I love Disneyland. My love for Disney reaches far beyond the park. I love anything that is connected to the name Disney. One can’t help but think happy thoughts when you hear the name Walt Disney. When there is anything Disney related I really try to check it out. Recently we decided to take a trek out to the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, CA. The Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit were there for a limited time and I had to see it before it was gone.
The other day I was daydreaming about past trips to Walt Disney World. This time my thoughts were on Animal Kingdom Park. This is one of my favorite places to be. I love the rides and shows in this park, but most of all I love the plants and animals. The riddle for February has to do with the tigers of Animal Kingdom Park. What is the name of the trail/attraction the tigers are found on?
Submit your answer to ddlriddle@thedisneydrivenlife.com by midnight, Feb.28th for a chance to win a Disney magnet. Best of luck to you!
Contributed by: Sherri Jeffries (NDM#237) Sherri is the DDL Riddler.
Image credit:blastr.com
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year…”
There is nothing more relaxing than sitting back and enjoying the great movies associated with the holidays. One of my favorite is Disney’s A Christmas Carol featuring the talents of Jim Carrey and Gary Oldman. Carrey is fantastic as the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, but he doesn’t stop there. For the riddle this month, can you name one other character that Carrey provides the voice for in this movie?
Image credit: phineasandferb.wikia.com
Congratulations to Richard A., the November DDL Riddle winner. Richard answered correctly that Ashley Tisdale provides the voice for Candace Flynn and has appeared in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. Miss Tisdale is also famous for her fabulous portrayal of Sharpay Evans in the High School Musical series.
Richard is the winner of a Disney Christmas ornament. Keep an eye out for the December DDL riddle and another chance to win!
Our family really enjoys watching Phineas and Ferb. The show is fun, creative and has some awesome music in it. I love the relationship between Phineas, Ferb and Candace. It reminds me of my own son and daughter. The riddle this month focuses on Candace. Her character is voiced by an already popular Disney gal who displayed her talent in a few other Disney shows and movies. Who is she and what is one other show/movie she has been in for Disney?
Submit your answer to ddlriddle@thedisneydrivenlife.com by midnight on November 30 for a chance to win a Disney Christmas ornament. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
Contributed by: Sherri Jeffries (NDM#237) Sherri is the DDL Riddler.
The latest entry into the Kingdom Keepers proves a worthy read. As a high school librarian so I read A LOT of young adult literature and lead a successful student bookclub so I would like to think of myself as a bit of an expert in the field which makes this published book review all the more intimidating. I FEEL the PRESSURE, a librarian writing a Disney book review on a Disney site, to be read by thousands of die hard Disney fans. Here we go!
So I got your attention? Maybe, with better truth in advertising, the marquee would proclaim: “Tom Hanks as Walt Disney.” Yes, Tom Hanks landed the role of our favorite American icon in a movie concerning his chase to land the rights to Mary Poppins from a very distrusting author, P.L. Travers, portrayed by Emma Thompson. Reportedly, this is the first on-screen portrayal of Walt Disney.
Using brochures or pamphlets can assist with journaling and can add titles or lettering to your layouts.
As much as I love Scrapbooking, I also love planning my trips to Walt Disney World. But with a busy family and other vital expenses (heat, hydro, mortgage, Ugh!) taking most of my paycheck each week, I need to find ways to save money to feed both of my addictions! Many people avoid scrapbooking their precious Disney photos because they think it will be too expensive, but there are many ways you can archive your memories for future generations AND still have $$$ left over to save for our Happy Place!
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming…”
Finding Nemo is one of our favorite Disney movies and Dory is one of my favorite Disney characters. Nemo is also pretty awesome and has such a great adventure in the movie. One big moment for Nemo is his first day of school. The riddle this month has to do with that day. Can you name the three friends Nemo makes that day? This month’s winner will receive a Disney magnet.
Submit your answer by September 30th to ddlriddle@thedisneydrivenlife.com. And don’t forget to go see Finding Nemo this month in a theater near you! Best of luck to you.
Are you suffering from a home way too quiet? Do you have a headache from your children getting along for an extended amount of time? I have the answer for you – Disney Universe for Xbox 360. In no time your house will fill the sounds of “Hey, those are my Mickey ears!”, “Let me level up!”, or “I am going to be Stitch!”
To start off the game you select which costume your character will wear for your current adventure, but you may switch costumes as you progress. Part of the fun of the game encompasses unlocking new costumes for each level you conquer, and you can even replay each level up to a certain amount of times to unlock more costumes. The Stitch costume causes the most noise (read as: fighting) in my home and they HAVE NOT EVEN UNLOCKED IT YET! Each costume comes accessorized with its own tool to ward off the baddies you may encounter. As you progress, you may purchase your unlocked uniforms with the Mickey Ears (coins) that you collect throughout your play.
