tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82221485815967309982024-03-19T03:28:24.077-04:00Lipstick Kingdom((The Girly-Girl's Guide to all Things Disney))bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-28710968943941486932013-04-14T13:53:00.003-04:002013-04-14T13:58:11.007-04:00The 5 Worst People You'll Find in Disney World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span> love Walt Disney World so, so much. It's my happy place. But for others, it's the place where nightmares come true. It's crowded, there are giant groups of people (and when people get in groups, there's no telling what can happen), and ya know, it's hot and filled with screaming children. And while this may seem like a mean-spirited idea for a blog post, it's simply my response to one of the most common questions I get regarding my love affair with Disney: "How do you deal with all of those people?" Well, it's a fair question, since I've been known to have small freak-outs when crowded by too many people. For starters, there's a big difference between large groups of vacation-goers, and hordes of drunk people at a bar. I'm not oblivious to the annoyances of the most-traveled vacation spot in the U.S. (it ranks up there in the world, too). As a matter of fact, since my last trip to see The Mouse, I've been thinking about this quite a bit. So, here are the five most annoying types of people you'll find in Disney - and some tips on how to deal with them.<br />
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<b>The competitor</b></h3>
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The competitor is the person who, for whatever reason, feels the need to push and shove to the front of each and every line. They'll break up your party, get too close for comfort to brush past you, and generally just create moments of tension...all to most likely end up on the same ride vehicle as you anyway. There are a lot of opportunities around Walt Disney World where this can happen. <a href="http://lipstickkingdom.blogspot.com/2011/07/soundtrack-tower-of-rock-n-roll.html">Rock n' Roller Coaster</a>, for example, is a big one. You wait in line for 30-40 minutes only to be grouped in a room where there is no line, and then you move out to <i>another</i> line, before you finally catch your limo. The competitor will make sure to push his or her way through this crowd to be the first in line. What are these people so anxious for? Is it really that big of a deal that they beat everyone? <b><i>How do you deal? </i></b>While this clearly gets my blood boiling, and believe me, it does, here's my way of dealing with it: Just hang back. Seriously. Who cares if you're the last person out of the room? What, it's going to take an extra 5-10 minutes out of your day? Enjoy the wait. Have a conversation with your family or whoever you're traveling with. You'll be on the ride soon enough, and it'll be over in 2.5 minutes anyway.</div>
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<b>The White Rabbit</b></h3>
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I'm late! I'm late! Similar to the competitor, these are the folks who are always in a rush, frantically dashing around each park to get to the next ride. They push, and shove, and sprint, so they can trim 10 minutes off of their next 90 minute wait at <a href="http://lipstickkingdom.blogspot.com/2011/09/hit-bulls-eye-toy-story-midway-mania.html">Toy Story Mania</a>. Dude, chill. I mean seriously, <i>go with the flow</i>. How can you expect to enjoy one of the greatest places on earth if you're just running all the time? <b><i>How do you deal? </i></b>I feel bad for them. Either they couldn't book a long enough vacation, or they just don't know how to enjoy themselves. Going to Disney World isn't about making sure you hit all the big rides (and if you've booked a week, you'll be fine and then some). It's about enjoying the atmosphere, stopping to smell the roses, taking note of the small detail that makes these parks stand apart from the competitors that will never, ever compare. Grab your loved one by the hand, stroll around, and laugh at all the people who look so stressed out. Need a vacation from your vacation? You aren't doing it right.</div>
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<b>Parents with strollers</b></h3>
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This is a really bad one, and by no means does this mean all parents take part in this. But let's set the scene: You're in Fantasyland. The world has gone mad. Seriously, it's like, every child on the planet is here. It's difficult to wade your way through the crowd. But then, what's this? A crazy person with a stroller coming <i>right at you</i>? Yup, it happens, all too often, I'm afraid. Parents, please don't use your children as weapons. I know you think it seems like no one is going to stand in the way of a stroller, but you're terrifying your child, and you're being reckless. Stop it. <b><i>How do you deal? </i></b>I honestly don't have a great suggestion on how to deal with this, because, who the heck wants to get hit by a stroller holding a crying kid? The parents probably fall under categories 1 and 2 above, and think they have a pass because they're pushing around a siren on wheels. Just get the heck out of the way, maybe utter a few curse words under your breath to feel better, and get on with your day. </div>
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<b>The smokers</b></h3>
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First of all, ew. Like I know somehow the 1950's made smoking look sexy, but it's been sixty years, and now it's disgusting. Disney has graciously made smoking sections available to those who feel the need to do so. It's really unpleasant for non-smokers to have to walk behind someone puffing away and clogging up your fresh air. Friend, this is a clean shirt. I'm wearing new perfume, and just might be carrying a kid with lungs I'd like to keep clean. Do not stink us up with your habit. You're probably a really lovely person, and I'm sorry for being so rude. Please just do that in your designated spot. <b><i>How do you deal? </i></b>Travelers, if you're ever stuck in this situation, you can do one of two things: Move away as fast as possible, or, if you're stuck in a crowd, start coughing. Like, <i>a lot</i>. They can't be mad at you, because they're not supposed to be smoking there anyway. Unless of course you accidentally stumbled into the designated smoking area, and then you'll just feel really bad. </div>
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<b>The unsupervised children</b></h3>
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This one doesn't bother me personally as much, but I've seen many a parent roll their eyes. Let's face it, kids tend to get a little rambunctious when they're with a group of friends, and they're feeling independent and ballsy. Disney may have actually taken care of this one for you. It was <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-disneyland-admission-policy-20130318,0,3932200.story">recently announced</a> that all children under the age of 14 cannot enter the park without a parent or guardian. This probably won't solve the problem of kids getting rowdy and acting like punks, but it's a step in the right direction. <i style="font-weight: bold;">How do you deal? </i>It's kind of annoying yes, but didn't you ever act like that? These kids want to cut loose and hang with their friends, away from their parents. If they've recently picked up some choice words from the English language and they're touting them around your 5-year-old, we've got a problem. But in most cases, they're harmless kids. Annoying, harmless kids. Unless they're wearing <a href="http://www.zappos.com/heelys">Heelys</a>. Then permission to bring the pain granted. </div>
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How do you deal with crowd-created frustrations in Disney World? Have you ever had a bad experience? Would love to hear from you.</div>
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Happy, stress-free traveling! </div>
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bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-12207704916788734672013-03-31T15:13:00.001-04:002013-03-31T15:15:11.669-04:00Disney on the Web, Week of March 31<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Hit the links with this week's Disney happenings on the Web.</i><br />
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<b>B</b>uzzfeed gives us a look inside what it's like to be the<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/bennyjohnson/the-most-exclusive-hotel-room-in-the-world-inside-disneys-ca"> luckiest person in the world</a>.<br />
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<b>T</b>his one's perfect because it mixes elements of my day job with my <strike>obsession</strike> love of Disney. Looking for a <a href="http://imgur.com/gallery/BYkzC">ring to match your favorite Disney princess</a>?<br />
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<b>D</b>isney Parks Blog give us a <a href="http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/03/first-look-at-star-wars-weekends-2013-merchandise-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/">first look at Stars Wars Weekend</a> moichandise. I like the hat.<br />
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<b>L</b>ongtime Disney editor <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-editor-norman-palmer-dies-431472">Norman Palmer has died</a> at 94.<br />
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<b>F</b>irst sightings of the <a href="http://www.insidethemagic.net/2013/03/iron-man-3-monorail-debuts-at-walt-disney-world-bringing-stark-industries-technology-to-orlando/">Iron Man 3 monorail</a>, branded with Stark Industries.<br />
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<b>D</b>id you know that all of these <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/every-sitcom-in-the-90s-went-to-disney-world">90's sitcoms went to Disney World</a>? T.G.I.F.<br />
