minnie mouse or a Disney princess. Japanese children are literally the cutest things I have ever seen, and when their parents dress them in Disney attire, it makes me melt every time.

4. What do you like best about your job?

The constant support and appreciation we receive from the Japanese audiences is surreal. Among many new faces I see watch us every day, we have our avid fans of the shows, who watch religiously everyday and take amazing photos, which I will forever be grateful for. Being able to have these moments captured, is definitely something that makes me smile. I’ve never met a culture who loves Disney as much as the Japanese do and performing to these people every day is definitely a joyous thing.

Tokyo Disney

5. What advice would you give to someone who would like to become a dancer at Tokyo Disney?

Definitely do it! Its a once in a lifetime experience, that I’m never going to forget. Not only do I love working for Disney and bringing magic to peoples lives everyday, but the Japanese culture is amazing also. They are so considerate and loyal to everyone, it makes me wish the whole world were the same way.

How to Type the Classic Mickey Symbol for iPhone, iPad, PC or Mac

Published June 6, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Classic Mickey Symbol °o°

swirly-mickey-face.jpg

Have you ever seen one of these °o° and wondered how to do it? It’s pretty simple and comes in handy when you are a Disney fan!

First you make the ear on the left side. On a PC, press and hold the ALT key – and on the number pad press 1 6 7 and then release all the keys. You should now see the left ear.

Then you can use a lowercase o

a zero

or a capital O for the head.

It’s just a personal preference.

I like the lowercase o.

Then just repeat the ALT 1 6 7 to create the ear on the right. °o°

For Mac users, press and hold the ALT + 0 (zero) release, then the small letter o as in open, and ALT + 0 again. °o°

You can make Mickey on an iPhone and iPad too!

Press and hold the zero in the number keyboard and the ° will appear as a choice next to it.

Keep your finger on the screen and slide it to the left over the degree symbol to type it in.

°o° YAY Mickey!

°o°

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Related articles

Hot Potato!! Here’s A Money Saving Disney Tip for Fans of Mr. Potato Head!

Published June 6, 2013 by Disneyways.com

We would like to thank Aunesty Janssen for this awesome post! Please see Aunesty’s bio below – and if you are interested in guest blogging – please let us know HERE.

Hot Potato ~ by Aunesty Janssen

Did you know there is a place to create a Mr. Potato Head on Disney property? It’s true! What a great way for parents to get a break from the heat while the kids play! Aunesty from TemporaryTourist.com has a pretty cool secret to share about how to get the most out of your Mr. Potato Head purchase! Thank you Aunesty for this awesome tip!

mr. potato

Mr. Potato Head post by Aunesty ~

Since moving from the Omaha, NE to Kissimmee to be closer to Walt Disney World we have kept a close eye on the cost of souvenirs and toys. It is amazing how much you can collect in such a short time with two toddlers! With one of our favorite outings being a trip to Down Town Disney for an afternoon or evening of walking around and shopping all things Disney. We especially love stopping in the Once Upon a Toy store there and letting the kids play. Of particular interest to our two year old is the build your own Mr Potato Head area.

once-upon-toy

There is a great big table set up where kids can go get various pieces of Mr Potato Heads anatomy and play and play. I understand why Disney does this, I mean what child wants to leave behind their creation after playing around for 15 minutes making it perfect? And what parent wants to take a screaming toddler out of the a toy shop in the middle of Walt Disney World? Good plan Disney…

mrpotatohead1So after a few times of going through the melt down as we leave without our Mr Potato head creation, I finally asked a cast member how it works and how much it costs. Well for $19.95 you are given a decent sized box to fill with as many pieces as you can, the box has to be able to close though. Now here is the kicker, if you purchase your Potato head with your pieces, it takes up a lot of space in your box. So it is recommended that you either purchase it elsewhere (we just picked one up for $5 at Target on clearance) or buy it separately for $7 or if you want to buy it as part of the box, then stuff the inside of full of accessories as well. Yes that is allowed.

