Five Photos: Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage

Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage

Disney's Hollywood Studios

 

 

 

 

 

Five Photos: Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party

Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party at Magic Kingdom

Campfire at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort

I've received lots of questions about what there is to do during a visit to Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort.  For die-hard fans of Disney Parks, this will be a far more relaxed vacation but there is still plenty of fun to be had.  Way too much for one post, so this will be the first of a series.

The MUST-DO activity is the campfire.  Between the pool and the pier and next to the activity desk/store/takeout window is a fire pit surrounded by two rows of low benches.  Here recreation cast members lead guests through various silly songs.  You have to sing for your supper but the pay off is free s'mores.  The campfire was at 7:00 PM three times during our week's stay.  Since it was very much the off-season, I could see them holding it even more often in the summer but I didn't think to ask.  They certainly are prepared for a crowd though.  We participated twice and didn't see over about 30 people either night but they had easily a hundred skewers left in the bin after taking care of us.  

Now back to those silly songs.  We went twice and the second time, most of the guests had just arrived that day and weren't feeling much like playing so the Cast Members cut the song time short.  However, our first campfire was very energetic and everyone played along with the "repeat after me, goofy motions" type of songs.  I've been humming "Baby Shark" off and on for two weeks.  "Boom Chicka Boom" and "Mrs. Gooney Bird" were lots of fun.  (Here's a link to a Boy Scout site with similar lyrics for these songs.)  Tink caught on quickly and we've been dancing around the house with these tunes, looking like sharks or, well, gooney birds.  

Try this one at home...  The "Disney Shuffle."  It's "Hokey Pokey" but instead of saying hokey pokey you say Disney shuffle and instead of "put your right foot in" try "put your glass slipper in."  After each verse, the kids (or you!) have to guess the character.  So "put your polka dot bow in" would mean Minnie, "put your frying pan in" would be Rapunzel, etc.  Be creative.

We certainly enjoyed the campfire and will definitely do it again on our future visits.

"Seven chicks had Mrs. Gooniebird...."

When you're two, any excuse to bounce will work.

Smells like the burning of Rome

Fun for all ages! (Baby Minnie and DisneyDad)

Tink loved the campfire

Her first s'more.  We had to talk her in to taking a bite.  Ah, my picky child.

The shuffleboard court directly behind the campfire area was a great place to run off a little more energy before heading back to the villa.

Disneyland Paris Planning with Nine, Part 5: Our Dates are Booked

Yay, we have finally booked to take our daughter to meet The Mouse for the first time.

Here are a few details as required -

Cast:

Me (Nine) - 32, Disney nut, obsessed with WDW and can't wait to go back in 2014 but newbie to DLP as are the rest of the cast. Ex-cop now full time mummy and part time blogger. Veggie.

DH (Steve) - 32, likes Disney, enjoys WDW (has been twice more than me as a teen), huge Rays fan so makes sure a trip to FL means a few days at St Petes too. Not a great fan of French cuisine, hoping to enjoy a US style burger.

DD (Tink) - just turned 2, will be 2.5 when we go. LOVES Disney, especially Mickey and Donald. If we mention she's going to meet them, she picks up her toy versions and waits by the door *aw*. Fussy eater, rubbish sleeper, full of fun and mischief.

MIL - won't let me reveal her age ;-) enjoys FL and is looking forward to going back in 2014 with her granddaughter. It was her suggestion to go to DLP as a taster for Tink for WDW. Loves to shop.

FIL - early 60's. Financier of most of the WDW trips and this one to DLP. Great big kid at heart, adores playing with his granddaughter and spoils her rotten.

When?
Monday, June 25th through Wednesday, June 27th. Just 3 days and 2 nights at DLP before we head off to the family farm house in Doussac for another week.

Where?
Sequoia Lodge. We've never stayed on-site at WDW so really looking forward to this.

Travel?
We'll drive as we're going on further into France for the rest of the vacay. We'll go through the tunnel to get there and get the ferry home.

With who?
Hotels booked through Disney via Thomson.

So there we are :-)

Thanks for stopping by!

Contributed by Janine P. of Swindon, England. She is a proud wife, mommy to Felicity and one of our Minnie Moms.  Follow along throughout this monthly series as she plans her first trip to Disneyland Paris.

Disneyland Paris:

Follow along as Janine plans her family's first trip to Disneyland Paris.  Learn more about Janine here.

