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Disney’s Oh My Disney Blog Review

Disney started a new blog several weeks ago that has quickly become one of my daily must visits. It is called Oh My Disney or OMD for short. This blog is one of the most fun and quirky things I’ve discovered of late. If you aren’t already ready this hilarious daily dose of Disney, what are you waiting for?

OMD is one of the newest official blogs put out by The Walt Disney Company. You can find fantastic offerings about Disney films, tv shows, music, parks and more. One of the aspects I love most is that this blog is written in the colloquial style, as if you were having a conversation with a late 20s to mid 30s Disney lover. It isn’t the traditional just the facts ma’am post that you get, and by all means that serve a purpose, from several other blogs. This is a lighthearted glimpse into some of Disney’s greatest pop culture productions, sometimes even crossing over into ABC and ESPN territory.

Check out this image Graphing Our Emotions: The Lion King Edition:

This is just one of many reasons why I love this blog. There are things that will make you laugh, cry and remember why you love Disney.

I am so glad I happened to catch a tweet from a friend who works for Disney who said he was working on a new project and that we should all check it out. This blog is something that I can honestly say has brought cheer and smiles to me every day since. It started just under two months ago with the first post titled “Everyone Should Listen to Chef Gusteau” released on February 4th. This blog is part advice column, part reminiscing about Disney’s fantastic history, and part let’s just have fun. Across the header of the site you will often see posts with themes if you don’t want to go through all posts daily (which I strongly recommend). These sections are labeled as Aww (mostly romantic moments), Oh, Snap! (a little snarkiness served up Disney style), Retro (things that are typically geared towards younger generations (than mine) that grew up in the 90s – side note, super scary to think of 90s things as retro, but I digress), Silly (pretty self explanatory), and Whoa (things you definitely need to check out – case in point, the fantastic new Mickey Mouse Short, Croissant de Triomphe). Croissant de Triomphe on Disney Video

Often times this blog says what I’m thinking, or at least what I’d like to think I thought of before they posted it. Some of my favorites include The Snuggly Duckling: Best Pub Ever, We Dare You Not To Cry: The Most Blubber Cry-Worthy Pixar Moments (SPOILER ALERTS), WALL-E: How to Win Every Argument Ever, and 10 Paperman GIFs to Make You Believe In Destiny. There are so many more, but I want you to discover them on your own.

Have you seen OMD? If so, what are some of your favorites? If you ever need a pick-me-up, this is the place to go! Hop on over and check it out and let me know what you think of this great new addition to Disney’s blogs. I mean how could you not love a site that features a fantasy edition of the Bachelorette based around the male characters of the Lion King or a video condensing Mulan to 60 seconds? I would love to see more like this from Disney in the future and can’t wait to see what else OMD has coming down the pike!

Disney Easter Matching Game From Wonder Forge

I was super excited to receive the Wonder Forge Disney Easter Matching Game to review just in time for Easter!

This isn’t just your average matching game, because every so often you get a surprise glimpse of one of your favorite Disney Characters all dressed up and ready to celebrate Easter with your family. It was so fun to see Zoe’s face when she got a character that was as she called them ‘extra cool’!

The Disney Easter Matching game is played with the normal 72 cards, however instead of 2 of each card there are 4. While this took a little getting used to, Zoe found that it was easier for her to play.

The game is recommended for Children ages 3 and up, and is played like the classic matching game where the player with the most matched cards wins! If you are looking for a harder option, you can play with the rule that you must find all 4 matching cards. Playing Alone? Time yourself to see how long it takes to find and match all of the cards. Also, if you have a younger Disney Fan at home, you could play with half the cards for a less intimidating and faster matching game.

We really enjoyed playing the Disney Easter Matching Game together! It was a really fun twist on the classic matching game that I am sure we’ll be playing all year long.

If you’re looking for a really fun last minute goody to fill your Easter Baskets that is fun for the entire family, I suggest picking up the Disney Easter Matching Game from Wonder Forge.

Make sure you follow Wonder Forge on Facebook and Twitter for information on all their new games and giveaways!

Les Miserables With Shane – Do You Hear That Ambient Noise?

Shane Grizzard takes us along to the movies with his review of Les Miserables!

Last week I got the second greatest Hanukkah gift ever when Shelley invited me to go see the Les Miserables film a week early and cover it for the site. I was very excited because, contrary to popular belief, I’ve never seen a true production of Les Mis before, despite my background in theatre. The only time I’ve ever seen it partially was PBS’s 25th anniversary concert, which was very hard to follow along because there was little scenery, props or stage direction.

