DISCLOSURE: I have been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card for this post, however all opinions are my own.
So I don’t know about you but Zoe watching Stranger Things has really got her interested in all things 80’s, and the ION Boom Box Deluxe is a great mix of yesterday and today with it’s retro style and modern features!
The ION Boom Box Deluxe, available at Best Buy, lets you not only play your old cassette tapes (I can’t be the only one who kept her ‘favorites’) but let’s you record them onto a USB stick to archive them.
This ION Boom Box Deluxe may look retro, but it’s as modern as can be!
It streams music wirelessly from any Bluetooth-enabled device and it has USB playback capability to handle virtually any other music source. With bass and treble controls, you can customize the tone to your exact taste. Boom Box Deluxe combines the best of the old with the best of the new. It adds up to non-stop fun.
But if you really want to take your experience ‘old school’ you can tune in to your favorite radio station with the AM/FM radio or try making a mix tape of your very own
Plus the ION Boombox Deluxe has two robust full-range speakers powered by 14 watts of system power to crank out powerful bass and clear highs for great music quality.
While the ION Boombox Deluxe looks like it runs on 18 D batteries, it really runs on AC or long-lasting (10 hr) rechargeable battery making it convenient to take with you on the go!
Doc McStuffins All Better Game is a really adorable game starring all of your favorite characters from the extremely popular Doc McStuffins show on Disney Junior.
Make the boo boos go away like Doc McStuffins! Each slap bracelet bandage is a different mystery ouchie. Take turns trying to figure out which doctor tool will make things all better! It’s a fun game of pretending and playful problem-solving!
Doc McStuffins All Better Game at a Glance
Players:
2 or more players ages 3 and up
Promotes:
Matching
Memory skills
Turn-taking and playing together
Product Contents
1 Storage Bag
6 Slap Bracelet Bandages
6 Foam Tools
8 Scoring Tiles
1 Spinner
1 Game Rules Manual
Zoe is a HUGE Doc McStuffins fan, so we had a ton of fun playing this game!!! She really loved the slap bracelets and feeling like she was really helping her friends!
What I really love about this game is that all of the game pieces fit neatly into Doc McStuffins’ bag making for clean up that even the youngest players will find easy!
We really had fun playing the Doc McStuffins All Better Game, and if you are a fan of the show you will, too!!!
Disclosure:Through a partnership with Wonder Forge Games, I have received a promotional item in exchange for this post. All opinions and thoughts are my own!Follow us for more updates:
I thought that we would start our On the Go Gift Guide with a really fun board game from Wonder Forge, Disney Eye Found It!
Disney Eye Found It features a jumbo game board that is filled to brim with whimsical artwork and starring your favorite Disney characters.
Join Mickey Mouse and friends on an exciting race through 12 exquisitely illustrated Disney realms, from Radiator Springs and Alice’s Wonderland to Peter Pan’s Never Land and Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood. Throughout the race, everyone searches for iconic Disney objects…and gets a chance to say, “I found it!”
Disney Eye Found It at a Glance
Players:
Game is for 2-6 players ages 5 and up
Promotes:
Cooperation and teamwork
Observation skills and attention to detail
Reinforces object identification and matching skills
Product Contents:
Wonder Forge packaging is beyond amazing! I love how there isn’t a lot of waste and that the pieces are already in pouches so pieces stay together!
1 Six-foot Game Board in three sections
6 Movers
6 Mover Bases
1 Spinner
12 Mickey Mouse Ear Tokens
30 Search Cards
1 Sand Timer
1 Game Rules Manual
When you are setting up Disney Eye Found It, make sure that you have a LOT of space! When they say Jumbo, they totally mean Jumbo! We set the game up on our dining room table, which was the perfect place to play the game since everyone had a seat and it was a flat surface for the board to fit together.
The board is chocked full of detail that is beyond perfect for any Disney fan, and it is really easy to get lost in the details! We ended up giving the younger ones playing a little more time and hints since the board is so gigantic!
Here are some of my favorite Disney realms features in Disney Eye Found It!
We all had a really great time playing Disney Eye Found It, and it is definitely a game we will pull out again to play for our Family Game Nights!
Make sure you make it to the castle before the strike of Midnight!
