Over 100 million people can’t be wrong, so it’s official. Sunday’s Super Bowl between the New York Giants and New England Patriots is the most watched TV show in U.S. history (estimated at 111.3 million people).

Now that the big game is behind us, it’s time to celebrate the season in which networks beg for our attention with new episodes from our favorite shows. That’s right!  It’s SWEEPS!  And ABC is no different.  They want your eyeballs on both the network and online.  This month they are hoping to get just that from fans of one of ABCs favorite families, Modern Family. 

There’s a cool little promotion online right now, and if you like Modern Family, you can’t miss this. The new Modern Family Memory Book gives you a chance to view never-before-seen videos, photos and scrapbook type content that you can’t get anywhere else! If you watch Modern Family and think you know everything, think again because this is all brand new and will help you get to know your favorite family a little bit better.  With every new episode there will be new content to check out, starting with this week, airing Wednesday night at 9pm.

I can tell you this much: If you’ve never watched the show, it’s really a treasure. Modern Family was one of those shows that just launched out of the gate with a bang three years ago. Critics love it!  Even the President of the United States has said it is his favorite show to watch with his family. The laughs do not disappoint, and it’s tame enough so that the whole family can enjoy it. Plus you can count on a positive message at the end of every episode. (Some of the content may be a bit much for the younger NDKs, so as with any entertainment media, parental supervision is always advised.)

Check it out, and let me know what you think.  Until next time, have a great week and please feel free to reach out to me with suggestions on content you would like to read about! Who signed up for the My Yard Goes Disney casting? Good luck!

*This guest post was contributed by Jeff M., our Disney Programming Blogger.  For further information, please contact Jeff at ddltube@thedisneydrivenlife.com*

• Wall hangings
• Lamp shades and bases (sold separately)
• Serving tray
• Frames
• Mickey bank
• Jewelry tree
• Jewelry box
• Earring stand
• Mirror

I purchased the jewelry tree and I am satisfied with it.  It holds my necklaces, bracelets and earrings that have a long post or hoops.  I did not choose the earring stand because I wanted the flexibility to place more than just earrings on something.

Photo Credit: Elantrice H.

Photo Credit: Elantrice H.

Photo Credit: Elantrice H.

Photo Credit: Elantrice H.

But Walt was never a man to give accolades freely, even to his most trusted and valued artists. And any veteran at the Disney Studios knew never to embellish his or her ideas on any project no matter how brilliant it might have seemed. All waited for Walt to give it the nod, then it would be incorporated into the plans. But even if the word “genius” was not bandied about the studio, the Disney Studios over the years produced a stellar list of artists that, even if Walt did not praise them personally, history accords them their due honors. One such a man was Imagineer, artist and animator, Marc Davis.

Marc’s career spanned more than 60 years, including 43 of them spent at the Disney Company. His “genius” and influence is evident among the “Classics” of the Disney Empire. The Haunted Mansion, It’s a Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, and his genius was even tapped for the “Western River Expedition” the largest attraction that Disney had planned for Frontierland, but never saw fruition and is still known as the “most famous Disney ride that was never built” Marc also created classic characters as Tinker Bell, Cruella de Vil and Sleeping Beauty. Marc’s humor and amazing storytelling prose is evident in all the timeless Disney attractions.

Marc Fraser Davis was born in Bakersfield California on March 30, 1913. He was the only child of Harry and Mildred Davis. Because of his fathers’ job involving oil fields and their developments, Marc did a lot of moving around, attending more than 20 different schools while growing up. When Marc completed High School, his next stop was the Kansas City Art Institute. From there he went on to enroll in the California School of fine Arts in San Francisco and finally the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles.

He was hired by Disney on December 2, 1935 at a modest wage (Which he was glad to get!). He had little knowledge or skills in the workings at the Disney Studios. He began as an apprentice animator on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Marc loved nature and animals and would spend countless hours at the zoo, drawing animals, which became one of his special talents. This was a tremendous assist when he moved up to character design and story sketches on the film Bambi. In fact, his drawing designs of Bambi are considered some of the finest studies of animal characters from the Disney Studio.

