Magical Mouse Schoolhouse

Things My Family Can't Leave Without

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the first stop aboard Magical Blogorail Yellow. Enjoy the ride as we share the things we cannot leave Disney without.

It’s no secret the Disney Parks are stocked with stuff Guests simply can’t resist. Nearly all attractions exit through a gift shop, and those that don’t have themed kiosks nearby. If you manage to bypass those, don’t worry. You’ll have countless more shopping opportunities on your way out, at Downtown Disney, or even at your Resort. I gotta be honest, that bugged me on my first trip to the World, because my young children wanted every toy and t-shirt in sight. But you know what bugs me now? It’s that I have to leave so much behind!

My family’s love of Disney grows with each Park visit. We would live in Cinderella Castle if we could, and our home and our wardrobes are a telltale giveaway of that. On any given day, at least one of my family members is wearing Disney. Today, my husband’s keeping time by his Skagen Disney watch, I’m toting my Disney Dooney, my teen’s sporting a Grumpy cap, my daughter’s ears twinkle Tinker Bell bling, and my youngest slips and slides in Mickey socks. We didn’t plan this! It just IS who we’ve become.

Our souvenir collections just sprouted themselves. When Vinylmations came out, I had no intention of buying even one. We now have six. I have not yet traded a single pin. We’re now up to about 20. But there are certain things we simply cannot leave the Parks without.

My younger two kids have to have the current year’s Mickey or Minnie Mouse plush figures. My teen finds something unique. He plays JV baseball, and this past year, he brought home a personalized wood bat from ESPN Zone. My husband always needs a new cap. And I have become the zippered hoodie princess. I have one from each trip except our first visit, plus a Disney DREAM Inaugural Cruise hoodie and a Disneyland one (even though I haven’t been there yet!). To quote Ariel, “Look at this stuff. Isn’t it neat? Wouldn’t you think my collection’s complete?” Not even close! In fact, I think it’s time to go back and get more Disney stuff!

Today’s Takeaway:
It is human nature to collect, sort and categorize things. We group animals into genus, species, and sub-species. We designate galaxies spiral, elliptical or irregular. We even order cloud types. Collections can calm chaos, or they can simply amass cool knick-knacks. Whether your collections are functional or fun, you can learn from what you have.

Begin a coin collection (or add to an existing one) and see what knowledge you can glean by doing these activities:

Study the history of coin minting, from ancient times to present day.
Go on a field trip to the U.S. Mint (or your country’s facilities if not in the United States, and if that is allowed). See a virtual tour at www.usmint.gov.
Study how coins are “graded” by their condition and value.
Study development of specific coins, i.e., the buffalo nickel, the wheat penny, or the silver dollar. Research the artists and engravers who designed them.
Learn the business of buying and selling coins.

SCHOOL SUBJECT: History

SKILL LEVEL: Elementary

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 ~ The Disney Chick
4th Stop ~ DISTherapy
Final Stop ~ Delightfully Disney

May Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Thu, 31 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Another month has come to a close. Did you miss anything at Magical Mouse Schoolhouse?

We ran our final Earn Your E.A.R.S. project for the 2011-2012 year. (Participants, please remember to turn them in by tonight!) We'll take a summer break and resume in August.

Another regular feature ended this month too. We will no longer be hosting "Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!" Our friends at Return to Disney may revive it in June with Magical Mouse Schoolhouse as co-host. Stay tuned for the announcement if that is the case!

We boarded The Magical Blogorail a couple times in May. On the 4th, the Yellow loop honored moms with some Mother's Day Disney indulgences. This past Tuesday, we hopped on the Walt Disney World Value Resorts track with a stop at Disney's All Star Movies. Tomorrow, we'll launch into June aboard Yellow once again, talking about the things we can't leave Disney without.

We shared several Wordless Wednesday pics and hosted a few giveaways. Btw, we have a really cool giveaway coming up next week - 2 custom tie-dye shirts from One Great Thing! Details coming soon!

We finished up our trek around Epcot's World Showcase this month with a look at Morocco, France, American Adventure and Japan, and then headed over to Future World for some hands-on fun at Innoventions East and West.