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<b>E</b>xcuse me, parents, but <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-disneyland-admission-policy-20130318,0,3932200.story">Mickey Mouse is not your damn babysitter</a>.<br />
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<b>I</b>n other somewhat creepy news, VHI has ranked the <a href="http://www.vh1.com/celebrity/2013-03-18/top-20-sexiest-disney-animated-animals/">top 20 sexiest Disney animals</a>.<br />
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<b>O</b>n the human front, here are <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/louispeitzman/disney-stars-who-shed-their-wholesome-images">11 stars who shed their Disney image</a>.<br />
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<b>B</b>uzzfeed poses the question: <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/jessicamisener/are-these-disney-movies-racist">Are these Disney movies racist</a>? Does anyone care?<br />
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<b>G</b>reat article from PR Daily: <a href="http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/14094.aspx#">3 Types of Content That Drive Disney's Blog</a>.<br />
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<b>S</b>elena and Vanessa who? <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/louispeitzman/spring-breakers-gets-the-disney-princess-treatment">This Spring Breakers</a> stars the Disney Princesses, and it's <i>so wrong</i>.<br />
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<b>N</b>ow-married couple in the same Disney World <a href="http://www.ksl.com/?sid=24516512&nid=148">photo 15 years before they met</a>. Disney destiny?<br />
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<b>B</b>uzzfeed's <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/donnad/questions-disney-forgot-to-answer-about-beauty-and-the-be">12 questions for Beauty and the Beast</a> will poke holes in your favorite movie.<br />
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<b>M</b>innie Mouse gets a <a href="http://pursuitist.com/minnie-mouse-gets-lanvin-makeover-at-disneyland-paris-fashion-show/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Pursuitist+%28Pursuitist%29">Lanvin makeover</a> and she is <i>fabulous!</i><br />
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<b>M</b>an's annoyance with <i>It's a Small World </i>elevated to <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Man-wins-8K-after-Disney-Small-World-breakdown-4386734.phphttp://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Man-wins-8K-after-Disney-Small-World-breakdown-4386734.php">medical meltdown</a>, Disney pays $8,000.<br />
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<b>W</b>ell, here's <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/copyranter/disney-anatomy-drawings">one way to teach anatomy to your kids</a>. No seriously, <i>do not</i> show this to them.<br />
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<b>A</b>nd finally, can anyone please<a href="http://i.imgur.com/wCuKvtV.jpg"> confirm if this amazingness is true</a>?<br />
<br />bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-16614451512779592252013-01-01T19:43:00.002-05:002013-01-01T19:45:08.366-05:00The 5 Best Dishes From the 2012 Food & Wine Festival (The Better Late Than Never Edition)<i><b style="font-size: xx-large;">A </b>note on the new year</i>: I know the dangers of declaring New Year's resolutions on January 1, but in an effort to maintain a happier, better me, I've decided that, along with the traditional "I will work out and lose 20 pounds this year" spiel, I will also make more of an effort to fill my life with more Disney, hence the reason I started this blog in the first place. I make excuses since my professional life has been so fulfilling, I don't find much need to come home and write more after a long day. But darnit, it's what I love. And as you may have noticed, I always have plenty to say. So, now that I've gotten that out of the way, a happy and healthy new year to all, and here we go!<br />
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This is painfully late, somewhat embarrassingly so, but having had an amazing experience at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival this year (or last year, my goodness it's 2013!) I just had to tell you about it. Take a look at what I think were the 5 best eats from the gorge-fest that is the Food & Wine Festival.</div>
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<b>Grilled lamb chop with mint pesto and potato crunchies, Australia</b></div>
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I'd hardly consider myself a meat person. In fact, if you had asked me before digging into this dish if I liked lamb, I probably would have said no way. The lamb dish from the Australia booth changed all that in just a few bites. The combination of the salty, crispy potato crunchies (read: crumbled up chips) paired with the zest of the mint pesto was enough to make my taste buds dance. And the lamb itself was cooked perfectly, and not at all fatty or too "meaty," as my sometimes-vegetarian self would say. It was just so perfectly yum.</div>
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<b>Mongolian beef in a steamed bun, China</b></div>
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Any way you slice it, one of the dishes from China was bound to be a favorite. Of the three, it just so happened to be the Mongolian beef bun. Here we go again with the meat - but this was tender, and it wasn't the main ingredient that had our tongues wagging. It was the tangy spicy sauce, the crunchy noodles that I rarely eat a salad without, and the slightly sweet bun that made this dish. This paired with China's Happy Lychee vodka concoction, and we were pretty happy indeed. </div>
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<b>Kahlua pork slider with pineapple chutney and spicy mayonnaise, Hawaii</b></div>
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All of the hub-bub about Hawaii's famous pork sliders was 100 percent accurate. The pairing of spicy mayo and sweet pineapple was enough to make me forget I was eating pork (which I could have sworn I didn't love, though I'm starting to notice a pattern here). It's obvious why they brought this back, and I hope it will continue to be a festival mainstay for years to come. </div>
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<b>Belgian waffle with berry compote and whipped cream, Belgium</b></div>
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You might be thinking, "So what? It's just a waffle." Well, that may be. But it was one darn good waffle. These babies were served fresh, and piping hot, with a delectable compote sauce and perfect dollop of whipped cream. And after eating all of those meat dishes, this is just what we needed. Just wonderful.</div>
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<b>Beef empanada, Argentina</b></div>
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Here in D.C., we have a place called Julia's Empanadas. It's most often frequented at 3am, when one wants to fill one's tummy with a fried concoction to balance out the night's surplus of cocktails. This was not one of those empanadas. This was an amazing, melt-in-your-mouth dish, with a warm filling and light crispy crust. Muy bien.</div>
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Stay tuned for what I thought were the worst dishes from the Food & Wine Festival, if you can forgive my tardiness on the subject!</div>
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Happy eating!</div>
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bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-37622206280336277642012-08-20T21:27:00.000-04:002012-08-20T21:27:05.110-04:00Listen: Snow White Gets Remixed<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I </span>came across this song while listening to one of my indie playlists.</b> I thought it was just another dance remix, but imagine my surprise when I listened to the words...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pBwrdHOu6vQ" width="420"></iframe>bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-24825185543302728442012-08-20T05:45:00.000-04:002012-08-20T05:45:00.052-04:00Disney Detox: Eating Healthy in the World<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I </span>was a pig this weekend.</b> A no holds barred, never ever full, kind of pig. Ever have one of those weekends? It was rainy, so we were stuck inside. We had just stocked up on some chips and dip (never a great idea, even if it <i>is</i> for preseason football), and the temptation was just too much. So while I sit here watching the season finale of <i>Falling Skies</i>, and contemplate how I can get back on the nutrition track this week, I got to thinking of the healthiest ways to eat in Disney World.<br />
There are so many food options throughout the Disney resort: After the first couple of days, it's easy to get sick of the chicken fingers and french fries that you grab on the go (unless you have the power to stay healthy the whole time, in which case I envy you). J and I always end up hitting our limit on the fried foods, and opt for the fresher, cleaner options about halfway through our vacation. Now, if we could just avoid the junk in the first place, we'd be off to a much better start. So my goal for this October (minus the Food and Wine Festival goodies, naturally), is to make a valid attempt at a healthier, fresher Disney diet. And here are some of my favorite food and snack spots that are going to make this goal a heck of a lot easier.<br />
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<b>Harambe Fruit Market</b></h4>
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Aside from the soft pretzels, which are always a favorite snack of ours, <b>Animal Kingdom</b>'s <b>Harambe Fruit Market </b>offers trail mix, pineapple, and - one of the most delicious autumn snacks - apples and caramel.<br />
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<b>Columbia Harbour House</b></h4>