Les Miserables is a musical based on Victor Hugo’s famous novel that tells the story of several families’ lives over the years leading up to the [failed] Paris Uprising of 1832. The main conflict follows Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), a reformed convict, and Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe), the officer trying to recapture him for breaking parole.

I invited my friend Mike along to the early screening, partly because he’s a Les Mis veteran- his cousin played Gavroche on Broadway for a year and they saw it like 12 times- so he would be a good contrasting opinion to my newbie voice. Going in, he kept telling me to pay attention the revolutionary new way they filmed the singing. You see, in the past when movie musicals were made they would record the soundtrack first and then when you went to film the scene the actors would lip sync to the song. In Les Mis they decided to film the singing live in the moment while a pianist played in the actors’ ears off screen and then add the orchestrations in post production. Theoretically, this would create a more theatrical experience, allowing the actors to be more emotionally involved in the scene. Sounds good, right?

I have to say this was my biggest pet peeve for the first half of the film. Perhaps it was the acoustics of some of the spaces where they filmed. Perhaps it was because of the ambient noise in some of the scenes. Perhaps it was because my heart was two sizes too small. (Wait- right holiday, wrong story.) But it kept taking me out of the scene. For some reason it didn’t feel like a musical and more like just people randomly singing out of nowhere. At points I just wanted the actors to stop crying and finish singing the dang song!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCPoIsi8m08&feature=share&list=PLA01F605EEACAC54B

Another issue I had was there are many “inner monologue” moments throughout the musical. You know like in a Shakespearean play where a character would step out and say what they were thinking or explain something to the audience. This works well on the stage but feels odd when you try to adapt it to film, especially when the actors are singing every moment out loud and not keeping their thoughts in their heads. One particular moment, the student Marius (Eddie Redmayne) was thanking his best friend Eponine (Samantha Barks) for finding the love of his life Cosette (Amanda Seyfried), a girl whom he had only seen once across a crowded square (don’t get me started). Eponine is standing off to the side singing aloud about how every word is like a dagger in her heart and she wishes he would just see her for once- ALL FIVE FEET FROM THE GUY. I kept expecting him to turn and say “I’m sorry, did you you say something?”

The actors were hit and miss. I went in to this with very low expectations of Russell Crowe. Yes, he’s sung in his own band before, but can he carry one of leads in this major almost-operatic musical? Personally, I thought Crowe did better than I expected, but as Mike went on to point out he still wasn’t on the caliber of every Broadway actor who’s played the role before him, especially when placed against Hugh Jackman, a stage veteran. Sacha Baron Cohen (who played Thénardier) couldn’t sing either, but was very funny in his little improvisations and quips with Helena Bonham Carter. Unfortunately though there was very little comedy to cut through this extremely dramatic film.

All that being said, as many issues as I had with Les Mis, I found the next day I was longing to go back and see it again! The movie was epic and and the score was beautiful. If you’re a fan of the musical, rest assured they cut barely anything out. Mike and I could only think of one or two small songs that weren’t there. If you’re not a fan, be warned they cut barely anything out and you’re walking into a three hour musical with no intermission. Definitely go to the bathroom before you see the film!

My conclusion: Though I had many issues with the production of this film and its transition from stage to screen and I wouldn’t put it in my list of Top 5 Films of 2012, it was still enjoyable! Go see it, if you’re into epic musicals about depressing miserable French people!

I hope you have a happy holidays!

Disney Parks Blog Be Our Guest Meet Up

Entering New Fantasyland for the Disney Parks Blog Meet Up

Recently we were fortunate enough to be one of the lucky few to successfully register for the Disney Parks Blog meet at the Be Our Guest Restaurant in the Magic Kingdom. Those of us in attendance were treated to a grand evening in Disney’s newest counter/table service restaurant. Shalon and I had a great time at this exclusive opportunity. If you look closely, you can spot Shalon and me in the pictures and video on the Disney Parks Blog post about the night here.

We were greeted outside the Magic Kingdom at the registration table by Cast Members welcoming us to the event who gave us each complimentary tickets to the park good for that day or the next. They also told us that we were randomly selected to get autographed posters signed by the artist at the party. In addition to these we received Fast Passes to be able to experience the new attraction Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid.

As we entered the New Fantasyland area of the park, we were guided to queue up before the bridge to the Be Our Guest Restaurant. We met up with our friend Vickie, wife and social media director of Steve Barrett, the Hidden Mickey Guy, and invited her to join us. We were ushered in and were promptly seated at a table right in front of the stage.