Today's Takeaway:
Take some time to review your favorite posts or check out the ones that snuck past you the first time around. Be sure to enter our Disney Dooney-Bourke/$100 Gift Card giveaway if you haven't done so already, and get ready for a rockin' summer at Magical Mouse Schoolhouse!

Wordless Wednesday

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

This week's theme: The Letter "A"

Disney's All Star Movies Resort

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Tue, 29 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Welcome to those of you joining me from A DISNEY MOM'S THOUGHTS and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 3rd stop on our Magical Blogorail.

We’re so glad you’ve boarded this special Magical Blogorail loop to the Walt Disney World Value Resorts and hope you’re enjoying the ride! Our stop is at Disney’s All Star Movies.

Disney's All-Star Movies Resort is a Disney Value Resort hotel located near Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the ESPN Wide World of Sports. The property features five pairs of three-story Guest buildings, each themed after one of five classic Disney films: Disney•Pixar's Toy Story, Fantasia, The Love Bug, The Mighty Ducks and One Hundred and One Dalmatians.

Throughout the property are giant icons representing the timeless tales, like the Pongo at the One Hundred and One Dalmatians building. Standing 30 feet tall and weighing 17,000-pounds, Pongo took builders two days to assemble. The Toy Story section features a 27-foot-tall bucket of Green Army Men, a 30-foot-tall Sheriff Woody and a 47-foot-tall Buzz Lightyear. Look closely at the bright, playful details on the buildings and even along the pathways for some hidden surprises.

Hungry? Need some souvenirs? Head over to Cinema Hall, the Resort's main building, where you will find the check-in and concierge, the World Premiere food court, Donald's Double Feature shop and the Reel Fun Arcade. Bus stops are conveniently located outside Cinema Hall.

There are two swimming pools on the property. The Sorcerer's Apprentice-themed Fantasia Pool is the main one. A smaller, hockey-rink shaped Duck Pond pool is located near The Mighty Ducks section. Outdoor movies and activities are held in the evenings by the Fantasia Pool. If you need a break from activity, however, you can relax in a hammock behind a stand of palm trees near the Fantasia buildings.

Standard rooms are quite cozy (260 square feet) and sleep no more than four plus an infant. The furnishings comply with each building’s theme and offer either two double beds or one king bed, a television, a small table with two chairs and a chest of drawers.

Today’s Takeaway:
It’s a holiday week, and a lot of kids are finishing up the school year, so let’s take it easy one more day and have a movie day! Turn on one or more of the movies that are featured in the All Star Movies Resort buildings: Toy Story, Fantasia, The Love Bug, The Mighty Ducks and One Hundred and One Dalmatians. Line up a Toy Story triple feature, or make it a movie marathon! Pop some corn and enjoy some relaxing family time.

SCHOOL SUBJECT: Arts/Cinema
SKILL LEVEL: All

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

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 ~ All Star Sports at Capturing Magical Memories
2nd Stop ~ All Star Music at A Disney Moms Thoughts
3rd Stop ~ All Star Movies at Magical Mouse Schoolhouse (YOU ARE HERE!)
Final Stop ~ Pop Century at Disney on Wheels

Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Mon, 28 May 2012 23:00:00 +0000

Tiggerific Tuesday Blog Hop...or Bounce is drawing to a close. Today is our final hop. We hope you've enjoyed linking up each week, meeting new friends and networking with other bloggers, and we hope you've had some fun along the way!

Our Requests:

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Thanks for your faithful visits each week. We hope you'll continue to be regular readers of Magical Mouse Schoolhouse, Return to Disney and Mouze Kateerz, because we're really glad you're here!

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Epcot's Innoventions West

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Mon, 28 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Last week we took a look at Epcot’s Future World and some of the cool hands-on science stuff at Innoventions East. Today we’re crossing the Pavilion to explore Innoventions West.

