This week’s Wordless Wednesday takes us to Town Center on a beautiful day overlooking Disney Springs. I don’t think this view will ever get old!
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Today the Disney Cruise Line announced several exciting new entertainment and experiences are in store for Disney Wonder guests after the Disney Cruise Line vessel is transformed this fall.
Headlining the enhancements are imaginative spaces for children, a jazzy restaurant and an English pub.
Marvel Super Hero Academy
The Marvel universe comes to life in Marvel Super Hero Academy. Here, young guests can train to develop the brave and adventurous heroes inside themselves. It’s an exciting addition to Disney’s Oceaneer Club, the engaging and interactive space just for children.
Exclusively on the Disney Wonder, Marvel Super Hero Academy will offer extraordinary adventures in which each young guest plays an integral role. With the mentorship of some of Marvel’s greatest Super Heroes, young trainees will learn the value of teamwork, bravery and problem solving through hands-on play and programs.
In one mission, Spider-Man will appear in person to help children hone their spider senses by perfecting their skills of reflex, speed and sharp minds. Children will work on their web-slinging and then get to see themselves in the headlines of the Daily Bugle.
The high-tech command post is also where other Marvel Super Heroes will interact with children via a large digital display, helping them unleash their inner heroes. In one program, kids can control the movement of a character on screen to practice super skills like repulsor blasting.
Throughout the academy, displays will feature equipment that helps make Marvel Super Heroes the mightiest in the universe. Captain America’s World War II shield, Iron Man’s helmet, Spider-Man’s web shooters and Black Widow’s gauntlets will inspire young Super Hero recruits.
More Fun for Young Guests
Elsewhere in Disney’s Oceaneer Club, open to children ages three to 12 years old, kid-sized fun continues with new play spaces and more character interactions than ever before.
These and other spaces provide the perfect settings for children to meet their favorite characters, dance, play and just have fun with them.
A new It’s a Small World Nursery will delight the youngest cruisers with a whimsical world inspired by the style of the legendary theme park attraction.
Tiana’s Place Restaurant
Exclusive to the Disney Wonder, Tiana’s Place restaurant will transport guests to an era of southern charm, spirited jazz and street party celebrations. With a menu influenced by southern-style cuisine, Tiana’s Place will provide food for the body and soul, showing that dreams and dishes come true.
Guests of Tiana’s Place, the restaurant inspired by Princess Tiana in the Disney animated feature, “The Princess and the Frog,” will be treated to a celebration of New Orleans dining and entertainment. Live music will be performed on the main stage, with rhythmic, toe-tapping notes of jazz, swing and blues setting the tone for the French Quarter supper club atmosphere.
Chefs will cook up Tiana’s recipes, drawing inspiration from the flavors and ingredients of the Louisiana bayou. Tiana’s personal touch will be evident in the menu, the entertainment and throughout every detail in the restaurant. From Tiana’s family photos to water lily-shaped candleholders to her framed culinary awards – all will help tell the timeless tale of Tiana’s journey from waitress to frog to princess to proud restaurant owner.
Cheers, to an English Pub
The adult district includes a brand-new pub that invites guests to take a jaunt to an authentic English tavern. Dark woods, plush leather furniture and brass accents are reminiscent of a friendly neighborhood pub. Of course, a selection of British and specialty beers create the perfect pub atmosphere, where adult guests can sip a pint or cocktail, or sample a brew made especially for the pub.
Observant guests may discover this is no ordinary pub. Subtle nods to classic Disney films set in London can be found in artwork, props and other bits ‘n bobs throughout the space. Brilliant stories of all sorts will be celebrated at the pub, whether those tales be true, tall or flat-out mad.
Enhancements from Stem to Stern
Throughout the Disney Wonder, other new and enhanced areas include:
The ship’s upper decks also will be redesigned for waterful enjoyment:
After the Disney Wonder undergoes dry dock Sept. 9 to Oct. 23, 2016, in Cadiz, Spain, the wave of new enhancements debut on sailings starting Nov. 10, from Galveston, Texas.
