Magical Mouse Schoolhouse

Magical Blogorail Fridays

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Welcome to Magical Blogorail Fridays!

This week we're spotlighting Meet the Magic! Meet the Magic is a prime place to meet fellow fans who are seeking out that Disney magic. A team of writers offer strategies for paying for a Disney vacation, travel tips and other great resources. Check out what Natalie, Kristen, Janine, Sheila and Zach have to say!

A recent entry takes a look at several things to consider when "Planning Your Disney Vacation":

For those of you who have never visited Disney, you can wing it and have a pretty great time. However, if you enjoy planning a vacation in order to get an even better vacation, Meet the Magic is a great place to start! Here you will find out all sorts of information to get you planned and prepared:
1. The Best Time to Travel To Disney
2. Where will you stay when you arrive at Disney? On or off property?
3. Will you be using the Disney transportation or will you be renting a vehicle?

Read on to see what else is on the list!

The next Magical Blogorail Yellow Loop will run Friday, February 3. Check back then to find out where we'll be stopping!

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Fantasyland at Tokyo Disneyland

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Fantasyland at Tokyo Disneyland is the place to be if you want a Character-themed experience. Characters featured in attractions include Peter Pan, Snow White, Cinderella, Mickey Mouse, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Alice and Winnie the Pooh.

Peter Pan’s Flight is “a pirate ship to high adventure!” Fly high in the London sky to “the second star on the right and straight on til morning,” all the way to Never Land.
On Snow White’s Adventure, Guests board mine cars and travel far into the deep, dark forest to meet the Seven Dwarfs and hopefully avoid the menacing old witch.
Cinderella’s Fairy Tale Hall invites Guests into the Castle to walk through a chronicle of Cinderella’s rise from mistreated stepchild to regal princess.
Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck sweep Guests into the fantastic world of Disney animation in Mickey’s Philharmagic.
Guests take a Daring Journey with Pinocchio through his treacherous journey to transform from wooden puppet to a real boy.
Timothy Mouse conducts his best friend Dumbo, who’s flying Guests up and down and around and around.
The Mad Hatter is throwing a dizzying “Unbirthday” tea party for Alice.
Guests join Winnie the Pooh on a Hunny Hunt deep in the Hundred Acre Wood, bounding through a sticky adventure.

A few popular classics are also found in Fantasyland.
• 90 white horses parade to calliope music on the Castle Carousel. On this ride, a dream that you wish might come true!
• 999 happy haunts are dying to make the next Guest number 1,000 at the Haunted Mansion.
• Five of the seven habitable continents are represented on “the happiest cruise that ever sailed,” it’s a small world.

Today’s Takeaway:
The hunny pot ride vehicle of Pooh’s Hunny Hunt attraction is impulsive and whimsical and has a mind of its own. It rides a whirlwind, bounces about and whisks travelers through the pages of a beloved children’s story book. In these tales, a “bear of very little brain” has an ever-present “rumbly in his tumbly” that is satisfied only by the sweet delight of “hunny.”

Pooh’s constant craving for honey gets him into many sticky situations, often stirring the ire of the bees who make it.

Today, study the honey bee. Here are several different activities I found that you can incorporate into a unit study:

Learn to identify different flowers. Purchase inexpensive artificial flowers from a craft store and display them around the room. Have students “buzz” around, pretending to be bees. When the teacher calls out a flower name, the first student to buzz over to the correct flower wins! (via Danielle’s Place)
Bees communicate with body language, specifically dancing. The dances tell the worker bees where to find food. Print out this maze and have students help the bee find its way to the flower. (via University of Arizona)
Bees recognize each other by their scent. Play a game of secret smells. Spray or dip cotton balls in a variety of scents, such as lemon juice, peppermint oil or perfume, making two of each scent. Place cotton balls in zip-top bags and hand one to each student, making sure another student has the matching scent. Then, have them use their noses to find the match. (via Danielle’s Place)
Honey bees secrete wax to build elaborate honeycombs. Each cell of the honeycombs is hexagonal (six-sided). Study the geometric figure and discuss why that particular shape suits their purposes. (via University of Arizona)
Print off this fun bee-themed crossword puzzle. (via NCBeekeepers)
Print off this diagram and learn the anatomy of a honey bee. (via Enchanted Learning)

SCHOOL SUBJECT: Science
SUBJECT: Elementary

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It's GIVEAWAY Wednesday!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

It's GIVEAWAY Wednesday!