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Pleasantly tucked away in <b>Magic Kingdom</b>'s <b>Liberty Square</b>, <b>Columbia Harbour House</b> is my favorite spot for a fresh-tasting lunch. You can have your chicken nuggets and eat them too, but I'd recommend opting for the Lighthouse sandwich (hummus and slaw), and the Anchors Aweigh (tuna). Plus, if you can snag a window seat upstairs, you've got a great view of park visitors venturing in and out of the <b>Haunted Mansion</b>.<br />
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<b>Anaheim Produce</b></h4>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/krisjaus/4715338017/" title="Anaheim Produce by krisjaus, on Flickr"><img alt="Anaheim Produce" height="375" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4022/4715338017_814122cb14.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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Another typical fruit strand a la Disney, but this one resides on one of my favorite fictional streets: <b>Sunset Boulevard</b>. Grab a hot soft pretzel if you must, but the gems here are the frozen lemonade and decent selection of fresh fruit. This is a great spot for a mid-afternoon snack in <b>Hollywood Studios</b>.<br />
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What are your favorite spots for a fried-free nosh? Do share!<br />
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<br />bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-58792117858689197122012-05-12T08:05:00.000-04:002012-05-12T08:05:25.467-04:00Modern Family and High Heels in DisneylandDid you catch last week's episode of Modern Family? The whole gang took a day trip to the Happiest Place on Earth. We learned that even Gloria can't wear heels to the Magic Kingdom (though they do seem to solve an issue for a certain toddler), how Abe Lincoln prolonged Jay's marriage, and even had a laugh about the child "leash." It was great - I recommend it to anyone who loves Disney, even if you don't watch Modern Family. I guarantee you'll be hooked on the show with one episode, though. It's always a funny and heartwarming treat.<br />
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Happy watching!<br />
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<br />bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-28369797389528669102012-02-18T08:41:00.000-05:002012-02-18T08:41:09.343-05:00(Let's Hear it for the Boys)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">W</span></b>e've seen multiple <a href="http://www.lipstickkingdom.blogspot.com/2011/12/cover-girls-are-back.html">instances</a> of our favorite Disney Princesses as cover girls, and now, their heroic better halves are getting a turn. Take a look at these magazine covers, created by <a href="http://petitetiaras.tumblr.com/">Petite Tiara</a>. Each is more swoon-worthy than the last.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bo95Ey9pfCI/Tz-lJkPjPuI/AAAAAAAADWk/302to18yCpw/s1600/139738_1_600.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bo95Ey9pfCI/Tz-lJkPjPuI/AAAAAAAADWk/302to18yCpw/s640/139738_1_600.jpeg" width="502" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best headline: "How to Deal with Crazy Sister-In-Laws"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3igchpcRpM8/Tz-lK_1wYtI/AAAAAAAADWs/8FkKIBzjxKE/s1600/139738_3_600.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3igchpcRpM8/Tz-lK_1wYtI/AAAAAAAADWs/8FkKIBzjxKE/s640/139738_3_600.jpeg" width="504" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How many of you knew that Snow White's Prince Charming was named Ferdinand? </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iVKeH2r-7K8/Tz-lLUKb6JI/AAAAAAAADW0/L6zt7Luv7WI/s1600/139738_2_600.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iVKeH2r-7K8/Tz-lLUKb6JI/AAAAAAAADW0/L6zt7Luv7WI/s640/139738_2_600.jpeg" width="502" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The always-handsome Prince Eric looks uber-cool on the cover of Men's Journal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lOswfZshRrY/Tz-lL1xG3pI/AAAAAAAADW8/-TygGH6ntRA/s1600/139738_4_600.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lOswfZshRrY/Tz-lL1xG3pI/AAAAAAAADW8/-TygGH6ntRA/s640/139738_4_600.jpeg" width="502" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I find Prince Philip to look a bit on the femmy side. Thoughts?<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_vWsqXRKTVY/Tz-oVBTNLxI/AAAAAAAADXk/yeaJ71If-Zs/s1600/tumblr_ly68b5Nwr91qlt206o1_500.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_vWsqXRKTVY/Tz-oVBTNLxI/AAAAAAAADXk/yeaJ71If-Zs/s640/tumblr_ly68b5Nwr91qlt206o1_500.png" width="502" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pocahontas' man looks ruggedly handsome of the cover of Details<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9rDJFagTu3U/Tz-ojjX-ZHI/AAAAAAAADXs/vLRHQRgKRBY/s1600/tumblr_ly4etpD8uW1qlt206o1_500.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9rDJFagTu3U/Tz-ojjX-ZHI/AAAAAAAADXs/vLRHQRgKRBY/s640/tumblr_ly4etpD8uW1qlt206o1_500.png" width="502" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Could Aladdin be a candidate for Time's Person of the Year?<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OgX_Buxvth8/Tz-o0wO8_0I/AAAAAAAADX0/F0ls9Fffzgw/s1600/tumblr_ly2nqlkQbG1qlt206o1_500.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OgX_Buxvth8/Tz-o0wO8_0I/AAAAAAAADX0/F0ls9Fffzgw/s640/tumblr_ly2nqlkQbG1qlt206o1_500.png" width="502" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perhaps the coolest of all the covers, The Beast shows his split personality on National Geographic<br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sF29bkZDk6o/Tz-pCQQ2wNI/AAAAAAAADX8/0VzvlqX0tmc/s1600/tumblr_lyc01msY3E1qlt206o1_500.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sF29bkZDk6o/Tz-pCQQ2wNI/AAAAAAAADX8/0VzvlqX0tmc/s640/tumblr_lyc01msY3E1qlt206o1_500.png" width="502" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My personal favorite, the handsome Prince Naveen shines on the cover of Best Life. Jazz music!</td></tr>
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To see more and to check out Petite Tiara's blog, visit <a href="http://petitetiaras.tumblr/">petitetiaras.tumblr</a>.<br />
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Happy Swooning!<br />
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<br />bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-48035294802360921292012-02-11T10:54:00.000-05:002012-02-11T10:54:11.898-05:00(Hats Off to You)<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></b>hat is it about an Orlando vacation that drives us to try on all manner of hats? Even as a typical germaphobe, I lose all sense of how many heads each hat has undoubtedly graced, just to get that one photo that will forever live on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lipstick-Kingdom/271128679566556">Facebook</a> page. I, with the courage that typically only comes with the help of a liquid libation, run straight to the nearest, most wonderful hat and instantly throw it atop my head. It is from that point that I shout to my husband, "look at me, take my photo!" And, if I come to the conclusion that there are too many "hat photos" of yours truly, poor J must step in, and honor those vows that we spoke on our <a href="http://lipstickkingdom.blogspot.com/2011/10/for-j-happy-anniversary.html">wedding day</a>: "I promise to love and cherish you, and to take ridiculous, embarrassing pictures in Florida." Come to think of it, I wish that had really happened. Vow or not, he does manage to humor me on every trip. So without further ado, take a look at one fabulous hat photo collection:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1OmqMBXY2Ms/TzaKXbNMzYI/AAAAAAAADVw/Dxwtilvd5i0/s1600/2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1OmqMBXY2Ms/TzaKXbNMzYI/AAAAAAAADVw/Dxwtilvd5i0/s640/2006.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>2006</b>, from left: then-MGM Studios; Epcot's Olympic chapeau; Mickey's Philharmagic; Epcot, again; Rainforest Cafe, Downtown Disney; <a href="http://lipstickkingdom.blogspot.com/2011/11/why-cant-stitch-catch-break.html">Stitch'</a>s Great Escape! Magic Kingdom </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1fiXSK-Xs2I/TzaLYKQwDSI/AAAAAAAADV4/slfjrPfBLRM/s1600/2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1fiXSK-Xs2I/TzaLYKQwDSI/AAAAAAAADV4/slfjrPfBLRM/s640/2007.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>2007</b>, from left: Team Mickey Athletic Club, Downtown Disney; Rainforest Cafe, Animal Kingdom; "<a href="http://lipstickkingdom.blogspot.com/2011/12/oh-mexico.html">Mexico</a>," Epcot; Raglan Road, Downtown Disney<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSt3FtcRuW8/TzaMBXtTFuI/AAAAAAAADWA/vaPpVN_yVg4/s1600/2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSt3FtcRuW8/TzaMBXtTFuI/AAAAAAAADWA/vaPpVN_yVg4/s640/2008.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>2008</b>, both at Mickey's Star Traders</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oKVkPj4MS9s/TzaMPyYmbWI/AAAAAAAADWI/KHC9whs72dE/s1600/2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="454" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oKVkPj4MS9s/TzaMPyYmbWI/AAAAAAAADWI/KHC9whs72dE/s640/2009.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>2009,</b> from left: Epcot's Mexico; "<a href="http://lipstickkingdom.blogspot.com/2011/10/dining-in-morocco-restaurant-marrakesh.html">Morocco</a>," Epcot; Animal Kingdom<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5llxJsj9y-8/TzaMv7Zd7NI/AAAAAAAADWQ/GYxmsKxLbOI/s1600/2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5llxJsj9y-8/TzaMv7Zd7NI/AAAAAAAADWQ/GYxmsKxLbOI/s640/2010.jpg" width="484" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>2010</b>, top to bottom: World of Disney, Downtown Disney; Brown Derby Hat Shop, Universal Studios Orlando<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1W0Ra1TJals/TzaNf6TTY2I/AAAAAAAADWY/_aeTHaYgPKQ/s1600/2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1W0Ra1TJals/TzaNf6TTY2I/AAAAAAAADWY/_aeTHaYgPKQ/s640/2011.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2011, Disney Cruise Line, <a href="http://lipstickkingdom.blogspot.com/2011/09/cheers-drinking-on-disney-magic.html">Mediterranean </a></td></tr>
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Do you have any fantastic and/or embarrassing hat photos? Send them on!<br />