The Disney Wonder will continue to sail from Galveston to the Bahamas and Caribbean, until the ship sails to San Juan, Puerto Rico on Jan. 20, 2017. On Jan. 26, 2017, a three-night cruise aboard the Disney Wonder takes guests from San Juan to Port Canaveral, Fla., where the ship will homeport for the spring.
To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can visit disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888-DCL-2500 or contact your travel agent.
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Disney Cruise Line is shaking up the Ports and Itineraries for 2017 with the announcement that they will return to New York with sailings to the Bahamas and the Canadian coast – including a new seven-night Canada cruise. San Diego will serve as a home port with cruises to Mexico, and Galveston will again be a homeport with sailings to the Caribbean and Bahamas.
New Canada coast itinerary and new ports from New York
Disney Cruise Line returns to New York City in the fall of 2017, for a mix of voyages that include Canada coast and Bahamas itineraries.
On Oct. 21, the Disney Magic will sail from New York on a seven-night Canada sailing – the line’s longest-ever voyage to the Atlantic Canada coast. This sailing includes a new port of call for Disney Cruise Line – Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
Bar Harbor, Maine, is another new port of call for Disney Cruise Line and part of a five-night sailing that departs New York on Sept. 27. This cruise also will stop at Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.
A total of six seven- and eight-night sailings to the Bahamas, all including a visit to Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, will be a part of the 2017 New York season.
Adding to the magic on each of the Bahamian cruises will be the opportunity to visit Walt Disney World Resort when the ship stops at Port Canaveral, Fla. Each guest on these sailings will receive a one-day Walt Disney World Park Hopper ticket and round-trip transportation for the short drive between the ship and the resort.
Return to San Diego, California
In September and October of 2017, Disney Cruise Line will return to San Diego with a variety of Disney Wonder cruises to Baja and the Mexican Riviera.
On most Baja sailings, guests can visit Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, Mexico, to enjoy world-famous beaches and snorkeling. Two-night cruises depart San Diego on Sept. 15, Sept. 22 and Oct. 13, and a three-night cruise departs Oct. 5 and includes a day at sea.
Mexican Riviera itineraries feature snorkeling and scuba diving hot spots, while Puerto Vallerta and Mazatlan are where cliff divers, culture and ziplining through the jungle canopy take center stage. Seven-night itineraries departing on Sept. 24 and Oct. 15, call on Puerto Vallerta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Four additional four- and five-night Mexican Riviera cruises set sail during the season in San Diego.
Return to Galveston, Texas
Disney Cruise Line returns to Galveston in 2017, with a line up of eight seven-night cruises to the Caribbean and the Bahamas. All Bahamian itineraries include a stop at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas.
On Nov. 10 and Dec. 1, the Disney Wonder will sail a western Caribbean itinerary from Galveston to Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Falmouth, Jamaica.
On Nov. 17, Nov. 24, Dec, 8, Dec. 15, Dec. 22 and Dec. 29, the Disney Wonder will sail from Galveston to Key West, Nassau and Castaway Cay.
Bookings open to the public May 26, 2016. More details on the itineraries can be found on the Ports and Itineraries for 2017 page of disneycruise.com.
To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can visit disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888-DCL-2500 or contact their travel agent.
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This week’s Wordless Wednesday takes us to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World for a spin on the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel with a very special horse.
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Today we will share some hints to help make the process easier and more efficient when you call the Disney Reservation Center (407) 934-7639.
Whether if it is your first trip to Walt Disney World, first time booking a vacation for yourself, or even if you’re a seasoned pro you’ll find some useful tips!
1. Travel Dates
Try to have an idea of when you are looking to travel. Pick specific dates, know they can be changed. It is also a good idea to have a backup set of dates or know if you are even flexible by a day or two.
2. Travel Party
Have a plan of who is traveling in your party. Know how many adults, how many children (including their ages), and make sure that you include infants in your count. These can all have an impact on where you can stay and your overall cost.
