Holiday Trees at Disney

Hollywood Studios

Disney is beautifully decorated during the holiday season.  

Yak and Yeti in Animal Kingdom

Yak and Yeti in Animal Kingdom is not to be missed.

Restaurant Review: Sanaa at Animal Kingdom's Kidani Village

Very Happy Resident of the Kidani Village

One of the most unique dining experiences in Disney is Sanaa.  

Happy Birthday to the Big Cheese!

Mickey Mouse made his official debut on November 18th,1928 in the short 

Steam Boat Willie. 

Wonder Forge Disney Games: Perfect Holiday Gifts for the Whole Family!

The wonder-ful people over at Wonder Forge sent me the following three Disney games for review (and my family loved them all!):

A Disney Halloween Story

Before our huge family trip to Disney for Thanksgiving, I tried to convince my son to dress up as Peter Pan or Captain Hook for Halloween.  I figured it would get him psyched up for vacation and he could take the costume with him to wear at the Magic Kingdom.  Disney and Halloween are the perfect match after all.  They are made for each other.  Endless characters to choose from and exotic costumes to conjure up from your wildest imagination! 

Logan chose Iron Man instead.  It was a great costume and he had a blast pretending to be Tony Stark.  

Iron Man

Then.... we got to Disney.  

Then.... he rode the Peter Pan ride.  

Then.... he became obsessed!

It happens to the best of us.  The Disney bug!   

A year later and the obsession is in full swing.  

Peter looking for his shadow!

Happy Halloween from our little piece of Neverland to yours. 

May you never grow up and stop wanting to dress up!

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party: Boo To You Halloween Parade

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party is an event everyone should experience at least once.

Roll Call: Michele!

Hi everyone:

I'm Michele and my love of everything Disney began on the couch!  I grew up watching The Wonderful World of Disney back in the 70's.  Before cable and VCR's came around this was the only way to get your Disney fix.  Disney sparked my imagination on Sunday nights.  I could not wait to see what would be on each week!  Just the sight of spunky little Tinkerbell flying around the screen with her wand instantly helped fend off any lurking Sunday night blues.  These days I am happily introducing a love of Disney to my seven year old son.  We took Logan to Disney for the first time over Thanksgiving with my entire family.  What a blast! Twenty six happy, Disney loving enthusiasts including four first timers!  

I can't wait to start swapping Disney stories with you all.  By the way I have never outgrown my Sunday night blues.  Good thing I have Once Upon a Time to get me motivated for the work week!

Disney Quest: Flying on a Magic Carpet

Disney Quest is an indoor interactive theme park in Disney Springs.

Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge

 I thought I would start out by reviewing our favorite place to eat, Boma in the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We make sure we eat here every time we go to Disney. As a matter of fact, the year we took my daughter for her high school graduation trip, we ate at Boma twice. We also stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, so it was very convenient. At least that was our excuse. It is a treat in every since of the word.
     The experience starts as soon as you arrive at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. It is on of my favorite resorts on Disney property. The lobby will take your breath away. It is darker than some but I would call it cozy and warm. Take a moment to walk around and enjoy the wonderful decor. You will be amazed! Arrive early so you can walk out and see the animals on the savannah. There is nothing like seeing some giraffes, zebras and other wildlife before you go in for dinner. When we went in December last year, they were making s'mores over a fire pit. But don't be tempted by those, save your appetite for dinner.
    Boma is downstairs to the right off the main lobby. Again, take time to enjoy the beautiful decor of this restaurant. It has warm colors and wood accents. We have enjoyed several different table locations on our many visits. They are all convenient and comfortable. I would recommend Advance Dining Reservations (ADR) as soon as you can make them. We did get in during the graduation trip at the last minute. It never hurts to check on a restaurant once you arrive for your trip, they have cancellations all the time. We also managed to get into Le Cellier at the last minute on the graduation trip. Disney magic at work!
     Now, about the food. I love this place because they have things I might not ever get to try otherwise. I am an adventurous eater who loves to try things at least once.  My husband is a pretty picky eater and my daughter is not usually a huge eater but both of them love Boma. When a restaurant can draw all three of us back every time it gets a five star rating. Boma is a buffet style restaurant which is not usually my choice, unless it is in Disney. They do buffet  like no one else. Each section is separate so you can go back without breaking in line. From the soups to the carving station to the desserts everything is fresh, plentiful and clean. They have labels on everything and the staff are happy to tell you what is in a certain dish.
     Start with some bread and soups. I love the butternut squash and carrot ginger soups. Move on to main dishes and salads. I tried the avocado, grapefruit and papaya salad last time and loved it. And don't miss the watermelon rind salad, yummy.  Be crazy and try new things, it might end up as your new favorite. The carving station features several different sauces to try. If you have children or adults who aren't ready for some of these things, they have mac and cheese and several other things to  please anyone. Our favorite thing is the dessert section! It never disappoints and yes, we are the people taking pictures of our desserts. Zebra domes have a following and it is well deserved. They are bite size, creamy chocolate delights. They are so popular they now sell them in the Mara, the quick service restaurant at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
    I guess you can tell that the food at Disney is a highlight for me and my family. We love the whole experience, the food, rides, shows, resorts and the people. It is exciting to get to share my little bit of experience with everyone. I hope to do more research soon. The worst thing is not having a Disney trip planned. Maybe next fall my husband and I can sneak away for an adults only trip. Sounds like a potential post to me.
     I would like to end each post with a tip that we have found to be helpful or fun. Maybe someone else does it also or maybe it is something only we do. My first tip is to take a picture at the same place each trip. It is so much fun to see your children grow or just how people change. I did not start this until our third trip so I encourage you to do this from the beginning, especially if you plan on going multiple times. This our daughter on the prop outside of Star Tours. In order from the top, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2013. Look how her hairstyle changed!