For your chance to win a Magical Mouse Schoolhouse T-shirt AND Offical Mickey Mouse Club journal (Theme Park Merchandise), by midnight tonight, email jodi (at) magicalmouseschoolhouse (dot) com the correct answer to the following trivia:

In Walt's original version of E.P.C.O.T. (the Environmental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) as a working city, how many permanent residents did he anticipate?

One winner will be selected from correct entries via random.org. International Guests are welcome. Good luck, thanks for playing along, and have a wonderful holiday!

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Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

This week's theme: Wildlife!

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Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!

Link up, meet new friends, network with other bloggers, and have fun!

Our Requests:

1. On GFC, Networked Blogs, Twitter or Facebook, please follow both Hosts

and

2. Follow who you like and be sure to let them know that you are from "Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce."

3. You are not required to, but we'd greatly appreciate it if you could grab our button and write a post about this hop and/or display the button on your sidebar.

4. Every week we will pick someone to Guest Host the hop with us. If you would like to be considered for the Guest Host position, leave a comment under this post along with a valid way to contact you and please follow us on GFC.

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Toontown at Tokyo Disneyland Park

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Tokyo Disneyland Park contains seven main “lands,” or separate themed areas. One of them is Toontown. It saddens me a little that Walt Disney World’s Toontown is closed for good, because as you can see with Tokyo’s version, it’s a great place for younger Guests to get a first experience with roller coasters. Lots of kids also enjoy visiting the “homes” of some favorite Characters.

At Tokyo Disneyland’s Toontown, Guests can visit Mickey’s and Minnie’s Houses, Donald’s Boat, and one I’d love to see, Chip ‘n Dale’s Treehouse. It’s the perfect place for those two mischievous chipmunks, because it offers a constant supply of their favorite snack, acorns. They happily welcome Guests to their nutty home. Come, climb up the oak tree and into their backyard!

Speaking of acorns…Gadget is an inventor with a passion for recycling who has put together a Toon-sized roller coaster using objects she has found. Ride vehicles on Gadget’s Go Coaster resemble hollowed-out acorns. That’s no problem since Guests have been virtually shrunk to Toon size! The ride duration is only one minute, but it’s full of action, zipping around a rock face and splashing past Toon Lake.

Another fun attraction is Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin. Roger Rabbit's beautiful wife Jessica has been kidnapped, and the villains are out to get Roger… and you! So hop into Lenny the cartoony taxi and shake them off your trail on this wild ride through the back alleys of Toontown. Be careful driving, though, because the villains’ “dip” has gotten all over the wheels. Turning the steering wheel might send your cab into a spin.

There’s also a soft playground area, Toon Park, where the littlest Guests can burn off some energy while moms and dads regain some of theirs.

Today’s Takeaway:
Follow Gadget’s example and build a rollercoaster out of found items. Amusement Park Science has a great how-to. Follow the directions below and be sure to visit their site to get a better understanding of the physics that make these exciting rides not only fun, but safe!

You can make a roller coaster out of just about anything, but Amusement Park Science recommends the below list of materials, because they work well to use as cars, to make tracks, to support your tracks and to make hills. Experiment to see which materials work better together. Change up the size and shape of your track for speed variance.

CARS
Marbles
Ball bearings
Metal BBs

TRACKS
Vinyl tubing
Cereal boxes
Cups
Foam insulation tubes
Cardboard tubes

ADHESIVES
Tape
Clay
Staples

SUPPORT
Staircase
Chairs
Bed
Wood blocks

What to Do:

Spherical objects such as marbles and ball bearings tend to make the best "cars" for your roller coaster. The size of the marbles/balls needed depends on the type of material you use for your tracks. For instance, while vinyl tubing works well to make tracks that bend and curve, only small objects like B-Bs and ball bearings can actually fit in most vinyl tubing. However, vinyl tubing is probably the easiest material to make tracks with, so we recommend using it for your first attempt at making a roller coaster. Most hardware stores carry vinyl tubing in a variety of sizes, so test your cars to make sure they can move through it before you purchase it.
If you use poster board or cereal boxes, cut out long strips to make your track. You may have to build walls or sides to keep your car from falling off.
Whatever material you use, build your track so that the cars can run smoothly on it - no cracks or seams that will trip up the cars.
Use the adhesives to connect track pieces together as well as connect the track to your support system.
Remember the laws and forces of motion when building your roller coaster track. Your first hill must be the tallest to build up enough potential energy to get your car through the track. Adjust hills and loops so that the car will have enough velocity to make it through the course without having so much speed that it flies off.
You may want to try several different cars with different sizes and weights to see which car moves through your track the best.

SCHOOL SUBJECT: Physics

SKILL LEVEL: Middle Grades

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Magical Blogorail Fridays

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:33:00 +0000

Welcome to Magical Blogorail Fridays!