3. Travel Plans
How are you planning on getting to Walt Disney World? Are you flying, driving, or coming by train? Did you know you can book airfare or rental cars or limos through Disney for one stop shopping?
4. Plan Ahead
If you can, plan your vacation as early as you possibly can. This gives you a chance to save money for your trip and possibly on your trip. Did you know you can currently book stays up to 499 days in advance of your travel dates by calling Disney directly? This can be extremely helpful if you know where you want to stay, when you want to come, especially if you’re coming at a popular time of year.
5. My Disney Experience
Do you have a My Disney Experience account?
Setting up an account online is easy and will make the reservation process efficient.
You will need a minimal amount information to setup an account at mydisneyexperience.com, and the process should take less than five minutes.
6. Contact Information
Make sure you have the contact information for those for whom you’re trying to book as you are not able to book them all under your info.
The information you will need to provide is:
Keep in mind Disney cannot honor surprise reservations, so they will be sending out reservation information by either email or postal mail including pricing.
7. Saving Money
Calling the Disney Reservation Center at (407) 934-7639 directly could also lead to finding ways to save that you didn’t expect.
You may find an offer that you are eligible for that you have not received yet, occasional and random room upgrade offers, packages that can only be booked over the phone such as discounts for active duty or retired military, and packages with room and dining without tickets.
Cast Members can also provide helpful suggestions and easily compare package savings over the phone between multiple offers to see which one is the best savings for your party.
I hope that these tips help you in your Walt Disney World planning!
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La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil Trapeze team to attempt 2 rarely performed Trapeze tricks during a live show
I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek behind the scenes at Cirque du Soleil La Nouba at Disney Springs as Trapeze artists prepare for a performance of a lifetime!
During a live show on Thursday, March 31ST, Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba, in partnership with Experience Kissimmee, will stream LIVE via Facebook Live and Periscope as the energetic Trapeze troupe attempts two (2) rarely performed tricks that only a handful of Trapeze artists have accomplished. The “Double & ½ Layout to the Legs” is an extremely skillful maneuver that includes a 2 ½ backward layout with a twist, all performed within seconds before the artists is caught by his legs. The second trick will be a “Quadruple” layout, which is rumored to be completed less than 20 times in the 150 year history of Trapeze.
“We are delighted to partner with Experience Kissimmee as we bring this rare performance to life via Facebook Live,” said Neil Boyd, Company Manager for La Nouba. “This collaboration between Cirque du Soleil and Experience Kissimmee allows for a new, emerging way to engage fans during our attempt at feats that are not common to the show.”
To see the live broadcasts from behind the scenes and the trapeze act, visit Experience Kissimmee’s official Facebook page at Facebook.com/ExperienceKissimmee during the 6 p.m. EDT performance of La Nouba on Thursday, March 31. Experience Kissimmee will also broadcast via Periscope. Follow @Kissimmee on Twitter for updates. Fans can check the hashtag #CirqueLIVE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to find sneak peeks and broadcasts for the event.
It was a true delight to watch these talented performers practice, and I know that I will be tuning into #CirqueLive with fingers crossed and breath held!
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If you and your family will be celebrating Easter at Walt Disney World, you will find many ways to make your day unforgettable!
Easter Day Religious Services
Disney’s Contemporary Resort will be hosting Easter Day Religious Services for guests, and while you do not need to be staying specifically at the Contemporary Resort to join in the services you will need to find your own way to the resort.
For the best transportation options, visit your Resort’s Concierge Desk and speak to a Cast Member.
Sunday, March 27, 2016 – Disney’s Contemporary Resort – Fantasia Ballroom
Guests can be a part of an Easter Day Religious Ceremony at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
There will be three Services:
Easter Day Meals
So many family memories around Easter are created around the dinner table, and even if you are away from home you can still have a wonderful holiday family meal at Walt Disney World.
Throughout the Walt Disney World Resort you will find that several dining locations are adding special touches to meals through out the day.
