Halloween is almost here, and it’s time to make sure you’ve got your costumes if you haven’t already! To kick off the countdown to the spookiest day of the year, we’ve got our Top 5 Disney Costumes for Boys This Halloween Season!
Jack may be ored with the same old scare-and-scream routine, but the Pumpkin King Jack Skellington is a continuous classic for Disney Halloween costumes. Jack may long to spread the joy of Christmas, but Halloween fans everywhere love Jack for this time of year.
The PJ Masks have been incredibly popular this year! Many of the costumes sell out as soon as they hit the shelves. These are sure to be a super popular costume for this Halloween season. I already have my son’s Catboy costume!
There isn’t a lot of new Star Wars costumes out this year, but you’re little one can be ready for adventures beyond imagination in a galaxy far, far away while wearing this high gloss Imperial Death Trooper Costume with imposing face mask. this is one of only a handful of costumes inspired by Rogue One: A Star Wars Story we’ve seen, so it’s sure to be a hit.
The Lion Guard animated series continues the tradition of epic storytelling from The Lion King films. The series focuses on the adventures of Simba’s second child, Kion, and his Lion Guard team: the Pride Land’s fiercest, bravest, strongest, fastest, and keenest of sight. This show has been an incredible hit, for the smallest Disney Fans to the oldest! I’m honestly surprised there isn’t more of the character costumes around this year.
What we heard was that Disney will be performing the Magic Kingdom portion of the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade on December 1st – 3rd with a makeup day on December 4th.
Magic Kingdom will be hosting Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Day Parade on the 1st & 2nd which is making me wonder if Disney is moving the taping date back to November.
I have seen on some other Disney sites that Disney might be pushing the date forward to November 10th-12th like they did last year.
As soon as we get the official word just treat this as gossip for now.
Reports are coming in there was a bus on bus accident this morning at Walt Disney World. A non Disney bus ran into a Disney bus on it’s way to a resort near the Speedway Station at the intersection of Victory Way and Buena Vista Dr.
The Grand Floridian’s Garden View Lounge offers a lovely afternoon tea. If you enjoy a beautiful setting, a spot of tea, little finger sandwiches, tiny house-made pastries, English Trifle, and fresh fruit with cream then this experience is perfect for you. Here is my review of an afternoon tea at the Garden View Lounge.
The Garden View Lounge is located inside the Grand Floridian, at the far end of the lobby, on the first floor. There are lovely cherub statues, whimsical seating, and of course fancy tea cups with linen napkins. With the open-air feel to the space, and the floor-to-ceiling windows, you still have that true Grand Floridian essence of fancy grandeur.
The first item on the menu you need to choose is your pot of tea. The choices are vast, but never fear, your waiter specializes in assisting you with your selection based on your individual level of tea experience and flavor preferences. I do not typically drink tea, however I needed some caffeine and I enjoy fruit flavors. Based on these facts, my waiter Kit made a couple of suggestions to assist with my final decision.
I was torn between the Berry Green Tea and Enchanted Forest tea. I decided to go with the Berry Green Tea and I was not disappointed. Green Tea tends to be a bit milder. When you add the enhancements of strawberry, blueberry, marigold, and cornflower you have a very flavorful tea. You will get 4 cups of tea as each person gets their own teapot filled with lovely tea. If you like your tea really sweet then you can add a cube, or two, of sugar.
After ordering tea, you will need to choose your actual tea meal. Prices vary based on accompaniments. All tea meals, including the children’s Mrs. Potts Tea option, include a first course, a second course, and a finale. Other options add champagne and/or a third course as well. Since champagne gives me a headache, I chose The Bedfordshire Tea.
The first course arrived along with a lovely fabric cover to place over my teapot to keep the tea hot. The first course contained finger sandwiches, fruits, cheeses, and Lavosh. My favorite finger sandwich was the Golden Beet and Goat Cheese Sandwich. Other choices were Egg Salad, Sweet Curried Chicken, and Cucumber with Boursin Cheese. There was an adorable Carmelized Onion Tart that was actually quite pleasant. I do not typically care for anything with onion but this tart was delicious with a lightly sweet flavor. The Tillimook Cheese along with the Derbyshire Sage-Infused Cheese, made nice accompaniments to the Lavosh Cracker.