Some of the classic Disney projects Marc lent his talent to Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella and Song of the South. He also animated many shorts, including “African Diary,” “Duck Pimples,” and “Toot, Whistle, Plunk, and Boom.” As Marcs’ star ascended, he transferred to Disney’s design and development organization, known today as Walt Disney Imagineering.

Some of the animated characters Davis designed and animated are Thumper from Bambi ( 1942 ), Brer Rabbit from Song of the South (1946), Cinderella ( 1950 ), Alice of Alice in Wonderland ( 1951 ), Tinker Bell in Peter Pan ( 1953 ), Maleficent and Aurora in Sleeping Beauty ( 1959 ) and Cruella De Vil of 101 Dalmatians ( 1961 ). Marc was also responsible for the storylines and character in the classic attractions such as The Enchanted Tiki Room, America Sings, Country Bear Jamboree Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Carousel of Progress, The Haunted Mansion and Ford’s Magic Skyway.

Marc also found romance and marriage at Disney. Marc first met Alice Estes at the prestigious Chouinard Art Institute while he was teaching a night class in animation. Alice became a famous designer for the Beverly Vogue & Lingerie House in Los Angeles. Alice earned a reputation within the fashion community for her pattern-making skills and her expertise with different types of exotic fabrics. While working on the film Sleeping Beauty, Marc needed a costume for dancer Helene Stanley to perform for live action footage, he needed to observe how the skirt flowed to draw the animation He called in Alice for her expertise and eventually they  fell in love and married in June of 1956. Walt Disney met Alice and Marc at a restaurant and hired Alice to work for him as a costume designer for the film Toby Tyler. Alice also created the original costuming for figures in the Disneyland rides Pirates of the Caribbean and It’s a Small World.

Marc worked for 43 years at the Studios and finally retired in 1978. Although retired, Marc still advised on the design of Tokyo Disneyland and EPCOT. Some of Marc’s many awards included a 1992 salute from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, a 1989 Annecy Film Festival honors and a Disney Legends Award from the Studio, and the International Animation Society’s Winsor McCay Award.

One of Marc’s famous quotes about the Disneyland rides was,  “We really don’t have a story, with a beginning, an end, or a plot. It’s more a series of experiences building up to a climax. I call them experience rides.” Marc was also an explorer and adventurer. He was a prolific traveler and made hundreds of painting and drawings of the people and cultures he encountered.  He had a special affinity for the people of Papua New Guinea and produced over 400 works of art, forever preserving in time the lives of these peoples.

Marc was also an avid collector. He formed the official “Marc Davis Collectors Society.” From time to time he would pick previously unavailable works of art that will be made available to members only. All works will be numbered and signed for limited distribution. The Marc Davis Collectors Society is only way through which Marc Davis treasures will be made available to the public. The organization has a charter that allows only 5,000 founding members worldwide making the membership itself a rare commodity indeed. Founding members received a hand-signed print of a pirate character named “Jolly Roger.”

Marc Davis is also a member of Disney’s “Nine Old Men” and was the last of the group to join. In 1989 he was designated a “Living Legend” the highest honor the Walt Disney Company bestows upon any of its artists. Sadly he passed away in January 2000.  This was the same month the Marc Frasier Davis Scholarship Fund was formally established at the California Institute of the Arts. And befitting their talents and loyalty to Walt and the Company, Alice Estes Davis was also named a Disney Legend in 2004.   As long as there is a Disney, Marc’s influence will always be felt.

