2015 Disney Movie Review

December 23, 2014May 20, 2016

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Written by: Rich Grady

Instead of talking about the Disney parks, or offering planning tips, I am going to discuss something happening outside the parks. As you may be aware, Disney, from time to time, puts out a movie or two. Or, in the case of the next year, almost a film every month. I do not have the space to talk about all of them here, but I am going to mention a few I am anxious to see.

In March, Walt Disney Pictures will release a live action version of “Cinderella“. Just as they did with “Malificent”, this movie will offer a new take on a timeless classic. Directed by Kenneth Branaugh, the previews seem to indicate the new version of the story will have a much more Shakespearean feel, which should be interesting. The fact that the new Frozen sequel short (titled “Frozen Fever”) will play before “Cinderella” doubtless helps nudge this into the “must-see” category for most people.

In May, Disney continues its string of Marvel movies with “Avengers: Age of Ultron“. The original cast from Avengers will return in this highly-anticipated sequel, with James Spader giving voice to the mad robot, Ultron. This story arc is not exactly canon with the Marvel universe as it appears in the comics, but the movies have certainly captured the feel of the comics, and this one appears that it will follow that pattern.

June will bring a new Pixar film, “Inside Out“. I cannot speak for anyone else, but when I saw the trailers, I thought of two things – a (very) old sitcom, “Herman’s Head,” and the much more recent, and sadly missed, Cranium Command attraction. While details on the story are still not known, the basic idea of peeking inside the head(s) of the characters and seeing the interplay between their emotions seems promising.

In July, Disney and Marvel studios really begin the next phase of their story arc, with the release of “Ant-Man“. “Ant-man” is not exactly a well-known character outside of the comic book community, so this might be the first real risk since they began doing these movies back with “Iron Man”. I’m cautiously optimistic, even though little is known about this film, and a full length trailer has yet to be released.

October has another live-action version of a classic Disney story, but this time, they revisit “The Jungle Book“. As is the case with any movie almost a year away, details are still sketchy, but the known voice cast includes Scarlett Johansson, Christopher Walker, Ben Kingsley, Bill Murray, and Idris Elba. Kipling’s original “Jungle Book” was much more than just the story of Mowgli with which we are all familiar, so I am interested to see what, if any, of the other material will make its way into this new version.

Pixar has a second film coming out next year, “The Good Dinosaur“. At the moment, all we really have to see are some stills of the artwork and a (very) basic idea of the concept. The basic idea appears to be a what-if scenario: What would happen if the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs never hit and humans and dinosaurs had to live together. Sadly, the artwork released just does not wow me. Instead of looking like what we have come to expect from Pixar, the art looks more like one of the classic Golden Books. It’s not bad, but it seems to be such a break from the Pixar tradition that it leaves me wondering what is going on with the film. Hopefully, there will be at least a teaser put out before the end of this year.

We round out the year with this little sequel to an existing franchise: “Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens“. The first trailer of this is already out and fans are (predictably) obsessing over it and fighting over the little details. Fans have been waiting for years for a new Star Wars film, and for many of us, this will be the first time to take our children to the theater to see the Millennium Falcon on the big screen. I’m already looking forward to it, though as an adult, I may have to pass on camping in line for several days before it comes out.

I did not include every movie for the next year. Space prevents me from doing much more than mentioning “Tomorrowland”, “Monkey Kingdom”, or “McFarland, USA”. Still, I think looking to the movies can give us a good hint as to what may come to the parks in 2016 or 2017 – perhaps more Marvel or Star Wars events, or a revamp of Cranium Command.

Editor’s Note: Throughout the year Rich will be our resident movie reviewer. Look for Rich’s movie reviews in future blog posts.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – The Way Life Should Be

December 16, 2014January 9, 2017

Princesses, Princesses Everywhere

December 2, 2014May 25, 2016

Written by: Sue Nowicki

It was recently announced that Cinderella’s Royal Table will be closed for refurbishment starting on January 5, 2015 through March 6, 2015. However, your little princesses needn’t be disheartened. There are still several options for them to dine with their favorite royalty.

The best alternative to Cinderella’s Royal Table, in my opinion, is the Princess Storybook Breakfast at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in the Norway Pavilion of the World Showcase in Epcot. Your royal guests can include Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, Aurora, Mulan, Cinderella and/or Mary Poppins. The breakfast offers scrambled eggs, cheesy potatoes, bacon and sausage served family-style as well as a cold buffet which features cold fish, cheese, fruit, cream cheese and pastries.

After the announcement of Cinderella’s Royal Table’s refurbishment, Walt Disney World also announced a temporary princess dining experience at Citricos at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. This experience will be similar to the Cinderella’s Royal Table in its attending princesses and food choices. If you would like to make an Advanced Dining Reservation for this temporary dining experience, Annual Pass Holders and members of Disney Vacation Club can begin making reservation on December 3, 2014. All other guests can begin making their reservations on December 4, 2014.

