Changes Around Epcot

I've seen reports over the last couple of days that the Innoventions Plaza in Epcot is getting a bit of a makeover. Most noticeable is the removal of the various types of "whirligigs" that clutter, er I mean adorn the area.

There have also been some recent pavement changes as well as painting of the "legs" of Spaceship Earth, that have caused speculation that bigger changes might be coming to the Leave a Legacy area--changes, as in its possible removal. I think we can all agree that those big stone monuments are an eyesore, but I can't help feeling a twinge of empathy for those whose photos adorn them. I'm sure they'll miss scouring those big rocks for their tiny faces.

I'm excited to report the re-opening of some ImageWorks exhibits in the Imagination Pavilion. The attraction formerly known as the Kodak "What If" Labs has seen more than its fair share of turmoil. Losing sponsorship seemed to leave this fun little area in limbo. Parts of it had been walled off for months, but now the computers are back up and running...and there's even a new game that allows you to create your own version of Figment, the character mascot of Imagination. Our kiddos have always loved the musical exhibits here (where you can conduct and create music with your body), so I'm glad to see this area coming back to life.

Finally, as I mentioned in this post, the Velcro exhibits in Innoventions West will be closing in the next week. Farewell, SlapStick Studios!

Star Tours 2 Rumors (Possible Plot Spoilers)

As you may know, Star Tours has been closed for an extensive refurbishment that will include new footage and story lines. There has been a lot of speculation as to exactly what will be showing up in these new Tours, and Screamscape has a few tasty rumors for us. Keep in mind, none of these are confirmed, but they are possible plot spoilers, so read with caution:

• Near the beginning of the ride, guests will have some sort of contact with Darth Vadar, who will scan the shuttle and determine that a rebel spy is among the passengers! This will, apparently, be the catalyst for the rest of the perilous journey.


• There may be multiple plot lines offering a few different versions of the ride experience, much like the two versions of The Great Movie Ride (Gangster or Western).


• There will be Pod Races in the Star Speeder (this is almost certain, as promotional footage featuring Pod Racers has been rampant).


• The Death Star will make an appearance. And perhaps we'll see it under construction.


• Here comes the collective moan: Jar Jar Binks will be along for the ride. It seems there will be an encounter with the Gungan race on Naboo--perhaps underwater in the Gungan city,or we may experience a battle between the Droid Army and the Gunguns. But Jar Jar is gonna be there.

This could, of course, all be complete nonsense planted by mischief-makers. But I doubt it. I think these are all likely scenarios--even Jar Jar (*groan*). Regardless of the content, I'm excited to see the "new and improved" Star Tours 2 on our next visit!

Friday Photo

Ugh! An apparent posting error has delayed today's "Friday Photo." I did manage to sneak it in before the day was completely over. Sorry for its lateness.



Recognize this quote? It's located outside the Mad Tea Party in the Magic Kingdom. Can you identify its author? (Not his name, 'cause that's on the sign...but why should you know him?)

Thursday's Tip

Anyone who has taken a trip to Walt Disney World with infants, toddlers, or preschoolers understands that any such visit is really all about the kids. Yes, there are many, many attractions that the whole family can enjoy together, but there are certainly a few that the munchkins will not be able to enjoy...and sometimes that means the adults won't get to enjoy them either. Yes, there is the Child Swap option (which essentially allows one parent to wait with the little ones while the other rides, then they switch places without having to wait in line twice), and it's a great option. But what if Mom and Dad want to ride a few things together? Or share a calm dinner alone at, say, Le Cellier?

Which brings me to Thursday's Tip: why not invite Grandma and Grandpa along? (Or Aunt Lucy...Cousin Fred...you get the picture, right?) Having an extra adult or two on the trip can be a godsend. What relative wouldn't love to see Disney through the eyes of your precious little ones? And letting Grandma ride It's a Small World a few (dozen) times with junior will allow Mom and Dad time to take on Space Mountain.





