Disney Mommies

Healing With Disney Magic

2012-12-21T11:20:00.000-08:00

2012 Family Portrait

Not everyone will agree with me. I am OK with that. But I do realize that everyone needs to find some healing in their own way this season. After the horrible tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the holiday spirit was certainly waning in this house. As parents, we were grieving with the parents of those beautiful kids no longer with their families. My kids (who had heard the news when I did, on the radio) really seemed to have it on their mind as well.

We talked, we went to Church, we prayed and for a few days, we acknowledged that in times of National tragedy we are really all together.

Sunday we took the kids to Disneyland and California Adventure. It had been planned long before Sandy Hook, and I knew it was their only chance to visit during the holidays.

As most of us know, the rest of the world seems to disappear when you are at Disneyland. The burdens are a little bit lighter and the smile comes a little bit easier. We didn't go so we could forget the victims. We went so we could remind ourselves of what is truly important to us, and that is spending time together as a family. For a few hours, we could relax a little and remember that there is still joy and happiness in this world and we should all be willing to fight for it - even in the face of terrible tragedy.

I am a firm believer that the purpose of life is to live a life of purpose. I will continue to love my kids and family, pray for others, perform works of charity and remember that God has put us here to make a difference in our own way.

Big sister taking time to cheer her up

Let the love flow

Special Perks of Being a Disney Debit Card Holder

2012-09-12T18:43:00.002-07:00

Our family are Annual Passholders, and we are always looking for extra discounts to help counter the cost of the membership. We also bank at Chase, and now we can enjoy special perks with our Disney Debit card from Chase. This was a perk that was offered before, but was cut back last year. I received an email from Chase this week notifying me of the reinstatement of many of the perks and discounts.

The debit card does not cost any extra, and we do not have to do anything special to get it. Once at the parks, we can get an extra 10% off most of the food and beverages and merchandise. This also applies to several of the merchants in Downtown Disney too.

When you are out of the Disneyland area, you can still get a 10% discount on purchases over $50 at the Disney Store, in-store and on-line. Last year I was able to use that discount on Black Friday and I really cleaned up!

We can also get 20% off some of the fun tours that are offered. Last year we did a tour for my son's 10th birthday and it was fantastic. Now that we have a nice discount in place, we can pick another fun tour to experience this year.

My favorite perk is a private meet-n-greet with Characters that is just for the card holders. It is in Disney's California Adventure and is only available after the park has been opened for 30 minutes and lasts only 90 minutes. When they offered this perk last year, we enjoyed some quality time with Pluto and Chip and Dale. Characters are not scheduled, so you never know whom you might get!

Check out the card perks here!

End of Summer at Disneyland!

2012-08-31T09:35:00.001-07:00

We normally refrain from going to Disneyland for most of July and August. This is due to the heat and the crowd levels. Once we hit the last week of August...something really awesome happens. It gets really, really empty at Disneyland. The cast members are more relaxed, you can actually see the streets and the parade doesn't need you to get there an hour early to get a good spot. Most kids from out of state are gone for school. My own children don't start until after Labor day, so we try to take advantage of this lull in the crowds.

Yesterday we packed up the kids and the grandparents, for our end-of-summer Disney day. We struggled a bit through the August heat. Because the crowds were so light, we were able to have our lunch in the nicely air-conditioned Golden Horseshoe Cafe. We also availed ourselves to seeing Captain E-O for 22mins of A/C and picked up two rounds of FastPasses for Splash Mountain. To stay cool while we waited for our FastPass time to come up, we shopped in the nearby air-conditioned shop.

Of course, my favorite way to stay cool is indulging in the Dole Pineapple Whip Float. A dreamy concoction of pineapple soft-serve, floating in ice-cold pineapple juice. These are a can't miss, and they are only available at the Tiki room in Disneyland.

Flying high!

Dole Pineapple Whip Float! You know you want one!

Only a 5min wait and first in line for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Our little one conquered Splash Mountain today!