Before the speakers started, we were greeted with excellent service from our server Melissa. I was thoroughly impressed with the presentation and quality of the food. During the meal we heard Thomas Smith from the Disney Parks Blog, Imagineer Chris Beatty and Executive Chef Mike. After dinner they we were all available for meet and greets along with other Imagineers in the West Wing.

The highlight of the evening for me was the amazing meal to which we were treated. It started with the beautiful light up goblets serving L’amour Vrai: all natural fruit juice punch with wild berry extract and lemon lime foam. Fresh warm rolls and butter started the meal off right. For an appetizer I had the potato leek soup and Shalon had the french onion soup. Both were fantastic! I love this soup just as much as at Rose and Crown where it is my favorite appetizer there. My entree was the incredible pan-seared salmon on leek fondue with creamy saffron crushed potatoes and Shalon ordered the thyme-scented pork rack chop with au gratin macaroni, seasonal vegetables and red wine jus. I don’t even like pork chops and I tried some of Shalon’s and loved it. The meat was so juicy and tender and my salmon was cooked to perfection.

Dessert was a thing of sheer brilliance, especially on Shalon’s part. Having just come off of a Disney Cruise, she was accustomed to being able to order multiple desserts and figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask here. Melissa was very nice and accommodated our request, so we each had two desserts. I started with the strawberry cream cheese cupcake with vanilla sponge cake, strawberry mousse filling and cream cheese icing, then tried the gluten-free, no sugar added lemon-raspberry cream puff filled with lemon custard. I actually preferred the latter to my surprise! Shalon had the chocolate cream puff filled with chocolate mousse topped with whipped cream and then her favorite the triple chocolate cupcake with chocolate sponge cake, chocolate mousse filling and chocolate ganache. We even got to try the grey stuff.

Strawberry cream cheese cupcake and lemon raspberry cream puff

Once the meal concluded, we were free to roam about the restaurant and take pictures and meet with the Imagineers and chef to ask any questions. Also, to our surprise, we were also given the opportunity to have our pictures taken with the Beast in the library. Shalon and I won signed copies of the poster all guests received at the Disney Parks Blog meetup and were able to meet the artist, Jeff Maurer, to get them personalized. On the way out we were given our choice of cupcakes to go so I got the triple chocolate cupcake which was the best dessert I had.

The evening was absolutely amazing from the atmosphere to the food to the service. From previous experience at the restaurant in dress rehearsal mode, I was very impressed with the level of the presentation of service we received. I cannot wait to go back and try some of the other items on the menu like the sauteed shrimp and scallops and mussels provencal. This was yet another magnificent production put on by the crew at the Disney Parks Blog and I look forward to future events they host. I hope you all get a chance to experience this great addition to New Fantasyland!

Prince Eric's Castle — Prince Eric’s Castle

Prep and Landing Totally Tinsel Edition Is A Must Have For Your Holiday Movie Collection!

It’s a week until Christmas, and what better way to get in the holiday spirit than by taking a look at the Prep and Landing Totally Tinsel Edition, which is by far one of my most favorite holiday Blu-Ray movies!

The Prep and Landing Totally Tinsel Edition is a great way to own both features, Prep & Landing and Prep & Landing: Naughty vs Nice, along with 45 minutes of hilarious extras and shorts, including the Emmy award winning Short Operation Secret Santa!

From the moment I first watch the original Prep & Landing, which was released in 2009, I was hooked! I fell in love with Wayne, Lanny, Magee, and the gang!

On Christmas Eve, a high-tech team of elves from an elite unit known as ‘Prep & Landing’ ensures homes around the world are prepared for Santa’s visit. But when two hilarious little elves face unexpected challenges and are pushed to their limits, it’ll take a great big effort to save the season

And in Prep & Landing: Naughty vs Nice, released in 2011, Wayne and the gang are back for more holiday high jinks!

The outrageous yuletide adventures of Christmas elves Lanny and Wayne continue in this totally tinsel adventure that reminds us there’s room for everyone on the ‘nice’ list. Santa’s stealthiest little elves must race to recover classified North Pole technology, which has fallen into the hands of a computer-hacking naughty kid, in an effort to stop Christmas from descending into chaos.

The extras on the Prep and Landing Totally Tinsel Edition are so much fun! Loading with tons of North Pole commercials, Kringle Academy, North Pole News, Behind the Scenes with Grace Potterand, and more! Also included is my absolute favorite short Tiny’s Big Adventure!

httpv://youtu.be/E_sRZsLUmyw

If you are a big Prep & Landing fan or if you are just looking for a fun Holiday Blu-Ray for the family, I hope that you check out the Prep and Landing Totally Tinsel Edition!!!