One of the most common questions I get asked by parents is if there are on-site babysitting services at WDW. Yes, some of the Deluxe Resorts do have kids clubs for that purpose. And there are a few local services, although not officially affiliated with Disney, that will come to your hotel room to watch your kids. But wouldn't you feel better (and safer) about having someone you love and trust watching over--and enjoying their time with--your little darlings? It's a win/win!

Grandma and Grandpa, if you're reading, we hope you can join us for our next trip!

Personalized Fleece On Sale

DisneyStore.com has their personalized fleece on sale--most at around 50% off. You can get fleece throws with a variety of Disney characters for $7.99 each (plus tax and shipping, of course). Each of my girls has their own fleece throw (with different princesses on them, so we don't get them confused), and we always take them in the car for long trips. They also use them when snuggling on the couch. Ours have held up very well after TONS of use, so I consider $7.99 a great deal!

Also on sale are fleece nightgowns for girls ($9.99) as well as a variety of pullovers for the whole family. It's a great time to stock up!

Disney Dream Sets Sail

Today marks the maiden voyage of the Disney Dream, by far Disney's most impressive ship yet. If you haven't seen photos, you can hop over to the official Disney Parks Blog and check them out. The ship will be heading to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral.

In a related story, a tanker truck exploded last Friday on SR-528, a main thoroughfare that leads to Port Canaveral, claiming the lives of two people. Early reports said that this could affect traffic for several days, but guests have been reporting only minor delays and adjustments to the path. It is unlikely that this unfortunate accident had much or any affect on the maiden voyage of the Disney Dream. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those involved in the explosion.

Another One to Fill the Easter Baskets

Apparently Bambi is coming to DVD/Blu-ray on March 1...at least, if posters around Disney's Hollywood Studios can be trusted (and I think they probably can be). So it looks like you'll have another great Disney option to fill the kiddos' Easter baskets this year.

Splash Mountain Installing Lap Bars

Yep, it's true. Splash Mountain is finally putting an end to guests' attempts to stand while the log boats are in motion by installing lap bars. When I fist heard of this change, my reaction was one of relief and approval. I am all about safety, and this makes me feel a bit better about plummeting down that giant hill with my four-year-old. However, after reading a few message boards and fan sites, there are a few drawbacks I should mention.

First, seating capacity will be cut. Currently, there is a maximum seating capacity of 12 riders per boat. Each of the four rows can seat either a) two adults, b) two adults plus a small child, c) one adult and two children, or d) three children. With the installation of the lap bars, the seating capacity for each row is two, regardless of the size of the passengers. Thus, a maximum capacity of 8 per boat.

Second, because of these new lap belts, Disney will increase the launch time between boats from 12.5 seconds to somewhere between 15 and 20 seconds. This allows the extra loading time needed to make sure those safety bars are down and locked.

Bottom line: the wait time at this already popular ride is about to increase--and mostly because of adrenaline-junkie guests who think it's cool to try to stand while the boat is taking the aforementioned hill.

Still, the protective mommy in me is in favor of this change. Safety first!

Friday Photo

...er, that would be "Photos" (plural). Here are two just released pics of the newest characters in the Cars franchise. Frist, there's Finn McMissile, a master British spy voiced by Michael Caine.



And next we have Holley Shiftwell, a young British desk agent turned spy-in-training, voiced by Emily Mortimer. Oh, and Mater has a thing for her (big surprise, right?).



Our family--especially my racing fan husband--is looking forward to seeing Cars 2 when it opens in theatres June 24.

Own Tangled on March 29, 2011

Just in time to fill the Easter baskets of children across the country, Tangledwill be releasing on DVD and Blu-ray on March 29. I'll be on the lookout for the best deals and/or coupons and rebates when we get closer to the release date.

Thursday's Tip

Both of my girls made their first trip to Walt Disney World before they were fully potty trained. The thought of jumping out of line and running to the nearest restroom every time nature called was unappealing at best (although we did our best to take them quickly to a restroom when possible). Our solution, and today's Thursday's Tip: put your child in a pull-up if there's any doubt he/she can wait five minutes to use the potty.