This week we're spotlighting Tiffany from Adventures of a Disney Princess! Tiffany has been a Disney fan since the day she was born and still gets just as excited to go to Disney as she did when she was a little girl! Now as an adult, she is an annual passholder who frequents the Walt Disney World Parks at least once a month. You'll find Tiffany aboard Magical Blogorail Green.

Check out Tiffany's New Year resolutions in her recent Magical Blograil entry, "Magical Blogorail Green: My 2012 Resolutions":

My 2012 Disney resolution is to finally participate in two of the runDisney race events that I’ve been wanting to do, but for one reason or another haven’t gotten around to doing them. The first is the “Expedition Everest Challenge” that takes place in May and the second is the “Wine & Dine Half Marathon” in November (although I might add the a third as I was really excited about the announcement on Wednesday regarding the new “Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10 Miler”).

Read on to find out what else she has planned!

The next Magical Blogorail Yellow Loop will run Friday, February 3. Check back then to find out where we'll be stopping!

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Mermaid Lagoon at Tokyo DisneySea

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

One of the seven maritime destinations of Tokyo DisneySea is Mermaid Lagoon. Go under the sea to Triton’s kingdom and become part of Ariel’s world.

Ride a flying fish! The wavy rise and fall of Flounder’s Flyin’ Fish Coaster mimics a ride on the back of Ariel’s best friend as he jumps in and out of the sea.

Board a colorful hermit crab for a jolly spin around Scuttles’ Scooters. Silly Scuttles! His telescope is backward.

Follow Ariel on an adventure deep inside the wooden hull of a sunken ship. At the Mermaid Lagoon Theater, Ariel and her undersea friends "swim" freely around this "liquid theater" as they take a stand against the evil sea-witch Ursula in a dazzling musical performance.

Jumpin’ Jellyfish hoist seashells up to gently float back down on this undersea parachute sensation. Across the way, Guests climb aboard a seashell at the Blowfish Balloon Race and “swim” higher and higher as the blowfish race along. When the race is over, they can take a spin through The Whirlpool around the ocean floor in a kelp cup.

Younger Guests who’d rather check out the sights can climb through a fishing net, explore a treasure trove and enjoy the fun and games of Ariel's favorite hideaway, Ariel's Playground, or they can stop by Ariel’s Greeting Grotto to meet The Little Mermaid herself.

Today’s Takeaway:
Make a jellyfish craft using a bowl, paint, decorations and streamers.

What you need:

paper bowl
poster paint and paintbrushes OR finger paint
streamers/crepe paper or strips of colored tissue paper scissors
glue
paper clip or button
googley craft eyes (optional)

Follow the instructions found at First Palette kids' crafts to make these whimsical, non-stinging jellies!

SCHOOL SUBJECT: Art
SKILL LEVEL: Preschool/Elementary

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Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Epcot's upside-down waterfall

This week's theme: Water, water everywhere!

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Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!

Link up, meet new friends, network with other bloggers, and have fun!

Our Requests:

1. On GFC, Networked Blogs, Twitter or Facebook, please follow both Hosts

and

as well as our featured Guest

2. Follow who you like and be sure to let them know that you are from "Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!"

3. You are not required to, but we'd greatly appreciate it if you could grab our button and write a post about this hop and/or display the button on your sidebar.

4. Every week we will pick someone to Guest Host the hop with us. If you would like to be considered for the Guest Host position, leave a comment under this post along with a valid way to contact you and please follow us on GFC.

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Happy 10th, Tokyo DisneySea!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Tokyo Disney Resort offers Guests a timeless Disney experience right in the heart of the Japanese capitol city. Featuring two separate Parks, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, a shopping and entertainment venue called Ikspiari, and five Resort hotels, Tokyo Disney Resort appeals to locals as well as visitors to the greater Tokyo area.

In September of 2011, Tokyo DisneySea celebrated 10 magical years since its grand opening on September 4, 2001. The celebration continues through March 19, 2012, with special events and a variety of “be magical” experiences where Guests can discover new wonders and thrills when they visit the Park.

Tokyo DisneySea Park contains seven maritime themed ports of call, full of adventure and discovery, myths and legends. Mediterranean Harbor, American Waterfront, and Lost River Delta overflow with international flavor, transporting Guests to the coastlines surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic seaboard of North America, and the Central American jungle shores of El Rio Perdido. Creative imagination pulls visitors into the fictional lands of Sinbad the Sailor and Aladdin at the Arabian Coast, Captain Nemo’s secret base on the Mysterious Island, and Ariel’s undersea playground of Mermaid Lagoon. An elevated trolley connects the American Waterfront to Port Discovery, where Guests can check out the latest weather experiments and other futuristic possiblilities. For this 10th anniversary year, Mickey Mouse and six of his friends have become magical ambassadors, with the task of awakening the magic that has lain dormant at Tokyo DisneySea. Look for them at the Magical Hat monuments at each of the themed ports.