Forever Disney,
Carol

   

Roll Call: Carol!

Hey everyone!

  I'm Carol and I am obsessed with Disney. It started a long time ago but I did not make my first trip until I was an adult. After that first trip, I did not make it back until I had a child. And that is when I got hooked for good! We try to go every other year. I wish it could be more since we only live 10 hours away. Last year was amazing because I was able to go three times in a year due to work conferences for myself and my husband. I hope to add some fun and interesting info to Picturing Disney. Since my husband is a professional photographer, I also hope to add some of his awesome pictures.

Look for me on Tuesday,
Carol

Roll Call: Vanessa!

Hey there! Hi there! Ho there!

I'm Nesa, just your friendly neighborhood Disney enthusiast (something we have in common I’m sure).  I’m also sure we’re eventually going to get to know each other very well, but I figured to break the ice, I'll tell the story of my very first Disney memory.

I was about 5 and it was our last day at Magic Kingdom so the goal was to get as many autographs as possible. My grandma and I had just made our way back from a Chip and Dale meet-n-greet, and she was insistent that we take a break. I impatiently obliged but immediately started looking for my mamma because -Who was going to take me to hug Pinocchio?!

 Making the executive decision to find her instead of waiting,  I wandered off and got lost. . . I'm not sure how long it was before I found refuge by crying in a squish-free corner. After what felt like an eternity, I felt a tap on my shoulder, so I look up and a Fantasyland Cast Member was there to wipe away my tears. He grabbed my hand and told me he was taking me to the place where all “lost parents” go to be found. (For those who don’t know: MK Baby Care Center between Casey’s and Crystal Palace.) Along the way we made pit stops at Sleepy Hollow (for ice cream) and the Christmas Tree Shoppe (for a Little Mermaid back pack and tea set to keep me entertained). It delights me to know how unbeknownst to me at the time, my first proper interaction with a Disney Cast Member, was a prime example of  one “Making Magic”. Fantasyland guy didn't have to console me much, get me ice cream, or toys or anything, all he had to do was walk me over. He was just one sincere cast member making sure a lost little girl still had magical time. 

15 years later. . . I find myself at Magic Kingdom again, this time as a college program Cast Member. As my first shift was coming to an end it dawned on me, that I would have 6 months to make tons of magical moments for so many people!  I can’t wait to share some of these moments with you, and hear about yours! 
Until next time, see you all real soon!

Disney Tsum Tsum- A Cute Obsession

If you haven't heard about the latest free Disney themed app, I'm here to introduce you to the adorably, addictive TSUM TSUM. 

TSUM TSUM is a matching game similar to Bejeweled. The only difference is you have 60 seconds to match and "pop" as many cuddly Tsums as possible. The more tsums you pop in one shot, the more points and coins you receive.

Each Tsum has a special power up play. At the very beginning, you are given a Mickey Mouse tsum. As you increase your level and complete daily missions, you can purchase from either a Happiness Box or a Premium Box.

Here are some of the Tsums I've collected:

So far, Perry has become a great asset to have. Zero, not so much. Also, I included a list of characters each box will give you. The Happiness Box will cost 10,000 coins while a Premium Box will cost 30,000 coins.

In order to interact with others and play against them, you need to have a LINE account. LINE is a Japanese messaging system, almost like Whatsapp, that is directly tied to the creation of this app. If you do not want to create an account with LINE, you can still play, but it may not track your progress. The both apps (LINE & TSUM TSUM) are available for both IOS and Android devices.

If this wasn't enough information to get you playing, watch this:

Don't they look cuddly?! Well, I can tell you firsthand that they are. It turns out (as end of the video mentioned) that Tsums are a new product sold by the Disney Store. You can get your very own Tsum(s)!! They recently came out with an Alice in Wonderland themed bunch that are just too cute not to share. I personally cannot help but want to get one myself.