And if you want to have even more Prep & Landing fun, make sure you check out the Prep & Landing site with Winterpedia and fun movie activities here!

Brave Is Available Now On Disney Blu-Ray

The first time I saw “Brave” it resonated with me on so many levels, and while I was an emotional wreck I was already excited to own it on Blu-Ray! Watching Merida and her Mother, Queen Elinor, made me think of when I was like Merida, a rebellious daughter, and now as a mother who, like Queen Elinor, is now in that tricky place where nurturing turns into molding a person where it is easy to get lost in responsibilities. And in November when “Brave” was released on Blu-Ray I was beyond excited with the quality of the movie and extras!

“Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida, a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric Witch (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her skills and resources – including her clever and mischievous triplet brothers – to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late, discovering the meaning of true bravery.

Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, “Brave” is a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and signature Pixar humor that audiences of all ages around the world have come to eagerly expect.

“Brave” is absolutely stunning in the Blu-Ray format. The picture itself is just as breathtaking as it was on the big screen and the sound is just as immersive. The attention to detail really resonates in HD, and is a true delight to watch over and over again.

There are tons of great HD extras spread over two discs. With 13 featurettes, 4 extended scenes, an alternative opening, 15 minutes of promotional pieces from around the world, an art gallery with almost 500 images, and a sneak peek at Monsters University you will be busy for hours!

While there are a lot of different opinions about “Brave”, I have to say that it is definitely a new favorite in our house!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKdLpBLp3nM&feature=share&list=PLB45404C640C25503

Disney Board Games Are The Perfect Gift For The Holidays!

In our family we love playing board games, and we are always on the lookout for great games to play together.

We were really excited when we the opportunity to review some new Disney board games that are coming out just in time for the holiday season from Wonder Forge.

Jake and the Never Land Pirates Never Land Challenge Game Active, adventurous play for little pirates!
Jake and the Never Land Pirates Who Shook Hook Game Take back the treasure in this adventurous game of skill and suspense!
Disney Princess Enchanted Cupcake Party Race to crown your cupcakes!
Disney Princess Dazzling Princess Game A magical dress-up game!

I thought it would be fun to take a look at each of these games, starting with Disney Princess Enchanted Cupcake Party and Jake and the Never Land Pirates Who Shook Hook Game.

Disney Princess Enchanted Cupcake Disney Board Game

You’re invited to a cupcake party with all your favorite princesses! Work together to make as many cupcakes as you can before it’s time for the party. Follow the recipe cards to pick the perfect fancy liner, frosting, and topper. Each cupcake creation is fit for a princess in this sweet game of matching and sharing. The game is for Princesses 3 and up, and helps to promote physical dexterity & creative expression.

The game includes (10) enchanted cupcakes, (30) cupcake cards, (10) tiles, (1) timer and instructions. Another fun thing about the Disney Princess Enchanted Cupcake Party is that while it can be played with two players, it would really be easy to play with a larger group of Princesses.

Zoe, my 6 year old going on 25, and I absolutely loved this game! The rules for Disney Princess Enchanted Cupcake Party are super easy to follow, and working together against the timer made the game less competitive and more fun. I also enjoyed that there are three different ways to play the game, which also can make the game more difficult if you have older Princesses playing!

And to me the icing on the enchanted cupcake was the design of the cupcakes themselves! While the cupcakes themselves are on the small size, the level of detail that went into the design of the game pieces is amazing!

Overall, I would absolutely suggest the Disney Princess Enchanted Cupcake Party Disney board game for any little Princess on your holiday list! It would be a great game for sleepovers, Princess Tea Parties, or a fun way to spend the evening!

Jake and the Never Land Pirates Who Shook Hook Disney Board Game

And going in a totally different direction, we also gave Jake and the Never Land Pirates Who Shook Hook game a whirl!

Captain Hook is snoozing in his hammock, surrounded by all the treasure he’s nabbed from Jake and his pirate crew. Spin the spinner to choose your challenge, then use the sword, the fishing pole, or the shovel to pluck a piece of treasure! But steady as she goes–you need to grab the loot without sending Hook tumbling into the water where Tick Tock Croc awaits. This imaginative, play-packed game is sure to be a hit with clever little pirates. The game is intended for children ages 4 and up, and promotes physical dexterity & strategic thinking.

