Disney Take 3

You know your kids are spoiled when... They've gone to Disney World three times in the last six years!  This time we battled the Florida heat in August and lived to write a Haiku Deck about it. Less words, more photos!

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Flying High at Disney On Ice Dare To Dream

Looking for some great entertainment for the kids this school vacation week?  In the Boston area, check out  Disney On Ice presents Dare To Dream featuring characters from Tangled. The show is runs from Friday, February 17 to Sunday February 26 at TD Garden in Boston.

We had the opportunity to attend the spectacular event on opening night.  With flawless skating, fun story-telling, high-flying acrobats and pyrotechnics, even 11-year-old Adam was impressed.  Dova managed not to cave into the myriad of swirling lights and wands but did insist on cotton candy, which we forked over $12.  It came with a crown which she decorated later at home but refused to wear at the event, so her goofy mom had to fill in.



This was our first trip to TD Garden with the kids, so I had to point out the Boston Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup Champions flag in the rafters.



The show was emce'ed by Mickey and Minny Mouse themselves with some help from Donald Duck and Goofy.





The first story told was The Princess and the Frog, which featured colorful costumes and sets of New Orleans.





Tiana met her destiny with her frog-to-be.



At the bayou, a chorus of birds skated with Tiana and Prince Naveen in their quest to reverse the curse.



The next story was the time-told Cinderella.  Adam and Dova laughed at the bumbling step sisters.





The carriage procession was a sight to see!



As well as the meeting of Cinderella and the Prince.





The clock struck 12 just in time for intermission. When the Prince went to search for the foot that fit the glass slipper, he also tried members of the audience.



The latest story to be added to the Disney On Ice repertoire is Tangled, now Dova's favorite Disney movie. Flynn met Rapunzel under a frying pan (this is Adam's favorite photo of the night).



It wasn't long before they were flying separately, then together.





Even Maximus the horse skated gracefully across the ice!



Tangled ended with spectacular pairs skating.





The evening ended with a ball featuring all the Disney Princesses in their finest costumes, including my favorte, Mulan.



The Disney On Ice Dare To Dream show is definitely Princess heavy, but there are enough "wow" moments for the whole family to enjoy.

It's not too late to see Disney On Ice presents Dare To Dream, find ticket information here!

DISNEY ON ICE is a trademark and service mark of Disney.  Disney characters ©Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Special thanks to Feld Entertainment for providing a family 4 pack of tickets for this review. No other compensation was received.

Dova's Disney Princess Lunch - Take Two

Since Dova had been sucked into the Disney Princess cult since she was two years old, we thought that she would love to have another lunch with the highnesses on our last visit to Walt Disney World. I can't believe that she has had two opportunities to meet the princesses before she even turned five! Since our first trip was really a birthday present for my 40th birthday and our second trip was complete serendipity, we were not out to totally spoil her with multiple meals with Disney Princesses as though she could dine with them any day. But apparently, they've just become old hat with her.

The day before Dova's Princess Lunch, we unexpectedly ran into Princess Jasmine coming out of a magic door near Aladdin's Flying Carpets in the Magic Kingdom. We jumped right in line for photographs, but Dova refused to have one taken. I only took a quick test shot without Dova, as she adamantly refused to pose with her. We started worrying that she would similarly freak out during her Princess Lunch the next day. But by the next morning, she put on a pretty dress and completely changed her tune. She wasn't quite as excited as she was two years prior, but she was well poised to receive the Princesses.


First stop was with Princess Belle. Her dress was too hoopy to get a nice close shot!


Next was a very tall Princess Aurora. Lackluster smile at best from Dova!


Thankfully Dova didn't freak out with this Princess Jasmine. She wasn't as pretty as the one from two years ago.


Snow White looked spot on.


Dova was finally happy when she saw Princess Ariel. In the end, it was worth this photograph with her very favorite princess.

The food was delicious as always in the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in the Norway Pavilion at Epcot, and oh, the desserts...

PSF - Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure

After entering Walt Disney World's Epcot a few months ago, we were approached to participate in a prototype activity called the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure.  Apparently, we looked like a great family team with a child of the perfect age.  They were targeting boys and girls from ages 7 to 10. Adam at age 8, was completely engrossed in no time.

The game is like a scavenger hunt, powered by the "Kimmunicator" (a cell phone).  Clues are transmitted to the communicator and once you find them, magical things happen in what appears to be a normal backdrop, statue or display.  It wasn't too easy or too difficult, but required some thought and the eyes and ears (and sometimes noses) of the whole team. Adam was so excited, he ran from one clue to the next.  It was really hard to stop him for this photo!  We ran into a few other excited families participating in the adventure and got lots of questions from passersby.  The experience was truly awesome because it was interactive and Adam really felt that he was in control of saving the world from evil villains.  He said it was his favorite thing about Epcot. 