Mediterranean Harbor is the place to be for spectacular shows. It hosts the Tokyo DisneySea 10th anniversary show Be Magical! which features a whole cast of Disney friends decked out in special costumes singing and dancing in celebration. This 20-minute show is performed 2-3 times daily. Check Park guides for times. Also at Mediterranean Harbor is the nighttime multimedia pyrotechnics/waterworks display of Fantasmic. Mickey Mouse, as the Sorcerer's Apprentice, brings Disney fantasy to life through his powers of imagination. Characters from timeless Disney films appear in this dynamic nighttime spectacle.

In honor of Tokyo DisneySea’s 10th anniversary year, two Character greeting areas have opened, Mickey & Friends' Greeting Trails and Village Greeting Place, along with Jasmine's Flying Carpets, an attraction that takes Guests on a magic carpet ride.

Located inside Tokyo DisneySea Park, the Hotel Mira Costa is also celebrating its 10th anniversary and is offering a variety of special programs.

Today’s Takeaway:
Architecture and entertainment in the Mediterranean Harbor area of Tokyo DisneySea reflects styles and cultures of the nations surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. The Sea itself is one as rich in historical importance as it is in marine life. Although it covers less than one percent (only 0.7%) of the worldwide marine surface area, it holds 9 % of its biodiversity! The Mediterranean is almost entirely surrounded by land, and its waters are shared by nearly two dozen countries. It is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, seeing roughly 30% of the industry’s travelers.

In 1869, in cooperation with the governments of the United Kingdom, France and Egypt, the Suez Canal opened, connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea and allowing shipping access to the Indian Ocean and to Australia and Asian nations. While it has proved an invaluable service to industry and economics, it has brought alien life to the waters of the Mediterranean.

Waters from the Red Sea flow freely into the Mediterranean. Over the century-and-a-half the Suez Canal has been open, species of marine life have migrated from the Red Sea and colonized in the eastern portions of the Mediterranean. According to one article, “Invasive species have become a major component of the Mediterranean ecosystem and have serious impacts on the Mediterranean ecology, endangering many local and endemic Mediterranean species.”

For Today’s Takeaway, research this topic further. Discuss what impact this process, referred to as Lessepsian migration or Erythrean invasion, has had on marine life in the area. What long-term effects will this invasion have on the Mediterranean’s biodiversity?

Choose one assignment:
1) Write an opinion piece stating your position on this topic: Do the economic benefits outweigh the ecological effects of Lessepsian migration?

OR

2) Select a specific species that has relocated from its native Red Sea to the Mediterranean. Write about: How has this invasive species impacted or endangered indigenous species?

SCHOOL SUBJECT: Marine Biology
SKILL LEVEL: High School

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Magical Blogorail Fridays

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Welcome to Magical Blogorail Fridays!

Magical Mouse Schoolhouse boards the Magical Blogorail Yellow Loop on the first Friday of each month. On the Fridays in between, we're bringing you a sampling of our fellow Blogorailers' sites.

This week we're spotlighting Amy from Growing up Disney! Amy herself "grew up Disney," taking her first trip to the World as a toddler. Now she's growing up her own kids Disney style and taking us along for the trip.

Here's a cute pic from her recent wordless Wednesday entry, and below, you can check out an excerpt from Amy's blog entry, "Brother/Sister Walt Disney World Vacation":

2007 was the “Year of a Million Dreams” or should I say one of the years since that promotion ran for 27 months. I made two trips to Walt Disney World that year. My in-laws joined us for our usual fall trip for the Food and Wine Festival. However, the really special visit was one with my brother in February of 2007.

Read on to find out how that trip went and much, much more!

The next Magical Blogorail Yellow Loop will run Friday, February 3. Check back then to find out where we'll be stopping!

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Year of the Dragon

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Hong Kong Disneyland is celebrating the Chinese New Year—the Year of the Dragon—from January 13 through February 5, 2012, with special events and offers throughout the Resort.

For a special treat, stay in a Chinese New Year-themed Kingdom Suite at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel. Guests who stay in a Kingdom Suite will enjoy exclusive themed decorations and be welcomed with Mickey and Minnie keepsake plush toys.

