Mouse of Zen and Knell Studio Works

GIVEAWAY DETAILS BELOW

 

Last month, I received a tweet from J.B. (Brad) Conway (AKA @mouseofzen) asking for the picture I was using as my Twitter avatar.  He said he wanted to write a haiku based upon it.  It's a really special photo to me and I liked his work, so I was excited.  I edited the color as requested and emailed it over.  During the next couple of days, we came to an agreement upon:

baby steps to dreams

closer to becoming my

wish of a princess

I won't get into my love/hate relationship with the Princesses, but I'd like to thank Brad for graciously changing a word from the original version with which I was uncomfortable.

The picture and haiku were sent to John Knell to work his graphic design magic.  The resulting image is above.  Isn't it fabulous?!?!

Below are some other examples of the collaboration of these two talented guys.  The images below combine John's photography and graphic design with Brad's haiku poetry.

Brad and John will be selling these pieces of art soon on KnellStudioWorks.com.  These are just a few of the creations they plan to make available.  Here's a link to even more.  Or if you have your own very special moment captured in a photo, contact the guys for a custom piece. Brad had this to say about the project, "We are moving towards producing WDW-inspired artwork that will touch you emotionally and delight you visually. They will be complete/self contained moments of magic that will not only be based on our passion/ideas/vision but we are also hoping to add a customized element which will make it even more personal and special."

I asked John how their collaboration began and he said, "Wow...the collaboration came about fairly simply and organically. Started following each other on Twitter thanks to our mutual passion for Disney. Brad found out that I do graphic design for a living so he asked me to design his Mouse of Zen logo. We worked well enough together that he wrote haikus for some of my photos that I have been posting on Facebook and Flickr. I did a few quick layouts, combining his words with my images, and we got some positive feedback from our respective audiences. Encouraged, Brad wrote some more haikus and I did more photo illustrations, which yielded more positive responses, and now we are looking to build on what we've started and see where it goes."

This isn't the only big news from these guys.  Brad's first book of Disney-themed haiku poetry, Mouse of Zen, was recently released and is available on lulu.com.  Inspired to write after his children's first trip to Walt Disney World, Brad chose haiku to express his creativity.  Haiku compels the poet to follow a 5 syallable,7 syllable, 5 syllable pattern.  This very short format requires words to be chosen carefully to convey the desired message.  Brad's work does that beautifully, taking you to the place in Walt Disney World he is describing and stirring your own memories of a special vacation.  What I consider to be "Audrey's poem" is #5 in the book and I am glad it is being shared.  My other favorite is #83 since I love Epcot and IllumiNations.

reflections of earth

fire dancing in the sky

tugging on heart strings

 

With 350 poems, the mood ranges from sweet to sad and covers practically every WDW topic.  He's even written poems on the marathon, IllumiNations cruise, and the Partners statue.  Below are a few more I couldn't resist sharing.

340.

eyelids of kids drop

after counting mouse shaped clouds

dancing in their dreams

251.

upon my shoulders

my son takes rightful place as

king of his kingdom

205.

raise those mickey ears!

fought a hell of a battle

and won lifetime friends!

This book of "mouse-sized" poetry would make a great addition to any Disney fan's collection.  While you could sit down and read this book fairly quickly, I think you'll find yourself reaching for this book over and over,flipping to a page and taking a little meandering trip down memory lane as the poems take you back to the mouse. 

Best wishes to John and Brad on these creative projects!

Use the code "autumn" to receive 10% off Mouse of Zen at lulu.com.

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Ready to enter to win an 8x10 print of this beautiful castle art?

You get one entry for each of the following. Please note each as a separate entry in the comments section below so I know what you have done.  (If you are already following us through any of these channels, just note that. Hey, free entry!)

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  Like Knell Studio Works on Facebook
• 
  
  Like Mouse of Zen on Facebook
• 
  
  Like Growing Up Disney on Facebook
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  Follow Knell Studio Works on Twitter
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  Follow Mouse of Zen on Twitter
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  Follow Growing Up Disney on Twitter
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  Tweet about this giveaway, one entry per day.  Feel free to use this: "Visit http://www.growingupdisney.com/ to enter to #win an 8x10 castle haiku print from @knellstudio and @mouseofzen  #Disney #giveaway"
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  Follow Growing Up Disney publicly on Google Friend Connect.  See widget at right.

  

This contest ends at midnight Central time on Monday, September 27 and is limited to residents of the United States and Canada.  The winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries. You'll be notified via email and have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Good luck!

  

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of Mouse of Zen for reviewing purposes. No monetary compensation was received or offered. All opinions expressed are my honest thoughts on these products.

****The winner is Lisa Battista.  Congratulations!****

Growing Up Disney on the MOM Podcast

Amy recently appeared on an episode of The MOM Podcast, helping one of the hosts plan her first Walt Disney World vacation.

Here's a link to iTunes.

Thanks to Nancy Cadjan.  I really enjoyed speaking with you and hope you have a wonderful vacation!

Weekly Round-up: 9/18/10

My favorite line of the week, referencing the new Star Tours: "This new venture will have us all heading back at light speed."

Here's what else we had to say this week:

Mommy Monday:  Amy reviewed three children's apps for iPad.  We're giving away one of the games.  Enter today!

Team Tuesday:  The Growing Up Disney family discusses which roles we'd like to have if we were Walt Disney World Cast Members.

WDW Moms Panel:  Amy applied for the WDW Moms Panel this week and talked about what happens for most applicants.