The Great Piggy Bank Adventure

At Innoventions West

Learn the importance of sound financial planning at The Great Piggy Bank Adventure. Play interactive games with physical and virtual elements, led by your personal investment guide (PIG), that challenge you and your family to save and spend money wisely. But beware! The wolf is hot on your tail.
Create an avatar then play a video game starring YOU at Smarter Planet. That’s right, IBM puts you in the game at run time. Play your way through computing history and see how advances in computer design can reduce energy use and how technology helps solve complex problems.
Team up and use high-tech devices to search “the most dangerous house in America” for fire hazards at Where's the Fire? Become an honorary Fire Chief by answering the most questions at the Burning Questions kiosks, explore the Play it Safe Maze, and investigate the interactive 30-foot pumper truck.
Take a Segway tour! Pick up your vehicle at Segway Central for one of Epcot’s Around the World at Epcot tours ($99). Learn to ride the first hour, then practice your skills the second hour by riding around World Showcase before that section of the Park opens.

Where's the Fire?

Today’s Takeaway:

Today is Memorial Day in the United States. I urge you to discuss with your kids the significance of the day and to honor the brave men and women who have given and/or who continue to give their lives in service for our country.

Now, because it is a holiday, I know my family won’t be getting much school work done, so take some time to learn while you play today. Visit the Innoventions website to access three online games:

Recycle Rush—Use your speed, skill, and smarts to go through a series of recycling challenges. Each activity is preceded by a bit of recycling trivia.
The Great Piggy Bank Adventure—Online board game version of the interactive finance game you’ll find at Innoventions West (discussed above). There’s also a free, downloadable activity book available.
Runtime—A personal video game adventure created at Smarter Planet.

SCHOOL SUBJECT: Fun & Games, Recess
SKILL LEVEL: All

Magical Blogorail Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Fri, 25 May 2012 11:30:00 +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 Paula from The Magical Mouse Pad! Paula is a Disney-loving wife and mom to two great kiddos. A compulsive over-planner who can't function without her to-do lists, Paula may appear serious and professional, but she's truly a (Disney) kid at heart! You'll find Paula aboard Magical Blogorail Black.

Check out Paula's recent "A Pirate's Secret":

Yo-ho Yo-ho, a Pirate's Life for Me. One of my favorite attractions at Disney World, Pirates of the Caribbean. Do you know that the 52 feet long, 14 foot waterfall drop you experience during the ride serves a purpose? Not just to add to the suspense...

Read on to learn the secret!

The next Magical Blogorail Yellow Loop will run Friday, June 1. Check back then to find out where we'll be stopping! We'll also be boarding a special loop on May 29, stopping at the WDW Value Resorts.

Epcot's Innoventions East

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Epcot’s Future World East focuses on natural sciences and industrial technology. Ellen’s Universe of Energy Pavilion takes Guests on an entertaining journey through the history of energy sources and presents options for the future. Mission: Space uses NASA-grade centrifuge technology to replicate the physical sensations of space travel. And Test Track, which is currently undergoing re-imagining, will soon invite Guests into the automotive design process.

The big attractions are not the only appeal to Future World East, however. In the Innoventions East building, Guests have hands-on opportunities to create, destroy, conserve and be blown away by science.

At Innoventions East

Use an interactive touch screen to personalize and design a thrill ride at the Sum of All Thrills. Build high hills, set ride speed, toss in some dips and turns, then take your coaster for a spin in a 4-D robotic simulator. (Must be 48 inches to ride and 54 inches to invert.)
Get StormStruck. The perfect storm is brewing and you are right in the middle of it. Learn how to protect yourself, your home and your family in severe weather events.
Drop, shatter and destroy things at Test the Limits Lab. (Call it stress relief!) Experiment with products you use at home every day and find out how to be “safety smart” in a short film hosted by Timon and Pumbaa.
Discover ways to protect and preserve our environment at Environmentality Corner. Observe papermaking and make your own sample to take home.

Today’s Takeaway:

It’s springtime in the United States, and for a lot of regions that means possible severe weather outbreaks. Take some tips from StormStruck and educate yourself and your family on staying safe when dangerous storms are forecast. Here’s a great study from The Tornado Project that will help you gain a better understanding of tornado causes and behavior. They also provide a simple tornado simulator activity. All you’ll need is cardboard, plastic, matte black paint, duct tape, a hot plate, a pan, water, a light source, a measuring stick, a cutting instrument and a paint brush. Get full directions here. Adult supervision is highly recommended.