Easter Activities at the Resorts
If you are looking for an Easter Egg Hunt or Candy Dash to help complete your Easter Celebrations, you find that Easter Day is full of activities at the Walt Disney World Resorts.
Guests at the following Disney’s on-site Resorts will find special Easter themed recreation activities on Easter Day, and some will also host special Easter Character Meet & Greet Opportunities, Easter Egg Hunts, and Candy Dashes.
For a full schedule of activities and if Characters will be visiting your Resort, check with the Concierge Desk. Also make sure you arrive 10-15 minutes early to ensure you will be able to participate.
Meeting the Easter Bunny and more at the Magic Kingdom
You can meet Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny daily from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm until March 27, 2016 in the Town Square Area. There will also be a PhotoPass photographers available so you can get a family photo.
Disney’s Festival of Fantasy Parade will take place at noon and 3:00 pm daily, and March 26 & 27, the Azalea Trail Maids will be in a pre-parade before the Festival of Fantasy parade. They will also be in Town Square for meet and greets on March 27.
Easter Egg Display
Every year the chefs at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort create stunning Disney themed Easter Eggs that are pieces of art created from chocolate and sugar that are displayed in the Resort’s lobby.
You definitely don’t want to miss these beautiful Easter Eggs!
Ostrich Egg Silent Auctions
This year both Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village will host Ostrich Egg Silent Auctions.
The eggs, uniquely designed by Resort Cast Members, are displayed in the Lobbies of each resort from 10:00am-5:00pm Wednesday, March 23 – Thursday, March 24, and guests have the opportunity to take part in a silent auction to win one of these fantastic eggs.
The winning bids are announced on Friday, March 25th, and all proceeds earned will be donated to the Disney Conservation Fund.
Epcot’s Egg-stravaganza
Returning to Epcot is the Egg-stravaganza! From March 2-27, guests search Epcot’s World Showcase for special hidden Easter Eggs themed to some of your favorite Disney Characters.
What can you egg-spect? From March 2 – March 27, search for special hidden ‘eggs’ themed to Disney characters at some of your favorite theme parks.
How it works:
Tangled: The Musical, exclusive to the Magic in Disney Cruise Line’s Fleet, debuted last November and I had an opportunity to see the production, talk with the designers, and step into The Snuggly Duckling as the ship was in dock in Miami.
At an hour long, only 40 minutes shorter than the movie, Tangled: The Musical is a visually stunning production that brings the beloved animated world to life with just as much heart with three new songs created just for this show.
The show stays true to the storyline from the hit feature film—with a few special twists to create a live stage production—featuring favorite characters like Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, the villainous Mother Gothel and Maximus the guard horse.
The story follows the thrilling adventure of Rapunzel as she escapes the confines of her tower and the clutches of Mother Gothel, who wishes to shield the secret of Rapunzel’s magical golden tresses and royal roots. Rapunzel strikes up an unlikely friendship with the suave, crown-stealing bandit Flynn Rider, and together they face ruffians, thugs and a budding romance on a hair-raising journey filled with classic Disney playfulness and whimsy that will delight audiences of all ages.
The amazing composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater returned to pen the three new songs and to add musicality to the flow of Tangled: The Musical.
The three new songs are “Flower of Gold” which opens the show with a look at the birth and abduction of Rapunzel, “Wanted Man” gives us a closer look at who Flynn Rider is, and my favorite “When The Princess Returns” is set in the Kingdom of Corona and captures the spirit of just how much Rapunzel was loved and the optimism & hope surrounding her hopeful return.
In addition to new melodies you will also experience favorite songs from the movie, including “When Will My Life Begin,” “Mother Knows Best,” “I’ve Got a Dream”, and the Grammy Award-winning ballad “I See the Light” that will bring you to tears.
The production is full of beautiful costumes, puppetry that will have you wondering how they bring Maximus to life, and sets that transport you from the Walt Disney Theatre & immerse you in the world of Tangled.