Photo Flashback!:  Amy shared a photo from her Disney College Program days at Crystal Palace.

G.U.D. Trip Report:  Part 1 of Tink's first birthday trip.

Guest Post:  Kelly gave us a great overview of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

A Walk Around The World with Ridge:  Chris reminisces about one of his favorite attractions and wonders what the future holds for its refurbishment.

Have a magical weekend!

A Walk Around The World With Ridge--Star Tours

On arrival at Walt Disney World in 1991 Star Tours was tops on my list, being a Star Wars fan and 10 years old. I doubt I would have believed you if you told me none of it was real. I don't always take pictures but I stop and stand in the queue for as long as I can almost every time. On my most recent trip in April of 2010, I made it to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at rope drop and then headed straight to Star Tours. I had to take a commemorative trip knowing that it was going to be closing in September. Also one of my best friends from college was getting married the weekend I came home and I had to pick up a special edition Jedi Mickey and R2-MK for his soon-to-be stepson. What can I say; I had to get myself one too. (I tossed in a picture of me at 18 just for fun.)

I have been a fan of Star Wars for as long as I can remember and the Christmas that I got my VHS release (and not even the enhanced copy) of the trilogy was a big one. I collected the action figures, vehicles and magazines. A small fortune was probably spent in my youth on things we call "collectables." I even have a lightsaber I bought at MGM back in the day. It was one of the first ones that were produced en masse, the Luke Skywalker model. I remember spending all the money I had on it then having to ride 10 hours home with it on my lap because it couldn't fit in the trunk. I think that really shows a little love for Star Wars.

I always loved the attraction in its original form because of the combination of the outdoor and indoor queues made it really feel like you were no longer in Central Florida.

I can't wait to see what the new queue holds in store for us next year. I have been looking around on some of my favorite sites (studioscentral.com, insidethemagic.net endorexpress.net & allears.net as well as disneyparks.com) trying to find any information I can about the outside of the attraction as well. The story line is changing and the time line is changing; it will take place between Episode III & IV. The Ewok village being ominously lorded over by an AT-AT Walker is sure to be removed. So far I haven't seen anything that will indicate what, if any, new outdoor theming there will be. Since I couldn't be at the final flight to Endor, I want thank Rickey over at insidethemagic.net for posting a video of the final flight.

Only a little news has been announced about the future of the attraction. The new version is slated to reopen on May 17, 2011 so only 241 days till it is back. I only hope there is some kind of soft opening for annual passholders or DVC members or even D23 members (that might be my reason to join.) The new attraction is supposed to be in 3D and be a new (older) star speeder. The old one is the 3000 the new one is the 1000 and don't try and think about it, there is a new story that takes place a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. But be assured with Disney Imagineering and George Lucas together, this new venture with have us all heading back at light speed.

Guest Post: Grand Floridian Part 1

My favorite place at the Walt Disney World Resort is The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. I know what you are thinking, that it is stuffy or too fancy but that is just not true. There are many families with children spending their vacations there so stop worrying about it and check it out. The Grand Floridian opened back in June 1988 and it is the Walt Disney World Resort's flagship resort. There are so many wonderful ways to spend your time at the Grand Floridian while you are on vacation. I have stayed at the Grand Floridian many times now and my family loves it. My children call the Grand the "Vonnie Hotel" because of a Cast Member who makes many of our stays memorable. I will be posting a series of articles all about the Grand Floridian Resort and why I love staying there. I will be passing most of them to Amy here at Growing Up Disney or on the blog on my website.

If you are looking for more information about the Grand Floridian Resort, you have to check out a website called Where the Magic Lives. This site created by Channing Wilson is truly amazing! Channing has been staying at the Grand for years with her family and she knows her stuff. Planning a vacation to Disney can be overwhelming so if you have chosen to stay at the Grand Floridian Resort, checking out Where the Magic Lives can help answer your questions and give you a real feel for what it would be like to stay there. The website has tons of pictures and information all about the Grand such as accommodations, suites, pools, dining, shopping, and so much more. The Grand offers beautifully landscaped grounds and some fabulous amenities.

The Grand Floridian has a "Main" building and this is where you check in when you arrive. You will only be staying in the "Main" building if you booked a club level room in the Royal Palm Club. I will be getting into the differences between the Royal Palm Club and Sugar Loaf Club later on. The only other things in the "Main" building are shopping, dining, Ivy Trellis salon, and the monorail station on the second floor. There are 5 outer lodges not connected to the "Main" building at the Grand Floridian and they each have different room categories such as garden view, lagoon view, and theme park view. If the view from your room is important to you and you are not sure of what building to request, then you need to check out this page all about it. This resort books up quickly especially during the Holidays like the 4^th of July, Easter, and of course Christmas.

As you explore Where the Magic Lives you can learn about so many different experiences when at the resort. We rented a private cabana one day at the beach pool and I loved it. I found it relaxing to have some extra space of our own and some shade for the kids. It was expensive but I would do it again especially if I was there in the summer. There is the Garden View Tea or maybe you want to rent a boat from the marina. Are you celebrating a family reunion, birthday, or anniversary? If so then explore the Grand Floridian Bakery and Private Dining gift options available to you. Over the last several years we have had many cakes and treats made while at the Grand and with enough notice and money they can create some amazing things. This past January we had a cake made and it was spectacular. I love all things Alice in Wonderland and especially the Queen of Hearts so naturally I wanted a Queen of Hearts cake. We chatted with Donnie about what we wanted and a few days later we had this. I love this cake and it screams "Off with your head" and I really love all the details they were able to add to it.