My kids are always on the lookout for Hidden Mickeys both in and out of the Disney theme parks; my youngest son even put a Hidden Mickey in the Easter decorations this year that we had to search for. If you’re out and about and spot your favorite mouse, send us a picture! You could be featured right here on the DDL! All we need is your picture, name and NDP number. Pictures can be emailed to hiddenmickeys@
The kid in me still enjoys wearing Band-Aids. Nothings makes a boo-boo better than a kiss from mom and a fun Band-Aid. They have come a long way from the beige ones from my childhood. Today, Band-Aids come in a variety of colors and characters. Disney is well represented in the Band-Aid line. There are Mickey Mouse, Muppets, Cars, Princess, Phineas and Ferb, Disney Fairies, and Spider-Man.
Which one is your favorite? Do you hide your Disney Band-Aids from your children in order for them not use all of the Disney Band-Aids (LOL)?
Photo Credit: EH
I have a confession. I look at DisneyStore.com every morning. Well you probably already figured that out. During one early morning “window shopping” cruising of the site, I discovered the Show No Towel. This item can be described as a “standard bath towel with a vertical opening in the middle, hemmed with colorful fabrics and designs. The towel can be used as a cover-up or a changing towel.” Shelly Ehler, presented her creation on Shark Tank Season 3. More of Shelly’s story can be found here. For the Disney Parks, the following Show No Towel was created.
Photo Credit: EH
Photo Credit: DisneyStore.com
As you have read, I am a Disney shopper. It can get expensive at times, especially with no budget set. I have learned to use Disney gift cards to assist me with no getting caught up in the “magic of Disney merchandise.” I set a budget, load the amount on the card, and cross my fingers that I can stick to it. I have been successful at times and others I had to reload the gift card before the end of the trip. The gift card can be reloaded at most registers on property. Besides using the card to stick to a budget, it is easy to use in stores, resorts, restaurants, and most snack carts. I also like the fact that I do not have to count out cash or carry around all the coin change as a result of using cash. However, remember to treat your gift card as cash.
Photo Courtesy of runDisney
For the past few months, I’ve been in a funk. Of the “I don’t know when my next Disney trip is going to be” kind. I know many of you can relate to what I am laying down-it can be debilitating, numbing, and heartbreaking. OK, so maybe I am being a tad melodramatic (I think not) but FINALLY I have managed to emerge from my writer’s block/self-imposed hiatus to write about…you guessed it…my next Disney vacation!
I am simultaneously thrilled and also a bit embarassed at how excited I am to be embarking on a Disney Divas weekend without the kids…yes, that is total decadence because for four delicious days, I will only have to take care of myself. No having to pack for the family or be concerned about where the minions are at any given moment…AHHHH, just me and my Disney peeps. Actually, most of us have only gotten to know one another online, so it will be added bonus to meet each other face to face and share adventures. Oh yeah, and I’ve signed up to run the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10miler. Which I originally thought was a 10K. And I’m never done a race before. (You can laugh at me now). Funny what a big difference the distance makes: metric conversion didn’t work in my favor there! So I’ve begun my training and I have less than 5 months to get my non-runner physique whipped into shape. Hey I was happy the other day that I ran 2 miles! I’m 1/5 of the way there 
Look at the cool medal that runDisney has crafted-I especially love the glow in the dark windows!
I love discovering new items when going to Walt Disney World. This trip was no different of course. During my March trip, my friend and I walked into Trend-D at Downtown Disney. We discovered new throw pillows had been released. We discovered a larger assortment of pillows at World of Disney. The following pillows retail for $19.95.
Be Our Guest Pillow Side 1 - Photo Courtesy of EH
Congratulations to David D., our March DDL Riddle winner.
David knew that Capt. Jack Sparrow appears three times during The Pirates of the Caribbean ride at WDW. He will receive a copy of The 2012 Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World autographed by coauthor Len Testa! Thanks to all who participated in the riddle.
Keep an eye out for the next riddle and another chance to win!
Contributed by: Sherri Jeffries (NDM#237) Sherri is the DDL Riddler.
As I was browsing the news this morning, I saw that the Disney Store is celebrating its 25th anniversary today (I’m writing this on March 28th). In the retail world, that’s quite a milestone!
While the Disney Store employs many business practices that I admire, there’s one thing in particular that really makes them stand out from other retail establishments – how social they are.
While the cast members in the actual stores are quite social, that’s not exactly what I was referring to. I’m talking about the Disney Store’s presence on social media; specifically Facebook and Twitter. Let me illustrate:
Usually once a week, my daughter and I go for a train ride at a nearby shopping mall. It’s our hometown version of the Walt Disney World Railroad (or the Disneyland Railroad). It’s definitely not a substitute, but it helps us satisfy our train fix between Disney vacations.
After we take a couple of laps on the train, we usually trek through the mall so we can get a little exercise and see if there’s anything interesting in the stores. With over 2 million square feet in that mall, that’s a very tall order!
Due to my organizational nature, I love colorful notebooks and journals for personal use or work. Disney stocks a wide variety of journals with characters, colors, and themes. In my field of counseling, expression of feelings is healthy and encouraged. A journal can be used to record personal thoughts, goals, dreams, etc. What better way of putting those thoughts on paper than in a Disney related journal. The journals also make a good place to write to-do-lists or “whatever your heart desires”.
The following are journals I have collected over the years.
Photo Credit: EH