The game includes 2 Palm Trees (2 Trunks and 2 Palm Fronds), Hammock, 3 Barrels, 3 Treasure Chests, 3 Tikis, 3 Money Bags, and 4 Tools (Leaf Tweezers, Sword, Anchor Fishing Pole, Shovel).

Zoe, Dave, and I had a really fun time trying to use all of the tools to take the treasure off of Hook’s hammock without flipping him over into the hungry jaws of Tick Tock Croc.

We all had a fairly easy time using the tools to remove the treasure, and the game plays really quickly so it adds to the fun of trying your best not to be the one to send Captain Hook into the drink! We all seemed to enjoy using the Anchor Fishing Pole the most.

We all really enjoyed Jake and the Never Land Pirates Who Shook Hook game, and found ourselves quickly loading up his hammock back up with treasure when someone (whose name rhymes with GAVE) knocked him out of his hammock!

We all really look forward to our family game time, and these two Disney board games are a welcome addition to our rotation!

I look forward to telling you all about the Disney Princess Dazzling Princess and Jake and the Never Land Pirates Never Land Challenge games!

P.S. from Aeropostale opens at the Prime Outlets

If anybody knows me well, they know that I adore shopping. I Adore outlets and I ADORE a great deal!!! Outlet shopping is the best because you never know what you might find.

When Shelley and I were asked to come to the Grand Opening Party for P.S. for Aeropostale ( WHICH is pronounced Aero-post-ale FYI 😉 ) , I jumped at the chance.

When you walk into the store, you are immediately blown away at the bright and light and open space of a store that is packed full of kids clothes. The Displays were eye catching and the words written on the walls were adorable.

This kind of store makes me wish I was a kid/tween so I could have Owl Pajamas and socks that had cool phrases&symbols on them!

P.S. For Aeropostale is the sister store to Aeropostale. These clothes are geared towards the fashionable kid/tween set that are to small for Aeropostale and too big for baby clothes! They are affordable, durable and just plain ADORABLE! They carry trendy stuff, adorable pajamas, fun shoes and socks and even school uniform offerings.

Good GOLLY I wish this was in big kid sizes!

Now, since I have no little’s of my own , I headed over to the Big Kids Aeropostale where they offered us the same 20% off discount for the Opening of P.S.from Aeropostale Party! ( Thank you to Michelle and Ellen) I was able to pick up a bevy of things for a FRACTION of the regular mall prices!!!!

I picked up 2 pair of boot socks, 2 camis, a Rugby Shirt and 5 pair of knit boxer briefs for about $47.00 !!!!!!

If you are looking for a place to stock up on some goodies for school or christmas or any holiday, then PLEASE take a run over to P.S.for Aeropostale and Aeropostale at the Prime Outlets on International Drive!

Thank you to Jen for inviting us and for the ladies and gents at P.S. for Aeropostale for hosting us!!

We will be back!

iPad Used At The Carmel Café & Wine Bar For An Improved Dining Experience

Recently I went to Carmel Café & Wine Bar in Sarasota for a friend’s birthday lunch. It was my first time visiting the restaurant and was very pleasantly surprised by what I encountered. The aesthetics were nice and it was welcoming and comforting from when you enter. What I was most excited about after I walked in was seeing the stack of Apple iPads on a table by the hostess stand.

I immediately asked the hostess jokingly if we got iPads to play with during our meal. Surprisingly, she said we got one, but not to play with. She explained as she escorted us to our table that the iPads are used for ordering. The menus are all on there along with the ability to order.

I had a new toy to play with during lunch and couldn’t wait to explore the functionality! The menus were very clearly laid out and featured full color pictures as well as written descriptions of each menu item. You could swipe from right to left to select the next category from appetizers to entrees, beverages to dessert. You also have the ability to search from the menu at the top and quickly jump to the desired category instead of scrolling through them.

This was such an awesome experience! To be able to control your food and the timing and not have to depend on servers to come around was great. We first ordered our drinks, then appetizers, then when we were getting towards the end of our first course, we ordered our entrees. This made the process so much smoother and more fun than the typical dining experience. Service was prompt and the timing flowed much better instead of food being brought out before you were ready only to get cold, or long after you had finished your previous course.

Our server still stopped by periodically, but it felt like at natural times to see about water refills, instead of the often annoyance of a server coming too frequently or not frequently enough. This felt like we had more control over our meal and the experience was made more enjoyable by the technology Carmel Café brought to the table. We even had the ability to see our check as we added items to our order on the iPad.