Another character dining experience which occasionally features a princess or two is also located at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. 1900 Park Fare is a short monorail ride from the Magic Kingdom. Characters such as Winnie The Pooh, Mary Poppins, the Mad Hatter, Alice in Wonderland and Tigger will greet your little ones as they dine on traditional breakfast fare including fruits, breads, muffins, pastries, breakfast meats, eggs and the infamous Mickey Waffles. Also included on the buffet are food unique to this restaurant such as Lobster Benedict, made-to-order omelets and Strawberry Soup.

All of the above character dining experiences can be booked online or by calling (407) 939-DINE (3463).

If you are looking for other fun experiences where your little one doesn’t simply meet the princesses… she is the princess, check out the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique located at the Magic Kingdom and Downtown Disney as well as My Disney Girls Perfectly Princess Tea Party.

The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is a beauty salon for little princesses where their Fairy Godmother-In-Training will give them a magical makeover. With options such as hairstyling, make-up, nail polish and clothing there is something for every taste and style. If your princess-to-be would like to have a makeover I would suggest making a reservation by calling (407) 939-STYLE (7895).

My Disney Girl’s Perfectly Princess Tea Party takes place in the Garden Tea Room at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. While there are appearances by a Disney princess or two, this is all about your little princess enjoying high tea in high style. The tea party also can include an appearance from a Disney Princess, typically Aurora. To make a reservation for the tea party called (407) WDW-MYTEA (6983).

Any of these experiences are sure to please even the pickiest of princesses. Which one is your favorite? Tweet us at @MQPodcast with your fav.

Sue Nowicki splits her time between planning her next Walt Disney World vacation and being team mom to ten high-energy volleyball players where she fills the roles of secretary, navigator, treasurer, athletic trainer and team psychologist. You can follow her on Twitter @JazzinDisneyMom.

Girls Just Want to Have Fun!

November 25, 2014May 25, 2016

Written by Kelly Collins

As the busy mom of four children, I’ve been lucky to be able to spend time with some of my best friends and rejuvenate my spirit. Over the years, I’ve joined some of my high school friends and my sisters for girls’ weekends. The fact that I live in New Hampshire and can get away to sunny Florida during the frigid winter is a real bonus. Historically, we’ve met at the beach and enjoyed walking, laughing and eating delectable food. There are usually some yummy beverages involved as well.

In 2012, my friend Charlene and I discussed participating in a runDisney 5K instead of meeting at the beach. We certainly knew that we could get in better shape, but the fact that we could run through a part of Walt Disney World Resort made it even more enticing. Charlene and I have spent a great deal of time with our husbands and then our children at Walt Disney World Resort through the years.

Several of us started the Couch-to-5K program to prepare for the 2013 Disney Royal Family 5K. We’d update one another through texts and tried to motivate each other. It was great to have a support system. Although I don’t really consider myself a runner, I did my best and improved my time. I was motivated because I was going to be attending my first 5K and I wanted to be ready.

A group of us met at Walt Disney World Resort in February 2013 to attend the 5K and have our girls’ weekend. Although it wasn’t my best time, I completed my first 5K!

Having had such a good experience in 2013, we decided to sign up for the 2014 Cinderella Royal Family 5K. I was able to convince my mom to come with me this time. I told her how impressed I was with the variation in ages the previous year. Although she wasn’t a runner, she was taking walks in her neighborhood almost daily. She was concerned about the being able to maintain the 16-minute per mile pace that runDisney recommends. I tried to reassure her that I didn’t think it would be a problem as she really walked at a decent pace. It’s just an opinion, but based on what I saw, I think that runDisney allows more time for the 5K than the half marathon or the 10K.

In February, I traveled to meet my mom where she lives North Florida and we drove down to Orlando together. We met Charlene and my sister at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. When we arrived, they greeted us with a glass of sparkling wine and cupcakes to start the festivities. Let girls’ weekend begin!

When we entered the Expo area, there was a wall with all of the participants of the events for the weekend. This was really a nice touch. It was fun to find our names amongst the sea of runners. We headed to pick up our race numbers, packets and shirts. This was really easy and there was no wait. After that, we explored the exhibitors’ booths where there was a plethora of running accessories. I was so impressed at how many women seemed to have businesses centered on running. I bought my mom some bling for her running shoes and a shirt for myself that said, “are my kids still chasing me?” There was so much to see and we could certainly have spent more time and money but decided to head to our resort.

Disney’s Old Key West Resort was perfect for our group. Charlene is a DVC member and had reserved a Grand Villa. Two more of my high school friends and a mutual friend joined us at the villa to get the party going. We decided to cook pasta and eat in so we could relax. We knew we would have to be up early so we didn’t stay up very late but were able to enjoy each other’s company for a little while.

That 4:30 a.m. wake-up call came very quickly. We were all up with our tiaras on and ready at the bus stop at about 5:00 a.m. If you’re interested in attending a runDisney event, I really recommend staying on property, as the traffic going into the race area gets very congested. We just hopped on the bus and bypassed the cars trying to get into Epcot’s parking lot.

