Friday Photo

Is it going away? If you believe the rumors, it is. But there are some other pretty hefty rumors to go along with it--like tales of Cars Land coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios, and maybe even a Star Wars-themed land...not to mention that long-in-development Monsters Inc. suspension coaster. Only time will truly tell, but I'm betting that this icon's days are numbered.

Peter and the Starcatchers Has a Director

I just read that the movie version of Peter and the Starcatchers, the prequel to Peter Pan, written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson (author of the Kingdom Keepers series), now has a director on board. Gary Ross, who most recently directed The Hunger Games will be at the helm. I'm very anxious to see how this turns out. (Gotta admit, I was a bit disappointed at The Hunger Games...not a great representation of the book, in my opinion. I'm approaching Peter... with excitement tinged with skepticism.)

Animated Favorites Now Available on Blu-Ray

There are several animated favorites releasing today for the first time on Blu-Ray: The Aristocats, Pocahontas, The Tigger Movie, The Rescuers, The Rescuers Down Under, and Lady and the Tramp. Click on the links below to purchase from Amazon, where you can also get $10 off if you purchase any 2 qualifying Disney DVDs or Blu-Ray! Plus, if you're a Disney Movie Rewards member, you'll earn double points on these movies!

Fun Mail!

Am I the only one who gets really excited when she sees one of these familiar envelopes? It can only mean that our Walt Disney World vacation is not so far away! This particular envelope contained a Disney PhotoPass. By registering before our trip, any photos taken while we're there will automatically appear in our PhotoPass account. The information also says that we will receive "special offers" by registering. (I'm pretty sure this refers to the discounted price of purchasing the PhotoPass CD up front...but I'm hopeful that there might be some additional Magic in store!)

Gotta go--I'm logging on to register now!

Friday Photo

On our next visit to WDW, we'll be staying at the new Art of Animation Resort, in the Ariel section. In fact, we'll be arriving on the day that it officially opens! I have seen a few pics on fan sites, but I'm really looking forward to seeing the larger-than-life Ariel and some of her underwater friends. This picture comes from the piano pool at the All-Star Music Resort. My girls simply adored the Ariel statue and wanted to hang out with her for a while.

Thursday's Tip

The countdown is on! In less than a month, we'll be hanging out with Mickey and the gang at the Most Magical Place on Earth! Even though we're seasoned Disney veterans, we still enjoy activities that build anticipation before our trip. Some of them are a matter of necessity (I get the big "Disney tub" out of the attic and begin packing; I start squirreling away snacks and breakfast items to take), while others are just for fun. Here are a few of my favorite ideas for building excitement before a Walt Disney World vacation:

• Watch the Disney Vacation planning DVD. It's free, and tons of fun!


• Make some sort of countdown calendar. I've seen everything from a simple paper chain to an elaborate wall calendar using the Mickey-shaped paint chips you can get at Home Depot. Very creative!


• Serve a Disney-inspired meal. You can use a recipe for a Disney Parks favorite (many are readily found online), or simple purchase some of the pre-packaged Disney-themed food items that can be found in your local grocery store.


• Watch previous vacation home videos. We LOVE doing this as a family! It's almost like being there.


• Shop for scrapbook items. There are tons of Disney-themed stickers, stamps, papers, and other items in most craft stores. Getting some of the prep work before your trip will both build anticipation and also motivate you to actually finish your scrapbook after your trip!


• Watch your collection of Disney animated features--yep, all of them (or as many as you can fit in). Since you might be running into some of the stars of these films, it's a great idea to brush up on your knowledge of their stories before you see them.

How about you? Do you have any fun traditions or ways that you build anticipation before a Disney vacation? Let me hear them!

Innoventions at Home

Did you know that Innoventions, the interactive tech-driven section of Epcot, has a website? You can get a glimpse of some of the attractions--check it out here. And speaking of Innoventions, I came across a related topic while perusing my favorite homeschool sites recently. There is a website called MathMovesU that has tons of fun math games and information for students and parents. While checking out the site, I found this page that lets you design your own coaster, just like you can at the "Sum of All Thrills" experience in Epcot's Innoventions! Indeed, the site is affiliated with SOAT, or at least sponsored by the same company. Obviously, you can't hop in a simulator at home and get the whole experience, but you can replay the coaster you design--and that's not a bad way to experience just a bit of Disney magic at home!