The Crystal Palace is a Winnie the Pooh and friends character buffet located just past Main Street U.S.A in the Magic Kingdom. The restaurant is inspired by Victorian greenhouses of the late 1800s and brims with light, topiaries and tropical palms. I was very surprised by how beautiful it was! Despite being very busy, we were seated right away. Our server was very friendly and helpful. In my opinion, he was one of our best servers from our trip.
So, you just had the time of your… or maybe it was a while ago. Either way, you have a wait till you’re back at the happiest place on earth, and you need something to ease the wait. One of the best ways to make your days magical in-between trips is with listening to Disney music. But with a ton of Disney music out there, it can be daunting to find the music that best captures the essence and magic of Disney, especially the magic of Walt Disney World. Here’s a quick look at at few Disney CDs (and an internet radio station) that do a great job of easing the wait between till your next Disney trip.
Four Parks – One World
This is the moment we all have been waiting for. That little fish that taught us all to “just keep swimming” is back. On April 2nd it was announced that Disney’s Pixar will be releasing the sequel to Finding Nemo. The sequel will be titled Finding Dory. The movie, which will be directed by original Nemo co-director Andrew Stanton, is set for release on November 25, 2015 in the U.S. I cant wait that long!
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.
For the past few years I have heard many stories and rumors about the handmade candy canes at Disneyland. I only heard bits and pieces. These candy canes are made only during the holiday season. This holiday tradition has gone on since 1968. Each batch takes about two hours to make and only yields about 40 to 45 candy canes. Disneyland only produces three batches each day. Just prior to the start of the candy cane season, Disneyland posts a schedule of days the canes will be made. I had looked up a little info about the candy canes at Disneyland and decided this is the year I’m going to experience this magical unicorn of a candy.
When one thinks of visiting Disneyland, it instantly brings up the thought of family. A day in the park with family includes strollers, meeting characters, juice boxes and tired kids holding a plush and dozing off while heading back to the bus that takes you to your hotel. You have thoughts of planning your trip like a well oiled camping adventure. You can’t forget the extra shoes, or the bib or heaven forbid the container of Goldfish crackers! Rarely do adults even dare to dream about what it could be like going to Disneyland WITHOUT children. It’s like the unspoken rule that has been ingrained into our brains, Disneyland without children is absolutely not allowed. What if……..just what if you jumped out of the box and grabbed your sweetie and headed the the Happiest Place on Earth sans children? What would that date be like?
I am a member of the Star Wars generation: saw the original movie at age 5 at the drive-in, collected the toys, played as Luke on the playground, doubted Vader was Luke’s father, and passed on my appreciation to my little brother. The summer before my senior year of high school my brother and I watched the original trilogy once a week. By the end of the summer we were saying the lines before the characters, and turning our bunk beds into X-wing fighters (If I were feeling nice I let him play Wedge and I took Luke). Now, my son has his own set of the movies, has dressed as a Star Wars character for Halloween multiple times, and we constantly have our own fanboy moments. I tell you this because like most of my Disney stories the importance of the role of Star Wars in my life comes back to family. When we went as a family to Disney World the first time, I had the pleasure of bringing my brother on his first trip to see The Parks, and, you got it, it was a Star Wars Weekend and the three McDaniel boys could hardly get on Star Tours fast enough. How amazing now that two of my passions come full circle together.
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.
By now, anyone who reads this site is sure to know the story of Nemo and his father’s adventures while searching for him. If not, should you really be on a site called The Disney Driven Life? Nevertheless, two items of discussion we can cover in this review: 1) A review of the 3-D release; 2)Why do we keep going to the theater for a movie already on DVD and about to have a release on blue-ray? (Duh, we love DISNEY movies!)
Sitting in your car wondering what to listen to? Kids saying, “Mom, put on Lady Gaga”? At this moment, you realize your family needs more Disney music in the car. Never fear! There is more on the way.
Cinemedia Promotions sent us a press release announcing the release of two new Disney albums: THE ESSENTIAL DISNEY COLLECTION and THE KAROAKE DISNEY COLLECTION.
Now, everyone will have their own opinions on what an essential Disney Collection should contain, but this one is pretty good with fun sing-alongs and beautiful instrumentals, but, obviously, with such few titles included in the set, “essential” is only for marketing. I have to admit, “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” remains one of my favorite “Friday after work on the way home” songs.
Everyone leading a Disney Driven Life wants to visit their happy place as often as possible. Our very own NDM#268 Natalie H. from TN recently published a book entitled Strategies for Paying for Disney (available for Kindle and in paperback) which will help you do just that. Here’s the official description of the book from Amazon:
Welcome to part two of my series on planning your first trip to Disney World. Fellow neurotics, I need your help, please comment on your favorite place to stay and why!