During the celebration at the Park, Mickey and his friends will be dressed in Chinese New Year costumes. Mushu from Mulan will also meet and greet Guests to share some special dragon wishes, and art will come to life in the Rhythm of Life Dragon Procession, in which ornately costumed performers will dance an elegant production.

Before you head home, journey around the Lucky Trail. The Trail has several destinations, each with a different Disney Character wishing you luck along the way. The Dragon Lantern centerpiece at the Castle forecourt is the final and luckiest spot of all and is a perfect picture spot.

Today’s Takeaway:

Dragon kites are displayed in many Chinese New Year celebrations to bestow luck on the party-goers, but did you know kites were originally used by Chinese soldiers to scare away enemy troops? Dragon kites are usually very colorful and feature a segmented body, tiger eyes for strength, a long beard for wisdom and horns for longevity.

Today, follow this simple tutorial from eHow to make and fly a vibrant dragon kite. You will need two white garbage bags, cloth tape, a tape measure, pencil, scissors, bamboo stick 48" long and 1/8 " wide, tooth pick, kite string spool, tinsel and other decorations, and a hobby stick.

For full instructions, click here. If you are unable to locate pliable bamboo, you may substitute a wire coat hanger to shape the frame.

SCHOOL SUBJECT: Art, Culture
SKILL LEVEL: Elementary (requires adult assistance)

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Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

This week's theme: Characters Great & Small

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It's GIVEAWAY Wednesday!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

It's GIVEAWAY Wednesday!

For your chance to win a Magical Mouse Schoolhouse T-shirt AND Marvel Universe Thor VS. Loki diecast collection (alternate prize for girl), by midnight tonight, email jodi (at) magicalmouseschoolhouse (dot) com the correct answer to the following trivia:

Marvel Entertainment is famed for creating several superhero comic books. The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel in 2009. List 5 famous fictional superheroes created or co-created by writer Stan Lee during his years with Marvel.

One winner will be selected from correct entries via random.org. International Guests are welcome. Good luck, thanks for playing along, and have a wonderful holiday!

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Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!

Link up, meet new friends, network with other bloggers, and have fun!

Our Requests:

1. On GFC, Networked Blogs, Twitter or Facebook, please follow both Hosts

and

as well as our featured Guest

2. Follow who you like and be sure to let them know that you are from "Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!"

3. You are not required to, but we'd greatly appreciate it if you could grab our button and write a post about this hop and/or display the button on your sidebar.

get the InLinkz code

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Toy Story Land

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

China’s Hong Kong Disneyland opened in September of 2005. A relatively small Park in comparison to its counterparts, the Resort is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.

Hong Kong Disneyland is laid out in traditional wheel-and-hub fashion, with Sleeping Beauty Castle at its center and five “lands” extending from the hub: Main Street USA, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and what would likely be my favorite if I were to visit, Toy Story Land.

Toy Story Land is very similar to Disneyland Resort Paris’ Toy Story Playland, which just opened in 2010 to celebrate the third and final Toy Story movie. In both Parks, once you enter this Land, you become one of Andy’s cherished companions. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a toy, here’s your chance to find out.

RC Racer is a high speed thrill ride designed as a U-shaped Hot Wheels track. Guests board RC ride vehicles and are launched up the 27-meter ramp for high-octane excitement.

Sarge and his soldiers are looking for new recruits. Join the drill training at Toy Soldier Boot Camp, then head on over to the Toy Soldier Parachute Drop for your first assignment as an enlistee.

The view from the Drop is spectacular! Did you notice Slinky Dog chasing his tail? Go ahead and take a spin. It’s “barking mad fun!”

Meet and Greet Woody, Jessie and their pals before you head out, and don’t forget to create your own crazy characters by giving Cubot a twist.

Today’s Takeaway:
Mimicking real-life servicemen and women, in the Toy Story movies, toy soldiers parachute from great heights to access their rendezvous points.

Science Buddies explains how parachutes work: As a skydiver falls, the force of gravity pulls them towards the earth. A parachute slows the skydiver’s fall by creating air resistance, or drag. The air, in essence, pushes the parachute back up, opposing the force of gravity and bringing the push-and-pull forces to near balance. Because the parachute’s drag force is slightly less than the force of gravity, the skydiver floats slowly to the ground.

Today, experiment to see if size has any effect on parachute flight by making a series of parachutes of varying size and test the rate at which they fall from a designated height. Follow the lab instructions found here.

SUBJECT: Physics
SKILL LEVEL: Middle Grades

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Soarin'

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the first stop aboard Magical Blogorail Yellow. Enjoy the first Yellow Line ride of 2012 as we share with you our favorite Furture World Attractions.