A really fun thing about runDisney races is the costumes that you see. People are so creative and it always makes me wish that I were able to sew. As we were waiting for the race to start, we had lots of time to admire the various portrayals of characters. Loud music blared and that really pumped us up, which was necessary since it was so early.

We were in the last corral. Although I could have put myself in an earlier corral based on my time, the point of this experience wasn’t to beat my own record. It was to be present in this adventure with people that I cared about. I stayed in back with my mom, my friend who’s had two hip surgeries and our mutual friend. It wasn’t about making it to the finish line in record time; it was about starting the journey in the first place. We enjoyed chatting (and dancing) our way around Epcot’s World Showcase. There are stops along the way where you can have photos taken with different characters but the lines tend to be long, especially if you are in a later corral. We just really enjoyed ourselves. It was more fun than work.

The four of us ran across that finish line together arm-in-arm. No, we weren’t the fastest or even close to the front. Maybe we didn’t go a huge distance compared to many that weekend. From someone on the outside looking in, it may not have seemed like much. But, for us, it was an accomplishment. I was beside a grandmother of 15 grandchildren who was afraid she’d be swept from the race, a woman who’s body had betrayed her far too young, and a woman who’d just completed her first 5K. They were all winners to me!

After finishing, we met up to head back to Old Key West Resort. There was only a short wait for the bus. We showered and drove to Downtown Disney for a celebratory lunch. Going to Bongos is a tradition of ours so we went there and had some great food, beverages, and lots of laughs. For some, the weekend might continue with other races. For us, we were done with racing and just had fabulous, quality time together. This included a spa day, some retail therapy, and more delicious cuisine. We even made it out to Jellyrolls on Saturday night where we sang along to some silly songs and laughed… a lot.

We came together that weekend, united in love and friendship. We left feeling refreshed. We’d like to do this again sometime in the future. Unfortunately, the 2015 Disney Princess 5K sold out very quickly this year so we weren’t able to register for the upcoming race. 2015 may not be the year, but my personal goal is to participate in a 10K at some point. My mom has also had major health issues in the last two months so I look forward to eventually walking across another runDisney finish line with her. I’m hoping that this dream becomes a reality and am thankful that runDisney can give me the opportunity to make a wish come true. One thing is certain; we will continue to have fun together!

Kelly is a former Floridian who now lives in New Hampshire with her amazing husband, creative daughter and three busy sons. They have many happy memories of Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon

November 18, 2014May 25, 2016

By: Marge Gerwels

It is hard to believe that Disney’s Wine and Dine Half Marathon has come and gone. Despite the uncooperative weather, what has been dubbed “Disney’s Splash and Dash 2014” was truly an unforgettable experience. I had the privilege of running the inaugural Wine and Dine Half in 2010 and I was really excited to be back again this year, running with my husband and my dad, for the 5th anniversary race. While I know there were many times throughout the night they definitely wanted to throw in their running shoes, this event definitely made for some unforgettable family running memories!

Our evening began around 7:45 pm. Runners were instructed to board the complimentary transportations busses no later than 8pm in order to make it into the coral on time. Usually, I like to board the race busses early so that I can not only allow enough time to get to the start line but also so that I can enjoy the prerace festivities and take a few photos. However, for this race, I was dragging my feet. The weather for race was predicted to be soggy and as the start time drew near, the chances of us getting soaked were 100%. As much as I enjoy running, I am a fair-weather runner so the thought of being drenched to the bone for 3 hours did not motivate me to lace up my running shoes any earlier than necessary. We decided that 7:45 would still give us plenty of time to get into our coral but not too much time that we were waiting around in the rain. My mom was definitely my hero that night, and not just because she volunteered to watch all five kids AND put them to bed on our first vacation night. She also packed along rain ponchos and gave us each one before we left the resort. I have never worn a poncho—ever—and I was uncertain if it would be wise to wear it while running (I am a firm believer in “nothing new on race day”). However, I knew for certain it would be a lifesaver if the rain started while waiting for the race to begin.

Like I said, we headed for the bus around 7:45pm. It was very easy to find the race transportation area at our resort and we were very lucky that there was a bus already waiting for us when we arrived. We waited only a short time while the bus filled with other anxious runners and then we were off to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. It was a relaxing ride and a great opportunity to interact with fellow runDisney enthusiasts. I must say, I am certainly glad someone else was doing the driving since traffic was quite heavy and stop-and-go the whole way. I just sat back in my comfy seat while someone carted ME around for a change. Before long, we had arrived at our destination and after a quick photo in front of the Wine and Dine Half Marathon photo spot we made our way to the pre-race waiting area.