SCHOOL SUBJECT: Science
SKILL LEVEL: Middle Grades

It's GIVEAWAY Wednesday!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

We have another great giveaway from our fabulous sponsor, 3D Travel Company! In honor of the upcoming Memorial Day Holiday, we're giving away this adorable patriotic plush Mickey Mouse AND a Magical Mouse Schoolhouse T-shirt! For your chance to win, by midnight tonight email jodi (at) magicalmouseschoolhouse (dot) com the correct answer to the following trivia:

What is the name of the Blizzard Beach mascot?

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 day!

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

This week's theme: Cinderella Castle

Join my family and hundreds of other homeschoolers at The Ultimate Field Trip 2012 at Walt Disney World® Resort this September! Magical Mouse Schoolhouse is an event sponsor, and I would love for you to be a part of the fun!

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Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Mon, 21 May 2012 23:00:00 +0000

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

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

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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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Epcot's Future World

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Photo via Living in a grown up World

Future World offers a glimpse into a visionary future, led by innovations in the various fields of science and industry. The future is bright, learning is fun, and excitement is everywhere. The future is now! ~The Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot

Whew! That was quite a trip around the World…Showcase! We hope you enjoyed the trek, and once again, we’d like to thank Mike, Heidi and Beth for journeying with us! Click on any Pavilion if you wish to revisit them: Japan, American Adventure, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Morocco, Italy, Germany, China, Mexico, Norway.

At first glance, the design of Epcot may not make much sense. Half of the Park focuses on invention, science, technology and futuristic applications while the other half, the portion we recently explored, highlights culture, social customs, history and ethnicity. The two actually began as separate concepts to be developed independently. However, Walt Disney Imagineers realized a combination of the core ideas offered a much stronger idea than either had been on its own.

According to The Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot, “Epcot puts forth the notion that the future is a positive place, where the wonders of science and technology will continue to improve the quality of life for people throughout the world.” And so the Park brings together people from throughout the world to show them that “The future is bright, leaning is fun, and excitement is everywhere.”

Future World has been called a “permanent World’s Fair,” as it showcases the latest designs, innovations, communications, transportation and more. Walt Disney believed the world’s greatest problems could be solved through careful planning and thoughtful design. Future World shows us just what is possible when people put their minds to tackling problems, from optimizing natural resources to exploring space, from hybridizing crops to penetrating the ocean’s depths.

Stop by Thursday to explore some of these technological advancements in Future World East.

Today’s Takeaway:
The geodesic sphere of Spaceship Earth pays homage to icons of World Fairs of the past, such as the Perisphere and Trylon of the 1939-40 New York World’s Fair and the Unisphere at the1964-65 New York World’s Fair.

From Wikipedia:

Photo via Rothchild Antiques

The Trylon and Perisphere were two modernistic structures, together known as the “Theme Center,” at the center of the New York World's Fair of 1939-1940. Connected to the 700-foot (210 m) spire-shaped Trylon by what was at the time the world's longest escalator, the Perisphere was a tremendous sphere, 180 feet in diameter. The sphere housed a diorama called “Democracity” which, in keeping with the fair's theme “The World of Tomorrow,” depicted a utopian city-of-the-future. Democracity was viewed from above on a moving sidewalk, while a multi-image slide presentation was projected on the interior surface of the sphere.

Photo via Wikipedia

Neither structure remains, though the Unisphere , commissioned to celebrate the beginning of the space age, now stands in their place.

Today, research World’s Fairs of the past. Examine some inventions/exhibits that have become household items or are now in common use. For example, the X-ray machine, the infant incubator, and even the ice cream cone were products of the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair! What else was once considered “futuristic” that is now very commonplace?