Ready for our Star Tours adventure. Who knew Grandmom was a Rebel spy?

Another great family day at Disneyland

Disney Post, Destination D, and D23

2012-08-18T10:30:00.001-07:00

Wow! I thought I was a Disney fan. I guess there's still a lot I need to learn and get involved in. I found out today about the Walt Disney Company's official blog: Disney Post. It can be found at: thewaltdisneycompany.com/blog Yesterday, there was a post about "Destination D" an event that took place at the Disneyland Resort over the past couple days that celebrated Disney's 75-year legacy of animation. You can swing on by the blog to read about the event, put on by D23 (the official Disney fan club) and also catch up on other official Disney updates and info. The blog post about Destination D can be found here : http://bit.ly/S4W52w While you're at it you can swing over to www.D23.com to learn about D23 and the third D23 expo scheduled for August 9-11, 2013 at the Aneheim Convention Center.

Callin' All Ye' Scurvy Pirates to Disneyland!

2012-08-13T12:24:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe that Halloween is right around the corner, and Disneyland is making this year extra special for getting in the right mood. The Disney Parks blog has announced the addition of The Pirates League to debut in New Orleans Square on September 1st. For all those kids (and grown-ups) who have been itching for a chance to don some real pirate swagger since first seeing Captain Jack Sparrow in the The Pirates of the Carribbean, The Pirates League is just what you need.

A pirate make-over, just in time for Halloween!-All pictures courtesy of the Disney Parks Blog

The pirates from Captain Jack's own crew will take ye landlubber and teach you the pirate ways. You and/or your kids can enter the Pirates den and be transformed into a pirate. You'll receive an individualized pirate make-over, learn how to swashbuckle and even take a pirate oath. They didn't forget us ladies! There are of course, pirate princesses! The packages will range between $29.95 and $34.95.

Pirate Princesses will want to ask for the "Empress" package

This is apparently a limited time event at Disneyland and will only be available this fall. Our lil' pirate has a birthday in October, and I see a great chance to turn his birthday visit this year into something really unique and fun! Better yet, I think we will have a Daddy and son pirate pair! After all, doesn't everyone like to dress up and play make believe?

Keep in mind that many of the October dates coincide with Mickey's Halloween Party and will likely fill up really quick. For reservations, please call 714-781-STYLE.

New Princess Fantasy Faire Coming to Disneyland!

2012-08-09T12:08:00.000-07:00

More exciting changes are coming to Disneyland. Check out the models of the new Disneyland Princess Fantasy Faire coming next spring!

A model rendition of the new Princess Fantasy Faire-All Pictures Courtesy of the Disney Parks Blog

Anyone recognize the Carnation Plaza?

The village looks straight out of a fairy tale

The Carnation Plaza was shuttered in April of this year to start the construction on the enchanted village that will be the theme for the new Faire. Disneyland has released some beautiful photos of the models that will represent the new Faire when it re-opens near Sleeping Beauty's Castle.

The current Faire is located across the way from It's a Small World. They will be closing the Faire location on August 12th, in preparation for a new entertainment experience that will debut next Summer in 2013. In the meantime, the princesses won't be going very far! They are being re-located to the pathway leading up to the front of It's a Small World.

Early Morning Magic Hour at the Disneyland Resort!

2012-08-06T06:15:00.000-07:00

How can a Passholder avoid lines like this?

Disneyland began it's Annual Passholder Early Entry for both Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure this summer. This is a great way for the AP's to get in a full hour before the regular opening time, to really get in some serious ride time at the parks.

We were lucky to get tickets for my 12th Anniversary for Disney California Adventure on a Sunday. We took all the kidlets and my parents and it was so great to get in early and head on over to the new Cars Land before the park filled up. My suggestion is to hit the Radiator Springs ride first, then head over to Luigi's Flying Tire's and then walk over to Mater's Jamboree. By starting with the normally longest line and working to the shortest, you can really take advantage of the much smaller crowds.

It's SOOOOO early!