The waiting area was a great place to hang out before the run. After checking our bag at the gEAR check area, we found a grassy spot near the potable restrooms to sit and enjoy the prerace entertainment as well as marvel at all of the creative costumes. The best costume BY FAR was the lady dressed as a Dole Whip. I tried to stop her to get a photo, but I lost her in the crowd. She looked incredible! Lucky for us, the rain held off during this waiting time and that made for a really enjoyable evening. However, just as the DJs made the announcement that everyone was to head to the start line, the rain began. Luckily, we had our ponchos with us and we put them on as we made our way to the corral. At this point I had decided that I was going to violate my “nothing new” rule and wear the plastic as long as I could tolerate. With the rain moving in quickly and the temperature dropping, I figured I would save myself as long as I could. I was assigned corral E but I decided to drop back to corral G so that I could run along side my husband and my dad. It was very easy to get into the corrals and before we knew it the first set of fireworks illuminated the night sky signaling the start of the race. The time between the start of corrals was really short—about 5 minutes between A and B and about a minute between subsequent corrals. This was both good and bad. Good because as the rain continued to fall, we were all anxious to get moving but bad because with the corrals starting so close together, it made for congested road conditions those first few miles

The course took us from the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex to Osceola Parkway to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. We entered the park around mile 3.5 and ran through Asia and Africa, around the Tree of Life, past Dinoland and finally exiting before mile 5. We were then back on Osceola Parkway, splashing our way towards Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This 2-mile stretch through the park was probably my favorite part of the race, aside from the finish line, of course. The course took us past The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, through Pixar Place, past Toy Story Midway Mania, and through the Costuming Tunnel. We then made our way through the Streets of America and marveled at the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights—INCREDIBLE!! We then ran past Star Tours and Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular towards the front of the park and then made our way towards EPCOT (and the finish line), running past Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Disney’s Boardwalk Resort along the way. The finish line was located just outside of EPCOT and the only thing that was more welcomed than the finisher’s medal was the runDisney space blanket I was given!

I really enjoyed this event. I know many people have complained about the lack of on course entertainment—but due to the weather, I can see why it was lacking. Disney can’t control everything and the safety of their employees is a definite priority. There have also been some grumbles about the medal falling apart. I did not have that problem but my husband’s did break the next day while we were at EPCOT. He just decided to superglue his back together. However, if you are one of the unfortunate ones whose medal broke, you can contact runDisney for a replacement.

I thought the race overall was managed very well—especially when compared to the inaugural race in 2010. The course was well lit and the finish line area moved very quickly and orderly. My only complaint would be that the post race transportation busses were too far from the finish line. While I completely understand the location, I was cold, wet, and tired and it seemed like it took us FOREVER to get on that bus. As for wearing the poncho during the race, total mixed review on that one. It kept me almost completely dry during the race (plus) but it tried to kill me twice, once by suffocation and once by strangulation, during the night (definite minus!). Since the…ahem…problems occurred at middle and near the end of the race, I don’t think it was simply an issue with “something new”. I was very thankful to have had it, but I am not sure that I would run while wearing a poncho in the future.

I think they made some really great improvements to both the course and finish line and the finish line drinks were a great addition (been, wine, or soda) as was the $10 Disney gift card given to participants. I would definitely do this race again someday. I just have to wait for my husband to forget the pain of this race before I spring the next one on him.

Marge is an avid runner who resides in Northern Indiana with her husband and wonderful children. You can follow Marge on Twitter @RNawayMama.

Epcot After Hours Wind Down

November 4, 2014May 25, 2016

Written by: Dawn Gosdin

Welcome to Food & Wine y’all! Epcot’s World Showcase is covered with Food and Wine everywhere, two of my very favorite things! My friend Colleen and I enjoyed spectacular food and drinks beginning with the Hawaiian pavilion. I had the Kālua Pork Slider with sweet and sour Dole® Pineapple chutney and spicy mayonnaise which I paired with Maui Splash Sweet Pineapple Wine and ended the night at Epcot~ After Hours Wind Down.

It’s a special ticketed event at $35.00 per guest. La Cava del Tequila~ Mexico Pavilion was our choice for mischief that awesome October evening. We checked-in at the entrance to La Cava del Tequila at 9:10 PM. and received our colorful wristbands then patiently waited, we explored the Mexican pavilion till our reservation time of 9:20PM. Right on cue the doors opened (angels were singing) and it was time to get down and dirty (not really.) We were whisked away to our assigned seating and quickly noticed the tables were already filled with a tequila flight, a small bottle of water and a two shot glasses, one of vodka and the other~ even more tequila, now that’s what I’m talking about!

Tequila flight included:
• Shot of Tequila Ambhar Blanco
• Shot of Tequila Partida Reposado
• Shot of Tequila Casa Noble Añejo
• Shot of Mezcal Sombra Blanco

On with the show~ Hilda was the “tequila ambassador” and our host for this special event. She taught her captive audience an informative yet quick history on tequila making and most importantly; proper drinking techniques which made it literally easier to swallow, yum. She did a great job; I actually had a better understanding of tequila after her spiel.

