Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Wordless Wednesday: Photo Flashback






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Thanks to Deb @ Focused on the Magic  for hosting 
the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop! 

If you hopped over, I invite you to check out my other posts, 

and please consider joining the blog or following on twitter.

Check out all the other Wordless Wednesday links by clicking below, 

and remember to share some comment love...


Focused on the Magic

Thursday, March 19, 2015

A Villain-Themed #DisneySide Celebration


I received promotional items for participating in this campaign. All opinions are my own. 


We were so excited to once again sign up for a #DisneySide @ Home Celebration kit through Disney Parks and MomSelect! We had a fantastic time hosting last year's #DisneySide Celebration, so when we found out about this year's opportunity, we threw our hats in the ring right away. The Disney Villains theme- geared toward teens and tweens-  was perfect for our group.


Here are some of our highlights:
  • A box reveal video was in order this year, so we had fun putting together our very first iMovie...complete with a villainous soundtrack (which remains stuck in my head- fair warning)!


  
  • Our #DisneySide Celebration kit was packed with decorations, games and activity ideas- all with a villain theme. From banners to BINGO, puzzles to pin-the-smile... the kit was packed with fun.



  • It’s no secret that we love Disney Pin Trading here! We had a great time incorporating pin trading into our last #DisneySide party, so we decided to do it again this year…with a villainous slant! We added a Maleficent pin to our trading mix, and engaged in a lively round of frenzied pin trading! 

Can you spot the Mistress of All Evil lurking amongst the pins?

The person who ended up with the Maleficent pin after some fun and frenzied 
speedtrading went home with the pin, as well as a Maleficent doll.  
   

  • Here in the Northeast, it's been a brutal winter. Even for communities like mine- arguably best known for our snow- this year was harsh. It's no surprise, then, that the highlight of our celebration- which took place on a frigid, snowy, icy, day- was settling in to watch the vacation planning dvd! There's nothing like dreaming of your next trip to take away the cold weather blues, and the planning dvd was a welcome antidote to this endless winter.



  • In addition to activities, games and prizes, the #DisneySide Celebration kit also contained some practical items for all aspects of the party. Included were photo paper packs from HP, a cool tie dye cake mix from Charm City Cakes, baking supplies from Wilton, a Twinings tea sampler, and All and Wisk detergents, for help with clean up.  A big thank you goes out to all the sponsors, for helping make the party a success!

Ahh...the perfect way to wind down
after our celebration!


Have you hosted a #DisneySide Celebraton? How do you show your #DisneySide? 
Tell us about it in the comments....



Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Kill~Refurb~Marry: Spots for Watching the World Go By




It's time for another round of Kill~Refurb~Marry with Mouse on the Mind and This Happy Place Blog! If you're not familiar with this game, it's the one where you choose three related things within a given theme: one you have no use for (Kill), one you'd like to revamp a bit (Refurb), and one you love (Marry). This month's theme is Spots for Watching the World Go By!

Here we go.....








Kill:  Communal spaces at the Value Resorts

I spent some time at a few value resorts recently, and found the people watching very lack-luster. The communal spaces were not at all conducive to people watching. Comfortable spaces were hard to come by, the dining areas were loud, cafeteria-like, and chaotic, and the lounge options were almost non-existent.







Refurb:  The Land Pavilion

RUSH RUSH RUSH! The Land Pavilion ranks among my favorite spaces, but I have to admit, it leaves something to be desired in this department. Everyone is racing full speed ahead here- either to get to Soarin', to get to the rest rooms, or to get up and out after eating or riding. Slow down, people! I'd love to find a way to add some plants and soften the communal spaces (hey, it's the Land pavilion, after all), maybe carve out a few more sitting areas, and employ some traffic calming techniques to get people to slow down. Soarin' isn't going away, and Sunshine Seasons will not run out of food- no need to be on high speed at all times. Take time to smell that glorious Land Pavilion smell, people!



Marry: Sitting in Word Showcase, outside the Morocco Pavilion

It's not near either entrance/exit to World Showcase. This is not Mexico or Canada. It's well on the interior curve, and people seem to be able to...amble more here. They're not so rushed. It's arguably one of the most beautiful pavilions, and people tend to slow down, look around, and enjoy their surroundings here- which makes for better people watching on my end. There's plenty of seating, so you can settle in with a beverage or a snack, and leisurely watch the world go by.





There you have it! Make sure to check out all these Kill~ Refurb~ Marry entries from around the blogosphere! 



Wordless Wednesday: Disney Royalty


________________________________________________________________


Thanks to Deb @ Focused on the Magic  for hosting 
the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop! 

If you hopped over, I invite you to check out my other posts, and please consider joining the blog or following on twitter.


Check out all the other Wordless Wednesday links by clicking below, 

and remember to share some comment love...


Focused on the Magic

Monday, March 9, 2015

Have you seen the latest Tomorrowland trailer?

I can't remember the last time I was this excited to see a movie. May can't get here quickly enough!

Are you ready for Tomorrowland?

Watch the new trailer.

(And keep your eyes peeled for something...familiar.)






So... did your keen eyes spot Space Mountain in the background?

If not, watch it again... :)