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Happy chapeau-ing,<br />
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<br />bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-5155601655342886502012-02-06T08:16:00.000-05:002012-02-06T08:16:48.003-05:00(Eli's Going to Disney World!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jLhBqaf3sl8/Ty_ORmLJDsI/AAAAAAAADVo/ufPLKj_UeKQ/s1600/slide_207773_665278_splash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jLhBqaf3sl8/Ty_ORmLJDsI/AAAAAAAADVo/ufPLKj_UeKQ/s640/slide_207773_665278_splash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">M</span></b>y beloved <b>NY Giants</b> have gone and done it again! Today, Eli Manning will be cruising right down the middle of <b>Main Street, U.S.A.</b> in grand style.<br />
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This celebratory parade has been a tradition since Disney first started airing commercials featuring the popular phrase, "I'm going to Disney World!" Spoken after winning the <i>big game,</i> these players have not only been from the wonderful game of football, but also from other sports and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzvitWFHM-w">American Idol</a>.<br />
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The series was launched in 1987 with none other than <b>NY Giants</b> quarterback <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P-gDZmFnTQ">Phil Simms</a>, after winning Super Bowl XXI.<br />
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While I have yet to find this year's commercial online, I am sure it won't be long before it blows up YouTube (to be posted here later). What's funny to note is that I saw the commercial for this first time while writing this blog entry only a few moments ago. I can't help but tear up just a bit when I hear those wonderful words.<br />
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Happy Celebrating!<br />
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<br />bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-5395636333074196852012-02-05T08:55:00.002-05:002012-02-05T08:55:47.223-05:00(What to do with no Picnik?)I'm a little late to the game here as many bloggers and photography fiends have done their fare share of venting about this, but a few weeks ago, I received the most disturbing news to my inbox:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6VKdvYD78T8/Ty6DEwxvIxI/AAAAAAAADVg/7ZIzIjSl6wM/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="564" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6VKdvYD78T8/Ty6DEwxvIxI/AAAAAAAADVg/7ZIzIjSl6wM/s640/Untitled-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I can't describe how terrible I felt when I read this. As someone who <a href="http://www.lipstickkingdom.blogspot.com/2011/12/my-best-shot-wishes-cinderella-castle.html">really loves her camera</a>, this is an awful shame. Picnik really held its own among the best of editing programs, and was a joy to use -- incredibly user friendly and equally inexpensive (a premium membership cost $24.95/year).<br />
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So...what now? Google+ users will have some features of Picnik available to them, it appears.I don't mind sharing photos with friends on the social media platform, but I would like the option to edit them and download them to my computer as I could with the previous version of Picnik. It isn't immediately clear to me how this new option is going to work.<br />
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I would love to hear your suggestions on a great replacement. We have until April 19, 2012 to take advantage of Picnik - I urge you to do so!<br />
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And here's hoping that my dramatic sound-off is all for naught - Google did promise bigger and better things, didn't they? Let's hope that they deliver in time for my <a href="http://www.lipstickkingdom.blogspot.com/2011/10/what-to-wear-disney-in-october.html">October</a> 2012 trip to Disney World!<br />
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Happy editing (while you still can!),<br />
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<br />bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-38359190184022846152012-02-04T08:53:00.000-05:002012-02-04T08:53:00.837-05:00(Why Can't We Be Friends?)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jwfDrEgI42Q/Ty03AfnCmEI/AAAAAAAADVI/XbbWM60aEfE/s1600/140663_3_600.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jwfDrEgI42Q/Ty03AfnCmEI/AAAAAAAADVI/XbbWM60aEfE/s400/140663_3_600.jpeg" width="396" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">I</span></b> found these great photos on <a href="http://www.trendhunter.com/">Trendhunter.com </a>- illustrated by Ingrid Aspock, they show long-time enemies putting aside their differences and spreading the love. Which is your favorite? I bet you can guess mine!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dkY1WlZE7t8/Ty03KVs_iCI/AAAAAAAADVQ/Syo1syXSBXA/s1600/140663_2_600.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dkY1WlZE7t8/Ty03KVs_iCI/AAAAAAAADVQ/Syo1syXSBXA/s400/140663_2_600.jpeg" width="390" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This illustration makes me long for <a href="http://www.lipstickkingdom.blogspot.com/2011/12/we-will-no-longer-be-needing-bigger.html">this</a> to come back.</td></tr>
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Happy Hugging!<br />
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<br />bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-31671793015745893902012-01-08T09:14:00.000-05:002012-01-08T09:14:30.590-05:00(Happy New Year!)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-thnXlS-z938/Twmiknj8X9I/AAAAAAAADUg/QpnobrBD5BU/s1600/pin111000SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-thnXlS-z938/Twmiknj8X9I/AAAAAAAADUg/QpnobrBD5BU/s640/pin111000SMALL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of Disney Parks Blog</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b>t has certainly been a while since I've made my last update, and time seems to have gotten away from me. What with the holiday season taking up more than enough time, there have been parties and travelling back to North Carolina and New York - and I got the most amazing new job, filled with great people and tremendous opportunity. If the first few weeks have been any indication, it's going to keep me busier than I have been in a long time, and I welcome the work. Of course, this doesn't mean that Disney isn't ever at the forefront of my mind. As a matter of fact, when I have a moment to spare, I find my mind drifting off to a special place in the <a href="http://lipstickkingdom.blogspot.com/search?q=magic+kingdom">Magic Kingdom</a>, or a memory of our last <a href="http://lipstickkingdom.blogspot.com/search/label/Disney%20Cruise%20Line">Disney Cruise</a>. It's a steadfast part of my life, no matter where we end up <a href="http://lipstickkingdom.blogspot.com/2011/09/apologies.html">moving </a>or what we happen to be doing. My moments of Zen will have to be reserved for weekends, when restaurant reviews, style guides and trip updates will be made from now on. But for now, take a look at some of my favorite news updates that happened while I was gone:<br />
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<ul>
<li> Some big changes are coming to <a href="http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/07/downtown-disney-update/">Downtown Disney</a></li>
<li>The renewal of Disney and GM's alliance will bring us a re-imagined <a href="http://land.allears.net/blogs/dnews/2012/01/disney_and_general_motors_rene.html">Test Track</a></li>
<li>2012 is a leap year, meaning an extra day in the <a href="http://land.allears.net/blogs/dnews/2012/01/leap_year_2012_calls_for_one_m.html">Disney Parks</a></li>
<li>Updates on the <a href="http://land.allears.net/blogs/dnews/2011/12/dumbo_adorns_the_disney_fantas_1.html">Disney Fantasy</a></li>
<li>The Little Mermaid celebrates <a href="http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/01/vintage-walt-disney-world-under-the-sea-for-20-years-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/">20 years</a></li>
<li>Heather Marks wears Mickey ears on the cover of <a href="http://fashiongonerogue.com/heather-marks-david-burton-elle-france/">Elle France</a></li>
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Happy New Year!<br />
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<br />bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-16119434739537633772011-12-22T22:10:00.000-05:002011-12-22T22:10:00.413-05:00(Happy Holidays!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qe2pxBzxjuc/TvPwovPIulI/AAAAAAAADUM/8DERBDgqBRU/s1600/December+2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qe2pxBzxjuc/TvPwovPIulI/AAAAAAAADUM/8DERBDgqBRU/s640/December+2009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>W</b></span>ishing a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of my favorite Disney fanatics out there! May you enjoy your families and get everything that you wished for this year...including a chance to see that gorgeous castle all lit up in lights! Here's hoping that we make it there soon!<br />
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Happy Holidays,<br />
