November Meetup with the Disney Parks Podcast

Published October 21, 2013 by Disneyways.com

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We always have a lot of fun – and it’s a great way to meet other Disney fans and make new Disney friends!

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Get up to the minute information on this event and more by following us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Saturday November 23rd come and join us as we set sail around Bay Lake and visit all the lounges along the way.

Blue Launch watercraft transportation ends at 11:30pm but route may vary depending on demand.
Times and places are subject to change due to weather and other factors:

We will begin at the TerriTONY Lounge (also known as the Territory Lounge in Wilderness Lodge!) 4PM – 5PM

We will then sail to Ft. Wilderness! Time permitting, we will head to Crockett’s Tavern in Ft Wilderness and from there – we will catch the bus to the Chip ‘n Dale meet and greet at the campfire sing-a-long.
(Fire lighting is at 6:30 with the sing-a-long starting at 7pm-7:30pm)
We will then sail to the Contemporary Resort to enjoy The Wave Lounge, and then board the boat back to the Wilderness Lodge some time before 11:30pm (The Wave Lounge closes at midnight.)

No park admission necessary, but drinks and food are on you.

Fun and games and other wild things we can think of can be enjoyed by all.

We are looking for individuals and small businesses to sponsor giveaways, s’mores supplies, and goody bags for this event!

Please contact me for information!

We hope you will join us so we can meet you!!

Get up to the minute information on this event and more by following us on Facebook and Twitter!

 

Disney Parks Podcast Interview with Mike Brassell Voice of TTA and Living with the Land

Published October 18, 2013 by Disneyways.com

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You may recognize Mike Brassell as the voice of The Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover in the Magic Kingdom, or as the voice you hear as you relax and enjoy your boat ride through the Living with The Land attraction at Epcot. You may be surprised to learn he has actually done a LOT of additional work for Disney movies– and more. He is also a seasoned musical composer, now a THREE time Emmy winner, family man, all around great guy!

Besides Mike himself being fantastic – highlights of this interview also include:

  • Names of several Disney films that have included Mike in the process of being made
  • How Mike may be the only person on the planet who’s voice you will hear simultaneously with music he has composed on two separate Disney attractions
  • Mike’s dream job in a Disney movie or as a voice of another Disney attraction
  • Many of Mike’s Disney favorites and his answers to Tony’s rapid-fire questions
  • How Mike once found himself standing between two Disney legends at once – and what it was really like working with one of them on a regular basis
  • Mike SINGING a couple of bars for us from a very famous Disney song that you are sure to recognize
  • More about THIS LINK and why I am including it here.

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This episode has excellent sound quality, but due to technical difficulties, a small section at the beginning of the interview was lost. During that time, we asked Mike what it is like to be immortalized on a Disney attraction. He joked that when he took his kids on the TTA for the first time – they were amazed and in a bit of disbelief that it was really him they were hearing! He is such a humble man – and he is very respectful of what Disney represents to so many of us.

On a personal note I have to admit that I was SO excited to have a chance to talk with Mike – as you will notice throughout the interview! I love his enthusiasm, drive, and I admire his amazing career. I was in total awe of being able to speak to this man who is and always will be a Disney legend to me.  I hope you will enjoy the show as much as we enjoyed conducting this interview!

You can catch this episode by visiting DisneyParksPodcast.com directly from your computer. Then just click “Listen Now!” From there, just look for the small grey circle with the sideways white triangle inside. Click on that circle and make sure your speakers are on. The show will begin immediately. For more ways to listen, click here. Thank you for tuning in, and have a magical day!

To read more about our relationship with the Disney Parks Podcast click here.

MyMagic+ and MagicBands Explained in 3 Minutes

Published October 17, 2013 by Disneyways.com

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Can MyMagic+ and MagicBands really be explained in just 3 minutes? Built to make things simple and streamlined – MagicBands are one of the most ambitious steps Disney has taken in more than 30 years. Imagine using a single source for tickets, room keys, credit cards, FastPASS tickets and even PhotoPass cards while you’re vacationing at the Walt Disney World Resort. Are you ready to learn more? Let’s add some magic to our day – shall we? Check out this video for an awesome 3 minute overview of Disney World’s  MyMagic+ and MagicBands!