After the summer crowds slow down later this month, we'll be headed over for Early Entry over at Disneyland. My game plan includes starting at Star Tours and then continuing over to the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Matterhorn and the kid-favorites, Peter Pan and Dumbo. By hitting the favorite rides of each family member without a major crowd, I will be able to insure that everyone will be happy enough to forgive me for getting up at 5:30am.

More playtime, less wait time!

Running now through September 13th, AP's can request tickets for Disneyland on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Disney California Adventure park can be accessed on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Each passholder can get an Early Entry only once for each park. Tickets must be applied for on-line and you must have an Annual Pass to get the tickets. If your pass is not a Premium Pass, the calendar black-out dates still apply, so chose carefully! See the website for all the details. Annual Passholder Early Entry

Birthday Magic at the Disney Store!

2012-08-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

Our youngest turned 6 years old today, and when asked where she would like to go for her birthday gift...the answer was, of course, the Disney Store! The Disney Store is a perfect place to pick out that special "something" that you just cannot find anywhere. In addition, the Disney Store provides a one-of-a-kind magical celebration just for those who are celebrating a birthday!

Ready to celebrate!

We love, love, love the Disney Store! The Cast Members(CMs) are always so friendly and helpful and make great eye-to-eye contact with the kids. Today, Big Sister took the princess right to the CM to let them know it was her special day. The CM asked if they could set-up a small celebration for our princess and then told her to continue looking around while they got everything ready.

Can I have one of each?

Once a very special Merida nightgown was picked out, the store played a Royal celebration tune and the CM announced that our princess had a very special birthday! The giant screen had a Happy Birthday message that displayed my daughter's name. She came up front to a round of applause and was presented with a very special Birthday pin, apparently approved by phone, from Mickey himself!

What a great way to celebrate! Be sure to stop by your local Disney store on your child's birthday and tell them about the special day. Then sit back and watch another "Disney Magic Moment"!

Another happy ending!

Disneyland's "new" monorail

2012-07-31T15:00:00.001-07:00

Among all the excitment leading up to the grand opening of Cars Land in Disney's California Adventure, the monorail got an update - there are now 3 monorails in Red, Orange, and Blue - each with a "face" and their own name and personality. Manny is Red, Mona is Orange, and Mandy is Blue. My 2 little boys LOVE the monorail. Anytime they see it go by they point and say "look it's the mama-rail!" (My heart still melts when they call it that!) It's a "must ride" for my little guys pretty much every trip to Disneyland. This day, my three youngest kiddos and I got to ride on Manny while my older kids were off riding Space Mountain.

From the outside, it looks like the front of the monorail doesn't have windows, but it does - this is where the driver sits and up to 4 people can accompany him (or her) in the front of the monorail. The kids wanted to ride up front with the driver since we had never done that before, and so I asked the driver, and we were told to wait by the first gate and then when the monorail arrived we were to wait up front by the door and he would let us in when he entered.

In this picture you can see that the windows are still there, even though from a distance all you see is Manny's cute face. My little boys were thrilled to be able to finally ride in the front of the "mama-rail"!

Here's the driver all set to head out toward Downtown Disney. Riding up front with the driver allowed us the unique opportunity to learn a few tidbits from the driver, like the fact that the top speed of the monorail is 30 mph and the front wheels are actually positioned behind where the driver sits, so when riding up front you get a bit of a soft bounce to the ride. Kind of like riding in the bow of a ski boat, but much more gentle.

You really can't beat the view either!

So, next time you are at the park take the opportunity to ride the monorail and get to know Manny, Mona, or Mandy. You can ask to ride in the front or the back if you want to have a little bit more of an "exclusive" feel to your 2.5 mile round trip between Tomorrowland and Downtown Disney.

Riding in the Wheel House of the Mark Twain

2012-07-21T09:23:00.005-07:00

Taking the time to talk with cast members at Disneyland has helped me to learn about a few lesser known opportunities at the Happiest Place on Earth. Recently, I was able to take my kids for an excursion on the Mark Twain Riverboat - in the Wheel House.