Now it’s time to eat or so I thought. When they say “light” appetizers they aren’t kidding, a little too light for me. I would have eaten my way through Food & Wine if I knew this was all I was having. Some sort of slaw, shrimp cocktail, chicken salad and dessert in a sample size taster. Not really what I expected, I felt it was an odd pairing but overall delicious.

You also have the opportunity to order selected fare off the menu as well. We ordered chips & salsa for additional $3.50, which I found to be a great value for our money and very good to boot.

Epcot~ After Hours Wind Down is only available during Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival; but with Disney anything is possible, who knows what the future might bring. Overall it was a lovely experience, though not sure I would do La Cava del Tequila again. I think I would enjoy Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar, I do have an affinity for wine; also Rose & Crown Pub sounds appealing to my inner beer lover and fish & chips are always amazeballs.

“Disney Dawn” is here to help guide Disney newbies into full-on Disney dorks like herself! She’s forty-two years young, Louisiana native, married to her BFF Ryan and mother of two deviously rotten teenagers. Half Marathon Runner/Writer/Blogger/Disney Dork/Regular Podcaster on http://mousequestpodcast.com/. You can follow Dawn on Twitter @Logpey.

A Ten Mile Run Through the Twilight Zone

October 28, 2014May 25, 2016

Written by Amy Bechtol

If you are reading this blog post, you probably love Disney. I certainly do! In fact, I love Disney so much, I’m actually willing to spend countless hours running and training just for another excuse to visit Walt Disney World. In 2013, I ran the 5th anniversary Disney Princess Half Marathon. It was such an amazing experience! I knew I needed to try more runDisney races.
That’s right, my love for Disney inspired me to run another runDisney race, but which one? While I have taken countless trips to Disney, I’ve never been able to visit in the fall. October brings many special events to Walt Disney World: Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Ten-Miler (ToT). I knew this was the perfect opportunity to try some new experiences and run another race!

I convinced my husband and dad to take the plunge and run their first official races at Disney. I kept telling them how much fun they would have and what to expect. They had no idea what they were getting in to and they were impressed with what they experienced! My husband, ¾ of my kids (the oldest is away at OSU), my parents and I traveled to Walt Disney World to set off on our latest adventure.

The 3rd annual Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Ten-Miler was held on Saturday, October 4, 2014 at 10:00 p.m. I was actually very nervous about running 10 miles despite already running a half marathon. Mostly because the Princess half was held in nice, cool February and the Tower of Terror is held in hot, humid October. My training for the ToT was completely different than it was for the Princess. I spent 19 weeks following the Jeff Galloway training program, in the heat of the summer, to be as prepared as possible. It was so hard to push through those long, hot runs, but with a trip to Disney as my motivation, I did what I had to do. To my surprise, and delight, the weather at race time was absolutely perfect. Even though there were emailed warnings of expected torrential downpours, there wasn’t a single drop of rain. The temperature at race time was in the low 70s which was about as good as it gets.

Part of the fun of running Disney is dressing up. The Tower of Terror 10-Miler is a villain-themed race but we decided to go with Toy Story costumes. I was Jessie, my husband was Buzz Lightyear and my dad was Woody. We were so cute! We took the bus from Port Orleans Riverside to the parking lot of Hollywood Studios. After leaving our bags at bag check, taking a few pictures and a last minute bathroom break, we sat down and just enjoyed people watching. I loved everyone’s costumes! There was a dance party going on with lots of upbeat music, but we decided to conserve our energy. After all, we had already spent the entire day at Animal Kingdom and we needed a breather.

We decided to move in to our corrals at about 9pm. I had submitted my time from the Princess and was assigned to corral E. I didn’t want to run without my hubby and dad, so I dropped back to corral G with them. It wasn’t long before we began the hike to the starting line. At exactly 10pm the first wave of fireworks were launched and the race was on. About ten minutes later it was our turn. Corral G fireworks exploded and we were off, careful to avoid the speed bumps just steps into the race, as we were reminded no less than twenty times! We immediately were transported into The Twilight Zone!

Ten miles goes by so fast when you are surrounded by on-course entertainment. There were all kinds of things to distract our minds. Villains, including Jafar, the Queen of Hearts, the hyenas from The Lion King, Captain Hook, Dr. Facillier, Jack Skellington and Sally were positioned at each mile. We only stopped for a picture with Jack and Sally, but I did get pictures of total strangers with each character. The grave diggers and zombies were amazing and I regret not waiting line for those photo ops.

10-28-14 Skeletons My husband’s favorite part was running around the warning track of the baseball field at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. There was even a team of skeletons, complete with baseball gloves, in their positions on the field. I thought the trail run portion through the woods was awesome. Spiders, bugs and other creatures dangled from the moss covered trees, spooky music was playing, and a perfectly timed near-full moon shone down from above and cast eerie shadows through the fog. Wow!
My dad got a kick out of Hades. He was positioned above the race course at the entrance to Hollywood Studios. Along with giant fireballs blasting into the air, Hades hurled wisecrack insults at runners as they passed under him. “Hey, you. You’re number 5,796. You didn’t win.” “Don’t you know this is a race? Start running!” He was quite an entertainer!