Tim, who is a staple in the Disney Community, has been taking professional pictures of Walt Disney World  since 2004 and is the owner and webmaster of “Themagicinpixels” website, dedicated to amateur and professional photographers alike. In addition to being a place for all things photography, Tim’s site has amassed thousands of stunning pictures…The center subject, Walt Disney World. But before we look into Tim’s site in detail, the DisneyDrivenLife was graciously granted an interview with this talented young man, so without further ado, here is Tim Devine…

DD: Thank you for your time

TD: My pleasure.

DDL: Where were you born?

TD: I was born in Atlantic City New Jersey, but I grew up in Brigantine, New Jersey. I’m presently still living in the South Jersey area.

DDL: Do you have any siblings?

TD: I have one brother who is three years younger.

DDL: Were you always a Disney fan?

TD: Our family made its first Disney trip, Mom, Dad, Brother, me, and Grandma and Grandpa in 1985. I was about eight years old. We stayed off-property for five days at the now-gone Wilson World in Kissimmee and the only park we went to was the Magic Kingdom.  We went again in 1988 for about a week, again staying at Wilson World.  My first time on property was with my then-girlfriend, now-wife, Karen, in 2003, at Coronado Springs.

DDL: Did you like Disney before the trip?

TD: I was always a Mickey Mouse fan! I loved watching the Mickey cartoons. I even had a Mickey Mouse stuffed toy I went to bed with. My mom made me a Mickey Mouse latch hook that I hung on the wall of my bedroom. Yeah, at that time, I was not aware about the company or history, just Mickey.

DDL: Did you parents support your love of Mickey Mouse?

TD: Well, I did not have every Mickey Mouse toy, but they did buy me Mickey video tapes to watch, yes. But believe it or not, at that time, my dad and I were even bigger Star Wars fans.

DDL: Your website is all photography. When did your interest in photography begin?

TD: When I was 10 or 11, my grandparents bought me a cheap 35mm camera just to mess around with. I enjoyed playing with it, but back then, you had to buy film and develop it, so it was pretty expensive for a kid. At that time, it was a novelty. I didn’t really develop a love, or fascination for cameras, probably until end of 2001 or early 2002. I spent about $300 on my first digital camera, a 1.3 megapixel Sony Cybershot. I was about 25 years old at the time.

DDL: Where did you learn about photography?

TD: The majority of what I learned was from researching and reading on the internet. But I received a lot of on the job training from the Olympic Photography Studio (Northfield, NJ), the same people who photographed my wedding. I had asked them many questions before and during the wedding, gaining much insight.  Before the honeymoon, I purchased a much better (at the time) camera and used many of their tips and tricks for our honeymoon pictures. When I returned, I showed them the pictures, and they were so impressed they offered me a trainee job on the spot. That is where I learned the professional side, from guys in the business for over 40 years.

DDL: How many years have you been a professional photographer?

TD: I have worked with Olympic Photography since the return from my honeymoon. My first professional photo job was Sept. 11, 2004

DDL: Your website, “Themagicinpixels” is not only dedicated to photography, but the majority of pictures are Disney. When did you start the site?

TD: The site started out as a blog in 2005. On a trip to San Diego to visit my Aunt, her friend, a talented painter and sculptor, showed me his blog. At the time, I knew nothing about blogging. He showed me how he took pictures of his work, posted it and sold it on the internet. He showed me the basics, and I decided to do one myself. I did this just to showcase a Disney picture or two; I thought they were pretty good. This was the time the Disney on-line community was starting to pick up, but most of it was trip planning, no one was doing photography.

DDL: So, it started out as a blog, when did the actual site begin?

TD: It went live in a very rudimentary form, just before the Magic Meets began, in the summer of 2006. It was when I first coined the name and formed the first generation of “Themagicinpixels”.

DDL: Is the site a free or pay site?

TD: It’s free for everybody. There are tons and tons of content, there are discussion forums, you can ask questions, post pictures, make comments. There are photo galleries with thousands and thousands of Disney pictures; anyone can look at without any cost.

DDL: Do have to join, or sign up?