Disclosure:Through a partnership with Wonder Forge Games, I have received a promotional item in exchange for this post. All opinions and thoughts are my own!Follow us for more updates:
The SeaWorld Just For Kids Festival Is A Great Time For the Whole Family
Featuring performances by kids’ favorite entertainers, party zone area and more
During the SeaWorld Just For Kids Festival, the paths of SeaWorld Orlando are full of fun kid-friendly music, live performances, games, dancing, and more during this four week festival, which is included in the price of admission.
Zoe’s (and our) favorite part of Just For Kids was the concert, and this year the SeaWorld Just For Kids concert lineup is amazing!
We were able to see the Imagination Movers during the first week, but there are still two Saturdays left to experience some great performances.
Zoe had a blast rocking out at the Imagination Mover’s concert!
Saturday, January 26 Choo-Choo Soul with Genevieve
Starring Genevieve Goings, Choo-Choo Soul allows parents to enjoy the same music their kids do. Featuring soulful and current renditions of the ABC’s, 1-2-3’s, and learning how to be polite, Choo-Choo Soul is a diverse and incredibly hip duo, teaching children through music on an animated train.
Saturday, February 4 Kratt Brothers Live featuring the stars of Wild Kratts
The Kratt Brothers are Chris and Martin Kratt and they are the creators and producers of the widely popular children’s animated series Wild Kratts that airs on PBS. They are the recipients of the 2012 Parents’ Choice Recommended Award.
You will definitely want to make sure that you catch a concert while at the SeaWorld Just For Kids Festival, but you may want to keep a few things in mind when planning your day.
The admission to the concerts is included with park admission, with show times at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at SeaWorld’s Nautilus Theater.
However, to attend guests will need to pick up concert tickets across from Nautilus Theater in order to attend the shows, and tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis starting at 9 a.m. each event day. Since shows can and do fill up I absolutely suggest going to the ticket distribution area as soon as you get to SeaWorld, to make sure that you are able to attend the show that best works for your (and especially your little one’s) schedule. Also note that if you are a Platinum Pass Holder, you will not have reserved seating for the concerts.
Zoe really got to groove when Mover Dave let her play with the band!
Once you have your tickets, you are also going to want to arrive 30-45 minutes before show time to line up outside of the Nautilus Theater to ensure that you have a good seat for the concert.
Once you are inside you will also want to make sure that you know that there is a bathroom located at the back of the Nautilus Theater which is an amazingly convenient thing with little ones, that dancing in the aisles is allowed (and encouraged), and that you will want to make sure that you are prepared for fun!
Before the concert begins there are two acts by the Dragon Legend Acrobats from China that you won’t want to miss! While the acts are pretty amazing, they are also a great way to get your little one accustomed the concert atmosphere.
The Dragon Legend Acrobats Hula Hoopers were amazing!!!
The Dragon Legend Acrobats Jugglers from China were amazing!
BUT…if you are like me, you will want to find some way around all of the waiting before the concerts and for that you have two options…
SeaWorld Just For Kids Great Eats & Concert Seats:
It’s easy to reserve your seats to the show by pre-purchasing one of the below dining options.
Elmo’s VIP Character Breakfast – 9 a.m. at Sharks Underwater Grill
Children (2-9) $39.00 / Adults (10+) $49.00
At Elmo’s VIP Character Breakfast, families will enjoy a full-service breakfast experience at Sharks Underwater Grill with Elmo and one of his special Sesame Street friends. Following breakfast, little ones, (and parents, too), will visit with everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends for photos. In addition to that, each family will receive one complimentary 6×8 photo. Those attending the 9 a.m. VIP breakfast will receive VIP seating for the 11 a.m. SeaWorld Just For Kids concert.
Another great bonus is that by attending Elmo’s VIP Character Breakfast you will receive complimentary Valet Parking at SeaWorld Orlando.
Shamu & Friends Character Breakfast Buffet at Terrace Garden – 2 seatings, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Children (2-9) $29.00 / Adults (10+) $39.00
At the Shamu & Friends Character Breakfast Buffet, not only will you get to meet your favorite SeaWorld characters, you will also receive guaranteed admission to specific Just For Kids concerts.
You’ll enjoy and all you care to eat buffet at Terrace Garden Buffet restaurant, and also receive a complimentary 6×8 family photo from the Breakfast. For the concerts, 9:00 am breakfast guests will receive admission to the 2:00 pm concert and 11:00 am breakfast guests will receive admission to the 4:00 pm concert.