Unfortunately, I suffered a knee injury at mile 8 which slowed us down immensely. Darn exit ramps and their slanted inclines and declines! It was all I could do to push through the pain and tough out the last two miles. My husband and dad were great supporters and stuck with me, even though I had to walk a lot. The last mile seemed to stretch forever. Thank goodness we got to run on the Backlot and through Lights, Motors, Action to keep our minds occupied. Lots of cheerleaders lined Hollywood Studios, clapping and encouraging us to keep going. Finally, we reached the finish line, heard our names announced and received our hard earned medals!

After trekking what seemed like another ten miles, we reached the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular stage to claim our bags. We then dragged ourselves over to the changing area and got in to our post-race clothes. We finally got to sit down at a table and chow on our yummy box of snacks that we were given at the end of the race. We were all pretty hungry and tired. Even though we were exhausted, I told my hubby and dad we had to ride at least a few rides before calling it a night. This was the Villain’s Hollywood Bash, after all! Our first stop was at Toy Story Midway Mania. The posted wait time was 50 minutes but it only took us about 20 minutes total. The night wouldn’t be complete without a ride on the namesake of the race, The Tower of Terror! My dad decided he’d had enough and kept our bags while my husband and I got in line. To my surprise, the wait time was posted at 10 minutes and the actual wait was less than that. Riding the Tower of Terror while sporting our super cute glow in the dark Hollywood Tower Hotel medals put a smile on my face. I felt so proud, excited and lucky to be in that very moment after planning for eight months and training for four of them.

I already knew how magical a runDisney event was. My husband and dad quickly understood what I had been telling them. They both agreed the Tower of Terror Ten-Miler exceeded their expectations. Perhaps the only thing better than receiving my medal was hearing my hubby and dad tell me they want to come back and run Disney again. Mission, accomplished!

Amy is a wife and mom of 4 kids, who loves all things Disney. She is a regular on the weekly episodes of the MouseQuest Podcast. Follow her on Twitter @uccats97.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas: All the Comforts of Home with an Adventurous Flair

October 21, 2014May 25, 2016

Written by Kate Melody

A trip to a Disney Park is always filled with magic, but for those that like to extend that magic throughout their entire vacation, I always recommend staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel. Our family enjoys staying on property so much, that in 2009 we joined Disney Vacation Club (DVC). Our home resort is Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas, and it is not just our “home” away from home, but our absolute favorite Disney World Resort!

Animal Kingdom Villas are part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, set on a 43 acre wildlife preserve on the south side of Disney property. Over 30 species of animal roam the savannas. Villas are available as Deluxe Studios, 1 and 2 Bedroom Villas and Grand Villas that sleep up to 12! Deluxe Studios have a kitchenette, while 1 Bedroom and larger Villas have a full kitchen, washer and dryer. One of the advantages of Animal Kingdom Villas is the wide variety of room types and locations available. In additional to the room size, you can also choose from value rooms at Jambo House which have a smaller square footage but are a great bargain, standard view rooms, savanna view rooms and even concierge level accommodations at Jambo House. Villas are found at both the main lodge, Jambo House, and at adjacent Kidani Village. The Jambo House rooms were converted from traditional resort rooms, but Kidani Village was built specifically as villa accommodations.

Animal Kingdom Lodge is arguably one of the best themed resorts on property and Imagineers have done everything in their power immerse the guest in the feeling that they are no longer in Florida, but at a far off African lodge. Stepping off the bus after a busy day in the parks, you are welcomed home by quiet lantern light, tropical flora and the sound of distant drum beats. Inside the theme continues and the resort boasts one of the largest collections of authentic African art outside the continent. No resort is perfect for every family and the two biggest concerns families have regarding Animal Kingdom Villas are that the decor and lighting are very dark and that some of the savanna view rooms can be an exceptionally long walk from the lobby. Personally, I find the deep hues of the resort to be restful, and that long walk means an extra Dole Whip, right?

It is often joked that after parents put buckets of money and effort into a Disney vacation, all the kids want to do is swim at the resort. This may be a definite risk at Animal Kingdom Villas! Pools at both Jambo and Kidani feature a zero entry area, water slide and hot tub. Kidani Village offers an interactive water play area with a small slide, climbing and splashing areas, even a spot to have a water fight with your siblings! I have found this play area to be wonderful for our children as toddlers. I could stay with them, but let them have a little more independence than I would in the pool.

Cast Members from Africa are available on the rock outlooks as animal guides and lead numerous educational and cultural activities during the day. One of the perks of the resort is the sheer number of activities that are available. Culinary tours of the restaurants, an evening drum lesson, folktales in the library, poolside evening movie, conservation games for the kids, the traditional afternoon pool party and crafts and games available in Community Hall are just some of the offerings.