Disney assembled an all-star creative team to develop this extravagant production, and having the chance to talk with them only made me appreciate Tangled: The Musical more.
Master puppet designer Michael Curry, whose extraordinary creations are featured in Disney’s Tony Award-winning musical “The Lion King” on Broadway, has created a new standard and level of puppetry in Maximus blending craftsmanship with the comedic abilities of the actor to create this sassy character who is the mane.
During our time on the Magic, we got to hear from the two of the show’s designers.
Tony Award-winning designer Paloma Young joined the team to create the beautiful and vibrant costumes. While the inspiration for the costumes came from a ‘natural place’ with flower iconography and natural textures, Paloma had a personal inspiration for Rapunzel that you might not expect.
I’ve been calling her the ‘Pinterest Princess’, in that she has so much energy and creativity. And she paints, she bakes, she braids her hair in all sorts of different ways, and is sort of this contemporary idea. You can just imagine Rapunzel’s Pinterest Board with things like ‘Today this is how I painted the lanterns’, so I was inspired by both Folk Craft and contemporary interpretation of Folk Craft.
So for total funsies, I felt it was necessary to create my own Tangled Pinterest Board!
Bradley Kay is the Senior Art Designer of Tangled: The Musical, and he spoke on the process of bringing Tangled to life on stage.
When I got the script I went back to the source material. To Bavaria, the forrest, the palace, the scope of the area, the lanterns, and really all the elements and how we could adapt that to bring the show to the stage so we aren’t lifting and repeating the film and make it much more theatrical.
With that we started looking at the carvings and the paint styles.
This is Rapunzel and this is Rapunzel’s view of her world, so we started off very rigid from the moment you enter the Tower. But when we get to her it gets soft and fluid reflecting her murals and paintings. Then once we go out of the Tower with her, I tried to go through her eyes where everything is even more soft and fluid with no straight lines in the entire set.
The Tangled fun doesn’t stop there at O’Gills Pub has been taken over by Thugs for the night, and you can sling a mug at The Snuggly Duckling.
I was bowled over by tith clever details from the movie and touches inspired by the regulars of The Snuggly Duckling! I mean…who WOULDN’T want to play a game of THUGO!
In the main dining rooms of the Magic, you will also find two desserts from The Snuggly Duckling.
I really enjoyed my time with Disney Cruise Line on the Disney Magic to see Tangled: The Musical, and I have my fingers crossed that I will get to experience a full sailing one day!
You can find more pictures from my time on the Disney Magic to experience the ship and Tangled: The Musical on our Facebook Page.
For more information about the sailings of the Disney Magic, check out the Disney Cruise line website.
To keep up with us as we are On the Go, make sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest!
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This week’s Wordless Wednesday takes us to the most magical time of day in the Most Magical Place on Earth. The sunsets at the Magic Kingdom are amazing, and I just happened to look up at Cinderella Castle at just the right moment.
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This week’s Wordless Wednesday takes us to the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival where you can find this topiary of Elsa from Frozen in the Norway Pavilion.
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Hopefully it hasn’t happened to you, but this weekend I renewed my Walt Disney World Annual Pass and during the process I ran into to an issue and needed some extra help with a MagicBand issue.
From this experience I wanted to share with you six tips to make the process of dealing with technical issues a little easier.
1. Make sure you have the right number to call.
The phone number to call for these issues is (407) 939-7765, which is open 7 days a week from 7am – 11pm EST. If you are a guest under 18, you will need permission to call.
2. Stay Calm.
Now I wish I had followed my own advice as first on this one! The issue I had originally made it seem as if my account was blank, meaning I had lost all of my information and PhotoPass pictures.
But I definitely suggest taking a moment before calling, because it makes communication much easier.
3. Set aside some time for the call.
Getting to the bottom of an issue can take a little time, so make sure you have the time to wait for a Cast Member to answer your call and for the concern to be resolved.