Even if your child rarely wears pull-ups at home these days, vacations can disrupt your normal potty training routine. And sometimes the wait at the nearest restroom can exceed five minutes. Unless your child deeply objects, you will save yourself much grief by using this safety measure while touring the parks.

I am by no means recommending that you stop potty training and simply give up while on vacation! Instead, I like to think of  pull-ups as a little insurance policy, guaranteeing you won't spend the day dealing with accidents.

Fantasyland Changes Explained

If you're looking for an explanation of what the latest and greatest changes to the Fantasyland expansion plans, Jim Hill Media has it for you here. I am admittedly a little sad that some of the spectacular princess experiments the Imagineers had come up with will not see the light of day (I mean, Cinderella being transformed before our very eyes--yes, please!). But here's hoping those of you with boys will be able to better enjoy the changes!

Disney Premiers "Magic, Memories, and You"

The original test I saw was impressive enough, but the real thing is astounding!  I think I may have underestimated this whole "Let the Memories Begin" promotion. (I do, however, stand by my assessment that free admission--in whatever form it comes--is still better.)

Are You Watching?

They are christening the newest ship in Disney's fleet RIGHT NOW! Click here to watch it live.

Did You Get Your Invitation to the Party?

Too bad we have no local Disney Store here in the Nashville area. :( We LOVED going to these special events when we did have one, so I encourage those of you who have a local Disney Store to check it out!

New Fantasyland Concept Art Released

Disney has released some new artist renderings of the "new and improved" (we certainly hope!) Fantasyland. You can view the artwork here. Although the extent to which it originally focused on princesses has been scaled back, it still seems to be heavy on fairy tales (no complaints here...merely and observation). I was excited to see that they seem to be salvaging, at least to some degree, the Barnstormer ("Fly with the Great Goofini"). And can we all agree that the double-Dumbo is enough, on its own, to make this whole process worth it?

So what are your thoughts? What did you see that you like or didn't? Sound off in the comments.

TS3 Takes Home the Globe

It comes as no surprise to Disney/Pixar fans that Toy Story 3 went home with the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature last night. Congratulations to Woody, Buzz, and the gang for this accolade!

Never Stop Dreaming

Taste of Disney How-To Video

I absolutely LOVE tea parties, and I especially enjoy them with children. In fact, for several years my daughters and I hosted an annual Mother/Daughter Teddy Bear Tea in our home to kick off the Christmas season. I also take great pleasure in making my girls' birthday cakes each year. No, I'm certainly not a professional. But I do enjoy it, and I hope that the love and care I put into each cake is what the girls will remember--and not that it was less-than-perfect. (And I actually am getting better!)

I combined these two interests (tea parties and cake decorating) for my youngest daughter's 3rd birthday--a Mad Hatter Tea Party! Here's a pic of the "topsy-turvy" cake I made for the occasion:



And, just for fun, here's a pic of the table setting:



And our cute little "Alice" (yes, we played croquet, but not with flamingos and hedgehogs!):



OK, so back to the point of my post (I'm easily sidetracked when it comes to all things Disney!). This video from Taste of Disney caught my eye because it shows how simple it is to make professional-looking cupcakes from fondant, using the same methods they use in making treats for the Wonderland Tea Party (in part, my inspiration for the above birthday party) held at the Grand Floridian Resort. It really is incredibly easy to use fondant, and it looks so polished! What a great project for kids too! Makes me want to spend this Saturday in the kitchen--did I really just say that?

BTW, there are several other videos that follow this one that will introduce you to other Disney food favorites. If you're a "foodie," you'll want to check out this video series.

Friday Photo

OK, this is kind of an easy one, but where in the World will you find this? Answer in the comments...

Thursday's Tip

If any of you are long time reader of Affording the Mou$e, you know that most of my tips for making the most of a Walt Disney World vacation can be traced back to one general tip: plan ahead! Today's tip is no different. We all know that Central Florida weather can be unpredictable at best. But with the emergence of websites such as Weather.com, there's really no excuse for being caught completely unprepared (writes the woman who wore the same pair of jeans all week because she neglected to pack for cooler temps!). Still, weather can change quickly, and even the satellites prove inaccurate at times.