SCHOOL SUBJECT: History/Science
SKILL LEVEL: All

Magical Blogorail Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:30:00 +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 Disney Living! Amy is a DisMom who's married to DisDad, and between them they have 3 cool DisKids. They're longtime Disney Vacation Club members who love to share their travel adventures and ways to keep the magic of Disney in every day living. You'll find Amy aboard Magical Blogorail Green.

Check out Amy's recent Wordless Wednesday post:

This week I want to share a picture of my two royal ladies, DisKid #1 and #2. Here they are posing at Cinderella’s fountain in Magic Kingdom.

Amy also hosts a weekly PINspiration hop on Pinterest! Read on to discover more Disney Living.

The next Magical Blogorail Yellow Loop will run Friday, June 1. Check back then to find out where we'll be stopping!

Epcot's Japan Pavilion

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

In designing Epcot’s Japan Pavilion Walt Disney Imagineers incorporated Japanese design principles of balance, harmony, simplicity, formality and delicacy to evoke a sense of serenity and drama, characteristic features of traditional Japanese settings. All major elements are arranged within view of the Pavilion’s central entry point, spanning from the torii gate on the lagoon to the palace walls and the majestic pagoda.

The Japan Pavilion features more recreations of actual buildings or landmarks than perhaps any other World Showcase Pavilion. The stunning red torii gate is based on one at the entrance to the Itsukushima Shrine on the Inland Sea. The five-story, blue-roofed Goju-no-to pagoda, topped with a nine-ringed, bronze spire with golden wind chimes, is inspired by the 8th-century Horyuji Temple at Nara. The fortress in the back represents the 17th-century Shirasagi-Jo, a castle overlooking Hemeji. And of course, to the right of the courtyard stands the two-story Shishinden, which was modeled after a coronation hall at the Imperial Palace at Kyoto. The first floor of Shishinden contains a gift shop presented by the world-famous Misukoshi. Founded in 1673, it is one of the oldest and largest department stores in the world. On the second level, Guests can dine at either Tokyo Dining, an expansive sushi bar presented by three female chefs, or at Teppan Edo, which showcases the food presentation and knife skills of teppanyaki dining.

Today’s Takeaway:
Walt Disney Imagineers go to great lengths to authenticate design elements. Have you ever looked closely at the base of the Japan Pavilion’s torii gate? To give this manmade structure the appearance of having stood exposed to the sun, water and wind for centuries, Imagineers aged it with faux barnacles and crustaceans.

Barnacles are small marine organisms that attach themselves to rocks, ships and other structures in the ocean, even to large fish and whales and feed themselves on plankton by grabbing them in their featherlike tentacles. Though not necessarily harmful to sealife or the structures to which they adhere, they can reduce boat/ship speed and therefore require sailing vessels to burn more fuel. The cementlike substance they leave behind is also very difficult to remove.

Learn more about the barnacle, even its usefulness, by exploring Wild Fact Sheets. Understand the difference between a limpet and a barnacle, then use modeling clay or Play-Doh to create models of both by following the instructions found at Kindergarten-Lessons.com.

SCHOOL SUBJECT: Marine biology
SKILL LEVEL: Elementary

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

This week's theme: Disney Royal Ladies

Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Mon, 14 May 2012 23:00:00 +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 all three 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.

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Epcot's American Adventure Pavlion

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Image via Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot

When planning Epcot’s American Adventure Pavilion, Disney Imagineers faced a bit of a dilemma as to where the Pavilion should be located. Designers wanted to present our country as gracious hosts. Early models placed the Pavilion at the World Showcase entrance. Guests would have journeyed through the United States to access the other nations. Ultimately, it was placed directly across the lagoon, still the centerpiece of the Showcase it its place of prominence, but a much less domineering site.

The Pavilion’s edifice portrays “America’s Mansion,” pulling architectural elements from Independence Hall, Boston's Old State House, Monticello, and colonial Williamsburg. It is built in the English Georgian style, which was prevalent during the 18th century reigns of King George I through King George IV and was therefore common in the colonies as well. It is characterized by Greek-revivalist porticos, stone-quoined corners and a clock-and-bell tower. Patriotic red, white and blue colors dominate the Pavilion from the 110,000 red bricks to the blue tile fountain to the plant groupings.