On top of the amazing use of technology to ameliorate our meal, the food was excellent. There were tons of healthy options including gluten free and vegetarian menu options. I cannot wait to go back to Carmel Café again since this was such a pleasurable experience and the food was great! They even offer great specials like “After 5 at Carmel,” which feature $5.00 wines, small plates and martinis on weeknights from 5-7pm, Wine Wednesdays, and Prix Fixe Dinners for 2. In addition to the Sarasota restaurant, they have locations in Tampa and Clearwater.

I highly recommend Carmel Café and hope that some of this use of the iPad technology will spread to other restaurants and maybe even to our theme parks. I was recently listening to an episode of the Betamouse podcast from last year and they talked about their desire to see something of this nature at Walt Disney World. I would love to see this come to fruition in the near future whether by iPad or even your own smartphone. Like they say in Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress at the Magic Kingdom, “What will they think up next? … Who know? We’ve got a whole new century waiting for us out there.”

If you are interested in learning more about how Carmel Café uses Apple technology to improve the dining experience, check out this video here on Apple’s website.

Grilled Lemon Chicken & Artichoke description

Grilled Lemon Chicken & Artichoke flatbread

Tinker Bell And The Secret Of The Wings Spoiler Free

Tinker Bell and the Secret of the Wings

Being the proud father of a six year old little princess obsessed with all things Tinker Bell, I have seen the previous three Fairies movies more times that should be allowed by law. However, Disney has done a fantastic job keeping this franchise alive and fresh much longer than most, and they definitely didn’t disappoint this time around. Their ability to take a secondary character and transform her into a compelling central figure has been unmatched with this franchise. Kids, at least mine, can’t get enough of the misadventures of this spunky sprite and her band of fairy friends.

Disney’s fourth animated Fairies tale, Tinker Bell And The Secret Of The Wings, follows the continued adventures, and misadventures of Tinker Bell and the fairies of Pixie Hollow. Once again Tink’s curiosity and knack for trouble takes her on a journey into a place forbidden for warm weather fairies to go. The Winter Woods, a cold unforgiving side of Pixie Hollow, lies just beyond a stream at the border of the warm weather fairies domain. While helping animal migrate to the Winter Woods, Tink’s curiosity drives her across the border into the cold where she experiences her wings glowing brightly in the cold and snowy air. When she discovers the answers to the mystery of her miraculous glowing wings lies deep in the Winter Woods with the winter fairies, her adventure begins. But she will soon discover that both joy and danger await her on her journey.

Tinker Bell and The Secret of the Wings is a sweet, heartfelt story about love, determination, tolerance, and the importance of family. It manages to take a simple concept and story line and deliver a great message while maintaining a high entertainment value. My 6 year old daughter, who generally can’t sit through an entire movie, was captivated from start to finish. It flowed very nicely though the story, and there was very little down time, so it kept the attention of my little girl throughout. It is a great movie for the whole family, and with a running time under 90 minutes, it is perfect for the younger kids as well. The dazzling animation will hook you, and the great story telling will keep you captivated to the very end. Secret of the Wings was as good, if not better that all three previous films, and I would highly recommend it to any fans of family movies, not just the Disney fans out there.

httpv://youtu.be/_gcCorbZ6Mw

Roccos Tacos – A Mexican Restaurant With Flair

Roccos Tacos

Roccos Tacos and Tequila Bar is a fabulous new restaurant located on West Sand Lake Road in Orlando. The decor is very eclectic and representative of what one would find in the tequila region of Mexico. There are beautiful star shaped chandeliers as well as masks of all shapes and sizes along the walls. The restaurant houses three bars, one outside as you approach the front door, another just inside the main entrance, and a third which opens to the outdoor patio situated with a charming lake view. Starting at 9 PM nightly, a live DJ plays a variety of upbeat music, setting a fun and party like atmosphere. The dress code is casual while maintaining a hip and trendy vibe. It’s a family friendly environment but can get very loud so take that into consideration with young children. Dining reservations can be made by phone and walk-ups are taken as well. There is complimentary valet which is recommended due to the limited availability of parking.

Enough logistics, let’s discuss the food! It’s delicious! The menu can be described as upscale Mexican cuisine with a variety of choices. One of the house specialties is the guacamole prepared tableside. Eaten with the house made tortilla chips, it’s almost a meal in itself. Another great appetizer choice is the Queso Fundido Con Chorizo, which is simply a casserole of cheese, Chili’s, and chorizo sausage baked in an iron skillet and served with flour tortillas. There are a variety of other appetizers to choose from, but be sure to save room for the main course!