Thursday's tip: check the weather before you pack...and then pack at least one outfit for the opposite! Always--ALWAYS--take at least one pair of long pants and long sleeves. Never leave home without a jacket. Even in summer, temps can drop in the evening. And even if you're going in, say, January, pack a pair of shorts. You might just be met with an unexpected warm front.  Above all, don't leave home without a rain poncho.

Of course, if you still find yourself caught unaware by the weather, you'll have a great excuse to buy that Mickey sweatshirt (or tank top) that was calling your name.

Innoventions Getting a Little Less "Sticky"

If you're walking through Innoventions West, you can sometimes hear the familiar "whik" sound of velcro being ripped apart. And, if you follow that sound to their source, you might just go home with one of these little souvenirs (we have several in our possession):



The Velcro-sponsored exhibit where kiddos can make these little custom creations will be closing on February 5. In addition to the "create your own velcro creature" station, the exhibit also featured the "What's Your Problem?" interactive game show that will also be closing.

It's a Bit of a Stretch, But...

Our puppy's E-collar (or "Cone of Shame," as we like to call it) made a Hidden Mickey today (well, sort of):

New Shades of Green Discount

If you or a family member is active or retired military, you may be aware of the military-only resort near Walt Disney World, Shades of Green. If you're not aware, you should be! Although I have never been there (alas, I don't qualify because I'm not from a military family--although my dad is a Vietnam veteran and both grandpas were in WWII...OK, so that was a bit of a rabbit trail...and we're back!), I have heard wonderful things. This ARFC (Armed Forces Recreation Center) has deluxe-quality accommodations (minus the elaborate Disney theming of WDW resorts) for a moderate price. You can check out their website to see for yourself!

Now, to sweeten the deal, Shades of Green is offering up to 50% off room rates August 15 through October 31, 2011. (Rate categories are determined by rank...it's very complex, and I admit that I don't really understand it all.You can see a rate chart here.)Of course there are some black-out dates. Still, this is a great deal, especially when paired with the Disney Armed Forces Appreciation ticket deal I mentioned in this post.

Friday Photo

Thanks to the re-theming of the boat ride in Mexico (Epcot), these three guys are favorites of my girls. You can find these topiaries of the Three Caballeros at the Coronado Springs Resort, where we stayed on our last visit. Ride the Gran Fiesta Tour at Epcot, and just try not to sing along with them! "The Three Caballeros...the Three Caballeros...you know we are birds of a feather!"

Thursday's Tip

It only took me until 7 p.m. to get a post up today (sarcasm). What can I say? Homeschool re-entry after Christmas break is kicking our tails this week. Teacher Mama is a little exhausted. But, persevere we must!

Speaking of homeschooling, here's my Thursday's Tip: look for ways to incorporate learning into your WDW vacation. This applies to any family with school-aged children, but certainly to those of us who home educate. Either in the days/weeks leading up to a WDW trip or those after, you can make connections with Disney attractions and what your child is currently studying. Here are some of the preparations we made before our last visit to help make our trip a genuine learning experience:

• We read about all the Presidents of the USA, and memorized facts about several of them. We read a bit of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address too, so my daughter was excited when she was able to hear the animatronic Lincoln recite this in the Hall of Presidents.


• We studied fables and fairytales, and especially the Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox stories. This made the calm parts of Splash Mountain even more entertaining.


• We discussed each of the countries featured in the World Showcase at Epcot, learning what language they speak, their form of government, foods that they grow or eat, and the design of their flags. This made strolling through the pavilions (something that, let's face it, doesn't always interest young children) a bit more appealing.


• Not only have we seen Peter Pan about a gazillion times (and probably ridden it nearly as many), but we've also listened to the original book on CD...hearing the lavish descriptions by J.M. Barrie.


• Before hopping on Kilimanjaro Safaris, we discussed some of the animals we would see at Animal Kingdom. We talked about different types of habitats and what sorts of animals live in different countries and continents.