These are just a few of the things that make the Grand Floridian Resort such a Magical place to make memories. If you have any questions about the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, please feel free to contact us.  Next time I'll share some pictures and my thoughts about dining at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

Contributed by Kelly H. Russo, owner of Travel with the Magic and one of our Minnie Moms.

Tink's First Birthday Trip Part 1

I have been meaning to share my own trip report from our April vacation for a while now.  There's no time like the present, so here it is.  This was written while we were at Walt Disney World and appeared in Audrey's personal blog that we use to keep family updated.
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On Sunday, we got up super early and headed to the airport. Audrey did well on the flight to Houston, but it is difficult to hold a curious, active, social little girl in your lap for an extended period of time. She napped in her stroller in the Houston airport while we pushed her up and down the terminal. The airline seat fairies smiled upon us for the flight to Orlando and we managed to have an empty seat in our row which allowed the little one to squirm with more freedom. Granddaddy picked us up at the airport in his new Mercedes (we've all had fun with the new car.) We splurged on DVC points this time and got a Grand Villa at Old Key West. It's two-stories, 3 bedrooms, 4 baths and fabulous. After dinner, Audrey got to dig in to a Mickey Mouse smash cake made by her grandparents. We all had fun watching her make a huge mess with the cake.

Monday morning, Chris, Andy, Audrey and I bought park tickets and then took the ferry to the Magic Kingdom. Audrey's first time in the park was a quick one. We took a few pictures in front of the castle and left for brunch. Granny and Granddaddy were waiting on us at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian. It was chaos for the first little while, but overall we enjoyed our meal with Pooh, Tigger, Mary Poppins, Alice, and the Mad Hatter. We all wondered how Audrey would react to characters. Of course, she liked Mary Poppins and Alice and their pretty dresses. Thankfully she was also happy with Pooh and Tigger. The Mad Hatter was a different story and I was so glad he was last. He, just as a part of the character, is cantankerous and made Audrey cry. A monorail ride later and we were back at the Magic Kingdom. We took some cute photos on Main Street including some great ones with Audrey walking down the street with Granddaddy. Her first ride was "it's a small world." She seemed really interested in all of the dolls but poor thing was so tired that she was asleep by the end. Audrey tried pineapple Dole Whip but preferred the vanilla ice cream. That evening, Andy and I went to Jiko at Animal Kingdom Lodge to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. We had a wonderful meal.

Tuesday was full of firsts. Audrey's first trip to Epcot, first french fry, first lemonade, first time to really use a regular straw, first time to color and play with crayons. When we arrived at Epcot, it was about nap time so Andy and I strolled Audrey around World Showcase. We enjoyed the walk while she slept. We met the whole gang at Rose and Crown for lunch. Audrey didn't want to sit still so Granddaddy and I took turns walking with her. She had great fun trying fish and chips and feeding some to Granddaddy and Granny. Uncle Chris took the lead on a project to have a birthday card card signed for Audrey in all the languages of World Showcase. Almost all the signatures ended up coming from pretty girls...imagine that. The card turned out really cool and we had fun exploring the pavillions. Granny and Granddaddy took Audrey to dinner at Olivia's at Old Key West and she had the whole restaurant wrapped around her very small little finger. She makes people light up--her red hair and big smile always attract attention. Andy, Chris and I came back to the villa with Mickey ice cream bars for everyone. Audrey shared mine and ate it like she'd done that dozens of times. The little one went right to sleep after her big day.

Tomorrow is the big first birthday!
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The next part of the adventure is coming soon.

Photo Flashback! Crystal Palace 1997

That's me in the oh-so-attractive Crystal Palace seater costume.  I participated in the Disney College Program during the fall of 1997.  It was a great experience.  I got to watch the parades and fireworks almost every night of my 5 shifts a week.  As a huge Winnie the Pooh fan, I adored working with the Hundred-Acre Wood crew.  The Main Street background music always reminds me of my CP days.

Mickey Moms

Yesterday I applied for the Walt Disney World Moms Panel. Me and up to 19,999 of my best friends. This isn't my first rodeo; I have applied for the panel twice before. While I think I would be an excellent member of the panel, the odds are against me. About 0.1% of applicants will be chosen for the final team.

So what's in it for the other 99.9% of enthusiastic applicants? Membership in the Mickey Moms Club. After the process is over, Disney sends out a very nice 'thanks for your interest' letter and a large magnet I think they want you to put on your car.  I've chosen to decorate the freezer in the garage with them. The other parting gift is access to the Mickey Moms Club site, which is only available to those who have applied to the Moms Panel.  It features special tips, planning tools, downloads, etc.

Best wishes to all who will apply for this year's panel!  And for most of us, look for your magnet in the mail.

Team Post: If I could choose a job at the parks

DisneyDad: I have thought many times what I might do if I could work at Walt Disney World. My children have told me I should work for DVC talking to people about becoming Vacation Club Members as I have talked to many people when I visit the DVC booths in the parks and Downtown Disney and a few of them have become members. While this would be fun, I think the pressure of having to meet a quota of signing up people to tour DVC might be more stress than fun. I think my best job would be as Mayor of Main Street USA. I would love to be able to stand on Main Street and greet all the guests that have come to visit the Magic Kingdom. I think it would be fun to greet the kids and big kids (read adults) coming to see the Magic Kingdom for the first time or the 100th time. It has always been fun seeing someone who has never been to WDW experience the Magic of the Magic Kingdom for the first time. It would be fun to work where you could see that every day. On the days when I’m not acting Mayor, I’d like to walk around with a broom and dustpan to pick up around the Magic Kingdom talking to a few guests while keeping the park clean. But, since my back hurts after walking for long periods of time, instead I’d love to drive one of the steam engines around the Magic Kingdom. I’d love to be able to blow the whistle. I think the “all aboard” is recorded, so I’d just have to blow the whistle and wave.