Inside, a gallery of paintings depicts various scenes of Americana, famous quotations from the likes of Walt Disney, Charles Lindbergh and Herman Melville inspire innovation, and an impressive Audio-Animatronics show communicates 200+ years of progress. Other American Adventure Pavilion highlights include the Fife and Drum Tavern, a capella singers, and the 1,800-seat performance area, the America Gardens Theater.

Today’s Takeaway:
The Show, considered an “extension of the presentation techniques behind Carousel of Progress,” offers a variety of visual and auditory devices to communicate changes that have occurred in America over the past 200 or so years. Audio-Animatronic figures of Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain host the performance which features the likes of Alexander Graham Bell, Susan B. Anthony, Walt Disney, and even Lance Armstrong. The scene where Benjamin Franklin joins Thomas Jefferson signing the Declaration of Independence was a landmark feat for these robotic characters as Franklin walks up steps and across the stage.

Review this timeline of American history from the Smithsonian Institution. Gather up your plush Mickeys, Minnies and their friends, then choose five (or more) historical occurrences from the timeline and create a puppet show to act them out. Here’s a cute way to build a simple puppet theater out of a cardboard box (Adult supervision required!):

SCHOOL SUBJECT: American history
SKILL LEVEL: Elementary, Middle Grades

Disney Dooney & Gift Card Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:01:00 +0000

We've partnered with another great group of Disney friends, calling ourselves the Disney Dooney Divas ;), to bring you a contest with not one but TWO very cool prizes: 1) Balloon Mickey Mouse Mini Balloon Barrel Bag by Dooney & Bourke and 2) a $100 Disney Gift Card! Two prizes and two winners...what's more Disney fabulous than that!

Simply follow all Rafflecopter requirements to be eligible. (ENTRIES WILL BE VERIFIED before winner is announced.) You can receive extra entries for meeting optional requirements and for sharing the contest page. Contest ends June 1 at 12:01 AM, and the winners will be announced later that day. Thanks for joining us & good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Magical Blogorail Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:30:00 +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 Dave from YourFirstVisit.net. Dave is a longtime Disney fan with more than 40 Walt Disney World visits under his belt. Your First Visit is a site dedicated to helping people make the most of that first trip to The World. A strategist by profession, Dave puts those skills to great use offering tips and instructions to make that first WDW visit-which for some may be their only visit ever-to be the best it can be. You'll find Dave aboard Magical Blogorail Teal.

Check out this recent post on the best times of the year to visit Walt Disney World Resort:

Arrive in Walt Disney World one of the first three Saturdays after Thanksgiving. See Next Best Dates if you cannot go on these dates.

WHY GO TO WALT DISNEY WORLD THEN?
“Here’s a tip for avoiding the crowds. The entire world over, two of the best weeks to go anywhere are the first two weeks of December. The weather is good in most places and attendance is almost always low. At Disneyland and Disneyworld in particular, the first two Wednesdays of December are often among the three or four lowest days of the year.” ~Buzz Price, Walt’s Revolution: By the Numbers

Crowd levels are the key issue in timing your Walt Disney World trip.

Here’s why: daily attendance at the Magic Kingdom, the signature park at Walt Disney World, varies from fewer than 20,000 people to more than 60,000, with more than 90,000 heard of at Christmas. The park has a total hourly capacity of approximately 40,000 people–that is, the attractions can deliver about 40,000 rides per hour.

If you can’t go to Walt Disney World the weeks Dave recommends, read on to discover his suggestions!

The next Magical Blogorail Yellow Loop will run Friday, June 1. Check back then to find out where we'll be stopping!

Epcot's France Pavilion

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

When designing the Epcot World Showcase Pavilions, Disney Imagineers did not want simply to recreate locales; they wanted to show their audience what is special about each place and give them a taste of what it feels to actually be there. Their goal was in keeping with Epcot’s central mission—to bring the viewer a more personal connection to a faraway land. Of course, each international pavilion has to represent an entire country, not just one city or town. So to give Guests a sufficient experience, Imagineers placed great importance on piecing together “an appropriate mix of primary, secondary, and tertiary components that work together properly” (Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot).