You can see a couple heads peeking out from up there:) There is only room for 4 guests to ride up in the Wheel House along with the "Captain" so our group of 7 had to take turns. Fortunately, the wait for the Mark Twain isn't usually very long. But, you have to know how to get to the Wheel House, now don't you? Really, all you need to do is ask the Captain. When you enter through the turnstyle, ask the Captain who is there as you enter if you may ride in the Wheel House. Unless there is a group ahead of you who has already asked, you will be allowed to board first - with the Captain. (If another group is ahead of you, just wait for the boat to come around again - it's only about 10 minutes).

As you enter with the Captain, you go up 2 sets of stairs to the top level of the boat and then enter through this "Private" door.

Through this door, is the "Captain's Quarters". The kids all piled in on the Captain's bed for a quick photo - the small room is a quaint little space with the bed, chair, a sink, and then a steep ladder that leads to the Wheel House.

All guests of the Wheel House get to sign the Guest Book

"Captain Mary" was kind to take a picture with my boy in front of the wheel - it's about 5 feet in diameter so they have a great set of steps for smaller sailers to stand on.

When it's time to set sail, you have to ring the bell and blow the whistle.

Then, the ship is yours to sail along the Rivers of America!

When your journey is through - you receive an "official" pilot's certificate, signed by Walt Disney himself!

I'm amazed that I've been going to Disneyland pretty much my entire life and never knew that you could ask and ride up in the Wheel House - I need to keep talking with cast members to learn more of these fun little things to do!

Club Penguin Make Your Mark Ultimate Jam

2012-07-20T08:23:00.000-07:00

The party has started at Club Penguin with an ultimate jam event that started on July 19th. The penguin world transformed into one of the world's largest dance parties along with the kids favorite Disney Channel stars: CeCe and Rocky (Shake it Up).

The kids and I have enjoyed playing Club Penguin for many years. I claim to be the ultimate pizza game champion in our household, always winning the most coins. We have spent many years trying to track down the famous "Rockhopper" penguin, helping give back with "Coins for Change," and trying to collect all the coolest penguin wear. The new Ultimate Jam is just another terrific addition to the Club Penguin community.

Club Penguin has also just released its first-ever single and music video, "The Party Starts Now," by DJ Cadence. The video will be featured on Disney Channel, Disney.com and Disney's YouTube Channel. The single is available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon and more!

Let's get this party started, and have fun together on Club Penguin before the party ends on July 31st.

Disclosure: We were provided with a complimentary CD and press kit for the review of the new club penguin event. All our thoughts are of our own.

Trailer for Oz the Great and Powerful

2012-07-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

The official trailer for the upcoming Disney movie Oz the Great and Powerful has just been released! You can find it here.

New spot released for The Odd Life of Timothy Green #TimothyGreen

2012-07-12T10:33:00.001-07:00

I saw a preview of this movie yesterday, and I cannot wait to share my review with you. They have just released a new spot from the upcoming movie for us to share. We hope that you enjoy it, and save the date of August 15th to see The Odd Life of Timothy Green.

Goofy Concerts A Wacky Addition to California Adventure

2012-07-10T15:08:00.000-07:00

A summer treat enjoying the fountains during the day

Adults and children alike can delight in one of the new daily "Instant Concert!...just add water" shows at Disney's California Adventure. This wacky mini-shows are "conducted" by the maestro Goofy himself, in the Paradise Bay. This is in the same location as "World of Color" and uses the same water jets, just in a much funnier way.

The maestro begins his work

For those of us old enough to remember those terrific Goofy "How To" shorts, this show is a throw-back to those classic cartoons. There are five versions of the show that currently are happening six times each day. While it can be viewed from anywhere in the park near the bay, I suggest getting right down in front of the terrace in front of The Little Mermaid ride. This spot not only gets you a fabulous view of Goofy and the water, you will also enjoy a light refreshing shower on a hot summer day.