Amy: I have been a Cast Member before. I worked at The Crystal Palace as a seater during College Program. It was fun but I wouldn’t choose it again, especially not in a hypothetical situation where the sky is the limit. I can’t sing or act but if I could, I would want to be a part of the Citizens of Main Street that perform in the morning at the Magic Kingdom. I have been pulled into their show before and was glad I knew “Sister Suffragette” from Mary Poppins. I love all the smaller “impromptu” acts around Walt Disney World and each park has multiple examples. Streetmosphere and Mulch, Sweat, and Shears at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, DeVine at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, The Jammitors at Epcot, and The Dapper Dans of the Magic Kingdom are a few favorites of mine.

Ridge:  If I were a cast member working in the parks I would like be to 1) a Jungle Cruise captain or 2) a safari guide at Kilimanjaro Safaris. Reason being is that I love both of these attractions and as my friends, family, former teachers, co-workers, and annoyed trivia teams from all over can attest, I have a head full of useless and I hope entertaining information (Donald Rumsfeld ..my brother-in-law still hates me for that one.) I am a fan of the Jungle Cruise because it is delightfully tacky and with the right cruise director a boat load of laughs. I like the first couple of hours in the morning for the fresh tours or the end of the day because not only is the jungle cruise really cool at night, the captains are sometimes a little punchy and the delivery gets a little more risqué and passenger participation also seems to go up. As for the Safari, this is where my useless knowledge would come in handy, also I like driving, talking and animals so winner, winner chicken dinner!

What job would you like to have at a Disney park?

iPad App Reviews: My Numbers, ABC Numbers, and Baby Explorer

GIVEAWAY DETAILS BELOW!

I am proud to share reviews of three more fun and educational children's apps from Punflay.  This time Tink and I tested iPad apps.  The larger screen of the iPad really lends itself well to games for little ones.  Thankfully my parents don't mind the kiddo playing with their rather expensive toy. 

First up is ABC Numbers.  This new app incorporates the previously released My Numbers app along with a really well done game for teaching letters.  Below is the first screen and the large buttons make it easy for little ones to choose a game.

Here are a couple of screens from the ABC portion of the game.  You run your finger along the letter wheel to select a letter.  If you touch within the oval containing the letter and picture, it says "La, L, Ladybug" in this case.  In the white box toward the bottom of the screen, the child can practice writing the letter by tracing within the outline.  The color of the "ink" can be changed by touching the blue, green, or red dots below the writing box.  My 16 month-old daughter's favorite part was the star on the right.  If you pull down on the ring, the star sings the ABC song.  It's really cute and just like a real pull-string toy, if you pull the string halfway, it only sings half of the song.   

For the numbers portion of the app, here is the screen you'll see.  The color of the buttons can be changed using the wheel in the upper right and the item to be counted is selected along the bottom of the screen.  Touching the musical note allows the user to choose one of three songs or to have no music at all.  The game itself is a pretty simple counting game.  In this case, the 8 button was pushed.  Eight flowers light up.  If you touch an unlit flower, it will count 9 in a pleasant child's voice.  If you choose a lit flower, it will say 7 and the flower you touched will no longer be highlighted.  It's a good game for practicing counting to ten.  I like that it also counts backward as this allows you to work on basic addition and subtraction with your child as well.

This is the intro screen for the independent My Numbers app if you choose to buy (or win!) it separately.

Tink loved Baby Explorer!  Here's the start screen.

This game is like a high-tech version of one of the many plastic toys you have, without the "cluttering the floor" aspect.  Starting from the left, the butterfly can be pulled down and it bounces back with a cool springy noise.  The wheel on the bottom spins and the 4 colorful rings slide back and forth.  Moving to the top right, the child can push the four buttons to get a corresponding noise.  Tink really liked this. 

The coolest part of this game is the center of the screen, which contains 5 games.  The wheel at the bottom right changes the game.  For the egg game, you touch the egg repeatedly, cracking it a little more each time.  Eventually a new friend pops out.  Pictured here is the duck but this one contains some surprises.  The bubbles and flowers games are similar.  The child can pop the falling bubbles or flowers.  Tink particularly liked the flower version and the notes played when the petals fell.  Another game lets the child help a frog jump from lillypad to lillypad and the final game moves three jumping fish. 

Again, Punflay has designed apps for children that are both educational and fun.  They've provided enough variety in each app to allow it to appeal to children for months or years to come.  We've really enjoyed playing with these apps.  In particular, Baby Explorer held my 16 month-old's attention for a long period of time and at that age, that's an accomplishment.  She'll get to play with these apps again at 18 months of age when we see my parents at Walt Disney World.  I look forward to seeing how her interaction with the games improves.

Click here for my review of two children's iPhone/iPod apps from Punflay.

Punflay has their educational apps (iPhone/iPod/iPad) on sale this week.  One of them is even free.  Check out their site soon.  The sale ends September 16.