The second course and the finale arrived together on a lovely little silver display stand. The Jam Tart and the Buttery Scone are accompanied by lemon curd, whipped butter and jellied apricot. I was particularly fond of adding the lemon curd to the jam tart. The sweet and sour combination was truly delectable.
On to the piece de resistance; The Finale. You choose between three different options: Strawberries & Cream, English Trifle, or House-Made Pastries. The Strawberries & Cream are fresh and light without being too sweet. The English Trifle is slightly sweeter and creamier. The House-Made Pastries included two French Macarons, a Chocolate-Covered Strawberry, and my personal favorite, a Swan-Shaped Cream Puff.
What visit to the Grand Floridian would be complete without a selfie taken with none other than Richard Gerth? At 91 years young, this gentleman has become a Legend in his own right, and is endeared by all who have the pleasure of meeting him. He is the Official Grand Floridian Greeter and you will typically see him along the front entrance walkway of The Grand Floridian. When he is not doing that, he is assisting Brides as the Official Disney Fairytale Wedding Greeter. Be sure to look for him when you arrive for afternoon tea.
I highly recommend a reservation for Afternoon Tea at the Garden View Lounge. The atmosphere is whimsical, fancy and fun. The food quality and presentation are fabulous. In closure I wish to acknowledge that the Afternoon Tea experience, at the Grand Floridian’s Garden View Lounge, is truly magical.
Are you planning to have Afternoon Tea on your next visit to the Walt Disney World Resort? Please leave your comments in the box below.
Hawaiian Airlines, in collaboration with The Walt Disney Studios, today unveiled the first of three custom Airbus A330 aircraft being adorned with imagery from the highly anticipated, CG-animated comedy adventure “Moana.” The inaugural decal design features four characters from the movie on Hawaiian’s fuselage as they take off on a wayfinding journey, including the demigod Maui, the adventurous teenager Moana, and her two friends: Heihei the rooster and Pua the pig.
“At Hawaiian Airlines, we are modern navigators, carrying guests across vast oceans to experience the unparalleled beauty of our home and richness of our culture,” said Peter Ingram, chief commercial officer for Hawaiian Airlines. “In important ways, Moana’s voyage of discovery parallels that of our guests’ own travel adventures, and we’re pleased to work with Disney to take this wonderful story to the skies.”
Dwayne Johnson, the voice of demigod Maui, and Auli‘i Cravalho, the Hawaiʻi-born actress who is the voice of Moana, were among the first to see the inspiring design when the plane was revealed earlier today in a hangar at the airline’s home base at Honolulu International Airport (HNL). The surprise reveal was hosted by Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mark Dunkerley at a special event attended by several hundred members of the airline’s Team Kōkua program — employees and their families who have volunteered their time and service to give back to the local community.
Next month, Hawaiian will reveal two additional livery designs featuring custom-made decals that show the characters interacting with the planes in dynamic and engaging ways. The unique artwork, created by Walt Disney Animation Studios in collaboration with Hawaiian’s team, reimagines each aircraft as a modern-day voyaging canoe, flying Moana, Maui, and their friends to new and exciting destinations. A time-lapse video of the first decal application and images of the first new livery can be found here.
The overhead luggage bins on all three “Moana”-themed Airbus A330s are also being decorated with characters and artwork from the film. The planes will fly on Hawaiian’s regularly scheduled U.S. domestic routes as well as to international destinations including Brisbane and Sydney, Australia; Osaka and Tokyo, Japan; and Auckland, New Zealand through March of 2017. Fans can track the course of each “Moana”-themed plane in real time at HawaiianAirlines.com/Moana.
Guests traveling to any of Hawaiian’s domestic or international destinations will enjoy special inflight entertainment to include an exclusive welcome video inspired by the film, the “Moana” movie trailer, and Cravalho’s casting video. The airline will also offer co-branded, limited-edition products such as blankets, towels and children’s and adult apparel. These items and more will be available for purchase inflight on select Hawaiian routes or online at Shop.HawaiianAirlines.com.