To me, beginning a new year feels like stepping into the future, so I thought it appropriate to select Epcot’s Future World as the focus of this month’s Magical Blogorail Yellow loop.

The Land Pavilion in Future World West houses one of my very favorite attractions at Walt Disney World Resort: Soarin’. Soarin’, an exact replica of Disney California Adventure’s Soarin’ over California, opened at Epcot in 2005 in celebration of Disneyland’s 55th Anniversary. This unique ride gives passengers a birds’-eye view of the beauty and geographical diversity of the Golden State.

In two identical theaters, flight attendants direct Guests onto rows of ski lift-type benches, stowing all belongings (including flip-flops and ears hats) in the underseat compartments and fastening their seatbelts securely. Upon takeoff, the rows are lifted in Ferris wheel fashion nearly 45 feet in the air and surrounded by an 80-foot domed screen to “fly” on a simulated hang glider through fast motion Omnimax clips.

As the journey begins, fog lifts to reveal the Golden Gate Bridge. A faint, “Ah!” may escape your lips as you soar from there to Yosemite National Park, Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe, Palm Springs, San Diego harbor, Malibu and downtown Los Angeles. Your feet dangle freely as your lift gently rocks, tilts and sways with orange and pine scented breezes. You’re almost certain to dip your toes in the river, then quickly catch your breath at the mountains’ majesty. You can almost feel the ocean spray, and hey, watch out for that golf ball!

Before approaching the decent, the flight returns to Disneyland Resort celebratory fireworks. Did you see the hidden Mickey?

Today’s Takeaway:
Use some of your leftover Christmas wrapping paper to make an origami hang glider.

Follow these directions from Origami-Instructions.com (step-by-step photos also found here):
1) Begin with an 8-inch square piece of paper.
2) Crease it in half along the North-South line and along the East-West line.
3) Fold the left edge in to the exact center.
4) Then, fold the upper and lower left corners in to the center line.
5) Unfold the previous folds to create creases as seen in this photo.

6) Fold line A-B to the center line and line C-D away from the center line as shown.
7) Repeat Step 6 on the lower left corner.
8) Fold the newly formed point in to the center line, and fold the two loose flaps up.
9) Fold glider in half and then unfold to create a dihedral angle.
10) You may secure flaps with tape to make your craft more aerodynamic or attach a paper clip to the nose to make it fly faster.
11) For best flight technique, Origami-Instructions advises you hold the glider above your head at a 30 to 45 degree downward angle and simply let it slip from your fingers. It should swoop down gently and level off.

Origami-Instructions invites your photos and so do we! Contact them here or email us your pictures at jodi(at)magicalmouseschoolhouse(dot)com.

SCHOOL SUBJECT: Aerodynamics, Art
SKILL LEVEL: Elementary

TRIVIAL TIDBITS:

Michael Eisner, former Walt Disney Company CEO, is the golfer whose ball (with a hidden Mickey on it) seemingly comes flying right out of the screen at passengers.

Walt Disney Imagineers like to learn while they play too! Imagineer Mark Sumner developed the Soarin’ over California design with an old toy Erector Set.

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is RETURN TO DISNEY.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:
1st Stop ~ Magical Mouse Schoolhouse (You are here!)
2nd Stop ~ Return to Disney
3rd Stop ~ Magik Mouse
4th Stop ~ DISTherapy
Final Stop ~ Delightfully Disney

*This post is also included in the 38th Dismarks Disney blog carnival. Check it out for even more great Disney information!

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One More Disney Park

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Whenever a new year begins, people tend to ponder the future, wondering what the year will bring, scheduling trips to their favorite Disney Parks, and dreaming of what lies ahead. As we venture into this new year, let’s peer a little bit further into the future.

In about four to five years, Guests will be able to cross the Pacific Ocean for a visit to a brand new Disney Resort in the Far East. Shanghai Disney Resort will be “a whole new world of fantasy, imagination, creativity and adventure.” Located on 963 acres in Pudong, Shanghai, with room to expand, the Resort will include Shanghai Disneyland Park, resembling its sister Disneyland Parks around the world, as well as two themed hotels and a shopping/dining/entertainment venue.

The Disney Company and its partners broke ground on the project in April of last year after gaining approval from the Chinese central government in Beijing. Shanghai Disney Resort will become the second Disney facility in China and the first in Mainland China. (Hong Kong and Macau are excluded from that geopolitical designation.) Disney CEO and President, Bob Iger, said the Resort “will be a world-class family vacation destination that combines classic Disney characters and storytelling with the uniqueness and beauty of China. Working with our Chinese partners, the Shanghai Disney Resort will be both authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese.” Simply put, the Resort will include familiar and beloved signature Disney features, but will provide ambiance and unique experiences that can only be found in Shanghai.

