So Long, Farewell 

Saying goodbye to The Great Movie Ride

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past month, you'll know that sadly The Great Movie Ride is rolling its final credits. Last month at the D23 Expo, Disney announced that on top of the 2 new lands being added to Disney's Hollywood Studios they will also be adding a new attraction to the park. Only one small catch, the new attraction will be taking over the spot that currently houses The Great Movie Ride. With all of the changes going on at Disney World and within the Walt Disney company, I am not surprised that Disney is trying to cut all loose end that are licensed through other companies. That said, it doesn't hurt my soul any less to be losing one of my favorite rides in the parks. Between the movie set artifacts in the queue to the way you become immersed in the show (ride) this is one ride we have always made a point to experience when we visit the parks.

When the park opened as MGM Studios in 1989, it not only housed a working studio but The Great Movie Ride as well along with other film and animation themed attractions. Taking home in a replica of the Grauman's Chinese Theatre, this was the last attraction to reside in Disney's Hollywood Studio that was original with the parks opening. Being such a phenomenal and interactive attraction, it is no wonder they decided to base an entire park after it.

That's exactly what Disney did when they were re-configuring thepark to create Disney's Hollywood Studios. Even though the park is currently in transition once again, you can still feel the Big Band Era theme throughout much of the park. With movies such as Casa Blanca, Singing In The Rain and many others that are incorporated in the attraction; they have definitely left their mark on the theme and obeisance of the park.

As Disney cuts ties with sources that are outside of the Disney realm it only makes since that they would turn the attraction into a ride featuring Mickey Mouse called Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway. Though I'm terribly sad to see this particular attraction go, Disney imagineering as been doing exceptional work lately and I can't wait to see what they are able to do with that amount of space. 

Don't Lose Your Cool 

How to beat the heat at Disney World

It's no secret that summers in Florida can be practically unbearable, so to some it may seem crazy to visit Walt Disney World when it's comparable to the Sahara Desert. For many however, summer time is the best option with most schools being out for summer vacation. Though it is inevitable that you will sweat at some point on your summer Disney vacation, with some planning and a little Disney knowledge you can beat a little of the Florida heat. Below are some tips and tricks for getting through those dog days of summer!

Be Prepared
If you're planning a trip in the summer, you already know it's going to be hot. Make sure you go in prepared. Bring breathable loose fitting clothing and comfortable shoes. Believe me it makes a world of difference! Another thing to consider is bringing a small portable fan, buying one before you get there can save a little money and you won't have to worry about finding one once you're enjoying your vacation!

Water! Water! Water!
This is probably one of the most important things you could use at Disney, and the best part is it's FREE! You can get a free cup of ice water at any counter service restaurant or kiosk all you have to do it ask. Remember that soft drinks and juices actually dehydrate you more so keeping water on hand can help prevent dehydration. Often times we bring a reusable water bottle with us and refill it throughout the day so we can throw it in the bag when we go on a ride.

Air Conditioning
One of my favorite aspects of Walt Disney World is the amount of air conditioned areas that are available. Whether in Magic Kingdom, Epcot or anywhere else, there are always well air conditioned shops within feet of you that almost seem like they are begging you to come inside! Not only are there numerous shops where you can soak up the A/C but there are a ton of attractions as well that you can sit and cool off for a while after melting in the sun! Some of my favorites are Mickey's Philharmagic and Living with the Land just to name a few.

Misting Stations/ Water Areas
Through out the parks, especially in summer, there will be different areas where you can get a little wet and maybe cool off a little. In Magic Kingdom, for example, the spitting camel on Aladdin's Magic Carpet ride will "spit" every few minutes and hopefully you're lucky enough to be standing under him when he does. Also, in Epcot, there is a misting station by Test Trek as well as a water play area that shoot water up by Mouse Gears. Use these cooling areas to your advantage and you might just be able to beat the heat!

Water Rides & Water Parks
If you feel like you're sizzling and don't mind getting wet, you can make your way over to Splash Mountain in Magic Kingdom or Kali River Rapids in Animal Kingdom. Both of these rides are included in park ticket and are a great way to cool off! Another sure fire way to cool down in the Florida sun, is by visiting one of the Disney water parks. Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach do require separate tickets but nothing comes close to keeping you cool quite like a water park!

First Aid Centers
Above everything else, your health is the most important part of any trip! If you need medical attention or need to keep a medication refrigerated, remember that these First Aid Centers are located in every park. If you experience any of the signs of dehydration and are feeling any form of heat illness make your way to one of the centers to be checked out, after all you can't enjoy your vacation when you don't feel well.

Have fun, be safe, and stay cool!

Snapshot Sunday

Definitely going to miss this place, but I can't wait to try out PizzeRizzo!

Mother May I

Moms throughout Disney

Have you ever watched a Disney movie or two and thought, “Where are the moms”? Well you’re not going crazy; Disney movies for the most part lack a heavy maternal influence. Whether the mom is gone before the movies time frame or during, it’s no secret that the mother figures get kicked to the curb. Could this lack of moms stem from a deep emotional guilt Walt had over the death of his own mother, or is it simply a coincidence.

In 1938, following the success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Walt Disney had purchased a new home for his mom and dad. Not long after, the gas furnace in the house malfunctioned causing the death of his mother. Many say that because of this tragedy, the guilt carried over into his movies. This would explain the absence of the caring motherly figure as well as the sad demise of Bambi’s mom.