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<br />bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-92213149104351139342011-12-18T12:26:00.000-05:002011-12-18T12:26:13.925-05:00(Extracurricular Activities: Water Park Fun & More)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-92QjcdtgITU/Tu4TjgByZCI/AAAAAAAADTQ/bTCo-_DGQD0/s1600/Disney2007+%2528256%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-92QjcdtgITU/Tu4TjgByZCI/AAAAAAAADTQ/bTCo-_DGQD0/s640/Disney2007+%2528256%2529.jpg" width="432" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">B & MOM, May 2007.</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">W</span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">hen planning your Disney vacation, you have the glorious opportunity to add the </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Water Park Fun & More</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> option to your base park ticket. I suggest you take that opportunity. For ages 10+, a 7-day Park Hopper ticket will run you $322 (current Dec 2011 prices). With the aforementioned option, the price increases to $377. That's merely a $55 difference that you have to pay to experience a whole other world of Disney. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xFuy8KP3gPQ/Tu4USEK-lwI/AAAAAAAADTY/hJZzxpKceuU/s1600/Disney2007+%2528213%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xFuy8KP3gPQ/Tu4USEK-lwI/AAAAAAAADTY/hJZzxpKceuU/s400/Disney2007+%2528213%2529.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Water Park Fun & More ticket option allows to to experience two water parks, DisneyQuest and admission to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. It also used to include admission to Pleasure Island (le sigh). That's a whole lot of extra for 55 bucks. If you're planning on staying 7 nights in Disney (or 8 or 10, which is always recommended), it's suitable to say that time will allow you to explore a bit outside of the 4 main theme parks. My suggestion, coming from someone who isn't super crazy about water parks, is to start with DisneyQuest.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Cv6hVcko2s/Tu4UzqnLdLI/AAAAAAAADTg/6YAeywMxwxo/s1600/Disney2006+%2528286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Cv6hVcko2s/Tu4UzqnLdLI/AAAAAAAADTg/6YAeywMxwxo/s400/Disney2006+%2528286%2529.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">With friends, March 2006.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">DisneyQuest, billed as an indoor, interactive theme park, is fantastically fun for all ages. We have always enjoyed going at night to coincide with a trip to Pleasure Island, but DisneyQuest opens at 11:30am daily. The fun starts right when you enter - this is probably one of the coolest elevator rides I have ever taken (not counting the Tower of Terror, obviously). No spoilers here - I trust that you will take the opportunity to try it for yourself! </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SjAnXjrugnA/Tu4VyWGk-TI/AAAAAAAADTo/E-8wLddiA8c/s1600/Orlando2005+%252887%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SjAnXjrugnA/Tu4VyWGk-TI/AAAAAAAADTo/E-8wLddiA8c/s640/Orlando2005+%252887%2529.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">DisneyQuest's Virtual Jungle Cruise</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The most popular attractions here are without a doubt CyberSpace Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean - Battle for Buccaneer Gold. I will never try CyberSpace Mountain simply because my body just can't take an overload of motion simulators, but the line is always pretty long for this one. Guests get to build their own rollercoaster (make it as scary as you want - they insist!) and then proceed to "ride" their design. I have heard pretty good things about it, but like I said...no way will I <i>ever </i>do this. Pirates of the Caribbean is a different story - this attraction is phenomenal! In a photo above, J and I are wearing some crazy looking goggles - be prepared to do the same when you participate in Pirates. Your team must decide who does what - someone steers the ship, another mans the cannon, and yet another must ward off evil pirates! What I love about DisneyQuest is that this really is a place for families to play together. Working as a team is a <b><i>big</i></b> theme here and I really appreciate the underlying values that DisneyQuest promotes (whether intentionally or not). </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uAzuePF1juU/Tu4XkzYxUMI/AAAAAAAADTw/UE8170zFSOc/s400/Disney2007+%2528215%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wonderland Cafe, 2007.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Be sure not to miss my two favorite DisneyQuest attractions; Virtual Jungle Cruise and Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters. Remember, if lines appear long, they move just as fast. I've never really had an issue with queue times. If you're looking for something a bit more low-key, DisneyQuest has an entire floor dedicated to some good old-fashioned Arcade Games, including my personal favorite, AIR HOCKEY! If you've played yourself silly until the point of starvation, fear not - Wonderland Cafe and Food Quest are two fantastic dining options that DisneyQuest has for you. OK, enough with the information overload. I could really go on about this place for a very long time. JUST GO! For more information on DisneyQuest and to add the option to your park ticket, visit <a href="http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/downtown-disney/entertainment/disney-quest-indoor-interactive-theme-park/">here</a>.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blizzard Beach</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The next stop on your glorious adventure beyond the Disney theme parks is a just-as-fabulous water park. You have two options: Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon - or both. When I was 7, on my very first trip to Disney World, I was bowled over by a giant wave at Typhoon Lagoon. I required a trip to the park's first aid center, and while I may have been a very dramatic seven-year-old, the park has since been ruined forever. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So...that leaves Blizzard Beach for me! How could you not love this place - snow in Florida? In the summer?! Fantastic. The legend of Blizzard Beach is as follows:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"> "It was a meteorological phenomenon of the strangest order. One balmy day, a freak winter storm developed </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"> over the western end of Walt Disney World Resort and covered the area with a thick blanket of powdery </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"> white snow. Before you could say "hot cocoa," plans were underway for Florida's first ski resort.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Ski lifts were put up, toboggan runs were laid down and an entire resort area blossomed around the mountain </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"> of snow. Yet before the first skier could strap on a pair of boots and stick his poles into the snow, the </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"> temperatures returned to their normal Florida levels, and the powdery snow quickly turned into slippery </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"> slush. The ski resort operators saw their dream melting down the hillside. Yet that's not all they saw.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> As the slush began cascading down and pools of water began to form, an echoing "yahoo" was heard from </span></div>
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"> the summit of the mountain. Everyone looked up to see a playful alligator careening down the melting hillside.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"> He slid to the base of the mountain and landed in a pool of water with a thunderous splash. They knew at </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"> once that they were back in business.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Slalom courses, bobsled and toboggan runs became downhill waterslides. The creek of melted snow that </span></div>
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"> formed at the base of the mountain became a relaxing tube ride. The chairlift carried swimmers instead of </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"> skiers. The ski jump became the tallest and fastest water slide in the world. The ski resort became known as </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"> Disney's Blizzard Beach, the most slushy, slippery, exhilarating water park anywhere!" (<a href="http://allears.net/btp/bb.htm">All Ears</a>)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
And what a delight it is. As water parks go, Blizzard Beach is the cream of the crop. With attractions like Summit Plummet (a living nightmare of a waterslide), Downhill Double Dipper and my personal favorite, Teamboat Springs, you have a whole day's worth of fun. I mean, how many other water parks have chair lifts? There is also a good variety of food options here - nachos (what else?) at the Cooling Hut, a Blizzard Dog at Avalunch, a Grand Margarita from Polar Pub and some mini donuts from a place called..Mini Donuts, the possibilities are endless. All you need is your bathing suit, some sunblock and a waterproof camera for those memories, and you've got yourself a great family day and some fun in the sun.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/---86k2OHdLQ/Tu4fobK_sPI/AAAAAAAADUA/UY_-Z3vedP4/s1600/Disney2007+%2528253%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/---86k2OHdLQ/Tu4fobK_sPI/AAAAAAAADUA/UY_-Z3vedP4/s640/Disney2007+%2528253%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">J says" Spend a day at Blizzard Beach!"</td></tr>
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Adult admission for a day at DisneyQuest is $43.67. A day at Blizzard Beach will cost you $52.19. So, you do the math...the solution is clear that it's worth your money to add the <i>Water Park Fun & More </i>option to your ticket. Even if you don't use all of the options, or you don't spend the entire day at one of the water parks, it just makes good sense. Some people don't realize that Disney has so much more to offer than just the four main theme parks. There are even some people who think that the Magic Kingdom <b><i>IS</i></b> Disney World. Yikes. We know better than that, don't we? :)<br />
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What is your favorite extracurricular activity at Walt Disney World? Your favorite DisneyQuest attraction? Send me your comments!<br />
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Happy Exploring!<br />