Sid Gray is an award-winning freelance producer-director with a list of credits that includes ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, CNNfn, CNBC, Bloomberg, The Walt Disney Company, ITT, Kodak, Yahoo and numerous other organizations. I met Sid through Mouskejournals, a wonderful group of Disney bloggers and a fun site to check out when you want to get all your Disney fun, from many different perspectives, in one place. In addition to all of his professional credentials, Sid is an amazing, first-class kind of guy who truly cares for people. Thank you Sid, mostly for just  being who you are, but also for creating this wonderful video for the thousands of Disney fans who have enjoyed it!

Video! “Glow with the Show” Mouse Ears Debut at Fantasmic!

Published October 16, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Last night was the very first official night that guests were able to try the “Glow with the Show” Mouse Ears on Disney World property. “Glow with the Show” Mouse Ears illuminate in sync with the show! It is really a gorgeous and amazing thing to see – so instead of trying to explain it – here is an AWESOME video from the event. Video credit goes to the fantastic BigFatPanda.com

It was perfect timing because the Fantasmic show at Hollywood Stuios also celebrated it’s 15th anniversary – so debuting these ears was s a GREAT way to do it with a bang! The hats cost $25.00 including tax. They are improved over the California version but to me they were still pretty heavy and the strap was not super comfortable. This is just my opinion though. My reccomendation is if you know someone that has some – try them out before buying to see what you think! Soon the hats will debut at Magic Kingdom for the Wishes fireworks show – and during Celebrat the Magic – our castle projection show.  I can’t wait to see how guests will embrace this technology here in Florida as time goes on.

What do you think? Will you be buying a pair of these ears and giving them a try?

A First Look at the Disney Collection by Vera Bradley “Where’s Mickey?” Design

Published October 15, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Today Disney released a first look at the brand new Disney by Vera Bradley collection called “Where’s Mickey?” If you recall, back in August we predicted more Vera by Disney patterns would be released.

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Photo credit Disney

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Photo credit Disney

I am happy to announce that Steven Miller of the Disney Parks Blog informed us that the new “Where’s Mickey” pattern was release at the World of Disney store in Downtown Disney Marketplace on Tuesday, October 29th! I have seen photos on social networks of the bags in the stores already. No information yet on when the new pattern will be available to purchase on the Disney Store Online. It will be featured on several familiar and popular styles such as the hipster, backpack, large duffel, Smartphone wristlet and more. In addition to a future release at the World of Disney Store in Florida, the “Where’s Mickey?” color will also be available on Disney Parks online store and at select Disneyland Resort locations in the coming months.

Depending on what style you choose, most likely, measurements will be the same as the previous line . You can click either of the pictures below to see those numbers.

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In other exciting news, you can visit DisneyStore.com/VeraBradley starting October 21, 2013, to get the “Just Mousing Around” and “Midnight With Mickey” colors online!

Cheshire Cafe Gourmet Cake Cups ~ Written by Guest Author Dawn Mathis Losch

Published October 15, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Cheshire Cafe Gourmet Cake Cups ~ Written by Guest Author Dawn Mathis Losch

**Update from Krista October 28, 2013: This treat is no longer being offered in the Magic Kingdom at this time. We hope they will bring it back one day!***

I just got back from one of my monthly trips to Disney, where I had to try the new Gourmet cupcake at the Cheshire cafe in Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland.

The Cheshire cafe used to be the Enchanted Grove.  It has been updated with lots of pretty vines, and a pink striped smiling Cheshire cat on the sign. They sell cereals, muffins, fruit, slushies, and coffee now as well.

As soon as I saw the news about a new item being offered, I could not wait to try it. I am not a chocolate fan,so vanilla was the way to go.