Food options at the resort are plentiful and a nice change from traditional theme park menus. There is one quick service eatery, The Mara, and it is located at Jambo House. Also at Jambo House are two table service restaurants. Boma is a buffet that is considered to be one of the best on property, and Jiko is one of Disney’s signature dining experiences. Kidani Village is home to Sanaa, a hidden gem among table service restaurants. The bread service is highly recommended and windows that overlook the savanna add to the experience. It is often available without a reservation!

While Animal Kingdom Villas are located on the southern side of the property, don’t let the distance dissuade you. We have found the bus service to be excellent, and the overall bus journey is similar to that of other resorts where the bus makes more stops. When booking your next Disney vacation consider Animal Kingdom Villas, where you can take a journey into African culture with all the comforts of home. We are already anxiously awaiting our February 2015 trip home!

A mommy of four by day and a labor and delivery nurse by night, Kate believes a little dose of Disney makes every day better. Kate is a lifelong Disney fan and after introducing her husband to the magic of Disney Parks, their family became Disney Vacation Club members in 2009. You can find Kate as a guest here and on the MouseQuest Podcast, writing for the WDW Daily News newsletter and on twitter at @Dizkrazkate.

How to Have an At-Home Disney Wedding

October 14, 2014May 25, 2016

Written by: Amy Yacullo

You’re getting married!! Congratulations!! You’ve dreamed of this day all your life—going to Disney, getting married in front of the castle, riding in Cinderella’s Coach, taking your fireworks cruise, paying the bill… wait, what?! All that costs how much? Suddenly, your dreams of a Disney wedding are shattered.

Never fear, the Disney Wedding Bloggess is here!! I had two weddings; one in Disney and one in my home state of Connecticut. My goal with the CT wedding was to bring as much Disney to the event as possible without it being an in-your-face Disney-fest. I feel (and have been told) that I succeeded quite beautifully in my goal and now, dear reader, I’d like to show you how I did it. Whether you’re looking to have an all-out Disney extravaganza or just a few nods to Disney here and there, follow these tips and you’re sure to have an amazing Disney-style wedding.

COLORS

The most basic (and easiest) way to evoke Disney in your wedding is to choose colors that represent “Disney.” Whether it be a particular character, ride, resort, or other aspect of Disney, color is an amazing way to subtly hinting at your favorite Disney thing. For my CT wedding, I chose the colors red, yellow, white, and black. Who do those remind you of? Mickey Mouse, of course!! You could easily use color to evoke your favorite Princess (blue and silver for Cinderella, purple and yellow for Rapunzel, red, green, and purple for Ariel…the list goes on and on…) or place (silver and blue can be used to represent Cinderella Castle, pastels fall under Small World territory, burgundy, gold, and black can take you to the Tower of Terror…). You can then use those colors everywhere—your bridesmaid’s dresses, the groomsmen’s ties, tablecloths, napkins, chair ties…the possibilities are truly endless!!

CEREMONY

This is probably the easiest of all—include Disney quotes and references in your ceremony. The bridesmaids walked down the aisle to “Behind the Waterfall “ from the now-defunct Wonders of Life pavilion soundtrack. I walked down to “Waiting for the Lights” from Rapunzel. Our recessional was “Married Life” from UP. There are so many pieces of music that Disney has to offer; the possibilities are literally endless!! And when anyone mentions Disney, the phrase “Happily Ever After” springs to mind– that’s an easy one to add to the end of the ceremony. You can also have a reading of a Disney song—my sister read the lyrics of “One Song” from Snow White during our ceremony. Throw in a quote from your favorite Disney movie that’s meaningful to you. You can easily come up with plenty of ideas just by flipping through a Disney book or doing a quick Internet search.

PICTURES

PROPS!! Props are the easiest and best way to bring Disney to your Floral pictures. Whether you want to go bold and use an ear hat, include a pair of Disney lapel pins, or go subtle and have the groomsmen wear Disney socks and ties, you can do whatever your heart desires! You can even go as far as to have your florist make a hidden Mickey out of pearls and contact Disney floral and purchase some Swarovski crystal Mickey heads to include in your Mickey-inspired bouquet….

The best part is, a lot of Disney touches can go unnoticed to the untrained eye, so you don’t have to worry about the pictures looking “childish” or “tacky” (which shouldn’t really matter because if they make you happy, then your pictures are perfect and beautiful).

FOOD

This one might be a little tricky depending on your caterer, but I’m sure you can work with them if there’s something you want badly. Beer cheese soup shooters (to evoke Le Cellier steakhouse) sound like an awesome passes appetizer, don’t they? How about some banana pudding to represent your new ‘Ohana? Maybe you want to have a popcorn machine and some fresh baked cookies to make your venue smell like Main Street, U.S.A.?