TD: If you want to post on the forums, yes. There is no cost to join. And you do not have to  sign up to look around.

DDL: Are the pictures all Disney?

TD: I would say its 98 percent Disney and 2 percent generalized photography.

DDL” And that is because of your love for Disney?

TD: Absolutely. I always loved the Magic Kingdom. When I was younger, high school age, I would spend the summers with my grandparents in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and several times we would head over to Walt Disney World for one day, and I always went to the Magic Kingdom.

DDL: Can people write in with questions and advice on photography?

TD: Absolutely, absolutely. I welcome nothing more than questions, I love to answer fans emails and give advice. I love to discuss photography.

DDL: Do you answer every email, or correspondence?

TD: Sometimes it’s difficult, but I sure try to! It may take a few days, but I will get to them. If people are good enough to write in, I make sure I respond.

DDL: The site is for all skill levels, not just professionals

TD: We welcome everybody! From pros with professional equipment to folks with cell phone cameras. Everyone is welcome

DDL: What are the most common questions you get on the site?

TD: I’m thinking of buying a camera, what type do you recommend? Or how do I take better pictures?, and many ask How do I take night shots?

DDL: How many trips do you make to Walt Disney World a year?

TD: I average about three or four.

DDL: What do you focus on when you get here?

TD: Having fun with my family. Any pictures I can take are just icing on the cake, but my family always comes first.

DDL: Tell us about your “Pixelmania” meets at Walt Disney World

TD: I started Pixelmania as a replacement for the popular “Mousefest”®  fan gathering during Christmas time. At these gatherings, I always hosted meets centering on photography, they were well received and attended. When Mousefest® ceased, the members of my site and I decided to meet around the same time and do our own meets under our own banner, hence the Pixelmania name was coined. We began making four-day trips  where we could enjoy our hobby of Disney photography with like-minded fans.  All we cared about was taking pictures and having fun, so there was no stress, or pressure or time constraints.

DDL: How often are the Pixelmania meets held?

TD: Once a year

DDL: All information on the meets is on your website?

TD: Yes. Either on Magicinpixels.com or Pixelmania.US

DDL: How do you think photography has changed over the last 30 years?

TD: It ’s been revolutionized. Thirty years ago cameras were manual focused, manual aperture settings, very little automated features and they were completely film based. Years ago, you could only load your camera with a pre-set film speed, there were no changing setting on the fly. With digital, you can change all settings on the fly to meet any conditions. Plus with all the automated features, like shutter speed, film speed, even the novice will have great shots without all the limitations of film cameras.   Not to mention that you get instant feedback and gratification as opposed to having to wait for film to be developed and hoping you didn’t blow your important shots.

DDL: Is there any advantage of film over digital?

TD: Basically just for traditionalists or purists.

DDL: So can amateurs take great shots like yours, with basic equipment or do they need expensive pro cameras and lenses like you have?

TD: Equipment absolutely matters, no doubt in my mind, but most of taking a picture is knowledge. For example, the great photographer Ansel Adams took some of the most beautiful landscape shots ever created, using 1930′s and 1940′s technology and equipment.

DDL: What equipment do you recommend for taking quality pictures, or at least middle-of-the-road shots?

TD: I would always recommend an entry-level SLR (Single lens reflex) camera with interchangeable lenses. These cameras do not cost much more than a high-end point and shoot digital camera.

DDL: There is more to taking a picture than snapping the shutter. What’s your advice on taking a great shot?

TD: Knowing how to compose a shot, you have two-thirds of the battle won. Even a well-lit and well-exposed shot that is poorly composed will look just that, poorly composed.

DDL: What do you mean by “Composed”?

TD: Composed means how you set up the shot in the viewfinder, how you line it up. Using what is called the “Rule of Thirds”, you don’t always want your subject dead in the middle of the shot, but you want other aspects in the scene to interact for a more interesting shot. You can get all the detailed information about this on the website.