• New Series from Nine
• Part 1: Questions
• Part 2: When to Go?
• Part 3: Where to Stay?
• Part 4: Where to Eat?
• Holidays at DLP

When to Go? Spring--Flower and Garden Festival

From the 2010 Flower and Garden Festival...

Festival Guide

Spring is a great time of year at Walt Disney World as Epcot hosts the International Flower and Garden Festival.  The horticultural team outdoes themselves with impressive topiaries, themed gardens, tons of flowers, and special educational and dining events.  Weekend nights are capped off with the Flower Power concert series including performances from artists of the 60s and 70s.  This year's festival runs from March 3-May 16.  You may wonder if this is a good fit for your little one, but this festival is very kid-friendly.   The specifics vary from year to year and this will give you an idea of what activities may be available for your future trip.

Several playgrounds are a part of this year's festival.  While these are some of the simplest areas of the festival, they may be your child's favorites (and yours, after kiddo burns off some energy from that Mickey ice cream bar.)  The Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden features an adorable playground appropriate for children from 2-5 years old.  Near Journey into Imagination are play structures designed for children aged 2-5 and 6+.  In World Showcase, there is another play area in the Art of Green Living exhibit.  This one was not on the festival guide, so it's a surprise when you run upon it.  Sadly, these areas are just for the festival but would be great year round.

Children of all ages can participate in the scavenger hunt to find "bees" in the fragrance garden at the France Pavilion.  At Princess Tiana's Wedding Garden and Pixie Hollow, kids can do rubbings from the signs.  When we visited Tiana's Garden, the ducklings in the small pond were the big attraction for everyone there at the time. 

The star of the children's activities is Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden.  Located along the walkway behind Innoventions East, this garden greets you with lovely flowers and topiaries of Tinkerbell and her friends, as well as huge butterfly topiaries.  In the center of the garden is Fawn's Butterfly House.  You enter through a doorway with a curtain of plastic chains to help keep the butterflies inside.  On either side, butterflies flit around on the flowers and it's easy to get a great view.  There is a chrysalis box and if you are lucky, you can watch a butterfly emerge.  Tink was fascinated by all of the butterflies .  Even though it was fairly busy, there were still areas in the house where we could let her walk around a little bit without being in the way.  Toward the end of the garden's path, you'll find the play area.  There is a small play structure for climbing and a fairy house for pretend time. 

For details on the rest of the events associated with the festival, please check out the link to the Festival Guide above. 

Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival is great for the whole family; just try to avoid the main Spring Break weeks when planning your trip.

Have you visited this festival before?  What did you think?

This article originally appeared on Growing Up Disney in May 2010.  The basics of the festival are essentially the same from year to year.  This year the butterfly garden is Bambi-themed to go with the recent DVD release.  Here is the 2011 Festival Guide.   Check out Ridge's Flickr Photostream for his photos from the 2011 Festival.  

"Best Of" Week: Disney's Animal Kingdom: Trails and Toddlers

Disney's Animal Kingdom Park is a great place for small children.  I also happen to think it's an excellent  park for adults too but that is a different post.  I'll summarize that thought for now by saying this isn't an "in your face" park.  You need to slow down, take in the details, watch the shows, and not just run from ride to ride in order to appreciate this park.  

Back to the little ones...

In particular, the animal trails are fantastic.  First, let's look at the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail.  This is a self-guided walking trail through lush vegetation and along the way you'll find a variety of animals beginning with monkeys, okapi, naked mole rats, and all sorts of other creatures.  If you are traveling with toddlers, they'll find lots to explore.  Consider their slower pace as a chance to examine detailed work of the Imagineers.  The pathways are rather wide and you won't be blocking anyone else if your child wants to stop and check out a leaf.

This section of the trail includes a waterfall, ducks, and lots of fish.  We were all able to move to the side of the path and let Tink watch the fish for a while.  It was nice to give her a little freedom since it wasn't an overly crowded area.  

Along the way, you encounter a huge glass wall that lets you see into the hippo habitat.  Tink lingered here while watching the fish and ducks.  We're not totally sure she paid much attention to the hippo but I love the pictures of the huge animal compared to my little girl (safely separated by feet of glass, that is.)

About halfway through the attraction, there were a few places to sit and give everyone a water break.  The rest of us were glad to rest for a moment, even if Tink was still ready to go.  It's not an overly long walk, but it was "Animal Kingdom hot" on this day.