Though it does make sense that Walt would use his movies as an outlet for his guilt, it could merely be a coincidence considering the genre of movies he decided to make. Most of the movies that are missing the moms are also family friendly versions of other literary works. Cinderella, Snow White & Bambi are a few well-known mother absent movies that are derived from previous works. The Disney Company kept with this trend of not showcasing mothers even after Walt’s death with movies such as The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast that also come from other stories.

With so many of their movies not having the cookie cutter family essence, it can be hard to forget just how loving the ones that are included can be. When we do get movies with mothers such as Dumbo or 101 Dalmatians, we see that the love of these mothers is one of the strongest bonds in the world. I think the way mothers that are included are portrayed says a lot more about the way Walt felt than anything. One thing that can be agreed upon, a mother plays a very important role in our lives whether she’s with us or not. It can even affect the way a story is told. How many Disney movies can you name where the mom is present?

Our Top 5 Stage Shows 

Lights. Camera. Action! Stage shows and theatrical performances are one of the main aspects that make Disney, well... Disney. We've compiled our top 5 favorite stage performances at Disney World and hope you can enjoy these along with us!

5. Mickey's PhilharMagic  

Though this is more of a 4D ride than a stage show, the auditorium seating and stage curtains give this the feel of an actual performance piece. One of the main reasons I love this one so much is that it doesn't just focus on one movie in particular. In fact it takes you through a lot of the classics from The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and The Beast and more. The 3D effects help you to really get engulfed the show and the 4D effects help to make you a part of it. Even though there are other actual stage shows I could have listed, they just couldn't beat this air conditioned, seated, sing along show.

4.Hall of Presidents 

History buffs unite! This screen/ animatronic performance definitely helps bring out the more adult side of Disney World. While everything else around you may be flying fairies and singing mermaids, this attraction will help you to remember why the United States of America is the country it is today. Though the younger ones may not enjoy this one as much, I haven't met many adults that truly don't enjoy this show. With the double performance of a short movie showcasing the origin of our country and the animatronics of each president expressing a piece of history, you really can't pass up this experience. Though you might only go in to get out of the heat, I'm sure you'll come out with a new sense of pride for the land we call home.

3.Festival of The Lion King

How could you not love The Lion King? Not only is this a stage show retelling the movie, but it is interactive as well. When you are loaded into the theater you are put into four different sections. Each section is represented by an animal such as a lion, elephant, warthog or giraffe. If you're lucky you might even get picked before hand to represent your group when making animal sounds. This show isn't all about audience participation though, the Tumble Monkeys and stage performers really help to bring this show to life. I've seen this show every time we've been, sometimes multiple times and have never been disappointed. 

2.Finding Nemo- The Musical 

If you're anything like me, you might be a little skeptical when you hear that they turned Finding Nemo into a musical.Well let me just say, go watch this NOW! Not only does it bring in my favorite "Big Blue World" song from the ride but the costumes and performances are amazing. The songs definitely add to it and you will feel like you're at an actual play. I would recommend either getting a fastpass or getting there early as it fills up pretty quickly. Plus, if you sit in the front, you get bathed in bubbles which is always fun. It took me a while to actually get to see this one since I was a little apprehensive, but now that I've seen it, this will be one of our regulars.

1.Fantasmic!
Honestly, Disney World and Fantasmic go together like peanut butter and jelly. How could you get more Disney Themed than Sorcerer Mickey and live action scenes of classic Disney Movies. This stage show has everything. Fireworks, laser water effects, fire and so much more make this amazing show bring forth the magic that Disney is known for. One of my favorite aspects is that it not only showcases the heroes and princesses, but it also lets the villains out to play. As much as I love this, we miss it quite often as it fills up extremely fast and it's hard to make fastpasses for it since it's on the same tier as the only good rides in Hollywood Studios. So if you are adamant on seeing this spectacular performance then I would definitely either get there early or give up one of the thrill rides. This is definitely not one you are going to want to pass up as it can put the icing on the cake of your Disney trip!

Review: Beauty and the Beast

Caution slight spoilers

Recently Disney has been taking classic movies and making them into live action masterpieces. The newly released Beauty and the Beast is no exception to this. As with any movie that's getting a "makeover" there is always the potential that the new one won't live up to it's name. This was not the case for this new live action version, as it was portrayed with the grace and dignity that it deserved. Emma Watson did an amazing job capturing the essence of Belle, you could tell she was playing a character not just reading a script. Though they did switch up a few things throughout the movie, such as Belle being the inventor instead of her father, they really did a great job following the original storyline. Though the acting was wonderful and the singing theatrics we're awesome, there was only one little thing that I was not a fan of and that is the Beast. The CGI that was used to create the Beast seemed a little under done, especially for how far CGI has come in the last few years. It seemed like it was hard to show any expression on his face and it just kind of fell flat. Other that that small snafu, I thoroughly enjoyed the extra background information they give about the Beasts' childhood. That definitely adds a little extra depth to the story line. With the well put together choreographed scenes, this movie does resemble a stage play but with phenomenal acting to go along with it. Overall, this is definitely one for the books and I highly recommend it for anyone who loved the original.  

         Sunday Snapshot 

Some times all you need is a hug from this willy nilly silly old bear.