In Magic Kingdom style, Shanghai Disneyland will consist of several themed “lands,” each with its own iconic attractions, entertainment and experiences. The lands will center around Storybook Castle, which is to be the most interactive Disney castle yet, complete with entertainment, dining and performance settings. The Park will also will feature a beautiful, 11-acre green space at its center, which will reinforce themes of sustainability and nature integrated throughout the Park and will provide Guests space to enjoy local cultural celebrations and customs.

Today’s Takeaway:
As I mentioned above, Hong Kong and Macau are excluded from the geopolitical region referred to as Mainland China. Research this distinction to understand how they are governed and regulated differently than the rest of the populace. I found very few legitimate explanations online, so you may need to head to your local library. I suggest studying at least three different resources in order to gain a firm understanding of the governmental operations of China.

Also look into China’s economic tendencies. “China's economy during the last quarter century has changed from a centrally planned system that was largely closed to international trade to a more market-oriented economy that has a rapidly growing private sector and is a major player in the global economy,” states one online source.

Once you have a good grasp on the subject, do the following activity to gain appreciation for just how amazing it is that China, a Communist nation with socialistic tendencies, will now have not only one but two Disney Resorts, something that is very representational of a democratic, capitalistic society.

The assignment:
Imagine yourself in the position of Disney CEO and President Bob Iger. Write a letter to the heads of the People’s Republic of China proposing this new theme park and resort. What points would Mr. Iger need to address to convince the governing authorities to host such a venue in their country? How will a (second) theme park benefit China? How will it benefit the United States to have an American corporation maintain such a strong presence in such a society? What impact on the overall world economic outlook will this venture have?

SUBJECT: Government, Economics, Social Science, Communications
SKILL LEVEL: High School

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Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Our friend Debs at Focused on the Magic has given us a great Wordless Wednesday theme this week! To honor the Scottish tradition of "First Footings," we're kicking off the first (almost) WW of 2012 with a look at our first Disney footings. I couldn't limit it to just one photo, so enjoy several looks back at my family's first trip to Walt Disney World in 2006.

We arrived at Pop!

Breakfast with Cinderella to start Day 1

Main Street USA & Cinderella Castle

Grandma & Grandpa dancing at Epcot

Still celebrating the Millennium

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Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!

Link up, meet new friends, network with other bloggers, and have fun!

Our Requests:

1. On GFC, Networked Blogs, Twitter or Facebook, please follow both Hosts

and

as well as our featured Guest

2. Follow who you like and be sure to let them know that you are from "Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce."

3. You are not required to, but we'd greatly appreciate it if you could grab our button and write a post about this hop and/or display the button on your sidebar.

4. Every week we will pick someone to Guest Host the hop with us. If you would like to be considered for the Guest Host position, leave a comment under this post to let me know you're interested and follow us on GFC.

get the InLinkz code

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One More Disney Day

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:31:00 +0000

Happy New Year! Yesterday Disney announced their new promotion for 2012: One More Disney Day. This being a leap year, we have one extra day on our calendar, and Disney knows just what you want to do with that 24 hours. Between now and March 10, Disney Parks Guests have three different options to claim that day.

You could WIN a trip for four to either Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort. Disney is giving away one trip every day for 60 days, from January 1 through Leap Day, February 29. Enter daily for your chance!

If you book a three day/three night stay at select Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resorts by January 31, 2012, to travel between February 26 and March 10, 2012, you’ll receive an extra night’s stay and ticket package free! Contact 3D Travel for details.

And the coolest offer yet—On Leap Day, February 29, 2012, for the first time ever, Guests will be able to visit Disneyland Park or Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom from 6 a.m. that morning through 6 a.m. on March 1. That’s right, 24 straight hours of Disney magic!

What will you do with your extra day this year?

Today’s Takeaway:
What in the world is a leap year anyway? Leap years are needed to keep our calendar in alignment with the earth's revolutions around the sun. Basically, if we go by a strict 365-day calendar, we lose approximately six hours every year. After 100 years on such time scale, we would be 24 days ahead of our seasons! To keep things consistent, a leap year in the Gregorian calendar includes an extra day at the end of February, increasing the year to 366 days. The extra day, February 29, is the 60th day of a leap year in the Gregorian calendar.

Learn more about leap year here and here, and check out some fun ways a certain leaping creature can illustrate and enhance your leap year studies.