DDL: What equipment do you use?

TD: My camera is a Canon 1D mark four. It’s Canon’s current professional top-of-the-line body.

DDL: Can an amateur learn to us this kind of equipment?

TD…An amateur with a little experience would have no problem. You have to start out with basic equipment, but don’t be afraid to push the buttons and don’t be afraid to experiment, with digital, you can shoot all day and just delete the shots, until you like what you see. Most important is you have to read the instruction manual with the equipment. And never, ever be afraid to ask questions and research the internet. Remember, if you are afraid to fail, you are probably going to.

DDL: What are some of your favorite Walt Disney World pictures that you shot?

TD: That’s a hard question, I’ve taken thousands of pictures, but I love taking pictures of Cinderella Castle at night. I had a nighttime and early morning pictures of Spaceship Earth. Using Photoshop, I made one side nighttime and the other sunrise, and it blended seamlessly into one shot, it is one of my favorite pictures. But my all-time favorite is a shot of downtown Main St. USA of Cinderella Castle very late at night with the Christmas Dream lights with absolutely no one in the shot, it’s a pristine shot.

DDL: What are some of the hardest photos to take?

TD: One of the hardest attractions to photograph is Peter Pan’s Flight.  Because of the darkness, and the fact you are zigzagging and moving quickly and the colors are lit up with ultraviolet black light,  it’s hard for the camera to auto-focus on anything, so you have to be spot-on with manual focus.  Also shooting fireworks, because it requires the most technical knowledge, and patience.

DDL: Tell us about your picture library on the site. Can fans order pictures?

TD: Yes, certain ones in a special section. But it does not cost anything to browse through the thousands of shots. I do get special requests for prints and I am happy to try to accommodate, but I never do pictures with characters or performers, certain shots are off-limits.  All this information is on my site.

DDL: Are there any rules for your forums?

TD: The only rule is never to talk down to anyone or try to big-time any members. We all started out as novices. No one on my forums has to worry about being ridiculed or being made fun of. No question is a stupid one, I will not tolerate that kind of behavior.

DDL: What do you think of the future of photography?

TD…With digital, they are now making cameras that shoot in 3D, right out of the box. Another trend is HDR, or High Dynamic range, by using software you combine three or more exposures, so your detail on your shot is more enhanced. There are now SLR cameras that are mirror-less, with no moving parts.  It’s amazing what the designers are coming up with all the time.

DDL: Tim, thanks so much for all this wonderful information and for your time.

TD: It was my pleasure!

It’s nice to know that Photography and Disney lovers have a common place to meet and bond. Just log on to…http://www. Themagicinpixels.com or email Tim at tim@themagicinpixels.com. Tim lives in South Jersey with his wife Karen and sons Billy 6yrs and Ryan 2. He still makes multiple trips to the World with his family and on photo-seeking sessions. I have attended Tim’s Pixelmania meet last December and it was informative, fun and best of all, laid back. Tim even had a surprise for his guests, none other than Disney Historian Jim Korkis who made the whole meet memorable. Looking forward to this years’ meet, scheduled for December 6-9, 2012! I have uploaded some wonderful examples of Tim’s work, as you can see, he is one heck of a photographer!

Photo courtesy of: NDT23

I have a confession: I begun a new journey in my life. It’s not ending world hunger or saving the polar bears. It’s not even figuring out how to stop autocorrect from being so annoying! No, this journey is much smaller, but it’s still important to me. It has one thousand steps. All of them are tiny, but I have spent about five hours working on my journey and have probably gone a little more than one hundred steps.

Perhaps, a better word for these steps is what they are in reality: puzzle pieces. Yes, I have begun a one thousand piece puzzle of Mickey Mouse. However, this is no ordinary one thousand piece Mickey Mouse puzzle. No, this puzzle is a photo mosaic. The pieces make up miniscule scenes from Disney movies, which in turn create Mickey Mouse. It’s a beautiful puzzle, each piece reminding me of a different memory (once I can figure out the movie it’s from, that is!).