Hawaiian also announced the Hawaiian Airlines Wayfinder Caption Contest which begins today and runs through Oct. 23 for fans in the United States, Australia and New Zealand. To enter, contestants will be asked to select one of three “Moana” illustrations and, in 150 words or less, capture the spirit of voyaging and wayfinding. Based on the quality and creativity of the caption, the winning entry will receive a Grand Prize trip for two to attend the Los Angeles premiere of “Moana” on Nov. 14. One runner-up will receive a First Place prize of 80,000 HawaiianMiles and a Second Place winner will receive a Hawaiian Airlines and Disney Moana co-branded gift pack. For more information and to enter, follow #SoaringWithDisneyMoana and visit HawaiianAirlines.com/Moana.
According to “Moana” producer Osnat Shurer, the story of Moana, Maui and their heroic journey sprang from the imagination of the filmmakers, who were deeply inspired by the glorious people of Oceania.
“We were inspired by the history of the great Polynesian voyagers,” said Shurer.
“They were the greatest navigators in the world, voyaging across the vast Pacific without the use of modern instruments. They would do all of this using their knowledge of nature – the stars, the waves, and the currents. We’re very excited to work with the modern-day voyagers of Hawaiian Airlines to help bring this story to the world.”
Though it operates with today’s state-of-the-art technology, Hawaiian honors the courage and ingenuity of skilled Polynesian navigators, who were guided by the waves, wind, stars, moon and sun, by naming each of its A330 aircraft after celestial objects. Today’s branded aircraft is N392HA, christened as Hikianalia, the sister star to Hōkūle‘a. Both are part of the constellation Iwikuamoʻo, and rise together above the Hawaiian Islands to help guide travelers back to their island home.
Hawaiian invites its guests and Moana fans interested in learning more about today’s celestial navigation to explore the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines. Mālama Honua, to care for our Island Earth, is a four-year journey by the Polynesian voyaging canoe Hōkūle‘a and the research canoe Hikianalia across the Earth’s oceans. Powered by the wind, guided by the stars, and steered by the knowledge of ancient Polynesian navigators, the voyage will cover a total of 47,000 nautical miles and visit 85 ports in 26 countries.
A full list of Hawaiian’s aircraft names can be found here. Stay tuned to find out the names of the two other aircraft that will be outfitted with the special #SoaringWithDisneyMoana design.
Dole food company is paring up with Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media (DCPI) to announced plans to launch a new co-branded assortment of fresh produce featuring iconic Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel characters. The fresh produce will be in grocery and retail stores nationwide beginning this fall. The Fresh Summit Convention and Expo taking place October 14-16 in Orlando, Fla. (Disney booth #409, Dole booth #3043), where both brands will have a presence.
“As an industry leader in licensed food, we are excited to pair our unrivaled portfolio of brands, characters and stories with Dole’s fresh fruits and vegetables to support parents as they encourage their kids to make healthier food choices.”
“It’s rare that two iconic brands with as much passion and potential for improving the way America and the world eats can come together to make positive change,” said Bil Goldfield, director of communications for the Dole Food Company. “As one of the world’s foremost nutrition leaders, Dole is excited to partner with Disney to take both companies’ commitment to health and wellness to the next level. Together, we can do even more to deliver fun, educational and nutritional information around the power of produce to individuals and families across North America.”
The two brands will launch its first program this fall, followed by a host of other health and nutrition education programs themed around other Disney, Star Wars and Marvel films and characters in 2017. These programs will include consumer promotions, digital integrations, in-store activities, and themed recipes featuring DOLE products to encourage kids and families to adopt a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables.
In 2006, The Walt Disney Company became the first major media company to establish a Nutrition Guideline Policy to associate its brands and characters with a more nutritious portfolio of foods and beverages. The company has since marked every year of its Healthy Living Commitment with significant milestones such as becoming the first major media company to launch food advertising standards for kids, launching new content and experiences that inspire healthier lifestyles, and introducing the Mickey Check. The Mickey Check is a quick and easy way for families to identify healthier food and beverage options in stores, on-air, on-line, at Disney theme parks and resorts, and other places where Disney products are sold. Foods and recipes that feature the Mickey Check adhere to the rigorous Disney Nutrition Guideline Criteria. To learn more about The Walt Disney Company Healthy Living Commitment and the Mickey Check, visit Disney.com/HealthyLiving.