Unlike "World of Color", these mini-shows are not crowded and can be enjoyed throughout during the day

Disney's California Adventure has added a variety of new entertainment for the summer as part of its grand re-opening. Be sure to check out their schedule before heading out, so you don't miss any of the fun! Disneyland Resort Entertainment Schedule

Disney's Oz The Great and Powerful

2012-07-05T14:20:00.001-07:00

Oz The Great and Powerful will be coming to theaters soon. The fantastical adventure is from the Producer of “Alice in Wonderland” and the Director of the “Spider-Man” Trilogy. This fantasy adventure film is scheduled to release on March 8, 2013.

A Treasured Tradition

2012-07-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

I grew up as a child in the 1970's up in San Jose, California. Back then, a vacation to Disneyland was truly a special event for us. I remember being scared of Mickey Mouse, eating cotton candy and waiting in line for Space Mountain for an hour, only to chicken out and refuse to ride it at the end! I loved the Jungle Cruise and Dumbo the most. And when we returned home, I remember the sihouettes that my mom had made for my brother and I. Those black profile silhouette cut-outs hung in our rooms. They hung in my best friend's house too. They hung in almost every house on our block! Many years later, I would find out that it hung in my future husband's room, next to his brother's silhouette. It seemed a rite of childhood to go and get your silhouette done at Disneyland on your family vacation.

Today, we are annual passholders and have three beautiful children. After a few years, we realized we still hadn't had their silhouettes done, so we decided last week to find the shop and complete the family circle of portraits.

The Slhouette Studio is a tiny store on Main Street in Disneyland. Look across from The Gibson Girl Ice Cream Shop

Now, I don't remember actually having my portrait done. In fact, neither does my husband. So I was really interested to see how they made them. I assumed that they had modernized their technique, similar to the way they now automate the names they sew on ear hats. As we walked to the store front, it called out to us, "Silhouettes done while you wait! Less than 1 minute!". That seemed to confirm my suspicions of automation. Imagine my shock when we walked in a found a cast member sitting in a rocking chair holding paper and a pair of tiny scissors! She assured me that she could cut the portrait by hand and have it done in less than a minute.

Our cast member cutting so fast, you almost cannot see the scissors in her right hand

Each child sat down with their side to her, and she very quickly and deftly cut out a very detailed profile. Even my son's wisp of a bang was hanging in the correct spot. The kids were in awe, as were the couple spectators gathered around to watch. One of the cutters, named Sylvia, has been doing this for 33 years and told me she is doing silhouettes of 3rd generations in families. It was a real privilege to be able to see these artists at work, and be able to take their art home.

Practicing for their close-up!

Incredible that this is done free-hand!

After the profile is cut out, the image is mounted on a piece of paper. The cost for all this? Just $9 a portrait! The cutters cut two portraits at the same time, so you actually get 2 portraits for $9. We chose to put all three kids in one portrait and I bought the matching frame. I couldn't resist the portrait frame...it looks exactly like the one I had in my room as a kid. This very affordable souvenir is now hanging in our hallway, and the kids cannot stop looking at it. It brings me a great sense of happiness to have that very special moment in time, at a place we all love, now forever captured in a truly unique and Disney way.

Tickets Available for D23 Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives

2012-06-28T08:59:00.002-07:00

Tickets are now available for D23 Presents Treasures Of The Walt Disney Archives at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. This will be one of the largest Disney exhibits ever created showcasing more than 500 items from the Walt Disney Archives in Burbank.

The exhibit opens on July 6th and will continue until April 2013. D23 members have a unique opportunity to see the exhibit before it opens to the public on June 30th.