The gourmet cupcakes are offered in a Chocolate coffee-ish flavor called Mad Hatter mocha, and Cheshire cupcake cake cup, which was vanilla.

It is a parfait looking dessert with layers of vanilla frosting, (lots of it), and vanilla cake. It is topped full of fun colored sprinkles.

You will definitely want to have your sweet tooth ready, because this is sure to kick it into overdrive.

I think the funnest thing about this dessert was the picture decoration on top.  It was totally edible, and it was neat to be eating a sugar picture.

Both the cupcake cups were reasonably priced at 4.19. I shared mine with my husband and daughter.

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Dawn Mathis Losch lives in New Port Richey Florida with her family. She is also a regular contributor to Addicted to Mickey, a community page about Disney.

New Disney Princesses to Appear in the Parks!

Published October 9, 2013 by Disneyways.com

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There is always room for more Disney princesses! It’s a good thing too, because more are coming very soon! Back in August, Laura wrote an awesome guest post all about the new Disney movie coming to theaters! The movie is simply called “Frozen.” We have also posted information and video about the new Frozen gallery that has been placed in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Now we have even more exciting news on this chilling topic!

The Disney parks blog has officially announced that Anna and Elsa from the movie will begin appearing in Epcot beginning in November. They have not stated a specific date but there are  RUMORS that they could appear as early as October 27th. However this is not official news, so just keep that in mind.

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Photo credit Disney

In the comments section of the Disney Parks Blog Shawn Slater stated that these characters are “only expected to appear in Norway at Epcot through January 4, 2014.” History has shown however – that character meet and greets can be extended if the characters and movie are exceptionally popular.

Again, not official news, but  there is speculation that the we will be able to meet the new Princesses inside the Puffin’s Roost store. We do know for sure that they will be appearing at the Norway Pavilion at Epcot, along with a new gallery exhibit exploring how the culture and beauty of Norway-inspired the filmmakers in the creation of “Frozen.”. This gallery will be different than the one you can currently see at Hollywood Studios.
If you like the thought of seeing these princesses we have more good news. During the evenings this holiday season, a sequence celebrating “Frozen” will join “Celebrate the Magic,” the nighttime projection show that transforms Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park. So what are your thoughts? Are you excited about the new movie? How do you feel about a new meet and greet with Elsa and Elsa?

Photo credit Disney

Photo credit Disney

What is it like to be immortalized on a Disney ride? Find out here!

Published October 6, 2013 by Disneyways.com

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What is it really like to hear your own voice coming back at you on a Disney ride? How about being immortalized on Disney attractions on BOTH costs? There is not a whole lot of people in the world who can answer this question from experience. Recently on the Disney Parks Podcast we were EXTREMELY fortunate and humbled to interview Mark Silverman. He is THE voice of Rod Serling on the Tower of Terror ride – on both coasts.

Check out the show and you will notice is that he is at TRUE Disney fan, in addition to being so amazingly talented and kind. Before recording, he revealed to me that when he was a kid, he actually collected water from the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and kept it in a little bottle on his nightstand! As a child he also recorded all the voices and rides on cassettes – and played them as he fell asleep each night. During this episode of the Disney Parks Podcast, you will hear him recite the different lines from memory, in the voice of each respective character that it belongs to. Incredible! 

We were especially excited to be able to ask him what it really feels like to hear your own voice coming back at you while enjoying a Disney attraction in the parks.

In fact, we got to cover a LOT of fun stuff – including: 

  • How Mark got the job and what it was like on the day of the grand opening of the ride 
  • The story of how he actually fooled Silvester Stallone’s mother on the Larry King Show
  • The technique Mark used to really capture the voice of Rod Serling
  • The line Mark misses the most from the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction
  • His take on what it is like to attend D23 as a Disney celebrity
  • Other voices he does in the parks – and for the Disney company in general

There is SO much more, you will just have to listen in to get it all!