For more than a century, Dole has served as an unrivaled health and wellness resource to millions of healthy-eating enthusiasts worldwide. Dole is committed to nutrition and nutrition education, and to encouraging the world to adopt a healthier diet including more fresh fruits and vegetables. Dole believes that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can increase America’s nutritional health and help reverse a number of negative health trends, among them improper diet and inadequate exercise as the leading causes of preventable death. In 2003 Dole established the Dole Nutrition Institute (DNI) specifically to study the health and wellness benefits of fruits and vegetables, and a plant-based diet. Today, DNI remains the world’s most definitive, easily accessible and scientifically validated resource on nutrition and health. In addition, Dole recently established a Director and Department of Culinary Nutrition to translate produce-based research into compelling meals that prove the vital role of fruit and vegetables as the staple of a healthy diet.
I really do love a family game night, especially when it’s a Disney themed one! I’m a little bit obsessed with Tsum Tsums, so I was very excited to find this Disney twist on the Mancala game. I always loved Mancala as a kid, so a Disney Tsum Tsum Mancala is the perfect addition to my collection.
This game is as the name suggests a Tsum Tsum twist on Mancala! You move the beads around the board just like in the classic game. However you can use strategy to stack up matching Tsums for more points! Everything packs inside the snap-close board so you can play anywhere! The game stars 8 different Tsum Tsum characters, including Mickey, Donald, Stitch and more! Since it’s so travel friendly, you can even bring it along on a Disney trip to break out if there’s a rainy day! Tsum Tsum Mancala has also become my family’s favorite rainy day game too!
This adorably stackable game is available on Amazon now, so you can get gaming and stackin’!
Even though Hurricane Matthew didn’t leave any major damage in the Orlando area, or more specifically Walt Disney World, there are still many other areas of the East Coast that have been negatively impacted by the storm. In a very generous move, Disney has donated $1 million dollars to the relief efforts according to Laughing Place.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all the children and families whose lives were impacted by this tragic storm,” said Robert A. Iger, chairman and chief executive officer, The Walt Disney Company. “We hope that Disney’s support will aid ongoing relief efforts as people begin to recover and rebuild.”
The money will be used to aid all in the path of the storm, from the United States to the Bahamas and the Caribbean, and will be distributed between The American Red Cross, Save the Children, and other local charitable organizations that will help those affected by the Hurricane. Disney is also working with these organizations to ensure that the money is being used to aid those who need it most.
What do you think of Disney’s Donation to relief efforts?
If you are unsure of where to begin planning your Disney vacation, contact me today to take advantage of my FREE vacation planning services! I specialize in Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Aulani resort in Hawaii, as well as Adventures by Disney. Email me today at [email protected] for a free quote, or you can follow along on Facebook here.
If you are looking to visit Walt Disney World at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival now is the time to book! The three Marriott hotels which are part of Walt Disney World good neighbor hotels are offering a discount during the festival of food and wines from all around the world.
Now through December 30, 2016, visitors can enjoy a $10 per night hotel credit and save 10 percent off of stays through April 30, 2017that include a Thursday or Sunday night at one of the participating Walt Disney World Good Neighbor® hotels: SpringHill Suites Orlando Lake Buena Vista in the Marriott Village, Courtyard Orlando Lake Buena Vista in the Marriott Village or Fairfield Inn & Suites Orlando Lake Buena Vista in the Marriott Village. Travelers can use promotional code FLP when booking online or calling 1-800-834-7015.
Now through December 30, 2016, guests at Orlando’s Marriott Village hotels can use promotional code FLP to receive a $10 per night hotel credit and 10 percent off of stays through April 30, 2017 that include a Thursday or Sunday night. For information, visit www.marriottvillage.com.
Bringing together the best cuisine from around the world, the annual Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival is taking place from Sept. 14 to Nov. 16, 2016 – making now the perfect time to plan an Orlandoescape. From culinary demonstrations and beverage seminars to tasting events and concerts, there is so much to savor at the two-month-long event. New at the festival this year are exciting opportunities including “Beverage Boot Camp” and an expanded “Global Marketplace” that will send taste buds soaring.
With three hotels inside of one unique village, the Lake Buena Vista accommodations offer free shuttle service to Walt Disney World® Resort Theme Parks, making them a convenient home base for unforgettable vacations in Orlando, Florida. Visitors can also stay connected with complimentary wireless internet access in each of the hotels, allowing guests to easily upload photos to show family and friends back at home.