With both Character Breakfasts,guests must make sure to arrive at the theater 15 minutes prior to show time to guarantee seating.
If you are Passholders, you can visit the Passholder Site to receive 10% off of these Great Eats & Concert Seats Packages.
We are HUGE fans of the Character Breakfasts offered at SeaWorld, and I cannot recommend them highly enough! The food is delicious, and it offers you the opportunity to spend more time playing in the park rather than running to grab tickets and waiting to get into the Theater.
SeaWorld Just For Kids Festival Highlights:
There is a lot more to the SeaWorld Just For Kids Festival than just fun concerts! The whole park is filled with great kid-centric activities, meet and greet opportunities, and shows!
This year there are three new great experiences that have been added to the SeaWorld Just For Kids Festival.
New! Franklin, from the beloved children’s show Franklin and Friends™
Zoe and her pal Franklin
Hey, it’s Franklin!
You can meet SeaWorld’s newest friend Franklin located near Pelican Preserve, across from Flamingo Point. Franklin is available at the Woodland for meet and greet opportunities, autographs, and photos (there is a SeaWorld Photographer at the meet and greet) throughout the day at 9:30 am, 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm, and 4:30 pm.
Exclusive Franklin-branded merchandise will also be available near the meet and greet area.
Zoe really loved the opportunity to meet one of her favorite characters in a really cute setting! I will warn you that it can get really warm in that area and there isn’t much shade in this area, so you’ll want to make sure the sun is at your back for pictures and it isn’t too warm out while you wait. Also, if you want to minimize your wait make sure to visit Franklin during show and concert times!
There are two Franklin storybooks and a plush that are available for him to sign at the Meet and Greet.
New! Elmo Rocks!(Located at Seafire Inn)
In Elmo Rocks, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Zoe, Abby Cadabby, Bert and Ernie are getting for their very own rock concert located at the Seafire Inn!
The show is full of fun music, dancing, and lots of audience participation. Zoe really enjoyed herself and danced all over the place! You will want to check the time’s guide for show times, but shows are typically at 11:00 am, 2:00 pm, 3:30 pm, and 5:30 pm.
Again, you are going to want to show up 15-30 minutes early to the Seafire Inn to make sure you grab a seat for the show! You will have a rockin’ good time!
New! Enhanced Ocean Adventures Kids Program
Zoe hard at work to complete her Ocean Adventure!
The Ocean Adventure Program was the highlight of Zoe’s day, outside of the concerts, because she got the chance to experience some of her favorite areas of SeaWorld Orlando in an even better way.
Using the event map children will look for the Sea Star icons inside the park, where they’ll partake in exciting educational activities about animals that make their home at SeaWorld. At each location kids will collect a stamp and a limited edition Just For Kids Explorer’s card. Once they visit all four locations, Wild Arctic, Stingray Lagoon, Manta Aquarium, and near the Shark Encounter, they’ll receive a coupon to redeem at select gift shops for a special prize. Limit one prize per participating child.
Zoe had an absolutely amazing time talking to the knowledgeable and friendly SeaWorld staff, and she wanted to do it again when she was done!
If you are worried about your schedule for the day and how the Ocean Adventures Kids Program will fit in, don’t be! Each station takes less than 5 minutes, and the SeaWorld staff knows how to get in some great information and fun while keeping the line moving.
SeaWorld Just For Kids Specials
The best way to experience all of the fun, music, treats and more at Just for Kids is with a Fun Card, where Florida residents pay for a day and play all year through Dec. 31, 2013. Fun Card members can enjoy all four weeks of Just for Kids fun and all of the amazing special events throughout the year, plus the unforgettable animal encounters, world-class thrill rides and family fun found only at SeaWorld. Fun Cards are available at SeaWorldOrlando.com, at the front gate, or by calling 1-888-800-5447.
Zoe got to do a mean Chicken Dance at Shamu’s Party Zone!
We absolutely loved our Saturday at the SeaWorld Just For Kids Festival! We had a great day together watching a great concert, riding great attractions, and seeing Shamu…What more could you ask for?Follow us for more updates:
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.
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
We are all set up and ready to play the Disney Princess Enchanted Cupcake 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.
The first round was a little shaky, but we learned a lot about working together as a team!