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Ready to enter to win My Numbers for iPad? You get one entry for each of the following. Please note each as a separate entry in the comments section below so I know what you have done.  Don't have an iPad?  Feel free to enter and gift the code to a friend who does.

Mandatory Entry: Briefly tell me why you think your child (or grandchild or you) will enjoy My Numbers.  No other entries will count if you don't do this one.

Extra Entries: (If you are already following me through any of these channels, just note that. Hey, free entry!)

• Become a fan of Growing Up Disney blog on Facebook.
• Follow Disney4Babies on Twitter.
• Follow Growing Up Disney publicly on Google Friend Connect (see widget at right.)
• Subscribe to the RSS feed for this blog.
• Send a tweet about this giveaway (one per day). Feel free to copy and send this: "RT @Disney4Babies Visit http://www.growingupdisney.com/ for a #giveaway of a great children's app from Punflay, My Numbers #Disney #iPad"
• Blog about this giveaway.
• Add Growing Up Disney to your blogroll.

This contest ends at midnight Central time on Monday, September 20. The winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries.  You'll be notified via email and have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.  Good luck!

 

Disclosure: I received apps from Punflay for reviewing purposes. No monetary compensation was received or offered. All opinions expressed are my honest thoughts on these products.
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And the winner is comment #3, Bill.  Congrats!  I'll be contacting you shortly.

Weekly Round-up: 9/11/10

We've had a super week at Growing Up Disney.  Here's what we were up to.

Mommy Monday:  Amy participated in the Back to School Blog Tour with an article about fall events at Walt Disney World.

Team Tuesday:  Cast Members are a big part of what draws us back to WDW over and over.  The Growing Up Disney family shares a few of our favorite interactions.  Thanks to the readers who added their own stories.  Let's continue the Cast Member celebration!

Photo Flashback!:  This week's photos showcase the powerful silverback Lowland gorillas at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park.

Guest Post:  One of our Minnie Moms, Heather, shares her tips and tricks for Walt Disney World touring with a small child.  I'm so glad she's had a generous dose of the kool-aid.

A Walk around the World with Ridge:  Need a break from commando touring?  Check out a few of Chris' favorite spots for a little down time.

A Walk Around The World With Ridge--Take A Break

So inevitably while running 90 to nothing through the Walt Disney World theme parks, you come to a point where you need a break. Whether is caused by exhaustion, too much family togetherness, or a combination of those things, you’ll need to find a little peace and relative quiet, if not quiet relatives. I’ll share a few of my favorites.

Magic Kingdom: If you are keeping up with us here at www.growingupdisney.com, you might have an idea of where I like to go to take a break, Aloha Isle. Who doesn't like Dole Whips? Once you have the Dole Whip in hand, there is a covered area as you are heading towards the restrooms/pass through to Frontierland. In this nook are usually some tables and chairs. It is just off the beaten path but in a place where for some reason most people tend to not see it. That makes it a perfect place to have a rest, a Dole Whip or a Coke and a smile.

Disney's Hollywood Studios: Usually mid-afternoon, when there is the break between the lunch and dinner crowds, I like to head over to Dad's Den, which is the bar/waiting area for the 50s Prime Time Diner. Sit down here and have a Dad's Electric Lemonade and talk with the bartender for a while. They usually have some really good stories. If you're lucky, one of the Streetmosphere performers might just stop by and start up a private show.

Epcot: At Epcot there are just too many good places to take a seat or a nap. If I am in Future World, I like to ride Ellen's Universe of Energy. Most of the time you can get an entire row of the ride vehicle to yourself. However, since they ask you to refrain from eating, drinking or flash photography, just make your way over to the Fountianview Cafe and make time for some ice cream, pastries, coffee, soft drinks. This café has a great view of the fountain and is a nice place to relax. In World Showcase there are many places to have a drink or snack and plenty of benches all over. Growing Up Disney did a team post about our favorite Epcot snacks.

Animal Kingdom: This park is huge, so find a bench and have a seat. I like to watch the shows or take one of the nature walks to relax a bit. Next time I want to make an effort to see Flights of Wonder. In all the years the park has been in operation, I always just walk by and never stop.

So with the literally hundreds of nooks and crannies of Walt Disney World, where do you like to take a break? In the parks or out, let us know.

Guest Post: Heather's WDW Travel Tips

Last November my family traveled to Walt Disney World as a family of 3 (well, 4 if you count that I was pregnant in 2nd trimester.) The vacation was everything we hoped for and we are returning this October for another trip. We really tried to maximize time in the parks as well as enjoying our great stay at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort.

Time to Go: We decided to try for fall given that it is Value season and hotel rates are at the lowest of the year. We did a 5 day/4 night trip during the second week of November. Weather was in the 70-80s so we could still enjoy the pool. If I were to do it over, I would have gone before daylight savings time ended. Once it got dark, it was hard to be motivated to get out again. The only day the parks were even remotely crowded was Veterans Day. We typically had no more than a 15 minute wait for attractions. Using the FASTPASS system was a lifesaver. It prevented us from spending oodles of time in line. I did bring line-waiting supplies like bubbles and loaded some games on our iPhones.

Travel: We opted to take the overnight Amtrak Silver Star Line train from Raleigh to Orlando for around $200.00 round trip for all 3 of us. I think our 3 year old son loved riding on the train as much as he did WDW. We took a town car for less than $100.00 round trip. If we had flown, we would have been eligible for the Disney Magical Express since we were staying on Disney property.