We are all busy, but I found that I am less frantic and more open to finding solutions when I am less stressed about a time crunch.
My worst idea on this one was once calling from the Car Riders Pick-Up Line at my daughter’s school…I don’t recommend that at all!
4. Be at your computer when you call in for help.
While many issues can be also dealt with by looking at the My Disney Experience App, it is often more helpful if you can be in front of your computer when you are speaking with the Cast Member helping you.
5. Share as much information as you can about the issue.
As soon as I run into any issue or concern, the first thing I do is stop dead in my tracks and write down details about how I ran into them so they are easier to identify or recreate if necessary.
Some information you might want to take note of include:
6. Take the survey at the end of the call.
Not being in a rush also includes taking the time to complete the short survey at the end of the call, because the feedback about the lines of communication helps optimize the experience for the future as well as helps recognize Cast Members for doing an exceptional job.
Now while I hope that you never need this information, I hope that you find it helpful in case you do!
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This week’s Wordless Wednesday takes us to an all to familiar view at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but I can’t wait to see what awesomeness will start to appear behind this construction wall!
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This week’s Wordless Wednesday takes us to the Magic Kingdom where you can find the safest place to keep your bills while waiting to see Mickey Mouse in the Town Square Theater.
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This week’s Wordless Wednesday takes us to Epcot at Walt Disney World where Spring has Sprung early, and beautiful flowers are popping up all over the Park. While I think these are Pink Snapdragons, I know that they are the absolute perfect shade of pink!
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The Lion Guard Adventure debuted at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and this photo scavenger hunt allows fans of Disney Junior’s newest animated show “The Lion Guard” to become an Honorary Member of The Lion Guard, and our whole family had a wild day taking part in the fun.
Kion, the lion cub son of Simba and Nala and future king of the Pride Lands, has come to the park to find new friends to join the Lion Guard. But where is Kion—and where are his fellow protectors of the Pride Lands: Ono, Bunga, Fuli and Beshte?
To start your adventure, visit select merchandise locations around Animal Kingdom to pick up a guide map that is full of kid-friendly facts and clues to engage your child’s curiosity and inspire them as future “protectors” of wildlife.
Here is where you can pick up your The Lion Guard Adventure Guide Maps:
Rafiki’s Planet Watch
Africa
Discovery Island
Asia
Using your map, set out on your quest to take a picture with five kid-sized statues around the Park.
KION – Fiercest
Lions like KION communicate and scare off enemies with their fierce ROAR. ‘ROAR’ like KION!
ONO – Keenest of Sight
Birds use their KEEN EYES in flight to hunt insects. Use your KEEN EYES and your arms ‘like wings’ to fly like ONO.
BUNGA – Brave
Honey badgers like BUNGA, with their thick, armor-like skin are fearless and BRAVE. Raise your arms and shout ‘Zuka Zama!’ Show how BRAVE you are.
BESHTE – Strongest
Hippos like BESHTE love to rest in cool water. But on land, they can use their STRONG LEGS to out run a human. Flex your STRONG ARMS AND LEGS like BESHTE.
FULI – Fastest
Cheetahs like FULI, the fastest animal on land, use their tails for balance to run up to 70 miles per hour! Crouch down like FULI, ready to run your FASTEST!
What makes The Lion Guard Adventure a great addition to your day at Animal Kingdom is that all of the figures are conveniently ‘hidden’ on a normal path through the park as to not take too much time away from the attractions and shows.
The adventure ends at Rafiki’s Planet Watch where you take The Lion Guard Pledge before you receive your Lion Guard Mark of the Shield and become a new member of The Lion Guard.
I promise
To use my keen eyes
To see right and wrong,
To use my roar, and
To be brave, fast, and strong.
I will protect
My animal friends.
I pledge to the Lion Guard,
I will defend!
We really had a good time playing The Lion Guard Adventure, which only added an additional 30 minutes to our day due to Zoe wanting to take the perfect Selfie, and it is something that we will definitely do again on our next visit to Animal Kingdom.
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