There are Cast Members throughout the area, ready to answer your questions about the animals.  Some give brief presentations.  Below, Tink found a Cast Member who was ready to run and they took off.

The "stars" of the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail are the gorillas.  There are several locations for observing and photographing these fascinating creatures.

Earlier in the day, we took in the Maharajah Jungle Trek.  Tink was asleep before we entered and snoozed through the whole attraction.  Which brings me to another great thing about these animal trails- they are stroller friendly, so no unpacking of your gear and more importantly, no disturbing a sleeping child!

The jungle trek features animals found in Asia and the tiger is the star.  Please note that this attraction does include a bat house.  If you or your child are frightened of bats, it's quite easy to bypass that portion of the trail and continue on to observe the other animals.   Other than the bats, you'll find both trails to be similar in concept: broad pathways, helpful Cast Members, and a wide variety of animals and plants to explore.

Let your little one take a walk on the wild side on your next Walt Disney World vacation with a stroll through one of Disney's Animal Kingdom Park's animal trails.

--------------------

Update:
Tink was awake this time for the Maharajah Jungle Trek.  The tapir was nowhere to be seen and we skipped the bat house.  She loved the tigers and kept meowing at them.  Our visit was after lunch on a rather warm day so most of the animals were lounging.  Tink loves birds, especially ducks, so the aviary was a favorite. 

Pick up a guide when you enter the aviary to help identify the birds you'll see.

Watching the ducks.

Disney Mini-Golf at Winter Summerland

A round or two of miniature golf at Winter Summerland is a great way to spend an afternoon.  Whether you've just had it with the crowds or are looking for something inexpensive to do on your last day, Winter Summerland is a wonderful option.

Like everything at Disney, there is a theme and a backstory.  The idea is that Winter Summerland was built as a vacation destination for Santa's elves but the elves were split on which was better, sand or snow.  As a result, two 18 hole miniature golf courses were built.  One has a winter theme, complete with concrete snowmen and traditional Christmas music.  The other was for the elves who preferred the Florida sun and includes surfboards and Beach Boys style holiday tunes.  

While there are a few challenges along the way, the whole family should be able to play well enough to have a good time.  In true miniature golf fashion, some of the holes will surprise you with special effects.  We don't do spoilers around here, so you'll have to go explore on your own.

Disney has two miniature golf courses on property and this one is the favorite of my family.  Winter Summerland is located across the parking lot from Blizzard Beach.  If you are using Disney transportation, you'll ride the Blizzard Beach bus to get here.  The course is open from 10am until 11pm. The current cost is $12.00 for adults and $10.00 for ages 3-9.  Annual passholders get a 50% discount for themselves and up to 3 guests.  The golf clubs come in adult and kid sizes with plastic putters for the littlest golfers.

Have you played mini golf at Winter Summerland?   What was your best score?

Team Favorites - Character Meals

Character dining is one of the truly unique experiences offered at Walt Disney World.  Yes, lots of places offer a good breakfast but no one other than Disney lets you combine that meal with the magic of some one-on-one time with your favorite characters.


Today our team discusses our favorite character meals at Walt Disney World. 

Amy:  For breakfast, my favorites are Chef Mickey's and The Crystal Palace.  We took Tink to Chef Mickey's breakfast for her first birthday.  It was a good meal, a fun atmosphere, and I like the chef costumes for the characters.  You can't beat a ride on the monorail to start the day.  For my full review, click here. 

I worked at The Crystal Palace during College Program, so it's a sentimental favorite.  The food is really good here and the team replenishes it often.  The characters are Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet.  You'll see them lead a parade with the kids once or twice during your meal.  I love this building with all its windows, curlicued decor, and Magic Kingdom location.  I think dinner is the best meal here but come hungry because it's not cheap.  It's now $32.99 per adult for dinner.  Kids 3-9 are $15.99. 

My other dinner pick is The Garden Grill.  This restaurant is in The Land pavilion at Epcot.  It rotates very slowly so the view changes throughout your meal and sometimes you overlook scenes from "Living with the Land."  Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale are the characters you'll meet.  The Garden Grill is only open for dinner now.  The meal is served family-style with steak and turkey for the adults and chicken and mac and cheese for the kids.  Some of the produce is grown in the greenhouses at The Land pavilion.  This location is a few dollars cheaper per person than The Crystal Palace.