Food: We took advantage of a promotion offering the Disney Dining Plan for free. We estimated this saved us around $500-$700. I printed off the listing of restaurants, character meals, and options and then researched each restaurant we were considering. We had two character meals which normally would have cost us $20-40 per person if we had not had the plan. I also researched where we could get the most "bang for our buck" and quickly realized that a $4.00 milkshake and a $.99 soda counted the same in snack credits. Having a fridge in our room was a major help storing extra water and juice boxes to offset food costs.

Wingin' It: Once we were back in the room each night, we planned the next day and repacked the backpack. I researched what attractions were most appropriate for our son’s age and considered the scare factor. There is a great table in the guidebook The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. I was the map queen and planned how to see the most with the least amount of walking. We made a list of which attractions were the most important to us and which were ok to skip for each park, grouped by area. I included an estimate of when we wanted to be back at the resort for naps so we could be on time for each night’s dinner reservations.

Stroller/Bag: We took a cheap umbrella stroller that I clearly marked as ours. I didn’t care if I left it at the hotel not to carry it back home at the end of the trip. You can rent strollers for $15.00/single per day at Disney but you can't take them on Disney transportation, even the train that encircles the Magic Kingdom. We also carried a well-organized backpack that Bill and I traded carrying.

Capturing the Disney Magic in Photos: We took advantage of the Disney Photopass system that allows Disney photographers to take pictures at famous landmarks. They scan your card and then you can view the images online up to 30 days after you return home. If you buy a package, it's worth it or if you want to create an online book to capture your trip. We got a few great shots that we might order but only if we didn't also get a good picture on our own. (Amy’s note: The Photopass photographers can also take pictures with your camera.)

Using your cell/texting to avoid waiting in line: Many times we split up to get a FASTPASS for a ride which we expected to have a line. We researched which rides had FASTPASS and tried using the system at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park on our first full day there. I highly recommend learning this system to see the most and wait the least amount of time. Many times Bill and I took a picture of a line, emailed it, and made a judgment call about getting in line. We also often saved a place in line while someone hit the bathrooms and then texted where we were to catch up. While we didn't use the pre-set touring plans in the Unofficial Guide, I did look at them and if it was peak season I would have definitely used them.

Souvenirs: Bill took Ben to the Disney Store at home and let him pick out a plush Mickey to take with him on the train and sleep with at night. I went to Target the week before to get blister treatments and other first aid stuff, a glow stick/flashlight necklace for Ben to keep him occupied while waiting at night and then hit the dollar bin where they had tons of Mickey themed things.

We are so very excited to be going back during the Food and Wine Festival. I hope these tips will prove helpful and maximize your Disney experience.

Contributed by Heather V. of Raleigh, NC.  Wife to Bill, proud mom to Ben and Ian, and creator of Freeze Ahead Frenzy.  She's also one of our Minnie Moms.

Photo Flashback! Gorillas

One of the silverback Lowland gorillas in the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park.

The males were not paying attention to the humans but were intensely
aware of the activities of the females on the other side of the bridge.

Team Post: Best Cast Member Experience

Amy:  As a former cast member, I am going to refrain from choosing one person, but send a big thank you to all of the Walt Disney World Cast.  Every day, many thousands of people go to work while the guests play.  It's generally a wonderful place to work but it is still work.   I think the cast is the true magic of Disney.  I've been to other parks and other vacation destinations but no other place has their people so personally invested in the experience of the visitors.  Be sure to be generous with the thanks on your next visit.  

DisneyDad: We have had two cast members that really stand out in our memory. Since we have been DVC members since 1993 and have been going to WDW since it was just a Preview Center, we have had wonderful experiences with many, many cast members. Two that Tinker Bell had sprinkled extra Pixie Dust on really stand out. The first was a waitress at Olivia’s at The Vacation Club Resort (now Disney’s Old Key West Resort). Wanda Bradburn is my first choice. Wanda was selected as The Gold DREAM Pin Cast Member of the Year (DREAM – Disney Resort Experiences Are Magical) for 1993, the year we became DVC members. Back then, the DVC quarterly new letter for Summer 1993, Vacation Magic, included her picture and an article about her. Her story began:

“Everybody knows Wanda. She’s the cheery spirit of Olivia’s….” And that was the absolute truth. We met Wanda when we first toured The Vacation Club and had lunch at Olivia’s and saw her on many successive trips to WDW. Not only did we remember her, but she remembered us. She was lots of fun, once she even followed us out of Olivia’s just to tell us a joke. Her story continued: “Wanda is a backbone asset to the fun, friendly feeling that is Olivia’s.” I don’t know what happened to Wanda, but we still miss her when we eat at Olivia’s.

Unfortunately, I don’t know the name of the second cast member. He was working at EPCOT when my wife met him near park closing time outside of MouseWorks. Besides working at EPCOT he also worked at the front desk at Disney’s Old Key West Resort where we were staying. My wife likes to talk to the young people who work at WDW ever since our daughter worked in the Magic Kingdom in Disney’s College Program. In talking to this young man, my wife, who always rides one of the Electric Convenience Vehicles (ECV), was explaining she was waiting for her husband (me) who was in MouseWorks shopping. She explained to him that she did not like to ride the ECV in any of the stores as she did not want to bump into anyone or anything in the store. They talked for quite a while as I was shopping. He thanked her for her thoughtfulness in not taking the ECV into the store, especially at park closing. When he found out we were staying at OKW he said he would do something special for us. We didn’t actually expect anything, but the next day he had a floral arrangement sent to our room. We enjoyed the flowers through out our trip and still have the vase as a reminder of our nameless cast member who had that extra Pixie Dust.