Many of the items have never left the Walt Disney Archives and are being publicly displayed for the very first time. We have a sneak peak at some of the items that will be on display:

An early drawing of Walt Disney’s first major cartoon character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
The actual 9½-foot tall head of the Maleficent dragon from Disneyland’s Fantasmic! nighttime spectacular
The fully rigged, 23-foot model of the Black Pearl pirate ship from the Pirates of the Caribbean films
Meticulously restored, handmade books used in the opening shots of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty
The very first ticket ever issued to Disneyland – No. 000001, with a face value of $1
Miniatures hand-built by Walt Disney, which helped lead to the development of Disneyland and Audio-Animatronics figures
The very first piece of Disney merchandise ever created: a child’s school writing tablet
Walt’s own Disneyland name tag – as Cast Member No. 1
A complete re-creation of Walt Disney’s formal office from the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, Calif.
Original Audio-Animatronics figures from The Haunted Mansion, The Country Bear Jamboree and Pirates of the Caribbean
A letter to Walt Disney from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Costumes worn by Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins, Glenn Close in 101 Dalmatians and Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean
Props and costumes used in the production of recent Disney blockbuster films, including National Treasure, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, TRON: Legacy and Marvel’s The Avengers

Tickets can be purchased online! Preview information:

Date: June 30th

Time: 4:30-10pm

Cost: $68 per person

Location: The Ronald Reagan Presidential Museum, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley

Tim Burton Frankenweenie's Fun Facts

2012-06-27T20:16:00.000-07:00

When Tim Burton originally conceived the idea for “Frankenweenie,” he envisioned it as a full-length, stop-motion animated film. Due to budget constraints, he instead directed it as a live-action short, released in 1984.
“Frankenweenie” follows in the footsteps of Tim Burton’s other stop-motion animated films “Corpse Bride” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas”—both of which were nominated for Academy Awards®.
Over 200 puppets and sets were created for the film.
The voice cast includes four actors who worked with Burton on previous films: Winona Ryder (“Beetlejuice,” “Edward Scissorhands”), Catherine O’Hara (“Beetlejuice,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas”), Martin Short (“Mars Attacks!”) and Martin Landau (“Ed Wood,” Sleepy Hollow”).
Several of the character names—Victor, Elsa Van Helsing, Edgar “E” Gore and Mr. Burgemeister— were inspired by classic horror films.

“Frankenweenie” releases in U.S. theaters on October 5, 2012.

Marvel's The Avengers to Cross $600 million domestic today!

2012-06-26T14:04:00.001-07:00

Marvel’s The Avengers is expected to cross the $600 million domestic box office threshold today, becoming one of only three films in history ever to reach this milestone. The Super Hero film’s global total is now an estimated $1,438.3 million, and it stands as the #3 film of all time globally and domestically.

Marvel’s The Avengers opened in North America May 4 with a staggering $207.4 million – the biggest domestic debut of all time – and has been shattering domestic box office records ever since including the industry’s all-time second weekend record with $103 million; fastest film to reach $200 million (3 days), $300 million (9 days), $400 million (14 days), and $500 million (23 days); and highest Saturday ($69.5 million) and Sunday ($57 million) totals. It is the #4 film of all time internationally with $838.9 million.

Among only 12 films that have grossed $1 billion at the global box office, Marvel’s The Avengers is one of five billion-dollar Disney releases, which also include Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Alice in Wonderland, Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story 3, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

The Lore: Will O' The Wisps

2012-06-26T09:37:00.001-07:00

Travelers—particularly those who venture out after sunset on unfamiliar pathways—beware of the will o’ the wisps.

It is said—though by whom is a bit of a mystery—that on certain days for certain travelers in certain parts of the world, little lights dance on the horizon, whispering tempting invitations… pledging the answers to lifelong questions, the realization of dreams, a key to secret treasures—a change of fate.

Charmed and curious, unsuspecting travelers follow the floating lights, mesmerized by their whispers, their promises. Yet no matter how long or how fervently they follow, they never quite touch the beautiful beacons whose flickering lights eventually fade and disappear… leaving the inquisitors, the dreamers and the treasure seekers lost… and alone.

In “Brave,” Merida spies tiny blue lights after escaping into the forest in search of a change of fate. Forming a path that dares her to follow, the lights lead Merida to a mysterious location that holds the power to change her destiny—just not in the way she imagines.