For fueling up in the mornings, SpringHill Suites and Fairfield Inn & Suites provide a complimentary breakfast buffet, while Courtyard boasts an on-site restaurant offering a wide array of healthy and hearty breakfast delights as well as specialty Starbucks beverages.
Have you ever lifted the receiver of the old crank telephone in The Chapeau shop at the Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom? You can say “Hello, is anybody on the party line?” Even if you do not say anything you will hear a variety of conversations taking place on the old-style party line. This telephone is one of the little hidden gems you can find in, and around, the Magic Kingdom.
Enter into the second entrance of The Chapeau pictured above. If you happen to enter through the main entrance of The Chapeau, be sure to stroll up the ramp to the smaller section at the back of the shop. This is the same area where you can find lanyard pins and where they take orders for the ear-hat embroidery.
The old-style crank telephone is mounted on the wall beside the second entrance door. This wooden telephone is not a pay phone , but is rather one of those free, and fun activities, you can experience at the Magic Kingdom. Lift the receiver on the left of the box, turn the crank handle on the right, and go back in time on an adventure via the party line.
Have you ever listened in on the party line at The Chapeau? Please leave your comments in the box below.
Every dream of becoming a ninja? Well starting January 12th you are doing just that once Lego Ninjago world opens at LegoLand Florida Resorts.
LEGO NINJAGO World will be a land filled with several hands-on, outdoor activities where kids can sharpen their ninja skills before the ultimate showdown on LEGO NINJAGO The Ride, a dazzling new attraction that blends 3D computer animation, “4D” effects and groundbreaking technology never seen outside a LEGOLAND theme park.
Inspired by the popular LEGO building sets and the “LEGO NINJAGO: Masters of Spinjitzu” TV show, LEGO NINJAGO World puts guests at the center of the action in lots of fun ways:
LEGO NINJAGO The Ride — a state-of-the-art “dark ride” where guests score points using ninja hand moves to blast animated fireballs, lightning and more at waves of 3D villains
Zane’s Temple Build — a giant LEGO building experience where kids can contribute to a model of a mountaintop NINJAGO monastery
Kai’s Spinners — master the ancient art of Spinjitzu at these twirling, whirling, single-person platforms
Cole’s Rock Climb — an outdoor climbing wall to test kids’ balance and endurance
Jay’s Lightning Drill — measure your reflexes with these “lightning fast” light-up targets
The lushly landscaped area also will feature daily meet-and-greet opportunities with sibling ninjas Kai and Nya [NEE-AH], and Wu’s Warehouse, a themed retail shop stuffed with LEGO NINJAGO building sets, toys, clothing, souvenirs and more.
Assisted by Kai and Nya, LEGOLAND Florida Resort General Manager Adrian Jones announced the land’s grand opening date on the eve of the resort’s fifth birthday, continuing the largest period of growth and expansion in its history.
Since opening Oct. 15, 2011, the place #BuiltForKids has added LEGOLAND Water Park (May 2012), LEGO Star Wars™ Miniland Model Display (November 2012), LEGO World of Chima™ (July 2013), DUPLO® Valley (May 2014), LEGOLAND Hotel (May 2015) and Heartlake City (June 2015). In addition, the resort has unveiled several phased restorations of the historic Cypress Gardens, which celebrated its 80th anniversary earlier this year.
Along with LEGO NINJAGO World, construction continues on LEGOLAND Beach Retreat, which will more than double the resort’s on-site accommodations when its whimsically themed bungalows open in mid-2017. Guests currently can make reservations for stays from June 1-Sept. 4, 2017, with rates starting at $182 per night. A grand opening date and associated festivities will be announced at a later date, along with additional amenities.
Jones announced that according to an economic impact analysis prepared earlier this year, LEGOLAND Florida Resort has generated nearly $1 billion of total economic activity from 2010 through 2015.
I love the cute things people come up with for kid’s Disney inspired jewelry. This Princess Leia Inspired Chunky Bubblegum Necklace is so adorable, that I want one! Good thing it looks like the shop makes them longer for us grown up kids!
Their chunky necklaces are all made standard child size, most infants through teens. They do say they will make them longer for adults though! All are made using strong beading wire and finished with toggle clasps for easy on and off. These are made with whimsical chunky beads, and lots of sparkle, with a Princess Leia Pendant.
If you like this one there’s lots of other characters to choose from below too:
is the perfect addition to my collection.