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!
These are the cards that you must draw, in any order, to be able to make some Enchanted Cupcakes!
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!
Snow White’s Cupcake
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!
This is where my OCD comes out! I really love the packaging of the game, because it isn’t wasteful and it is really is to see which pieces go where so you can make sure you have all the pieces before you put the game away!
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!
Jake and the Never Land Pirates Who Shook Hook Game
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 pieces are the characters from Jake and the Never Land Pirates!
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).
The Jake and the Never Land Pirates Who Shook Hook is all set up and ready to go!
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.
Hook better watch out for Tick Tock Croc below him!!!
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.
The Jake and the Never Land Pirates Who Shook Hook pieces are just the right size with just the right “help” you need to pick them up!
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!
For some reason the anchor was the tool of choice in our house to make sure we didn’t shook Hook!
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!
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.
Flatbread menu
Menu Search
Gluten Free Menu
Vegetarian Menu
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.
Pammie’s Sammies 5907 Turkey Lake Road, Suite 100 Orlando, Florida 32819
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!
The Aristocats Special Edition Brings This Disney Classic To Life In Stunning Blu-Ray For the First Time!
The Aristocats Special Edition available now on Blu-Ray!
Disney’s spectacular 20th full-length animated feature The Aristocats has arrived for the first time ever in stunning Blu-ray high definition as a The Aristocats Special Edition 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) and Digital. Featuring a beautiful new digital restoration and great new bonus features, The Aristocats Special Edition invites audiences to relive all the tune-filled feline fun, comedy and adventure of this Disney classic.
The exciting tale takes place in the heart of Paris where a kind and eccentric millionairess, wills her entire estate to ‘Duchess,’ a high society cat, and her three kittens. When the bumbling butler Edgar tries to pull off the ultimate catnap caper in order to secure the fortune for himself, it’s up to alley cat Thomas O’Malley and his band of swingin’ jazz cats to save the day. The Aristocats features the voice talents of Eva Gabor, Phil Harris, Sterling Halloway and legendary French singer Maurice Chevalier, who performs the film’s titular opening song. The legendary Disney songwriting team of brothers, Richard and Robert Sherman, get the joint jumping with the jazz-inspired musical numbers Ev’rybody Wants To Be A Cat, Scales and Arpeggios, and Thomas O’Malley Cat.
The Aristocats Special Edition is chocked full of great bonus features, and is an especially wonderful treat if you are a super fan (like I am) of the Sherman Brothers!!! During The Lost Open featurette, Richard Sherman takes you through storyboards of a never-before-seen alternate beginning which introduces a deleted character and a deleted song How Much You Mean To Me and Court Me Slowly written and performed by the Sherman brothers. This song demo was one of the few times Richard and Robert ever sang together. And if your little one is anything like mine, they will be playing all of the songs over and over again! Zoe is especially fond of Ev’rybody Wants To Be A Cat! Also, The Aristocats Special Edition also has one of my most favorite Figaro shorts!!! Additional classic bonus features on The Aristocats Special Edition include the delightful deleted song, She Never Felt Alone and The Great Cat Family (Excerpt), which explores the history of cats.
The Aristocats Special Edition full bonus features include…
– Oui Oui Marie Music Video
– Deleted Song – She Never Felt Alone: This deleted song, complete with animation, will tug at the heartstrings of any animal lover, as Duchess explains to Thomas O’ Malley why she must return to her beloved owner Madame Bonfamille. Richard Sherman discusses the song he co-wrote with his brother Robert, which captures the special relationship between a pet owner and their animal. It’s a moving sequence that will stir everyone’s fondest memories of their favorite pets.
– The Sherman Brothers: The Aristocats of Disney Songs: A tribute to the legendary Disney songwriting team of Robert and Richard Sherman, with particular emphasis on The Aristocats.
– The Great Cat Family (Excerpt): This animated excerpt tells the history of cats from ancient Egyptians to the present.
– The Classic Disney short Bath Day: Figaro has been freshly bathed and perfumed by Minnie when he meets up with Lucifer and his gang who chase him. In the ensuing fight, the gang is fooled into beating up Lucifer and making Figaro the winner. But the victor is soon put back in the tub by Minnie.