“The will o’ the wisps are in a lot of Scottish folktales,” says “Brave” director Mark Andrews. “They were said to lead you to treasure or doom—to change your fate—but they’re an actual phenomenon of swamp and bog gas seeping up through the earth and interacting with the natural resources to create the blue flames. People would follow these lights thinking they were little fairies, and basically drown or get sucked down into the bogs.

“We made the wisps like actual little spirits,” Andrews continues. “They’re almost like Marley’s ghost in a way, because Marley’s ghost isn’t an evil spirit—even though he’s frightening, he’s trying to warn Ebenezer to change his ways. That’s what the wisps are doing. There’s a duality to them, because they’re either good or evil—they lead Merida into more and more trouble, but in the end, they’ve led her exactly where she needs to go.”

Will Girls Love BRAVE and Princess Merida?

2012-06-22T06:15:00.000-07:00

Please welcome my guest blogger, my daughter Abby! Abby is 8 years old and she let me interview her to get her thoughts on Disney/Pixar's BRAVE, Merida and the whole Clan.

Abby, you saw BRAVE, in one word describe the movie to me.
Adventurous!

Merida is a Scottish princess, what other Disney princesses does she remind you of?
She's like Mulan, because she's a warrior. She's also like Ariel, because she doesn't listen to her parent's rules and wants to make her own choices. And she is like Rapunzel, because she wants her freedom.

What characteristic did you most like about Merida?
Like the movie title, she was brave.

The music in this was traditional Scottish. Did you like it? What did it make you feel like?
It was really great. It made me feel like I could pretty much do anything.

Merida has three little brothers, what did you think of them?
They were really funny and naughty. I think my brother would love them.

There were a couple scary moments in the movie, were you scared?
Yes, I shivered.

Do you think your little sister would be too scared to watch it? (she's 5 years old)
I don't think so, because she really wants to see Merida.

Merida and Elinor have some trouble seeing eye-to-eye, do you think that you and I will have that trouble when you are a teenager?
No! I'm not that person who likes to fight with their parents.

That may change! You might be a really different kid at 18 years old than 8 years old. But I hope not. Do you think I will be like the Queen?
No, because you are a nice momma.

Did you like this movie or love it?
Loved it with a capital "L"!

Was this your favorite Pixar movie so far?
Yes!!

Even more than Toy Story 3?
Yes, because I really loved Merida.

Do you think you are like Merida?
Yes, because I am really good at bow and arrow and I'm brave.

Thanks Abby. I loved seeing the movie with you.
I loved it too.

I cried.
Me too.

Catch Disney/Pixar's BRAVE at theaters everywhere starting today.

Disney Pixar: Brave World Premiere

2012-06-22T01:15:00.003-07:00

The highly anticipated Disney-Pixar movie Brave premiered during the LA Film Festival at the Grand Opening of the Dolby Theatre. The movie opening in theaters tomorrow, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D in select theaters. Enjoy these great pictures Disney provided us from the World Premiere earlier this week.

Disney/Pixar BRAVE screening

2012-06-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

"Some say our destiny is tied to the land, as much a part of us as we are of it. Others say fate is woven together like a cloth, so that one's destiny intertwines with many others. It's the one thing we search for, or fight to change. Some never find it. But there are some who are led."
Merida in BRAVE

My wonderful daughter Brittney and I had the opportunity to attend a screening of BRAVE at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank last night. We didn't make it home until late, so I am just now getting a chance to let you know about it. BRAVE will be released in theatres this Friday, June 22nd.

First off, BRAVE is one of the few Disney animated movies that carries a PG rating (like Black Cauldron and The Incredibles) so parents might want to take that into consideration depending on your children's ages. There are some frightening scenes and some bare bottoms;) However, the movie is child-appropriate in theme and content.