Not only is it lovely in it’s outward appearance, but it also has special meaning to me because it was given to me by a very dear friend of mine.

As I’ve been working on it, I’ve realized that my friend not only gave me a super cute Mickey Mouse puzzle, she’s given me a journey. Yes, I know it sounds cheesy but working on the puzzle is a wonderful, relaxing thing for me to do.

However, if you’re at my house when I’m working on it you may (or may not) hear sounds of frustration coming from the dining room. As you can tell by the picture I’ve still got quite a long way to go until I reach my destination, but I’m loving the journey!

Photo Credit: Disney

“True that he’s no Prince Charming

But there’s something in him that I simply didn’t see.”-Belle

Ahh…love is in the air! This is the month of Cupid, Valentines and roses. Disney has its share of love stories and one of the sweetest is Beauty and the Beast. The riddle this month deals with Belle and the Beast.

What did the Beast give Belle so she would always have a way to look back and remember him?

Submit your answer to ddlriddle@thedisneydrivenlife.com by February 29. The prize this month will be two boxes of Mickey Band-aids, just in case you need to mend a broken heart. I hope cupid’s arrows find their way to your hearts!

Contributed by: Sherri Jeffries (NDM#237) Sherri is the DDL Riddler.

Congratulations to Marisa S., our January riddle winner. Marisa knew that Pongo, from 101 Dalmations made a brief appearance in Oliver and Company. Other Disney dogs that appear in the movie briefly are Peg, Jock and Trusty from Lady and the Tramp. If you look closely during the song Why Should I Worry, you will see these lovable Disney dogs in the background.

Marisa will receive a shirt of her choice from T-Shirts .com. I appreciate their riddle sponsorship for January. Take a look at February’s riddle for a chance to win another great prize.

Contributed by: Sherri Jeffries (NDM#237) Sherri is the DDL Riddler.

A Mickey shaped pool. A backyard safari adventure. A pirates life for you. Sure all of this can be found within the Walt Disney World Resort, but what if you could walk into your own backyard and find the same kind of magic day after day?

Well, friends, it looks like HGTV and Disney are ready to spread a little more pixie dust around the country as they will soon be filming another season of My Yard Goes Disney. And why shouldn’t they pick you?

You’ve heard of backyard makeovers, but if you’ve never seen My Yard Goes Disney on HGTV, then get ready for a treat. Designers surprise lucky homeowners every week, and even Disney Imagineers get into the fun as they bring the magic of the Mouse straight into neighborhood backyards around the country!

Sounds great, right? Well then what are you waiting for? The Disney Driven Life isn’t going anywhere, but I can assure you that this once in a lifetime opportunity won’t last forever. If you are interested, applying is SIMPLE! Keep arms and hands inside the vehicle and head over to: Jay TV.

All you need to do is fill out the application, include a picture of your family and also include a WIDE picture of your backyard. I spoke with the casting agent.  He tells me that videos are also welcome.  And from my experience with TV, I would say a great video showing your passion, personality and love of Disney will go a LONG way! Always remember (and this is coming from a producer) don’t over-edit the video.  Just be sincere and honest.  Let the producers edit the video.  After all, it’s what they are paid to do.

So who’s going to try? I think you would be crazy not to.  Remember if you get picked, please share your story with all of us on the Disney Driven Life!

*This guest post was contributed by Jeff M., our Disney Programming Blogger.  For further information, please contact Jeff at ddltube@thedisneydrivenlife.com*

I can’t believe it’s almost been 25 years since the movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit was released.  It was funny, it was edgy, and some people would argue that it spurred a renewed interest in animated films.

Despite all of the accolades, there’s one legacy from that film that really interests me: “Bump the Lamp.”