For the France Pavilion, those essential components were pulled heavily from the city of Paris, as it is one of the most recognizable cities in the world and its visages immediately conjure thoughts of the picturesque nation. Characteristically Parisian mansard roofs and dormers, sidewalk cafes, fountains arcades, even an Eiffel Tower replica transport Guests across the Atlantic without stepping foot outside the States.

Instead of drawing details from other notable destinations around the country, the France Pavilion is authenticated by something else the nation is known for: art. The park along the canal, which itself is a sort of mini Seine, practically pops right out of Georges Seurat’s painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, and female Cast Members’ costumes at Impressions de France film, excepting minor alterations, are taken from painter Edouard Manet’s A Bar at the Folies-Bergere. The small maze hedge at the front of the Pavilion is styled after French landscape artist Andre Le Notre’s (1613-1700) works, whose similar gardens can be seen at chateaus across France, including the Palace of Versailles. A replica of Pont des Arts, a pedestrian bridge crossing the Seine River that links Musee du Louvre and Institut de France connects the France Pavilion to the United Kingdom Pavilion. And if visiting during the annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, Guests can smell the scents of flowers and spices used to make fine French parfum. I’d say all the elements “work together properly” in the France Pavilion to give Epcot visitors a very personal connection to this faraway land.

Today’s Takeaway:
Get gooey with your little artists today! Follow this very simple recipe from I Can Teach My Child to make homemade finger paint. Store in recycled squeezable containers and let them create beautiful masterpieces.

Via I Can Teach My Child

You will need:
1 cup flour
2 tablespoons salt
1 1/2 cups cold water
1 1/2 cups hot water
Coloring: food coloring, tempera paint, or powdered tempera will work

What to do:
1) Mix flour and salt.
2) Add cold water and stir until smooth.
3) Add the hot water and bring to boil. Remove from heat when thickened.
4) Whisk away lumps.
5) Separate evenly into two or three small bowls.
6) Color each bowl.
7) Pour into recycled squeeze containters such as honey, ketchup or mustard bottles.
8) Allow to cool before letting children paint, and store in refrigerator when done.

SCHOOL SUBJECT: Art
SKILL LEVEL: Preschool, Elementary

It's GIVEAWAY Wednesday!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

We have another great giveaway from our fabulous sponsor, 3D Travel Company! For your chance to win this The Little Mermaid Ariel's Undersea Adventure collectible pin, direct from Disneyland Resort, AND a Magical Mouse Schoolhouse T-shirt, by midnight tonight, email jodi (at) magicalmouseschoolhouse (dot) com the correct answer to the following trivia:

TRUE or FALSE?
The Little Mermaid (1989) was the first Disney fairy tale animated film produced since Sleeping Beauty (1959).

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 day!
***************************************************************************
CONTEST CLOSED. Congrats to Andrea F., this week's winner!

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Relaxing at the Poly

This week's theme: Relaxation

Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Mon, 07 May 2012 23:00:00 +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 all three 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.

get the InLinkz code

Epcot's Morocco Pavilion

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Added in 1984, Epcot’s Morocco Pavilion brought not just a new nation to World Showcase but also a new continent. The Pavilion offers some of the most exquisite architectural detailing in any Disney Park, according to the Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot, with its design having been overseen by King Hassan II of Morocco himself, who sent some of his finest craftsmen, or maalems, to work on site alongside Disney Imagineers cutting and laying nine tons of tile and hand carved stone. Despite this attention to detail, there are several intentional flaws in the craftsmanship. Because the people of Morocco believe no one is perfect but their god, certain subtle errors were included in the design.

The Pavilion’s architecture takes inspiration from four major cities in the kingdom: Casablanca, Marrakesh, Rabbat, and Fez, and incorporates the traditional Moroccan layout of two divided sections. An older portion of the city, the Medina, would have surrounded a palace. It would, as it does here, house a marketplace with vendors and artisans. A sort of sprawling suburbia, or ville nouvelle, would progress into more modern offerings as it extended outward from the Medina. Both are finely represented by Disney Imagineers' layering of spaces. Also represented are the Nejjarine Fountain from Fez, minarets—prayer towers—from Chella, Rabat and Koiutoubia, and a slightly modified Bab Boujouloud Gate from Fez.