• Make a leap frog coin bank by recycling an empty nut or other food canister and printable template. (Math/finance)
• Purchase tadpoles from your local pet store (or collect some from a nearby stream or pond) and set up an aquarium home for them. Have children observe as they grow from tadpole to frog. (Science)
• Play an English parts-of-speech drill. As the teacher reads a story, possibly one about a frog, have students yell “ribbit” every time a certain part of speech is heard. (Language Arts)

• Make an origami frog. (Art)

SCHOOL SUBJECT: Various
SKILL LEVEL: Elementary

*Coming Thursday: One More Disney Park

The Disney Moms Disney Dooney GIVEAWAY

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

We have joined with our friends at The Disney Moms, a site dedicated to helping you and your family plan the best Disney vacation possible, to sponsor a fantastic GIVEAWAY! Simply follow the Rafflecopter instructions below for your chance to win this Disney Parks exclusive "Denim Disney Erica Bag" by Dooney & Bourke, a $130 value. (TURQUOISE BAG ONLY)

Contest is open to U.S. residents only and runs from January 2 - 27, 2012. Thank you for joining us and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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January 2012 Earn Your E.A.R.S.

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Registration for January 2012 Earn Your E.A.R.S. is now CLOSED! Please check back on February 1, 2012, for next month's registration and assignment. Thank you!

For those unfamiliar with the program, the Enriching Academic Reward Series, or E.A.R.S., is an achievement program designed to encourage kids to continually reach for academic success.

As a homeschooler, I emphasize learning. I do not stress getting good grades, and so my children do not always appreciate the value of a high score. I would rather see them grasp concepts than celebrate or despair over rankings. E.A.R.S. is a way to stimulate students to do their best. It motivates them to complete their assignments and gives them the desire to do more. E.A.R.S. is not a standalone curriculum; it enhances students' current course loads and rewards their diligent efforts.

Earn Your E.A.R.S. is open to all skill levels. If you registered your children last year, you are still in the system and do not need to sign up again. One change from last year is that instead of running September through May, the program will run August through May of each school year and will take the month of December off.

Here's how Earn Your E.A.R.S. works:

1) Register your students by submitting the below form or by clicking here. Also available on left-hand sidebar through the 5th of each month or by scanning this QR code with your smart phone.
2) Magical Mouse Schoolhouse will email your assignment by the 5th of each month.
3) Have your students complete and return the assignment by the last day of the month to receive an incentive reward. Please note that Magical Mouse Schoolhouse will NOT assign grades. We are interested in completion and education.
4) Students who complete ALL NINE MONTHS' assignments will receive a Certificate of Completion and small "graduation" gift in June.

Are you ready to Earn Your E.A.R.S.?

Today's Takeaway:
Register your students for the Earn Your E.A.R.S. program by submitting the registration form.

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Magical Blogorail Fridays

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Welcome to Magical Blogorail Fridays!

This week we're spotlighting Melissa from Disney on Wheels! Melissa is "a Disney enthusiast, geek in general," who also happens to experience life from a wheelchair. You are likely familiar with Melissa from her Guest post, Animal Kingdom on Wheels. She can also be found aboard Magical Blogorail Orange, at Chip & Co. and at The Disney Moms.

Check out this excerpt from Melissa's recent blog entry, "Year in Review: The Magic of Disney Customer Service," written by her husband Drew:

When I visit Walt Disney World its as if I am watching a master execute in the same as you might watch an elite athlete or musician. The magic of Disney is the dedication of the cast members and the willingness of Disney to continue to invest in them. Treating a customer like its your first is the hardest thing for a service professional to do, yet Disney finds a way to not lose that eagerness.

Read on to explore more of Disney on Wheels!

The next Magical Blogorail Yellow Loop will run Friday, January 6. Check back then to find out where we'll be stopping!

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Magical Mouse Schoolhouse

Magical Blogorail Fridays

Fantasyland at Tokyo Disneyland

It's GIVEAWAY Wednesday!

Wordless Wednesday

Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!

Toontown at Tokyo Disneyland Park

Magical Blogorail Fridays

Mermaid Lagoon at Tokyo DisneySea

Wordless Wednesday

Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!

Happy 10th, Tokyo DisneySea!

Magical Blogorail Fridays

Year of the Dragon

Wordless Wednesday

It's GIVEAWAY Wednesday!

Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!

Toy Story Land

Soarin'

One More Disney Park

Wordless Wednesday

Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!

One More Disney Day

The Disney Moms Disney Dooney GIVEAWAY

January 2012 Earn Your E.A.R.S.

Sign up to Earn Your E.A.R.S.

Magical Blogorail Fridays