You may recall a one-minute scene in the film where the characters Eddie Valiant and Roger Rabbit struggle to break free from the handcuffs that were keeping them attached at the wrists.  As they struggled to saw off the handcuffs, an overhead lamp keeps getting bumped by the characters’ heads.  No big deal, right?

Wrong!

The animators of the film realized that the swinging lamp added an element of drama to the scene.  However, it wouldn’t look real unless they could make the beam of light radiate from the lamp and cast moving shadows on the actors and animated characters.  That swinging beam of light was going to require a tremendous amount of time to edit, but it was worth it to them in order to make the scene look realistic.

From this, the “Bump the Lamp” concept was born.  If a certain detail would enhance the story or experience, it had to be included regardless of the time or effort required.

Think Outside the Box Office

Disney is notorious for embracing the importance of details.  While some of the details may not be immediately perceptible to the human senses, they’re required in order to fully immerse the audience into a story.

How can an obsession over details help us improve our careers or businesses?  Let’s look at a few examples:

1)      There’s a Chinese restaurant near my house that’s constantly packed.  The food is great, the prices are reasonable, and the service is top-notch.  What makes the service top-notch?  I’m glad you asked!  If you order an appetizer, they will serve you a small cup of lemon sherbet when you’re done.  It’s literally two spoonfuls of sherbet, but it’s just enough to cleanse your palette before the main course arrives.  At the end of the meal, they’ll give you a piping hot towel to wipe your hands (although I’ve seen people lay them over their entire face like they’re getting one of those old-fashioned shaves from a barbershop).  Those are very small gestures, but they make you feel like royalty.

2)      When I take my wife’s car in for service, the dealership always washes her car and vacuums the interior before returning it to me.  It doesn’t matter if I’m paying for a large repair or just an oil change; they always clean the car for me.  When I drive off their lot, I feel like I’m driving a different car than the one I arrived in.  For me, it takes the sting out of going to a dealership for repairs.

3)      I recently bought a suit from a gentleman that seemed to really love selling menswear.  This wasn’t his job, it was his passion.  After talking to him, I started to share some of his passion for wearing nice suits.  That passion was sparked even more when I picked up the suit after it was tailored.  I looked inside the suit jacked and he had a label sewn in that said: “Custom Tailored for Derek Hoffman.”  Wow!  That probably cost him $5 or $10, but that was such a cool touch.  Can you guess my level of interest in giving him repeat business and glowing referrals?  Yep, pretty high!

If you’re looking for ways to stand out in your career, or have your business knock out the competition, think about the ways you can bump your own lamp.  A little extra effort can go a long way in connecting others with the story you’re trying to tell.

With a website address that contains TheEnemyIsGood, a lot of people ask Connie M. which enemy is that? Connie laughs and points out how her blog started with a typo, she meant to nab “The Enemy is Food.” But with her new blog formally titled “Life is a Journey” in place, Connie was ready to blog, and embrace what she loved.

“The blog originally was started as a way for me to make a food diary but I gave up that idea when I realized that I am a sensory person and loved the sight, smell and taste of food. So…instead of trying to lose weight by dieting, I embraced my love of food but developed a new respect for it,” Connie said. “Slowly, I began to write less and less about food and now only occasionally include a photo of something I am enjoying on one of my little exploratory trips around Southern California. Or Disneyland!”

Having an enthusiastic Disney dad and living in Southern California helped Connie develop a lifelong love of Disneyland.

“I was lucky. My father eagerly watched the television broadcasts about the coming of Disneyland and could hardly wait to visit this new creation,” Connie said. “My parents and I visited Disneyland for the first time in September of 1955. Of course, I have no recollection of that event because I was only 4 months old but lucky for me, my dad fell in love with the Park and we went as often as we could.”

Having grown up in that era, I think many of us remember not asking for stuff, even little things. Fortunately for Connie, she had a generous dad.