– Disney Song Selection:
The Aristocats
Scales and Arpeggios
Thomas O’Malley Cat
Ev’rybody Wants To Be A Cat
I am a huge The Aristocats fan, and it is such a treat to be able to share these with my family in the stunning Blu-Ray format! It really is amazing all the details that seem to pop out at you when you view it on Blu-Ray! The Aristocats Special Edition is a great addition to you Blu-Ray Disney Classics collection!!!
To commemorate the 10th anniversary† of a cherished family classic, Disney proudly presents a special movie collection featuring two modern-day fairy tales, The Princess Diaries and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, for the first time ever on Blu-ray!
Starring Academy Award®-Winning Actress Julie Andrews (Best Actress, Mary Poppins, 1964) and Academy Award-Nominated Actress Anne Hathaway (Best Actress, Rachel Getting Married, 2008), these two heartwarming and hilarious movies will touch your heart. As the future queen of Genovia, Princess Mia has everything a girl could want – except the enchanting romance she’s always dreamed of. Comic complications rule the day in these delightfully engaging stories about finding out who you really are and discovering what it takes to make your dreams come true!
The Princess Diaries Film Synopsis: Mia Thermopolis is the average teenager – sweet, a little geeky and pretty much invisible to everyone with theexception of her mother, best friend Lilly and Lilly’s older brother Michael. Making it through high school without throwing up is a challenge in itself for Mia, so it doesn’t come as welcome news when her estranged grandmother shows up out of the blue and calmly informs her that she is in fact the heir to the throne of a European country called Genovia. Suddenly Mia’s life is thrown into complete overload. She’s being taught about scarves, waves and pears in order to become a perfect princess, she gets a makeover and a tough looking yet sweet bodyguard/limo driver called Joe. Things get out of hand when the media gets a hold of the story and suddenly Mia is thrust into the spotlight in both thenewspapers and in school. On top of all that Mia has a choice to make. She must decide by Genovia’s Independence Day Ball whether she longs to relinquish her claim on the throne or to become theprincess and heir to the throne and father and grandmother want her to be.
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement Film Synopsis:Starring the irresistible Anne Hathaway and Academy Award winner Julie Andrews (Best Actress, Mary Poppins), this modern-day fairy tale picks up right where The PrincessDiaries left off! As future queen of Genovia, Princess Mia (Hathaway) has everything a girl could want – except the magical romance she’s always dreamed of. But soon, Mia’s shocked to discover that she needs to get married right now or her family will lose the crown! Comic complications rule the day in this delightful family story about finding out who you really are and discovering what it takes to make your dreams come true!
Both The Princess Diaries and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement have some bonus features, I was left wanting a little more from this feature. On The Princess Diaries there are Outtakes and Bloopers, “A New Princess” Behind-The-Scenes Featurette, 8 Deleted Scenes – Introduced By Director Garry Marshall, “The Ultimate Tea Party” – With Audio Commentary By Julie Andrews, and Anne Hathaway Music Videos Livin’ Like A Princess. The Princess Diaries 2 has Royal Bloopers, The PD2 Makeover, Deleted Scenes – Introduced By Director Garry Marshall, Breakaway Music Video – By Kelly Clarkson, Find Your Inner Princess – A Personality Quiz, and A Julie and Garry Commentary are included as bonus features.
Zoe and I had a great time watching these two movies, and I am sure that they will be re-played often in our house!!!
A few of us had the opportunity to stay at Walt Disney World’s Art of Animation Resort, which opens today. We were able to stay in one of the Nemo Family Suites, explore the resort, take advantage of the Pool and Play areas, tour the soon to open Cars Family Suites, shop for resort specific merchandise, and eat at Landscape of Flavors. It was an amazing stay!!!
What was your favorite detail at the Art of Animation Resort?
The Big Blue Pool at Art of Animation was one of our favorite places!!!
Shelley: My absolute favorite detail of the Art of Animation Resort was how the trees around The Big Blue Pool were grown to have curvy trunks as if they were waving under the sea.
Aurora: The fact that in The Finding Nemo area that everything looked like it was under water. The way that the plants were placed and the way the trees were angled and the vibrant colors. The fish on the sides of the buildings with the colors being gradual blues made you feel like you were under water!
Betsy: There are so many to choose from, but I think one of my favorites has to be the diving mask by the Big Blue Pool that belongs to P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney. I missed it the first time I walked by the pool, but loved it as soon as I noticed it.