How about you? Have you or anyone else you know been bit by the TSUM TSUM bug?

Late Summer/Early Fall Fantastic Book Finds From Disney Publishing!

We are thrilled about the partnership we have with Disney Publishing over the last several months and the new and recent releases could not be more fun! 

LeSportSac Monster's Inc line is so cute its SCARY!

I love partnering with LeSportSac because they take pride in their bags. 

LeSportSac Back to School Giveaway!

It's been a long summer, and though I have been away and MIA, lucky for all our readers Monique has been holding down the fort with the help of Amanda and our other contributers.  To say thanks for reading along and as a way to wish you a great Autumn season and new school year we are giving away an awesome prize pack which include:

Monster's Inc pattern LeSportSac Mini Backpack

Decal Girl Kermit iPhone skin

Decal Girl Little Mermaid Nook/Tablet Skin

Set of 6 Postcards (3 each of Disneyland and Disney World)

Magical Mouse School House book

Marvel's Captain America the Tomorrow Army book

& a Mickey Bakery Series vinylmation 

(all items pictured above)

Simply fill out the rafflecopter below by completing the tasks listed in the widget!

Enjoy and thanks as always for reading along!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guardians of the Galaxy Movie Review

From the moment Guardians of the Galaxy was introduced at the 2013 D23 Convention in Anaheim, California, it sparked interest in our household. 

Unexpected Disney Magic with Mater

As you might have seen on Picturing Disney social media...

An Evening at the Boardwalk Resort

Have you ever explored the Boardwalk Resort at Disney World?

We have always heard that the food options at the Boardwalk Resort are terrific. Upon arriving, we immediately began to explore our food options. My husband decided that he wanted to try some Pizza from the Pizza Window next to Kouzzina by Cat Cora. 

I, decided to try some treats from The To-Go Cart. With different classic flavors of some American favorites (I thought it was like going to the county fair), what's not to love!

I got a Pulled Pork Sandwich, Onion Rings, and a Chili Cheese Dog. The Onion Rings were the best tasting out of all the choices. 

After walking around and checking out the  entertainment, we decided to try the Funnel Cake Cart. What was a night out without dessert?

We felt like a pair of excited kids in a candy store! The funnel cake was absolutely delicious. We had the choice of numerous toppings.  We decided to try chocolate syrup drizzled on top with a block of Vanilla ice cream.

Looks delicious doesn't it?!

After a fun dinner on the go, we headed off to the other side of Crescent Lake to explore more of The Boardwalk Resort!

This side of the resort is close to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.  As a special perk, you are able to watch the fireworks from here! We also strolled over to the back entrance of EPCOT. The delightful sounds of the Italian Pavilion filled the air. It was possibly the first time I had ever heard the soundtrack for this area.  

Panorama of the Boardwalk Resort from the Boat Launch in the middle of Crescent Lake.

We recommend you take a stroll and explore the Boardwalk Resort if you find yourself with a night available during your next action packed trip to Walt Disney World.

Magical Disney Pics Challenge

All through the month of may, Nicole from SparklyEverAfter.com hosted a really great challenge through Instagram.

In this challenge, she set a list of words that all corresponded to each day in the month of June. It was not only challenging to keep up with the each day's test, but it was rewarding to see all the different photos that others associated to the same words.

Just in case you missed it, here are all the posts for each day. Enjoy and can't wait until the next one.

DAY 1: HAPPY

DAY 2: SKY

DAY 3: MAGICAL

DAY 4: ATTRACTION

DAY 5 -  SPARKLE

DAY 6 - COLORFUL

DAY 7 - CAST MEMBER

DAY 8 - MOUSE EARS

DAY 9 - CASTLE

DAY 10 - CHARACTER

DAY 11 - FAMILY

DAY 12 - PRINCESS

DAY 13 - SUN

DAY 14 - SMALL

DAY 15 - FANTASYLAND

DAY 16 - #CHANDYCANDY

DAY 17 - #COFFEEWITHCHARACTER

DAY 18 - COUNTDOWN

DAY 19 - ANYTHING YOU WANT!

DAY 20 - DREAM COME TRUE

DAY 21 - EAT

DAY 22 - SIGN

DAY 23 - RESORT

DAY 24 - WHIMSICAL

DAY 25 - FANCY

DAY 26 - SOMETHING YOU LOVE

DAY 27 - SOMETHING YOU BOUGHT

DAY 28 - BOOK

DAY 29 - MUG

DAY 30 - NEXT

Have you ever done a Photo Challenge on Instagram? Did you make it to the end? Tell us more about your experience. Maybe you'll join us on the next one ;D