Rocco’s offers an array of entree choices including salads, enchiladas, burritos, chimichangas, and combination plates. Within our group, we had the California fish tacos, the chimichanga Nationale, and the carne asada soft tacos. The fish tacos are filled with fried mahi mahi, served with cabbage slaw and avocado ranch, and come with rice and beans for $17. The chimichanga is made with a spicy chicken, also served with rice and beans, and is $13. The carne asada, or grilled skirt steak, tacos were $4.50 each. Speaking of tacos, Tuesday’s are a great time to visit for Taco Tuesdays. For $14.95, it’s all you can eat tacos, in any combination of chicken, pork, spicy beef, steak, mahi, shrimp, chorizo and mushrooms. You can choose from hard or soft shell tacos and all are served with taco sauce, lettuce, pico de gallo, cilantro, pickled red onions and cotija cheese. The shrimp, mahi, and steak seemed to be the most popular. Rocco’s Tacos also has offerings for kids including chicken fingers, pasta, quesadillas, and hot dogs.

The bar at Rocco’s serves everything from tequila and margaritas to sangria, beer and wine. They have 225 varieties of tequila ranging in price from $6 to $85. The flavored margaritas are not to be missed including pomegranate, mango, and blood orange. When owner Rocco Mangel is in the restaurant, he can be found on the bar in his white platform shoes pouring free Patron to the sounds of the song “Tequila!” A great non-alcoholic treat is the “REAL” Coca Cola made with real sugar cane in Mexico.

Rocco’s Tacos is a great place to go to hang out with friends, grab a drink, enjoy a meal, or bring the whole family. They serve lunch, dinner, and have a limited late night menu along with a full bar during all business hours. The atmosphere and service are top notch as is the quality of the food and drinks. Be sure to check out the newest location in Orlando or try one of the other four locations in South Florida. Visit their website at www.RoccosTacos.com, friend them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

Roccos Tacos - Rocco on the Bar — Roccos Tacos – Rocco on the Bar

Roccos Tacos Sangria - 8 — Roccos Tacos Sangria – $8

Roccos Tacos Rocco Rita - 1250 — Roccos Tacos Rocco Rita – $12.50

Roccos Tacos Queso Fundido Con Chorizo - 10 — Roccos Tacos Queso Fundido Con Chorizo – $10

Roccos Tacos Chimichanga - 13 — Roccos Tacos Chimichanga – $13

Roccos Tacos

Petes Dragon Celebrating 35 Years And Now Avaialble On Disney BluRay

PETES DRAGON 35^th Anniversary Edition BLU_RAY

Available for the First Time in High Definition with New Digital Restoration on October 16^th, 2012 in a 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack

Petes Dragon is one of the first Disney movies that I saw as a child, and was one of my favorites. I had not seen it since I was my daughter’s age, so it was great to be able to watch it with her like it was my first time. The timeless story of lost and rediscovered love never gets old and makes for a great family movie.

This endearing story between Pete and his invisible dragon friend Elliott as they develop a special bond and share a magical friendship is a classic Walt Disney movie that is a must see. With memorable cast of characters, Mickey Rooney, Helen Reddy, Sean Marshall, Red Buttons, and Jim Dale, and heartwarming songs including the 1977 Academy Award “Best Original Song” nominee, “Candle On The Water,” Pete’s Dragon 35^th Anniversary is the perfect timeless classic every member of your family will love.

When Pete, an orphan, and his best friend Elliot, an invisible green dragon, wander into the seaside village of Passamaquody, the townspeople think he’s behind a slew of hilarious mishaps. But after a daring rescue, they change their tune and believe in Pete’s fire-breathing buddy.

While the transfer of the film to High Definition isn’t without its flaws, the movie still holds a lot of charm! And the Bonus Features on Petes Dragon are a lot of fun! We really enjoyed looking at Brazzle Dazzle Effects: Behind Disney’s Movie Magic and the Deleted Storyboard Sequence: “Terminus & Hoagy Hunt Elliott”.

If you ever had an invisible friend when you were younger or remember watching this movie when you were younger, you won’t want to miss the chance to relive this movie classic again!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYT975dSm9c

The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under Available on Disney Blu-Ray

To commemorate the 35th anniversary of an original classic, Disney proudly presents a special 2-movie collection featuring all-time family favorites, The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under, for the first time ever on Blu-ray! Join two of the world’s bravest mice – Bernard and Bianca – as they set out on two thrilling rescue missions full of comic adventure while soaring through the Devil’s Bayou and flying sky high in the Australian outback.

The Rescuers Is based on the children’s books by Margery Sharp, which are great reads, and are full of great adventures and lessons for the whole family.