mrpotatohead3

I have noticed that the accessories seem to change out about every other month. For instance in April they didn’t have the entire Buzz Light Year set but the did have all the Disney Snacks. It seems like they are not carrying quite as many different pieces right now as they did in December, but that could just be me not seeing something. Regardless of which items they have displayed at the time, there are plenty to choose from. I would estimate that you should be able to put together roughly two full costumes sets and five or six additional accessories in one box without a potato head in with them. mrpotatohead2

Author Bio: Aunesty Janssen (of Temporary Tourist Travel) and her family moved from Omaha, NE to Kissimmee, FL so they could pursue their dream of doing Disney Daily. She photo blogs their daily adventures and enjoys finding hidden secrets of Walt Disney World. You Can follow their adventures on their Site or via their Facebook Page where they post Walt Disney World photos daily.

aunesty

Aunesty Janssen
Temporary Tourist °o° Homeketeers °o° Aunesty Janssen
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Disney Inspired Accessories that Do Double Duty – with a Discount!

Published June 5, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Here at Disneyways our mission includes introducing you to only the finest Disney related products and services. Just as a reminder, I do not receive any commission from the sales of these items, so you know my recommendations come truly from the heart.

Today we have some exciting things to show you! These fun items are great for your days at the Disney parks – but – as I was looking at my friend Amanda’s MCDesigns store – I noticed many of these items could really brighten up  your day at work as well. Disney inspired accessories that do double duty. Now how can you wrong with that?

MCDesigns Balloon Pen

Anyone could write a thank you note or sign a co-workers birthday card and smile – if they are using this bright and colorful pen. It also doubles as a great autograph pen for your next trip to the parks, or even marking down your dining reservation numbers!

Ladies! This next one is for you. Getting ready for casual Friday at work might be just a little more fun if you accessorize your hair with one of these!

MM_20Headbands_202_original

They come in different colors AND for those fun evenings you are in the Disney parks after dark…these little Mickeys actually glow!!

MM_20Headbands_203_original

I can not WAIT to order one of these for myself – how about you?

Hey and if you are tired of the same old lunch routine at work – why not pack your lunch in this festive bag?

Cruise_20Tote_20Bag_original

It’s sure to make your work day just a little more magical. This bag does double duty as a tote for sunscreen or other essentials on your next Disney cruise! Amanda can customize these for you in an endless amount of designs – so be sure and let her know if you are looking for something special for yourself or as a gift!

Right now as a bonus – MC Designs is having a special for Disneyways readers! All you do is type in the coupon code DISNEYWAYS at checkout and you will get 10% off your entire purchase!! Check out the store and please let me know what some of your favorite items are – I’d love to hear from you!

Everything featured on Disneyways is very special and  impossible to find in stores. That is just another reason why I am committed to bringing them to  you. Your Disney inspired items will stand out from the crowd because they are completely unique and original! When your friends and family ask where you got them – I hope you will remember that you heard about them on Disneyways.com.

Photos from the D23 Member Mixer at House of Blues Orlando

Published June 4, 2013 by Disneyways.com

I would like to thank Tony from the Disney Parks Podcast for inviting my husband, Chris, and I as his guests at the D23 Member Mixer. It was a great event and so much fun! Here are the details of the event as posted on the D23 Member Website.

D23′s Member Mixer at House of Blues Orlando
Event Information
Monday, June 3, 2013
LOCATION: House of Blues 
Orlando, Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World Resort
TIME 5 – 7 p.m.
TICKETS Sold Out
COST: FREE

It’s Member Mixer time at Walt Disney World! Join the D23 Team for some great food and drink—and a terrific opportunity to socialize with other D23 Members and friends!
Starting at 5 p.m., we will be kicking back in our own reserved area just for D23 Members and their guests. Upon checking in, everyone will receive one 15-percent-off coupon good on all merchandise in the House of Blues store, some goodies from House of Blues, as well as a little gift from your friends at D23.

(Here is what we got as a gift! Look for many of these items to be given away here on the blog and/or the Disney Parks Podcast! Our thanks to Ramon of ThemeParkConcierges.com for the photos!)