Like all Pixar movies, BRAVE begins with a Pixar animated short. This one is entitled "La Luna". It's a cute little short about the moon. I don't want to spoil it for you - so that's all I'm going to tell you;) And as with other Pixar films, you will also want to be patient when the movie ends and not clear out of the theatre too quickly - there's a scene at the end of the credits that you might enjoy;)

"BRAVE follows the heroic journey of Merida, a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor. Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin, surly Lord Macintosh and cantankerous Lord Dingwall. Merida's actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric Witch for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her skills and resources--including her clever and mischievous triplet brothers--to undo a beastly curse before it's too late, and discover the meaning of true bravery." (taken from the film notes distributed at the screening)

While the main theme of the movie is being brave, to me, one of the most important themes of the film is the bond between a mother and daughter. Maybe this was my focus because I was watching it with my own teenage daughter, but either way - it was a central theme in the movie. Merida and her mother's relationship becomes strained to the point of breaking as Queen Elinor tries to raise Merida to be the princess she was born to be while Merida struggles to follow her own destiny. As Merida forces her own way, she realizes that sometimes - there are consequences to her actions that she could have never anticipated, consequences that effect not only her, but everyone around her - and most importantly those whom she loves the most.

As a mother, I loved watching as the relationship between Merida and Queen Elinor as it developed and changed. There is a delicate balance that parents must keep between allowing a child have complete freedom to do as they want (while still too young and inexperienced to understand the consequences of their choices) and compelling that child to do only as you see fit. Being a parent is difficult. Being a teenager is difficult too! BRAVE does a wonderful job showing how even when that mother/daughter bond seems to be damaged beyond repair, there is still hope. And while it may never be the same - it can still become an even better, healthier, and more loving relationship.

I can honestly say that I enjoyed the movie BRAVE. It was a beautiful movie to watch. The landscapes and details were amazing. The soundtrack was such that it set the tone at the beginning and then managed to enhance the beauty of the storyline and animation without overpowering the movie. There are scenes that are funny, sweet, sad, frightening, and even heart-wrenching. I will definitely be adding it to my collection of Disney Blue-rays.

Disneyland's Newest Princess: Merida

2012-06-16T10:21:00.000-07:00

In anticipation of the new Pixar film "Brave", Princess Merida has begun making appearances at Disneyland. Disneyland has given the spunky Merida her very own area near "It's a Small World" attraction to meet and greet guests. She is there daily for a limited time!

My girls were beyond THRILLED when they saw she was there and begged to be able to stand in line and meet her. While it was not a short line, I appreciated the covered tables with coloring pages for the kids and the partially shaded queue. Traditional Scottish music filled the air to add to the ambiance.

My girls and their new favorite princess

Merida was a wonderful interactive experience! My girls presented Merida with a special picture they colored, and she graciously took it and was careful to put it away in her tent. After complimenting my daughters on their attire, Merida was sure to ask her brothers what they thought. The adorable black bears behind her moved and giggled their answers. The girls were so surprised!

As a special bonus, once the girls were done, they walked up to a special archery area where they were helped to shoot special, safe arrows into a target. Talk about fun! Both girls nailed their targets with minimal help from the assistants and walked out high fiving everyone around them.

If you are going to Disneyland in the next few weeks, be sure to stop and visit Merida while she is still there!

Princess Z gets ready to shoot!

Princess A looks like a professional!

Target are hollow in the center and "catch" the soft-tipped arrows

Cars Land Attraction Luigi's Flying Tires #carsland

2012-06-15T11:15:00.001-07:00

At Disney California Adventure Cars Land, guests can enjoy "flying" around a festival of flying tires. Guests will board a giant Fettuccini-brand tire before gliding across Luigi's 8,000 square-foot tire storage yard. Guest will use team work while using their body weight to guide the direction of the tire.

The ride is similar to the Disneyland ride "Flying Saucers" which opened in Tomorrowland from 1961 to 1966. There are 6,714 vents to keep the tires floating approximately two inches off the ground.

The minimum height requirement is 32 inches.