In The Rescuers, Miss Bianca and Bernard travel to Louisiana to rescue Penny from the evil Madame Medusa. While I really enjoyed the story of the The Rescuers the animation definitely has its moments yet in the end it just isn’t as great as other Disney Animated Classics. I also had a really hard time becoming invested in Madame Medusa as a villain. Zoe spent a lot of time laughing and enjoying The Rescuers, because it is filled with face paced action and tons of gags that she found hilarious.

Also included in this 35^th Anniversary combo pack is The Rescuers Down Under, the sequel to the original movie. With the same general premise, except set in Australia, the movie tries really hard but never makes it up to the same level as The Rescuers The comedy is more slap-stick and the action is a little lack luster at times.

As with all other Disney Blu-Ray movies , The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under is chocked full of some great Bonus Features!!!

“Peoplitis” is a deleted song written for a scene that was never animated. Ron Clements introduces us to the scene (using storyboards) and song as sung by Louis Prima
“The Three Blind Mouseketeers” is a 1936 Silly Symphony cartoon
Water Birds is the Oscar-winning 1952 short feature in the True-Life Adventure series detailing many different species of water fowl with the legendary nature photography Disney became known for. This is in 1080p and runs for 30 minutes.
“Someone’s Waiting for You” sing along song offers on-screen lyrics with clips from The Rescuers.
“The Making of The Rescuers Down Under” is a vignette giving a few minutes of face time to producer Thomas Schumacher, directors Hendel Butoy and Mike Gabriel, several animators, and the film’s art director discussing the two year production period that included a research trip to Australia and trips to the San Diego Zoo to watch real animals in motion.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDyq1iMAcuA&feature=share&list=PL09FF7CDF3EC57920

Buckle up for the ride of your life as these tiny heroes with great big hearts outrun and outwit their rivals to save the day. Brimming with lovable characters and unforgettable music, the 2-movie collection is high-flying fun for the entire family!

Pammie’s Sammies Grand-ReOpening!

I got the chance to swing by the Grand ReOpening of Pammies’ Sammies, located near the Universal Orlando Resort, and I have to say it was super yummy and a great place to just kick back and have a nice meal with friends or family.

Pammie’s Sammies is a family owned cafe that prides itself on being thoughtfully sourced, earth friendly and tastefully adventurous. Pam Thomas, the proprietor, puts an innovative spin on classic sandwiches (“sammies”), burgers, BBQ, soups and salads. As part of the grand reopening, Pammie’s Sammies has expanded to include a craft beer and wine bar and will now serve happy hour bar bites and dinner entrees in addition to their original breakfast and lunch offerings.

While the food is absolutely delicious, their Cuban was my favorite and Zoe has been asking for more brownies, it is Pam herself that really creates an atmosphere of fun and hospitality that makes you feel like you are a friend just dropping in for a bite to eat.

And when I say it’s located near the Universal Orlando Resort, I mean you can SEE Universal Studios Florida from there windows, which make it an ideal place to stop before or after heading into the parks.

If you are looking for an affordable, fun, and delicious place to grab a great Sammie, I would definitely suggest heading over to Pammie’s Sammies!

Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure Available Now On Disney Blu-Ray

Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure is available now for the first time ever on Disney Blu-Ray!

I absolutely love Lady and the Tramp, which probably explains my unusual love of Tony’s Town Square at the Magic Kingdom, so when the opportunity to review Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure came about I jumped at the chance!

In Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure, Lady and Tramp’s mischievous pup Scamp decides that he doesn’t fit in with his family and decides to run away. Once he has left his collar behind, he joins a gang of junkyard dogs who don’t always have his best interests in mind. Scamp also meets, saves, and falls in love with a pretty little pup named Angel, voiced by Alyssa Milano, along the way. This movie is a great example of the heartwarming direct-to-video sequels that were being created at the time of its original release. There are some great nods to Lady and the Tramp in Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure, and it really looks great in this Blu-Ray Format.

Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure has some fun bonuses, and we really enjoyed the Puppy Trivia Track which allows you to watch the movie with tons of fun facts about dogs, the movie, and dogs as they have appeared throughout Disney. Also on the Blu-Ray release of Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure you can find some Pluto Bonus Shorts, which are always a must watch for my family.

You can absolutely tell that Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure was created by people who have love and respect for Lady and the Tramp, and is a cute movie to watch if your family is full of dog lovers! We enjoyed the movie, but be warned it is a shorter side so you may be asked to watch it twice!!!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYd0k3pfrKM&feature=share&list=PLA205D38295C070D7