Ridge:  Most cast members want to make a difference in your vacation experience. I have had several times were cast members were just doing their jobs, no more, no less, and I can't hold that aginst them. However, the memorable times have been with the cast members who are really looking to spread a little extra magic. There was my outstanding Jungle Cruise Captain Chad (which I have video of that I hope to post one day) and there have been outstanding bus drivers. One of the most intesting coversations I have had with a cast member has to have been with "Mark". I say Mark with quotations because ashamedly I forgot his name. On the same day that I took the picture of Amy having some ice cream and missing Baloo and king Louie, we meet Mark. He was a manager in park security, he introduced himself and asked if we were enjoying our stay, if there was anything special that brought us down. He laughed when we told him we had annual passes and a four day weekend, what else would we do? Seeing how he was a manager of security and I have a degree in criminal justice I asked him questions about security, how to get in, hours worked, how they work with the local police and numerous other boring questions to most other people. He was excited to get to tell someone about his job and was really glad that I was eager to know about how I could one day do something similar. I really thought highly of his willingness to share information, and I was really excited to hear it. Having someone on the inside give real non-sugarcoated information about the happiest place on Earth makes you remember how many people are never seen, but are working to make your stay enjoyable.

Let's make this a celebration of great Cast Members!  Please share your experiences in the comments below.

Great minds think alike.  Bruce of Unknown Magic Within Walt Disney World recently did an interesting post on Cast Members.

Back to School Blog Tour

For those with school age children, the phrase “back to school” reminds them of everything they have to deal with in the early days of the new school year: new clothes, new schedules, new teachers and homework, football games, and maybe a little anxiety about it all. For the rest of us, this time of year holds the promise of cooler weather ahead and for Disney fans, lower crowds at the parks. Generally, school holidays are the busiest times at the parks. If you can avoid these times (summer, Spring and Fall break, and Christmas break) you’ll be rewarded with shorter lines and, usually, resort hotel discounts.

Fall is a great time of year at Walt Disney World. Depending on your travel dates, you can experience Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Festival of the Masters, Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, and the everyday magic of not-so-crowded parks.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party: Trick or treat with your favorite Disney characters. Held in the Magic Kingdom on about 20 nights during the fall, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) is fun for all ages. The park is transformed into a slightly spookier version of itself. In addition to candy, you'll be treated to the very special "Boo to You" parade and Happy HalloWishes fireworks and other special surprises. Separate admission is required and the cost ranges from about $53 to $65 per adult, depending on the day and if you qualify for any discounts. Kids tickets are $47-$58. My brother Chris and I will be attending this year's party and blogging live from the event on October 26, 2010.

Festival of the Masters: November 12-14, 2010

Downtown Disney is home to this annual art festival which attracts over 150 national and local artists. Unique to the event is the showcase of chalk artists. It's Disney, so there will also be great food, music, and children's activities. One of our Minnie Moms is attending this year's festival and I look forward to her report.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is one of the best events hosted by Walt Disney World. This year's festival is appropriately titled, "Celebrating 15 Years of Delicious Discoveries." The 2010 event begins on October 1 and ends on November 14. The majority of the food marketplaces and demonstrations are found around World Showcase Lagoon. This year there will be 27 International Marketplaces selling beverages of all types and small plates of all sorts of food. There is not a separate admission fee for the festival; it is included with your Epcot park admission. Some seminars and demonstrations are free and others at an additional cost. There are a phenomenal number of events held during the 7 week festival. I encourage you to browse through the Festival Guide to see what is offered during your visit. It's a wonderful opportunity to sample a cuisine that may not be readily available to you at home.  For more information on the festival, check out our EIF&WF Research Center.

To those of you who have found your way here via the Back to School Blog tour, welcome! Please leave a comment and check out a few pages.

If you are a regular here, check out other great blogs on the tour through these links: Living My MoMent and The Work at Home Woman

Weekly Round-up: 9/4/10

Thanks for joining us for another fun week at Growing Up Disney.  If you missed anything this week, now is a great time to catch up. 

Mommy Monday  Amy announced a new feature on Growing Up Disney.

Team Tuesday  The first team post from our Minnie Moms

Photo Flashback!  The carousel from 1979, Amy's first Walt Disney World visit

Guest Post  Bruce shared a touching tale about vacation and a new family and how the one strengthened the other.

A Walk Around The World with Ridge  Chris educated us on more great iPhone/iPod apps.  This time he tackles photo apps.

We wish you a magical weekend!

A Walk Around The World With Ridge--The continuing saga of apps....

What good would the nice new iPhone 4 camera be without some great editing apps to really take full advantage of your pictures on the go? There are effects, cropping, coloring and collage apps just to get started. Now there are tons of apps out there, some are paid and some are free. I prefer the free apps because be honest who doesn't like to get free stuff...

One of the coolest apps that I haven't been able to use on a large scale is Autostitch. Autostitch is an app that allows you to take multiple pictures of an object from different angles or perspectives and then it will blend these photos together into one. The effect is something just a little different than a panorama. If you need/want such an image, this is an awesome way for the iPhone to accomplish this trick. I need to appologise for not having a cool picture to show off. The only thing I have used it for is to take a picture of my livingroom in my condo. I doubt anyone cares to see that, so I'll revisit this one when I get to Disney in 50 days.