Let’s start with the first options you have:
Some people stay off-property, others choose to stay in one of the Disney Resorts. Yes, the Disney resorts are a little higher priced but you gain the free bus or boat transportation to all the Disney Parks, resorts, and Downtown Disney. You also will receive room charge privileges (your room key becomes your charge card in the parks), Disney hospitality and service, and during certain parts of the year-free Disney Dining Plan (discussed later in this continuing series). Don’t forget bonus hours at the parks for visitors staying on Disney property; that is right– each day one park will stay open later or open early for Disney resort guests. By staying off property you will no doubt save money, although you will have to drive yourself to the parks and have to find and pay for parking, carry cash or credit cards, and take your chances with your service.
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.
First things first I would like to thank everyone who responded to my last blog post for CONVINCING me to see John Carter. I have been flying all over the country for business and finally had a minute to see this epic film this week. This was definitely something that needed to been seen on the big screen … the BIG BIG IMAX screen and in 3D. I do still have a bone of contention for how expensive these movies are at the box office. I mean I paid $16.50 to get into a random Wednesday night showing which seems a bit steep for a movie that will be no more than 25 dollars on Blu-Ray 3D in likely less than 6 months…but I digress.
This week in Disney entertainment – John Carter
Photo Credit: Disney Studios
OK this is a little late because I was convinced I was going to see John Carter by now. In fact I had planned to see it opening night, then the next night then even tonight (Tuesday) and I just cannot get around to it. Anyone want to fly up to Knoxville and check this sucker out? Anyway by now we know that it might not have been the best opening Disney had hoped for. I personally was shocked to see the Lorax beat John Carter. I know Disney spent at least 6 million dollars on Super Bowl ads alone. Word of mouth seemed much better (especially among Disney fans) than much of the critical reviewers thought. Even some critics who are generally harsh gave decent reviews including none other than Rolling Stone’s own Peter Travers (who hates plenty of mainstream fare). So what’s going on? Who has seen John Carter and what do you think?
Unofficial Walt Disney World ‘Earbook 2011: One Fan’s Review in Pictures, Kevin Yee, Ultimate Orlando Press, 2011
Unofficial Walt Disney World ‘Earbook 2011: One Fan’s Review in Pictures, Kevin Yee, Ultimate Orlando Press, 2011, 164 pp.
I have to remember to ask Kevin Yee whether he ever served on his high school’s Yearbook Committee. It’s a pity if he didn’t because it is clear he not only understands, but has mastered the genre. In a much broader sense, Yee simply gets Disney. The more I read his Disney-related work, the more I am impressed by his objective passion. Yee’s love of, and belief in, Disney is apparent. Yet his studied approach gives his work validity and a weight not often found in writing about Disney. He isn’t merely a fan or tour guide, but rather an observer and historian.
Photo Credit: www.wired.com
Should those who are powerful come to the aid of those who are vulnerable even if that aid is unwanted? What if that aid produces more harm than good? Those are some of the questions Mary Norton asked in her 1952 novel, The Borrowers, on which Disney’s newest release, The Secret World of Arrietty, is based. Arrietty opened in North America on February 17, 2012 to largely favorable reviews.
Feb 28 (29), 2012
PhotoCredit:Walt Disney
Couple of things – happy birthday to me and happy one more Disney day to you! I can’t believe I am writing this from 35k feet and didn’t extend my trip one day so I could be part of the “magic” … but I trust there will be plenty of pictures to go around!
Anyway, I know I’m generally the TV guy and all, but I hope you will forgive me if I stray away from the media just a bit today because I feel like I would be remiss if I didn’t mention what a truly wonderful experience the Walt Disney World Princess Half Marathon was. (I’m not THAT much of a couch potato, thank you very much!)
Photo Credit: Derek Hoffman (@TheDisneyMBA)
I recently downloaded an audiobook on iTunes titled “Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die” by Chip Heath and Dan Heath. Not only is the message fascinating, but the narrator reminds me of “The Most Interesting Man in the World” character from those Dos Equis commercials.
Just another rainy Sunday afternoon in Knox-vegas, TN so I’m unspooling yee olde faithful DVR and I got to thinking.
I’m not sure I’m proud of it but I classify myself as an “above average” consumer of media. Maybe it has something to do with what I do for a living (TV producer). I can rationalize that it’s “research” (insert laugh track). Either way, the fact of the matter is – I watch a lot of TV, go to plenty of movies, play my fair share of games and, much like you friendly reader, am always trolling this ever-crazy Internet machine.