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Guests will be able to order food and enjoy drink specials and delicious specialty cocktails. And don’t forget, D23 Members always save 15 percent off their food at House of Blues Orlando, known for their Shrimp & Grits, Pulled Pork Sliders, Jambalaya, and Hand Stretched Flatbreads.
We look forward to seeing you there!
NOTE: Available only to D23 Members in good standing. This is a non-ticketed event. Members may bring up to three (3) guests. Space is limited. Limit one coupon/gift per person. For entry, members must present a valid photo ID AND D23 MEMBERSHIP CARD. D23 Members who do not bring their membership card may not be admitted to the event. All D23 Special Events are subject to change without notice. Ticketed Members who do not attend the event forfeit their place as well as all experiences, benefits, and gifts associated with the event.

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Fall 2013 Dapper Day Dates Announced!!

Published June 4, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Dates released for the next Dapper Day celebrations! DAPPER DAY Fall Soiree:

Fri Sept 6 – Disneyland Resort

Sat Sept 14 – Disneyland Paris

Sat Sept 21 – Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Boardwalk Resort (Details developing)

 Click here to read all about Dapper Day – what it is – what to wear and so much more! 

Disney Parks Podcast Show #48 – The Top ten Places to Watch Fireworks at Walt Disney World and A BIG Announcement!

Published June 3, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Please click here to read more about our relationship with the Disney Parks Podcast and all the different ways you can tune in!

This week we shared some of our ideas for favorite places you can watch Fireworks at Walt Disney World!

We think it’s a great show with some ideas for viewing spots that you many not have yet thought of.

This show is about 17 minutes long. You can click on the photo to be taken to the DPP site,

and from there you just click on the gray circle with the white triangle inside of it to play the show.

You will also find detailed show notes there.

Show 48

We would love to hear from you and gather some listener suggestions for YOUR favorite places to see the fireworks!

Please write to us at TheCrew@DisneyParksPodcast.com or call the podcast hotline to leave a message 24 hours a day for the DPP Crew!

The number to call is 407-476-8898

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! 

THE DISNEY PARKS PODCAST HAS A NEW AND IMPROVED SCHEDULE !

Tuesdays we will have the latest news and rumors for you each week!

Thursdays we will posts special shows with guest interviews, and so much more!

Our goal is for these Thursday shows to be more timeless and always relevant  so you can go back in the archives and listen over and over if you choose to do so.

We hope you will enjoy this new schedule. Mark your calendars and be sure to subscribe to us in iTunes so you never miss a new show!

Related articles

Still Don’t Fully Understand MagicBands and My Magic+? This video is for YOU!

Published June 2, 2013 by Disneyways.com

I want to thank Tony from DisneyByTheNumbers.com for sending me this link today! It was so awesome I thought it worthy of a blog post for you!!

The best part is a few minutes in. Edna “E” Mode (one of the minor characters in The Incredibles) – helps us fully understand what all the fuss over Magic Band and My Magic+.

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Maybe it’s just because I like cartoons, but this is the most informative and complete explanation I have ever seen in one place. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Thomas Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, joined Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher onstage at our D11 conference to demo how the MagicBand works and explain how the company has been using technology to enhance the guest experience.

Click HERE to see the video!

Another Monstrous Summer Giveaway!

Published June 1, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Hooray, another giveaway!! This is totally separate from the Monstrous Mint Candle! Remember we are still taking entries for that one until June 3rd –  and we will announce the winner on June 4th.

For this giveaway, I have joined up with some other amazing Disney bloggers to bring you this:

We have teamed up to bring you some fun prizes to help kick off the Monstrous summer AND to celebrate the opening of the Monsters University movie on June 21, 2013!

The blogs bringing you this awesome giveaway are:
Mousekatools
Heidi’s Head
Magical Mouse Schoolhouse
Love Our Disney
Disneyways
 

This giveaway is open to all US Residents. You can enter using the giveaway box below. Winners will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to claim their prize or a new winner may be chosen. You can enter every single day if you want to! For more Monstrous fun – check out this post about the meet and greets, and this post about the all-nighter.

Good luck and have a Magical Day!

CLICK HERE TO BE TAKEN TO THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM WHERE YOU CAN ENTER TO WIN!!