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</div>bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-21534129049663614662011-12-13T14:11:00.000-05:002011-12-13T14:11:34.444-05:00(Oh, Mexico)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">I</span></b> have an appreciation for all pavilions in Epcot's World Showcase, but perhaps my favorite among them is Mexico. It's your first stop as you enter the World Showcase from Future World (if you take a left). You can't miss the Aztec pyramid that towers over you, based on a real structure located in Teotihuacan, Mexico.<br />
Upon entering, you are immediately greeted by "Animales Fantasticos," a tremendous display of Mexican artwork and wood-carved animals. Notice the cast members are painting the animals while you can watch, or choose to purchase one of the trinkets and bring it home for display.<br />
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Before heading down the steps to peruse the marketplace in La Plaza de los Amigos, be sure to stop and enjoy the view. It's my favorite element to this pavilion - the atmosphere is romantic as it was designed to resemble twilight, and I just adore the dimly lit lanterns hanging overhead.<br />
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The marketplace itself is really a treat. I have purchased a number of things here, including an awesome hand-knit blanket and a poncho for one of those chillier-than-expected nights in late February that I was not appropriately dressed for. You can also find everything from pottery, toys, handbags, jewelry and of course tequila! No visit to "Mexico" is complete without an oversized sombrero photo!<br />
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There are a few good options for dining in the Mexico pavilion. To your right, there is La Cava del Tequila. Here you can enjoy a various selection of tapas, as well as an unreal variety of tequila (over 70 different kinds!) We gave it a try last year and absolutely loved it. Winner of best restaurant atmosphere definitely goes to San Angel Inn, which seats diners along the River of Time (el Rio del Tiempo). The sister restaurant to the original in Mexico City, the San Angel Inn offers a variety of authentic Mexican dishes for both lunch and dinner. I have dined here on two occasions, but it has been years. I don't recall the food being anything particularly special, but in my opinion the atmosphere well outweighs the cuisine. The margaritas are tasty, and this a great place to go for a romantic meal - if you're lucky, you'll be treated to a fantastic performance by Mariachi Cobre. Recently opened in the fall of 2010 is La Hacienda de San Angel, an outdoor full-service restaurant along the water. This is definitely now on my to-do list.<br />
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Mexico is one of the few pavilions to have an actual ride; the Gran Fiesta Tour stars the Three Caballeros, and it's not to be missed. Will it win any awards, or knock your socks off? Probably not. But it's a cute journey with a fun premise. The Three Caballeros are expected to host a concert, only to find that Donald has run off exploring. The scenes are colorful and fun, and the best part is of course riding past the Mayan Pyramid where you can look to your right and witness diners at San Angel Inn.<br />
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When leaving the pavilion, refrain from going out the front door and instead, exit to the left. You will be treated to a gorgeous mural on the side of the pyramid - great photo opportunity!<br />
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If you're lucky, you may just run into a celebrity or two!<br />
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What is your favorite part of Mexico? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the restaurant options!<br />
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Feliz Explorar!<br />
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<br />bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-26213455230613409892011-12-12T10:15:00.001-05:002011-12-12T10:17:18.026-05:00(My Best Shot: Wishes! & Cinderella Castle)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span> love love travel. I would say that it's my favorite thing, but I can't travel anywhere without my camera. So maybe photography is my favorite thing. Either way, travel and photography go hand in hand for me, and one is not complete without the other. Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom is one of the most photographed structures in the world. I'm (clearly) no pro when it comes to photography, but I give it my best shot, and am always learning something new. It has long been a personal goal to get the perfect picture of Cinderella Castle, particularly during the fireworks show, Wishes! The problem is, I don't really have the patience to carry around the required equipment to actually do so. I always feel for those people in the Disney parks carrying around their giant backpacks and tripods, although I know they're getting amazing pictures so I sort of envy them, too. The thing is, it's easy to get really frustrated when snapping away during the fireworks show. On most occasions I spend more time fidgeting with my camera than I do enjoying the show. But every once in a while, I find a hidden gem among the hundreds of blurry shots. It's not perfect or professional by any means, but still, I find something special. Take a look at below at my attempts over the last few years.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9mf2-bcHtLA/TuYXHwnD_PI/AAAAAAAADRk/y1_ot4bEjQw/s1600/Orlando2005+%252837%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="518" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9mf2-bcHtLA/TuYXHwnD_PI/AAAAAAAADRk/y1_ot4bEjQw/s640/Orlando2005+%252837%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2005. Pretty blurry, but look at the colors!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0zsFmwfNWhM/TuYXWSGs16I/AAAAAAAADRs/DwsPSvKVllc/s1600/Disney2006+%252892%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0zsFmwfNWhM/TuYXWSGs16I/AAAAAAAADRs/DwsPSvKVllc/s640/Disney2006+%252892%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2006. I love the castle draped in shadows paired with the brightness of the fireworks. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gmlVV_Rx6CE/TuYXl6LpbaI/AAAAAAAADR0/jaoDoIV2mWg/s1600/Disney2007+%2528178%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gmlVV_Rx6CE/TuYXl6LpbaI/AAAAAAAADR0/jaoDoIV2mWg/s640/Disney2007+%2528178%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2007. Another where the castle is shrouded in darkness, but look at the sky! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-exxFdFvPgN8/TuYXzyx7rWI/AAAAAAAADR8/sOfJXsMrmK0/s1600/disney2009+%2528248%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-exxFdFvPgN8/TuYXzyx7rWI/AAAAAAAADR8/sOfJXsMrmK0/s640/disney2009+%2528248%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2009. A bit blurry, but take a look at the couple bottom center. How sweet!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2010 from Narcoosee's. Blurry, and this is where a better zoom lens would come in handy. </td></tr>
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My 2010 photo isn't anything special, but I thought it was cool to have the show from a different location. This was the first year that I visited Disney World without a point and shoot (I had finally upgraded to a DSLR). For some reason we didn't make it to the park in time to see Wishes! up close, so next year I'll really test it out and hope for some good results.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OkBbjJIPh8c/TuYYi25jKuI/AAAAAAAADSM/YZT8jaWmYoo/s1600/Orlando2010+%2528325%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OkBbjJIPh8c/TuYYi25jKuI/AAAAAAAADSM/YZT8jaWmYoo/s640/Orlando2010+%2528325%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During PM Extra Magic Hours, 2010.</td></tr>
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So, personal goal still not attained, but I'll keep on trying (which means I'll just have to keep going back to Disney, bummer!) Perhaps someday I will acquire the appropriate equipment (and talent) to really get that perfect one. Until then, I'll just give it my best shot and hope for something special!<br />
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Send me your castle photos!<br />
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Happy Snapping!<br />
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<br />bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-73219300677526692692011-12-08T10:19:00.001-05:002011-12-08T10:55:17.364-05:00(Pit Stop: Mizner's Lounge)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iCNEQURJbu4/TuDWR6l6j3I/AAAAAAAADQs/z0orB-aii-E/s1600/Orlando2010+%2528288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iCNEQURJbu4/TuDWR6l6j3I/AAAAAAAADQs/z0orB-aii-E/s400/Orlando2010+%2528288%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MOM & Me at Mizner's, 2010.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>W</b></span>hile I often daydream about the day when I can afford a week-long stay at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, for now I must settle for a pit-stop at one of their acclaimed restaurants. Mizner's Lounge is the perfect place to go and grab a drink, either before dinner at Narcoosee's (as we were in the photo above) or on your way to the Magic Kingdom for Wishes!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from a window at Mizner's.</td></tr>
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Mizner's Lounge is located on the second floor of the Grand Floridian Resort with a fantastic view of the Polynesian Resort across the water. The decor is upscale, and I would feel uncomfortable having a drink here in standard park clothes (ie shorts and flip flops). I'm not sure that there is a dress code, but why not make it a grand night and dress up a bit?<br />