You can catch this episode by visiting DisneyParksPodcast.com directly from your computer. Then just click “Listen Now!” From there, just look for the small grey circle with the sideways white triangle inside. Click on that circle and make sure your speakers are on. The show will begin immediately. For more ways to listen, click here. Thank you for tuning in, and have a magical day!

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How to Look Like Minnie in a Minute

Published October 5, 2013 by Jay

“Hey, I’m a girl and we like to play dress-up.” – Charlize Theron

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My desire to play dress-up started when I was little. I would raid my mother’s clothes, my grandmother’s costume jewelry, my aunt’s shoe collection, and I would mash together some pretty unique outfits. Sometimes I jammed my brother into said outfits and make him parade around with me. As I grew a little older, I wanted to look like certain characters and people, especially when my family went to themed places. I didn’t go to Disney for the first time until I was in middle school and I’m pretty sure I still tried to dress the part – bedazzled Disney shirts, princess-y skirts and jewelry, you get the idea. The thing is, it’s pretty difficult to wear full Disney costume as an adult (unless you work there. I’m jealous of you if you’re a Princess) at the park and have it work.

This is not nearly as cute when you're an adult.

This dress doesn’t work quite as well on adults  😦

Why should kids have all the fun though? Can’t us big kids dress up too? I think the trick is finding outfits and makeup that show your love of a character (or characters) but that don’t look like they belong on a five-year old. I picked a classic Disney character for my inspriration today – Minnie! She’s cute, fun, and iconic Disney.

Courtesy of Disney Coloring

Courtesy of Disney Coloring

First up – outfits! The parks can get pretty hot and involve a lot of walking, so I wanted to choose comfortable outfits that are both cute and functional. For my first Minnie outfit, I went a little retro-teenage with a longer crop top and shorts that you could style as high-waisted or longer legged, depending on the size/fit you buy. A small cross-body or shoulder bag holds essentials without weighing you down or getting in your way.

Minnie Polyvore

What if you want a more grown-up but classic Minnie? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered – and this one includes some accessories!

Minnie2You could also throw in some more pops of red and yellow to get more Minnie color. I decided to stay a little basic with colors because I would rock the second outfit with the makeup look below. You want your makeup to last through a hot and humid park day, and not to spend a lot of time putting it together. I used my fingers to blend foundation across my face and set it with a light dusting of bronzer. I brushed a little shimmering blush onto the apples of my cheeks and swiped a shimmery golden primer across my lids. I put on some waterproof mascara and used a hybrid lipstick/stain for bright color with lasting power. I love hot pink, but I think red would be perfect for a Minnie outfit too. Five minutes and done! Next, I pulled my hair up because long hair can get hot and tangled after hours of sun and rides. Voila! Disney makeup to last the day in ten minutes. Easy peasy.

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Mine is a little messy. Don't judge.

Mine is a little messy. Don’t judge.

I used these tried and true products to get my look –

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I hope you feel inspired to try a fun character-inspired look the next time you’re in the parks! Remember, dressing up in character-inspired looks and channeling your inner Disney isn’t just for the kids – grown-ups can share in the fun too.  🙂

Courtesy of carerunners.com

Courtesy of carerunners.com

(A note from Krista: Today’s post is brought to you by the fabulous Jay over at WayfaringBeauty.com! Perhaps you remember Jay from her previous makeup related guest posts here on Disneyways, including how to wear a makeup look that lasts while you are at Disney! Thank you Jay for another wonderful contribution, you are amazing and I appreciate you SO much!)

A Warm Hug and The Frozen Gallery

Published October 1, 2013 by Disneyways.com

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The Animation Gallery in the Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios was recently updated with artwork from Disney’s “Frozen” The movie will be released in theaters on Thanksgiving, November 27th, 2013.  The display features lots of drawings and sketches of the characters from the movie. (There is a hug for you at the bottom of this post so be sure to scroll all the way down to find it!)

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Exclusive Video from BigFatPanda.com  

Disney’s Frozen Official Trailer 

Last but not least…click this link for a big HUG!