Fun Fact Friday: Top 5 Changes to Main Street U.S.A.
August 30, 2013 in All Posts, disneyland, fun facts, Randy, Tips & Tricks for Families, walt disney
Photo Courtesy of Daveland Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A. is the classic small town turn of the (20th) century American main street. It feels timeless and unchanging. Yet there have been some changes–many in fact. Here are my “Top 5” Main Street changes since Opening Day, July 17, 1955. 1. Store Change #1 – Walt Disney wanted his Main Street to have the things a “real” main street would, including a cinema, city hall, a bank, a candy store, etc. For the first 15 years, part of that intent was realized with a traditional turn-of-the-century apothecary, the Upjohn Pharmacy. Antique pharmaceutical...
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This Belle costume was truly breathtaking. The satin lookedas soft as butter. It was like she had walked right off the silverscreen. The D23 Expo, held earlier this month, offers Disney fans and fanatics a variety of experiences. This year, it offered a fan costume contest. Like other fan conventions, D23 welcomes fans with and without costumes and the A La Mode Costume contest celebrated some of the very best and unique costumes at the Expo from the Disney universe. All of the costumes were homemade and some them were truly breathtaking and took months to assemble. Here are...
Terrific Tip Tuesday: Diaper Kits in the Disneyland Resort Restrooms
in All Posts, babies & toddlers, disney california adventure, disneyland, disneyland resort
Sometimes even the most prepared mommies and daddies forget the essentials when they head to the Disneyland Resort–especially if you have more than one kiddo in tow. During a recent visit, we forgot one of the most vital essentials–diapers. At the time, our youngest son was almost potty trained, so luckily we didn’t feel the need to head over to the Baby Care Center to stock up and decided to hold off until he absolutely needed a change.When the time came, we decided to try out one of the diaper changing kits sold in the restroom vending machines throughout...
Behind-the-scenes Photos from the Jennifer Hudson Princess Tiana Annie Leibovitz Photo Shoot
August 23, 2013 in All Posts, celebrity, photography
Acclaimed photographer Annie Leibovitz unveiled a new stunning Disney photograph recreation on the Disney Parks blog yesterday. The photogram stars actress and singer Jennifer Hudson as the bright and resourceful princess, Tiana, from ‘The Princess and the Frog.’ The newest ‘Disney Dream Portrait’ from Leibovitz was commissioned by Disney Parks for their ongoing celebrity advertising campaign which debuted in 2007. The image, which will appear in upcoming issues of Vanity Fair, O – The Oprah Magazine, and People is entitled, ‘Where you always follow your heart.’ While many of you likely saw this beautiful image on the Disney Parks blog...
Club Penguin is at again! Although most kids are back at school, Club Penguin is keeping the summer fun flowing with the ultimate summer party – “Teen Beach Movie” Summer Jam event. “Teen Beach Movie” is the #2 movie in cable TV history in Total Viewers (13.53 million) and was a smash hit among kids, teens and tweens. To keep the party rolling, Club Penguin Island has transformed into a surfing and motor-biking paradise from through September 3, featuring guest performances by penguins inspired by popular “Teen Beach Movie” characters Brady and McKenzie. While they surf the waves and hit the open...
Throwback Thursday: Honeymoon/Anniversary in Disneyland
August 22, 2013 in All Posts, disneyland, Jessica, Tips & Tricks for Families
Ten years ago Todd and I spent five days in Disneyland for our honeymoon… we were so young! We had such an amazing time on that trip, and have such fond memories of it. Here’s the slightly blurry picture we have framed (along with our Tiki Room Print) and hung on the wall. Since then, every time we’ve gone back to Disneyland we’ve gone with family, or friends, or kids. To celebrate our tenth anniversary this month, we had the amazing opportunity to spend a day in Disneyland alone, just us two, for the first time since our honeymoon....
An In-Depth Look at “Taste of Downtown Disney”
August 20, 2013 in All Posts, downtown disney, summer, vy
This past Thursday (August 15, 2013), I had the extreme pleasure of attending The 6th Annual Taste of Downtown Disney, with all the proceeds benefitting CHOC Children’s, a nationally recognized children’s hospital located in Orange County, California. It was a wonderful evening showcasing the wonderful dining options located right in the Downtown Disney District and benefitting the wonderful pediatric care that CHOC Children’s provides to their patients. The event began at 5:30 p.m. and went until 10 p.m. My guest and I checked in at the Grand California Convention Center Reception. We each received a lanyard with our group...
Disney at Home: Countdown Chicken Fusilli Pasta
in All Posts, disney at home, disneyland, Jessica, recipes
Well this is a first – I’m making a Disneyland recipe that isn’t a dessert! (Actually I’ve probably made the Banyan Beef from Bengal BBQ enough times that we sort of burnt out on it.) But today I’m sharing with you the Countdown Chicken Fusilli pasta recipe from Redd Rocket’s Pizza Port in Tomorrowland. When my husband and I were at Disneyland a few weeks ago for our anniversary, we had planned to eat here for dinner – I’ve mentioned before that it’s one of our favorite meals to eat at Disneyland – but alas, there were too many...
Ask the Disney Experts: Favorite Sit-Down Restaurant in Disneyland
August 19, 2013 in All Posts, Ask the Disney Expert, disneyland, restaurant tips, Tips & Tricks for Families
This week, we were asked what our favorite sit-down restaurant was in Disneyland, and why… “Blue Bayou is my all-time favorite restaurant in Disneyland Park. I love the Cajun- and Creole-style food and almost always accompany my meals with the signature drink of New Orleans Square, the Mint Julep! Because the restaurant is located right inside the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, I like to have my meal while seated at a table near the water. There’s nothing like soaking in the gently-lit “outdoor” atmosphere and waving to Guests floating by in boats headed to the pirate-filled waters below!...
Fun Fact Friday: Top 5 Disneyland Facts from the 2013 D23 Expo
August 16, 2013 in All Posts, d23, fun facts, Randy
The 2013 D23 Expo was three days of information, events, and experiences covering all aspects of the Walt Disney Company. And scattered throughout were some interesting tidbits about The Happiest Place on Earth. Here are my Top 5: 1. The concept drawings for Disneyland started in 1951 as drawings of a “Mickey Mouse Park.” The one that was used to sell the idea of Disneyland to the investors, though, was drawn by Herb Ryman over a weekend in 1954 with Walt Disney at his side the entire time. Herb started it on a Friday and it was on a plane...