Today’s Takeaway:
Per the U.S. Department of State: Morocco was the first country to seek diplomatic relations with the Government of the United States in 1777 and remains one of its oldest and closest allies in the region. Formal U.S. relations with Morocco date from 1787, when the two nations negotiated a Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Renegotiated in 1836, the treaty is still in force, constituting the longest unbroken treaty relationship in U.S. history. As testament to the special nature of the U.S.-Moroccan relationship, Tangier is home to the oldest U.S. diplomatic property in the world, and the only building on foreign soil that is listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, the American Legation in Tangier (now a museum).

A framed replica of His Majesty Mohamed III's correspondence with President George Washington

adorns the wall of Restaurant Marrakesh. Photo via Bryan Irrera, Flickr

May is preservation month! The event, sponsored by local preservation groups, state historical societies, businesses and civic organizations across the United States, was established in 1973 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The registry website explains, “During Preservation Month, many events are planned to promote historic places for the purpose of instilling national and community pride, promoting heritage tourism, and showing the social and economic benefits of historic preservation.” You can find lists of your local activities by exploring the United States National Registry of Historic Places or by visiting the National Park Service's Preservation Month Feature, your State Historic Preservation Office website, or the National Trust's calendar. If you live near a historic place, plan a field trip to tour the site and learn its significance to our nation. You might be surprised to find one close to home! Perhaps Route 66, the Subway Terminal in L.A., or Woodlawn (former home of George Washington’s adopted daughter) in Alexandria, Virginia.

Woodlawn

The National Registry also offers educational resources with their Teaching with Historic Places program, which includes 131 online, classroom-re
ady lesson plans that explore America's past by examining historic sites.

SCHOOL SUBJECT: History
SKILL LEVEL: All

Disney Indulgence

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Whisenhunt) — Fri, 04 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Welcome to those of you joining me from DISNEY DONNA KAY and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the Final stop on our Magical Blogorail.

Welcome and Happy (early) Mother’s Day to all you Disney-loving moms out there!

To shamelessly celebrate ourselves (lol!), we moms on Magical Blogorail Yellow are talking about Disney indulgences. What Disney indulgence would we want to pamper ourselves with this Mother’s Day?

I’m pretty easy to please. I’d love an extended stay at Walt Disney World, of course, and while there I would pick up a new Disney Dooney & Bourke handbag! I splurged on myself for my birthday last year (it was a milestone bday) and got this one on sale. I already had the matching wristlet, and I use both every day. I have gotten so many compliments and comments on them! Not only are they uber fashionable, but they are also very durable and roomy. They're also a great conversation starter!

I’ve had my eye on a couple of the newer styles. If I could indulge, I would choose between one of these two designs. Which would you choose?

Photo courtesy Zannaland.com

Today’s Takeaway:

Mother’s Day is right around the corner. Show your kids this easy how-to from DisneyFamilyFun.com. (Drop hints for Daddy to help them!) If a Disney Dooney’s out of reach this year, this cute clutch will be a treasured keepsake for years to come.

They will need:
8-1/2 x 11 heavy paper or card stock
acrylic paints & paint brushes
ink pads & stampers (optional)
crayons or markers to write their message
self-stick gems
love

Follow step-by-step instructions found here.

SCHOOL SUBJECT: Art
SKILL LEVEL: Elementary

Thank you for joining Magical Blogorail Yellow this month. We will be back June 1st with an all new theme. Keep checking in with our blogs in between loops to keep up to date with our Disney info, photos and stories. If you are looking for more Disney magic, you can make your way over to The Magical Blogorail website to see all our members and their blogs, as well as all our previous loops.

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 ~ Return to Disney
2nd Stop ~ Heidi's Head
3rd Stop ~ DISTherapy
4th Stop ~ Disney Donna Kay
Final Stop ~ Magical Mouse Schoolhouse (YOU ARE HERE)

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