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My first experience with the establishment was when J and I made a pit-stop here on our way to the Magic Kingdom, after a memorable evening at <a href="http://lipstickkingdom.blogspot.com/2011/11/t-rex-its-dino-mite.html">T-Rex</a> in Downtown Disney.<i> </i>I ordered a specialty martini made with blackberries, and boy was it <i>strong</i>. The benefit to this is that you can sip it slow and really savor it, as drinks here are not inexpensive (a martini will run you roughly $10+). Mizner's Lounge offers a full bar and does have a specialty drink menu, as well as light bar snacks on certain nights.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mizner's Lounge is located behind the band stand.</td></tr>
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The element that makes this bar a real gem for me is the band that plays right outside. If you time your visit just right, you can sip your Cosmo to the swingin' sounds of the Grand Floridian's Big Band. The <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Grand-Floridian-Society-Orchestra/144873060389?sk=info">Grand Floridian Society Orchestra</a> specializes in Ragtime and Traditional Jazz, and occasionally will play selections from our favorite Disney films. This is a treat for the ears and I really recommend that you try to catch them during your visit to the resort.<br />
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So, gather your friends and family, dress up in your finest Walt Disney World attire, and stop in for a martini at Mizner's Lounge. The atmosphere is basic and without frill, but I think you'll really enjoy the quiet, relaxing atmosphere and break from the hectic crowds. Take in the soothing sounds of the amazing jazz band and share in a toast with the ones you love! A visit to Mizner's Lounge is really what you make of it - why not make it a memorable one?<br />
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Happy Relaxing!<br />
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<br />bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-36641620423094736382011-12-06T09:24:00.001-05:002011-12-08T11:38:57.168-05:00(Hidden Gem: Club Cool)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">C</span></b>lub Cool, sponsored by Coca Cola, is one of those places in Epcot that most visitors to Walt Disney World miss on their rush to Test Track or Soarin'. It's easy to miss if you're in a hurry, located in Future World near Fountainview Cafe. Before it became a showcase for <a href="http://lipstickkingdom.blogspot.com/2011/10/world-of-coca-cola.html">Coca Cola</a> and its products, Club Cool was once Ice Station Cool. Guests would enter in through an Igloo, upon which the icy air would immediately hit you. Ice Station cool had a much more cave-like atmosphere, as opposed to the renovated Club Cool, which resembles more of a retail store. Still, the opportunity to try Coca Cola products from around the world is both interesting and fun.<br />
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My experience with Club Cool is that it's rarely crowded. If there happens to be a hefty amount of visitors inside, don't sweat it - there are a number of stations (all offering the same options), and you're bound to have your turn sampling the different types of soda. Offerings include Smart Watermelon from China, Kinley Lemon from Israel, Thailand's Lychee Mello, Vegitabeta from Japan, Fanta Kolita of Costa Rica, Germany's Mezzo Mix, Krest Ginger Ale from Mozambique, and the infamous Beverly from Italy. My favorites are the Smart Watermelon (very refreshing) and Lychee Mello (sweet). For those who enjoy a good old fashioned harmless prank, be sure to have your unsuspecting guests take a big gulp of Beverly. In Italy, Beverly is typically served as an appetite stimulant - the flavor is very bitter. One visit to Club Cool is worth your time for the photos alone - have your cameras ready!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beverly, 2005 (as Ice Station Cool)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wrath of Beverly, 2009.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MOM meets Beverly, 2010.</td></tr>
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How fun does that look? Those faces are priceless. So, if you're looking to have a little fun with your guests and desperately need to get out of the Florida heat, pop in to Club Cool. This is also a great place to grab a frozen Coca Cola in a souvenir cup. The fun is free and rarely has a line. If anything, it's a nice little dose of culture. Enjoy!<br />
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Which flavor is your favorite? If you have any Beverly photos, I'd love to see them!<br />
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Happy Tasting!<br />
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<br />bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-23716484087249705922011-12-05T10:29:00.001-05:002011-12-05T10:40:06.593-05:00(The Cover Girls Are Back)<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>he Disney princesses are at it again and this time they're covering a range of popular magazines, from Cosmo to Vogue. While I don't find the cover shots quite as creative as <a href="http://lipstickkingdom.blogspot.com/2011/08/disney-royalty-does-vogue.html">ones past</a>, what I really like about these particular ones are the details on the cover. Check out the story titles on the cover as well as the lead stories (Rajah gave me rabies?!) One thing is for sure - I don't believe there's any way that a copy of Vogue costs only $3! I also love the fact that my girl Tiana was included :) Enjoy!<br />
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Happy Reading!<br />
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<br />bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-50798077936676252722011-12-03T09:16:00.001-05:002011-12-03T09:25:15.075-05:00(We Will No Longer Be Needing a Bigger Boat)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>F</b></span>riends, some very sad news today. As you know, I am just as much a fan of that <i>other</i> Orlando theme park as I am of Walt Disney World. And today, that park sent me some very unwelcome news. Take a look:<br />
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This saddens me deeply! My uncle had worked on this ride, and as a small kid I remember watching the demo tapes so many times, I had learned the whole script! I will miss the mechanical Great White (and the crispy version too), never knowing which seat gets the least wet, and the feeling of fire that seems so close it could singe your eyebrows! This is a classic that won't be forgotten - I wonder what is going to take its place? I can only hope it will live up to that trip through Amity.<br />
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Happy (sad!) Memories,<br />
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<br />bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-6887193191547962022011-11-30T09:09:00.001-05:002011-11-30T09:16:20.191-05:00(Guess Who's Coming On Board?!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>I </b></span>wanted to share some amazing news with you today! As if we weren't excited enough for the new Disney Fantasy ship to make its debut, now we are doubly excited! It was announced on the <a href="http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/11/introducing-new-stars-on-the-disney-fantasy-the-muppets/">Disney Parks Blog</a> that the Muppets will be hosting an interactive adventure onboard the ship. Hosted by J's favorite prawn Pepe, guests are charged with finding the stolen props for the big show! The name of the game is "<b>The Case of the Stolen Show</b>," and makes use of the interactive art aboard the ship (that you may be familiar with from the Disney Dream). Muppet fever is in the air - sign me up!<br />
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Happy Cruising!<br />
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<br />bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-84751133680165499442011-11-29T09:44:00.001-05:002011-11-29T10:26:42.621-05:00(It's Time to Meet the Muppets)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">love Jason Segel. He's hilarious both in writing and acting, stars in my current favorite television show, and clearly knows a thing or two about <a href="http://www.imdb.com/news/ni18471047/">puppets</a>. But what is the funnyman, who doesn't shy away from full-frontal nudity, doing with the family-friendly muppets? The answer: giving our friends a glorious comeback that has been long overdue.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;">I had been silently counting down the days until the Muppet movie release ever since I heard that it was in the works. I wasn't sure what to expect but was willing to bet that Segel's love and respect for the gang would ensure plenty of laughter, great tunes (a la the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3SsYyTUu50">Dracula musical</a>), and of course plenty of guest stars. I was far from disappointed.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xFkggsF2bnE/TtTzDESIJvI/AAAAAAAADOk/x7l2uWuYXNw/s1600/The-Muppets-Jason-Segel-Walter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xFkggsF2bnE/TtTzDESIJvI/AAAAAAAADOk/x7l2uWuYXNw/s640/The-Muppets-Jason-Segel-Walter.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;">Early on we learn that brothers Gary (Jason Segel) and Walter have a close relationship despite their differences; Segel's Gary is an ever-growing human, while poor Walter (who looks suspiciously muppet-like) remains the same height throughout the opening montage. Walter soon discovers the Muppet Show and falls in love, longing to find his place among the gang. Fast forward to the grown-up years where Gary plans to take his girlfriend of ten years, Mary (played by the very-appropriately cast Amy Adams) to Hollywood for their anniversary. Gary invites Walter to tag along (much to Mary's chagrin), and the trip quickly becomes a quest to visit the old Muppet Studios. When Walter learns that evil oil baron Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) plans to destroy the landmark to drill for oil, he sets out on a quest to stop him. In order to do that, he must get the whole Gang back together to raise $10 million to buy the studios. The problem is, the gang has been split up for years and scattered all over the world. The always-glamorous Miss Piggy is living her dream as the plus-size editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in an anger management facility with Jack Black, Fozzy is in Reno performing his act with the Moopets, and Gonzo is running Gonzo's Royal Flush, a highly successful plumbing company. I won't give away any spoilers, but I will say that the plot unfolds beautifully and viewers will not be able to get enough of the Muppet antics right up until the end. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;">The movie is filled with great music and hilarious moments - one song in particular, called </span><i style="color: #222222;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0zpxC6O7nE">Man or Muppet</a> </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;">is the standout favorite for me. Featuring great lyrics and hilarious surprises (like a cameo from Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons), this is really the turning point when Gary and Walter must decide what is really important to them in life. I guarantee you'll laugh through this one. Another standout is a beautiful rendition of an old classic, </span><i style="color: #222222;">The Rainbow Connection</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;">. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;">It is my understanding that there was a bit of controversy surrounding the return of the Muppets. There were those who believed that their r</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;">esurrection</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;"> would prove fruitless - like original Muppet heavyweight Frank Oz who passed on the opportunity to be a part of the project, claiming that he didn't believe the characters would be respected. The resulting film couldn't be further from that description. If anything is evident from this movie, it's the blatant love and respect that Segel has for these characters. He handles them with charm and grace, and brings us a new story that I hope all generations can enjoy. If you love the Muppets, there is no doubt that you will love this. Do yourself a favor this holiday season and take your whole family to experience The Muppets!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Happy Viewing!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-72741204088436950982011-11-23T09:12:00.001-05:002011-11-23T09:24:53.773-05:00(Happy Thanksgiving)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BQZ0ghd2GmY/Tsz_uzr-mZI/AAAAAAAADOU/ZbsEO0-pXAg/s1600/Disney-Thanksgiving-Cards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BQZ0ghd2GmY/Tsz_uzr-mZI/AAAAAAAADOU/ZbsEO0-pXAg/s640/Disney-Thanksgiving-Cards.jpg" width="502" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>T</b></span>oday, we embark on our trip home to New York to spend time with family for the Thanksgiving holiday. The drive is sure to be stressful as millions of Americans make their way along the crowded highways to be with their families, too. I see a few arguments in my future, as the inevitable traffic jams coupled with the long-as-it-is drive prove difficult for J and I to keep our cool. But through all of the stress and pressure, not just for today's drive but in every day life, we must remember that we are rich with blessings. While the holiday may be just a prelude to Christmas for many, it truly is a day to take the time and think about what we are thankful for. Times are difficult for many (unemployment, among other travesties), but remember that no matter how bad you think you have it, someone is always worse off than you. So take the time to tell your family that you love them, kiss your husbands and wives no matter how they drive you crazy, and give your pets a special treat (turkey, perhaps?). Take a break from the daily stresses and warm yourself in the company of loved ones (and hopefully lots of food and wine). And please, don't be that guy who goes to Target at 10pm Thanksgiving night. Don't even get me started on that one.<br />
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Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours,<br />
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<br />bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-39360960574244081482011-11-21T09:59:00.001-05:002011-11-21T10:25:20.190-05:00(Can't Live Without: Dinosaur!)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cv8n1nyaG3A/TspnUjQ7JsI/AAAAAAAADNs/0lJK9py5daE/s1600/Orlando2010+%2528202%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cv8n1nyaG3A/TspnUjQ7JsI/AAAAAAAADNs/0lJK9py5daE/s640/Orlando2010+%2528202%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinosaur, 2010.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>D</b></span>o you have a Disney attraction or show that you just can't live without? I have a few myself, but my absolute can't-do-without is Dinosaur in Disney's Animal Kingdom.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N-Tfn3t67rc/Tspn-BG6teI/AAAAAAAADN0/DdstCHAmjTo/s1600/Disney2008+%252851%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N-Tfn3t67rc/Tspn-BG6teI/AAAAAAAADN0/DdstCHAmjTo/s640/Disney2008+%252851%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2008</td></tr>
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Formerly Countdown to Extinction, Dinosaur is loud, turbulent, and one heck of a fun ride. You are being sent back in time to the Cretaceous period to procure an Iguanadon and bring it back for research. Of course something goes wrong, because it's the end of the Cretaceous period and a major meteor storm is on its way, waiting to destroy all life as we (or really, the dinos) know it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d5bUyMI7x7I/TsppKUKjKeI/AAAAAAAADN8/JnkeR3SuD5s/s1600/Disney2007+%2528235%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d5bUyMI7x7I/TsppKUKjKeI/AAAAAAAADN8/JnkeR3SuD5s/s640/Disney2007+%2528235%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2007.</td></tr>
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If you are a regular reader, I'm sure you're aware of my fondness for dinosaurs (see: my <a href="http://lipstickkingdom.blogspot.com/2011/11/t-rex-its-dino-mite.html">T-Rex</a> love story). It may be the reason why I just can't get enough of this attraction. I love the loud noises, the crazy turbulence of the ride vehicle (evasive maneuver! right! left!), and the larger-than-life Carnotaurus that ultimately has me screaming my shorts off every time. It's the kind of ride that I like to experience again and again. On one of the less crowded park days in March of 2006, there were little-to-no lines at Dinosaur and the cast member just let us stay on for 3 rounds. Best. Day. Ever.<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LixER9L4NvQ/Tspq1TWz1yI/AAAAAAAADOE/78bmmxgfGs0/s1600/disney2009+%2528127%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LixER9L4NvQ/Tspq1TWz1yI/AAAAAAAADOE/78bmmxgfGs0/s640/disney2009+%2528127%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2009</td></tr>
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I would recommend this ride to anyone and everyone, but steer clear if you have back or neck issues, because it does tend to get rough. Also, those who can't handle loud noises best skip this one - I swear there are some days that they just crank up the volume, and other days that aren't quite as intense. Lines are rarely long here. If you do notice a line out the door, don't let it scare you away - they move <i>really quickly</i>. The typical lack of a queue actually makes me a tad nervous, and I hope that my beloved Dinosaur is here to stay!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bDWW6FucvEA/Tspr_PuFJLI/AAAAAAAADOM/iOgaGOE9WwI/s1600/Disney2006+%252817%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bDWW6FucvEA/Tspr_PuFJLI/AAAAAAAADOM/iOgaGOE9WwI/s640/Disney2006+%252817%2529.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2006</td></tr>
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What's your Disney obsession? I would love to hear about the one thing that you can't live without, whether it's a ride, a show or even a snack!<br />
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Happy Obsessing!<br />
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<br />bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555567918334539230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222148581596730998.post-24160003048309090802011-11-18T09:42:00.001-05:002011-11-20T10:05:59.736-05:00(Rompin' Around the Animal Kingdom)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wkisvT9HpDM/TsZuu3hiGqI/AAAAAAAADNY/nuw5Agmt7x4/s1600/disney2009+%2528118%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wkisvT9HpDM/TsZuu3hiGqI/AAAAAAAADNY/nuw5Agmt7x4/s640/disney2009+%2528118%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rapscallion by Samantha Pleet for Urban Outfitters <a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/category.jsp?popId=WOMENS_SHOPBYBRAND&navAction=push&navCount=5&pushId=&prepushId=&id=W_APP_BRANDS_RAPSCALLION">Romper</a> | DVF Lanai Knot <a href="http://www.6pm.com/diane-von-furstenberg-lanai-camel-cuoio">Flip Flop</a> | Marc Jacobs Script <a href="http://www.shopbop.com/marc-jacobs-sunglasses/br/v=1/2534374302091033.htm">Sunglasses</a> | XOXO Skinny <a href="http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2207011&productId=xlsImpprod1810121&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat120124">Headband</a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>R</b></span>ompers are one of the best articles of clothing money can buy for your visit to Walt Disney World. I love the ease of slipping them on plus the no-fuss factor for your day in the sun. I wore a strapless romper for my day in Animal Kingdom, and did find myself pulling up the top every now and then - maybe get something with straps to be safe. In any case, this is one of my favorite photos from one of our many trips.<br />
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Do you have a favorite one-piece that you wore or plan to wear to Disney World? Send me your photos!<br />
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Happy Romping!<br />
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