Photo Mess is another app that I am really digging right now. Photo Mess allows you to make simple collages. If used in conjunction with some of the other photo editors, some really neat effects can be achieved.

Adobe offers us Photoshop Express. Something great about this app is that it has eliminated a photo cropping editor and a some subtle effects apps from my phone. So you want to adjust the exposure, saturation, tint, contrast or make it black and white? Done. Want to turn your picture into a sketch, sharpen or soften the focus, also done. Want some nifty pre-programmed effects? Also done. Then once the picture is the way you like it, Photoshop makes it a one button process to post to Facebook or twitpic. Pretty cool.

Then the last one I will bore you with is Tilt Shift Generator. If you are familiar with Disney then you might have seen the end of the Christmas parade last year where you could still see the people moving but the buildings looked like they were toys. Well that is what this app can do for your photos. I have tried it on a couple shots I have taken at Disney World in the past and the effect is pretty cool. It doesn't always work out just right but you have to play with it until it looks right to you. The app changes the focal points within the picture blurring parts of the picture and sharpening others. This app is the only one that was paid and at .99 cents on iTunes, it was worth it.

There are so many photo apps available and what I have listed above is only a few of the apps I have on my phone now. Once I have a more time to use the others I'll be glad to share what I find out. So I recommend Photoshop for sure, it's free and does an excellent job of editing your pictures straight from your phone or iPod and even iPad has an app. Photo Mess is also free and makes some pretty decent pictures and worth giving it a try. Tiltshift is pretty specific and the results may vary. At .99 cents it by no means breaks the bank but I can't see as it is a must have.

Do you have a favorite app for photos?

Guest Post: The Best Thing I’ve Ever Seen at a Disney Park

The question was asked, “What's the best thing you’ve ever seen at the Disney Parks?” What a great question. There are so many fascinating things in the Walt Disney World Parks that someone could go on for hours telling all about wonderful things to see in each park. But thinking about this question a little deeper, I thought past the parks themselves and then it was an easy choice at that point. The best thing I ever saw in a Disney Park would be this picture here:

This is my son; he is now 14 years old and a fine young man. When this picture was taken, he was 9 years old and he wasn’t my son yet.

When I first met John, he was 8 years old and he and his mom had been on their own for about 6 years. I met John’s mom while we were working together and friendship grew into a very happy relationship. At that time, John was a very shy, quiet boy who had a great smile and was very excited to have a man in his mom’s life. John and I hit it off very quickly and became friends almost immediately. John’s mom (my wife) and I are both teachers and during our first summer off together, we travelled to visit friends and family to meet people we hadn’t yet met. Our second summer together, when John was nine, we went to Disney World. I’m not saying that Disney made us a family, but I think it helped solidify our relationships.

We were very lucky in the fact that I had a Disney Vacation Club Membership, and my future wife had a free week at a condo that was trying to sell her a time share, so we took a two week Disney Vacation. It was our first time in Disney together and we all were a little nervous about what to expect. I had been to Disney World quite a few times in my life before Heather and John, but this was something new for me and for them also. Once we got there though all worries were quelled and we all had a great time.

I remember our first night of that trip as if it were yesterday. I remember we had gotten into our condo, found a supermarket, had something to eat, and then headed to The Magic Kingdom. When we first arrived, it was dusk and the lights throughout the Happiest Place on Earth were just coming on. We strolled up Main Street USA and went past the Castle into Fantasyland. We went through a couple attractions and had a good time, but John was a car nut at that time. He would read everything about cars he could get his hands on. So, the obvious attraction for us to ride was the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway. We stood in line and I videotaped John as we waited. He was jabbering on and on, as I would learn he does when he is excited. When we got close to the boarding area, the Cast Member measured John and said he was tall enough to drive the car. You would have thought he had been made Mayor of Chocolate Town, the way his eyes lit up. We then asked if he wanted one of us to ride with him or did he want to go by himself. The poor kid’s head almost blew off at the thought of “driving” his own car without his mother or me with him. He chose to “drive” by himself and we got in the car in front of him. Along the way we called out to him in the dark and he yelled back, laughing the entire time.

When we exited the ride, he was bubbling over with excitement. He wanted to do it again. The line was long and it was late, so we told him later in the trip we would do it again and we did, but that first time “driving” by himself, and seeing the smile on the little man’s face, and knowing that I helped put it there is the best thing I ever saw in a Disney Park.

Heather and I were married the next year and as a “Family” we have been to Walt Disney World almost every year since then. We enjoy being together and even at 14, John still wants to hang out with us when we are there. This past summer we went with another family, John’s best friend’s family, and the boys only went off on their own once. I credit this not only to the fact that they are both great kids that enjoy their families but also to the Magic of Disney. The Magic of Disney helped make us a family and we look forward to many more memories like this.

John and I, 5 years ago and today:

Contributed by Bruce G., husband to Heather, proud father of John, and creator of The Unknown Magic Within Walt Disney World

Photo Flashback! Cinderella's Golden Carousel 1979

Mom and I on Cinderella's Golden Carousel in May of 1979. 

This opening day attraction was recently renamed as Prince Charming Regal Carrousel.  For now, it's the jewel of Fantasyland, with its beautifully painted horses, lights and mirrors.  Truly an American attraction, it was built in Philadelphia in 1917 and delighted children in its Detroit and New Jersey homes before being restored and Disney-fied.  The next time you are in Fantasyland, take a few minutes to admire the adornments on its 90 horses.  Then take a ride and feel like a kid again.