Megan: I loved the large icons. My favorite has to be Crush outside of the EAC building.
What is your biggest tip for people staying at the Art of Animation Resort?
Squirt at the Righteous Reef Playground at night is alive with color!
Aurora: Take advantage of everything to see! Take a tour of the property. Take pictures. Make sure that you look for the small details. The kids will LOVE finding their favorite characters in hidden spots all over the resort. This place is a feast for the eyes.
Betsy: Take time to enjoy this resort! It is amazingly themed and detailed and I hope that people will take the time to appreciate the effort that the imagineers put into constructing a resort that is so immersive. I want to go back just to hang out by the pool, enjoy the atmosphere and the great food!
Megan:Take time to look at the sketches in the lobby. Try to find the piece of artwork in the chandelier in the Lobby signed by John Lasseter.
Shelley: Make sure that you take time to enjoy the resort during the day and at night, because there are so many creative uses of lighting that make all the difference and bring out details that aren’t as easily noticed in the daytime!
What should people know about staying at the Art of Animation Resort?
A view of the jogging trail from the Finding Nemo Family Suites.
Betsy: There is a great walking/jogging path along Hourglass Lake that is beautiful at night. We were only able to experience part of it due to construction, but by the time the resort is completely open in the middle of September this will be a great place to exercise or just to take a nice stroll along the lake with your family.
Megan: Make sure to schedule time to spend hanging out at the pool or to go for a run around hourglass lake
Shelley: In the far corner of the check-in area of Animation Hall, there is a children’s play/screening area with a twist! Thursday through Sunday from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm artists will be on hand showing kids of all ages how to draw their favorite characters and holding “Animation Classes”.
Aurora: That this is not your typical value resort. They have raised the bar. The pool is AMAZING! The Scenery is Beautiful. The Themeing kicks all the other resorts butts. This place is not your typical small room resort!
What are you looking forward to experiencing again?
The amazing attention to detail can be found everywhere in the Finding Nemo Family Suites!
Megan: The rooms. I loved how spacious they were. The details in them made me feel like I was in the movie.
Shelley: I am really looking forward to bringing Zoe to the Resort to experience the pool, water play areas, and playgrounds! I think she will absolutely love all that there is to offer!!!
Aurora: I can not wait to stay in the Little Mermaid section! But I honestly can not wait to get in that Big Blue Pool again and float around listening to Mr. Ray Jabber under the water!
Betsy: I think the Big Blue Pool is the thing I’m most looking forward to since I forgot my bathing suit this last trip. I want to hear the underwater speakers, play games by the pool, enjoy adult beverages at The Drop Off pool bar and just relax and soak it all in.
What would you eat again at the Art of Animation Resort?
Shelley's amazing macaroon cupcake! It is hard to believe that this is came from a food court of a Value Hotel!
Shelley: Absolutely!!! With soooo many vegetarian options with a world twist and a beautiful setting I have a feeling I won’t get tired of eating at Landscape of Flavors any time soon!
Aurora: I LOVED My Meatball Sub. I will get it with the home made potato chips this time however. I also loved my yogurt and would get that again for a breakfast option. I want to try the Make Your Own Salad with Chicken, Also the Make your Own Pasta. I was VERY Jealous of Shelley’s cupcake with the macaroons on top so I may have to get one of those!!!!
Betsy: I loved the mini buckwheat waffles that I had for breakfast. My mom used to make buckwheat pancakes when I was little and I haven’t had them in years. This most definitely satisfied that craving. Plus, they were super cute and had Dory on them. 🙂
Megan: Definitely! The food was well above the normal value resort food quality.
What is one thing that you wish the Art of Animation Resort had?
Aurora: I would LOVE to see a Toy Story Section added on somewhere down the line. That is one of my personal favorite movies and I think the Theming is ENDLESS!
Betsy: I know value resorts don’t have them, but I would love it if there was a hot tub. This resort is so different from all the other value resorts, and dare I say, several steps above the rest, that I wouldn’t think it would be out of place at all.
Megan: A slide. The pool would be over the top if it had a slide.
Shelley: I wish that the resort had a tour with insight into the design and a look at the Imagineers designed the resort.
We hope that these tips and thoughts help you as you plan a stay at Walt Disney World’s Art of Animation Resort!!!