If you want more information on this great program, check out this site, which has many more photos and almost too much information.  I was glad to go in totally blind, as the experience definitely "exceeded my expectations", as all Disney magic should.  It appears that it is now open for anyone to experience, so check it out next time you're at Epcot.  We are definitely going to do it again someday!


Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Twilight Zone Tower of Not-So-Much Terror

This shot was taken from the Lights Motors Action show.

I had been to Walt Disney World three times since the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opened and I finally took the plunge (literally) during our last trip. This time, I had company (my mom) and a willing babysitter who had no interest in taking the ride (Doug). I had taken one drop ride before in my life and all I can remember was screaming so hard that my eyes were shut and I totally missed it.

Here is a shot of the Hollywood Tower of Terror at night. The flickering neon lights really give it an eerie glow.  Can you tell I'm hedging?



My mom and I got Fastpass tickets for the Tower of Terror so that Doug and the kids wouldn't have to wait long for us. They didn't collect the ticket, so here it is if you've never seen one:



Since I have never taken the ride and had only a few anecdotal reports of what it was like, I held on to handle, conveniently located next to my seat. With both hands. Like a total idiot. OK, OK, here I am:



Notice the Asian family to the left with young children, all their arms up and no fear whatsoever. Scan over to the right to see a 72-year-old Chinese grandmother (my mom) having a blast. And then next to her, a fearful looking middle-aged woman with bat wings (that would be me). Argh!! The thing is, it wasn't even all that bad. They had changed to ride to be more random, stopping in the the middle of the free fall and then randomly going back up or down again. There were no 13 story straight drops. It was tame! So the next time I take this ride, I will have my arms up, like I do in other ride pictures (hopefully the bat wings won't be so bad). I love rollercoasters, remember?

Just to vindicate this horrible picture of myself, my mom and I checked on Doug and the kids and asked to go on the neighboring Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. Adam was traumatized from taking the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad the day before so he had no interest in any more rollercoasters. This time, I was determined to have my hands up, or as far up as I could get them with the shoulder harness. And I succeeded:

WW - Unicorn Face Painting

Dova got a beautiful unicorn face painting at Walt Disney World. We totally stayed clear of the Bibbidi Bobbidi JonBenet Ramsey Boutique, but we did indulge in this. She was quite relaxed during the whole process and enjoyed the attention she got walking around afterwards.

Photo Hunters - Hats

At Walt Disney World, Dova loved trying on the various Mickey ear hats, or rather Mom put them on her to snap photos.


Pink Minnie ears


Pirate Princess ears


Adam and I tried on these Mickey wizard hats which light up. This video is proof that I'm turning into my mom. "No, no, no, no sideways videos, Doug! You have to take it again." The subsequent non-sideways video was boring in comparison though...

WW - I Spy Jack Sparrow

Taken at the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Walt Disney World. Of course this was not quite as good as getting within kissing distance.

Thursday Thirteen - Carousel of Progress

One of Doug's favorite attractions at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in the Carousel of Progress. It chronicles the state of technology from the 1900's to "today". I, of course, take the opportunity to practice my low light photography. Here are thirteen photos and videos of the ride.


The 1900's without electricity. They did have gas lamps and a kitchen pump.


The ice box of the 1900's was just that, a box to hold a big block of ice and some food. My question is where exactly did they get blocks of ice in the summertime? Good thing I live in the 2000's and there are Yahoo! Answers.


The collapsible ironing board was invented in 1892, but hadn't come to this family yet. This scene was behind a cloth screen which was lit for a few moments.


In the 1920's, houses began to have electricity, but it was not very reliable. This kitchen was strewn with wires everywhere which kept shorting out.


Jimmy and Grandpa listened to the radio.


I barely captured Uncle Orville in the tub as the lights were going down.


The 1940's brought much modernization and the beginning of the rat race.


This video shows the transition from the 1940's stage to today's. And we get to hear that song, There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.


The kitchen of today is full of high-tech conveniences. But I guess pots and pans are still here to stay.


Grandma plays a virtual reality space game. In my reality, grandmas love Bejeweled.


Here's Christmastime of today. The rear entry ski boots are hopelessly 80's in my opinion.


The turkey got burned at 975F because of mistaken voice commands.


Last but not least is this video at the end of the ride. I tried to capture Doug's rapt expression, but it was too dark. Bye-bye, see you real soon!

Yes, I know I've drunk the Disney Kool-Aid.

Post note: Just found out that Thursday Thirteen is no more. Oh well, just one last one from me!