DisneyDad:  I have to admit I enjoy the character meals as much as any kid.  Over the years we have been to many different character meals and I have enjoyed them all.  Most recently we had the Breakfast Buffet at Chef Mickey's at The Contemporary.  The first time we went to Chef Mickey's it was a restaurant at Downtown Disney complete with...who else... Chef Mickey!

Of the character dining experiences WDW currently offers my two favorite are Chef Mickey's and The Crystal Palace.  Chef Mickey's is in the Grand Concourse at Disney's Contemporary Resort. Depending on where you are seated you can watch the monorail run though.  The restaurant brings Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald and Goofy to your table as you bring all you can eat from the buffet to the table.  We recently had breakfast there and the food was as good as any breakfast buffet I have been to anywhere.  All the food was fresh, the hot food was hot and the cold food was cold and it all was delicious.  My favorite for breakfast is always the Mickey Waffles and theirs were fresh and warm.  (Did I say I enjoyed this as much as the kids?)

My other favorite, The Crystal Palace, is just off Main Street, USA at the Magic Kingdom.  The restaurant looks like a Victorian conservatory complete with palm trees growing under the glass dome.  The food here is buffet style also.  (My daughter worked here in the College Program.  On one trip here only one side of the buffet was open while they were getting the second side setup.  We actually had the buffet opened for us by one of the chefs so we could be first in line.)  (Amy's note: one of my cast member friends thought this would be a special treat for my parents.  Looks like he did make some magic.  My parents are still happy about this and it was in 1997.)  Pooh and Friends come visit your table at The Crystal Palace.  The last meal I had here was breakfast and it was excellent.  It is a great way to start the day at the Magic Kingdom.

Ridge:  I have to say that character meals aren't really my thing at this point in my life.  As far as the characters are concerned, The Crystal Palace would have to be a favorite of mine since I am being asked to choose. T-i-double G-er has to be one of my favorite characters, right after Mickey Mouse, of course.  At The Crystal Palace we have always had good luck with having the right amount of time and getting the pictures we wanted. It also doesn't hurt anything that the food here is also really good.  But if you want to see the HC (Head Cheese) himself, you really can't beat Chef Mickey's. It was a real cavalcade of characters and only took about 45 minutes in the rotation to see them all. Here's a tip, if you are in a spot where the characters rotate off stage, because they only stay on the floor for about 15 minutes before "rotating," keep an eye out for their handlers. We were seated right at the point where our Chefs were rotating and it is easy to get overlooked because the replacement might confuse where his/her counterpart left off. If you accidentally get missed, just ask one of the handlers and they'll steer the character back your way.

 ---------------

It looks like our team has similar opinions again.  Other character meals we've had over the years that didn't make our favorites include 1900 Park Fare breakfast, Liberty Tree Tavern dinner (discontinued), Olivia's breakfast at Old Key West (discontinued), and Donald's Breakfastasaurus (now similar meal at Tusker House).  


Cinderella's Royal Table (formerly King Stefan's Banquet Hall) used to be a family favorite, however, the restaurant started changing in the early 2000s.  Our last visit there was in 2005.  We might go back someday if Tink insists, but in my opinion the elegance of the place is gone now that it is a character dining location.  It's also very pricey and VERY hard to get a reservation.  I realize I am in the small minority here and if you have never had a meal in the castle, then this is a treat.   


I would like to try the character breakfast at Tusker House.  Our lunch there was wonderful.  For my full review, click here.

Cape May is not on my to-do list.  We ate dinner once when we stayed at Beach Club and I wasn't impressed.  Since we usually stay at Old Key West, this restaurant would not inspire me to make the journey over there.


Akershus Banquet Hall is a must-do once Tink gets a little older.  Most of the princesses will greet you at this character meal.  The breakfast was so popular that it's now a character location all day, so if you don't want to get up early for breakfast, you can still meet Belle at lunch or dinner.  Breakfast is traditional breakfast fare while lunch and dinner feature a Norwegian menu with hot entrees and a cold salad/herring bar.  Chris and I had lunch here once and enjoyed the food. 


For me, the jury is still out on 'Ohana.  I love breakfast at Kona Cafe, but 'Ohana just seems chaotic to me.  Lilo and Stitch are here in the morning.  Maybe someday I'll brave this one.


What are your favorite places to dine with the characters?  Do you have a character meal that you just must have each trip?  Any that you don't want to repeat?  Please leave your comments below. 

(Check back because I just might scan some pics of me in the oh-so-lovely Crystal Palace costume...)