• We did an entire unit on dinosaurs before our trip, so we were super excited to see Dino Sue on the way to Dinosaur. (Dinosaur, however, was NOT our favorite attraction--too scary!)

Besides our preparations before our trip, we also took the time to read more of the informational signage on this trip. Instead of just looking at the "fish" in the Seas with Nemo & Friends, we read about each of the sea creatures and listened to the Cast Members as they explained their habits. We strolled some paths we'd never strolled before and soaked up new information. We spent more time observing and less time rushing to the next attraction.

The possibilities for learning at WDW really are only limited by your imagination. From Animal Kingdom for science, the World Showcase in Epcot for social studies, Disney's Hollywood Studios for the fine arts, and the fairytale world of the Magic Kingdom for literature, there's no end to the things you can learn at Disney World!

Got a Pin Code Today!

I got a pin code via email today! If you aren't familiar with Disney pin codes, they are a special savings that is offered to an individual or family, separate from any discount released to the general public. They are non-transferable ("Save on a Walt Disney World hotel stay for the Gibbs family"), and no knows exactly how you get them. But it seems that the more ways you're in contact with Disney (previous resort stays, email lists, subscribing to Disney sites, etc.), the more likely you are to get a pin code.

This is our 3rd or 4th pin code, and it's a room-only code for 35-40% off resort stays for most of 2011 (there are block-out dates, of course). While we don't have any immediate plans in place for our next trip, this might just be what inspires us to start planning! We have until the end of February to book, so expect to hear our plans soon.

Florida Resident "Wild 4 Disney" Discount

Florida residents can now purchase a 4-day "Wild 4 Disney" park ticket for just $119 plus tax (adult or child). Tickets are NOT park hoppers, but you can add that feature (or Water Parks & More) for around $27 per ticket. Florida residency is required for EACH adult ticket (that means you can't get Aunt Helen in Tampa to buy your tickets for you if you're from Tulsa!), and you must use at least your first day by May 26, 2011 (they expire 14 days after first use).

There is one block-out week for these special tickets: April 17-24.

Kids Play Free & Room Only Discounts

The Kids Stay & Play Free discount that was previously available to Disney Rewards Visa cardmembers is now available to the general public. You can read the details here.

In addition, there is a new room-only discount for spring and fall dates in 2011 (although some are technically in summer), for savings up to 40%. The details are a little more specific than usual. For "spring" dates (April 28 through June 14), discounts are as follows:

• Save 15% at All Star Movies


• Save 20% on Select Disney Value Resorts and Port Orleans French Quarter


• Save 25% on Select Disney Moderate Resorts, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Polynesian Resort


• Save 30% on Select Disney Deluxe Resorts


• Save 35% on Select Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts

Discounts for "fall" dates (August 16 through October 1) are:

• Save 20% at All Star Movies


• Save 25% on Select Disney Value Resorts and Port Orleans French Quarter


• Save 30% on Select Disney Moderate Resorts, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Polynesian Resort


• Save 35% on Select Disney Deluxe Resorts


• Save 40% on Select Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts

I find it interesting that they have singled out specific resorts this time--an indication of which tend to me most/least popular? There are definitely some of my top pics among the less-discounted group (All-Star Movies and POFQ).

This deal must be booked by March 27. You can add tickets and dining plans to this offer, but they will not be discounted.

The Power of 10: Give Kids the World

I'm a big fan of Give Kids the World, an organization that provides trips to Central Florida theme parks (yes, Disney World is one of their main destinations) for families with critically ill children. I hope to one day tour their village--it's pretty amazing--and perhaps have our whole family volunteer there when the girls are old enough.

Right now, a group of Disney fans have issued a $1 million challenge to raise funds for GKTW. It's called "The Power of 10." They're looking for 10,000 people who are willing to ask 10 friends to donate $10 to GKTW--and that, my friends, is how they arrive at the $1 million figure.

Consider yourself challenged! Let's hope at least 10 people read this (we have around 500 Facebook fans, so surely 10 can help...right?) and are willing and able to respond. To learn more, or to make a contribution, click here.