THE CAKE(S)

By far, my cakes were my favorite Disney touches at our wedding. First things first: your cake topper. You can find pre-made Disney wedding cake toppers online—everything from beautiful Lenox pieces to lovingly homemade Disney toppers are out there. You can buy the bride and groom ear hat ornaments or Vinylmations and use those. You can even go so far as to find an amazing artist who will custom-paint a pair of blank Vinylmation characters to look like you and your partner…

As for designs on the cake, you can have your baker write “And they lived happily ever after” on the tiers, have a hidden Mickey in the back, or do what I asked my baker to do and substitute Mickey heads for a typical Swiss Dot pattern.

And for your groom, you can get a groom’s cake that pays homage to his favorite Disney park, ride, movie, or character.

RECEPTION

A great reception starts with great music—who needs the cha-cha slide? Have your first dance to Beauty and the Beast or shake your groove thang to “Stand Out” from A Goofy Movie. Once again, the possibilities are truly endless!!

Grab a pair of champagne flutes with Mickey and Minnie (or another favorite Disney couple) on them—you can get those easily from Arribas Bros on Main Street USA (or the internet) or from someone online.

Your guestbook, centerpieces, and favors can all be Disney themed too!! Get a Disney autograph book or two and have your guests sign those instead of the typical guest book. You can even get a few of the big, 9” Vinylmations and have your guests sign those in different colored sharpie markers! Name each table after a Disney movie or character. You can theme the centerpieces to each table, or they can match your overall color scheme. And for favors? How about some Vinylmation shaped soaps (easily found online) or Mickey head shaped chocolates?

At the end of the day, your wedding will be amazing no matter what. Regardless of if you use every suggestion here or if you only use one or two, the most important part of your Disney wedding is love. Celebrate your love with the people you love most in the world—that’s what a wedding is all about. It will be a magical day, I promise.

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Amy is a 20-something Disney fanatic living with her Disney Prince in New Jersey. She has dedicated her life to all things Disney and is debating naming her first child Ariel. When not blogging, she likes playing video games, reading, and snuggling with her Disney-named cats. You can find her online at www.shortfatandsassy.com.

Wedding pictures in this post taken by Dana Lane of Dana Lane Photography.

The Latest From Walt Disney World

September 30, 2014May 20, 2016

Written by: Heather McGilvray

Walt Disney World® has seen quite a few exciting announcements released in the past couple of weeks so I thought I would take a few minutes to highlight them all in one place.

In Epcot, some chilly changes are being made at the Norway Pavilion. On October 5th, the Maelstrom attraction will be closing permanently. Maelstrom is being replaced by a ‘Frozen’ themed attraction projected to open in early 2016. Although Arendelle is a fictional location, much inspiration was taken from Norway in the development of the movie. In addition to the new ‘Frozen’ attraction, there will also be a ‘Frozen’-themed meet and great. This announcement has brought some controversy as the Maelstrom attraction which opened in 1988 and is a favorite among many guests. I, personally, loved the Maelstrom ride but think the Norway Pavilion is a perfect location for ‘Frozen’. Although it is always hard to say good-bye to the old, I think this transformation will be a great addition to Epcot. I am anxious to see how the Imagineers will incorporate ‘Frozen’ and Scandinavian traditions.

Like Epcot, Hollywood Studios has an attraction permanently closing. The Backlot Tours attraction is closing at the end of September. There is still speculation as to what the area will be used for, nothing official has been released. We do know that Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post will be relocating to the area. This is a store centered on all things ‘Frozen’. The Trading Post will be near the “For the First Time in Forever: A ‘Frozen’ Sing-Along Celebration.” While we don’t know what will the future holds for the area, it is speculated that some major changes are coming to Hollywood Studios. I am curious to see how they will update and add changes to this park. Know that MouseQuest will keep you updated as soon as we know the plans!

Not quite as popular as ‘Frozen’, but I was excited to see Pandora will be adding Disney charms. If you are not familiar with Pandora charms, they are a popular charm bracelet that you can customize. It was recently announced that this fall Pandora will be releasing sixteen Disney-inspired charms. This announcement caught my eye because I love shopping at Disney! On any given day you can find one or more of my family members sporting Disney apparel. For myself, I personally enjoy items that are practical, nice and a little bit unique. The charms will first be available at Walt Disney World and Disneyland and there is a charm for each of the parks. My personal favorite is the Mickey Mania but it is hard to choose. Look at how cute they are! I am so excited for this special addition of Disney fun.

More than shopping at Disney, I treasure our family Disney photos. It was just announced that on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train they will have photos and videos of your experience. Yes, videos! When Memory Maker is attached to your Magic Band your video from the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will automatically be added to your My Disney Experience account. In addition to the video, Memory Makers will provide you all photos taken by Disney photographers and on attractions throughout the parks during your stay. You can purchase Memory Maker at the parks but when pre-purchased, at least three days in advance, you save $50. Of course with the $50 savings you could go shopping (see above)! Memory Maker is always on my to-do list before a Disney vacation. I love Memory Maker because I can let Disney photographers capture some great shots and I can enjoy the special moments with my family. I can’t wait to see the included videos from the Mine Train on our next visit.

Your Guide on the Quest for the Perfect Disney Vacation

Author: Sue Nowicki