“I very vividly remember being a little tyke of approximately 5 or 6 years old and running up to my dad as he was doing yard work and asking if we could go to Disneyland and he would say YES!”

Reflecting back through the years Connie is at a loss to remember a low moment. Two memories, however, provided some truly magical moments in her love for Disney.

“The first occurred early in 2010 when one of my blog followers emailed me directly to say that my photos brought him much joy. He grew up in Southern California and then moved away for a job opportunity and did not realize how much he missed the area until he started following my blog. He said he would print out some of my photos and hang them up in his den. I was totally and completely blown away and flattered at the same time. It was then, that I knew….Ya, this is what I am meant to be doing.”

“Around the same time, I discovered a podcast that was structured around Disneyland. I was and still am a big fan but lucky for me, I eventually met and became friends with the people that produce this podcast and so I was asked to be one of their photographers. A year later, I blatantly ‘hinted’ to them that I would love to be a part of the podcast and they asked me to join. Yay! So now I am living the dream of being on the air, LOL.”

With a dream of taking her blog and photography to new heights, Connie continues to pursue what she truly loves. “It’s a simple blog about nothing in particular yet encompasses the things I love which are Disneyland, travel, writing and food, in no particular order.”

You can follow all of Connie’s work at The Enemy is Good, DisneyLand Gazette, Soldiers Angels and Crazy Horse Memorial.

Courtesy of oneshare.com

As some of you know I was blessed with a healthy nephew this past November.  With Christmas around the corner, I wanted to get him something that would be different.  He would be growing out of clothes like crazy and not too much he could do with toys at a month old.  His routine is mostly eat, sleep, and poop.  I wanted his gift to have a Disney theme of course.  You are never too young to be introduced to Disney.

I remembered there was a website called www.oneshare.com that specializes in selling one share of stock and framing them for gift giving.  Of course I chose for my nephew to own a share of Disney.  The current price of the stock is listed and a certification fee is charged as well.  The next step was picking out a frame and matte.  I went with the black lacquer frame and plain matte.  I wanted to have custom engraving and used a quote suggested by the site and added the last line.  Due to my nephew being a child, I placed myself as the guardian.  Oneshare.com also offers the OneShare Start-Up Kit. When you give OneShare as a gift, the Start-Up Kit is free with the order. Per the website “The Kit includes a shiny red Congratulations Card (which includes a personalized greeting from you!); the Quick Reference Guide (a fun timeline that lets new shareholders know what to expect); and the Owner’s Manual, a full-color, twenty page guide to the care and maintenance of their new stock.”

I was lucky enough to have ordered the stock in time to arrive for Christmas.  His parents, my sister and brother-in-law, were surprised at the gift.  I told them I want my nephew to do better than me and what better way than to start his investments early.

Courtesy of Elantrice H.

Contributed by: Elantrice Hughley (NDI#132) Elantrice is the DDL Shopping Blogger.

Photo Credit: www.AlbumoftheYear.org

When the Beach Boys performed in the studio, there was an ineffable quality to the blend of voices that made their sound unique. Far more than the sum of its parts, the band left a trail of hit records and an indelible mark in pop music history.

The artist behind such early Beach Boys classics as, “I’ll Get Around” and “Surfin’ Safari”, to the far more mature and complex, “God Only Knows” is Brian Wilson. In today’s music culture, the word, “genius” is overused and has become somewhat diluted. Unfortunate when you consider only the full power of that label aptly describes Brian Wilson’s vocal arrangements.

Photo: Brian Wilson samples the Disney catalog on his new album. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times.

At 69 years old, Wilson is still at work and with a newly released sophomore effort on the Disney Pearl label, the second of a two record deal he struck in 2009. His first album was a unique experiment, “Brian Wilson Re-imagines Gershwin”. This outing he takes on material perhaps more familiar to today’s audiences, eleven songs from the Disney catalog on the album, “Brian Wilson: In the Key of Disney”.

At first glance this may seem an odd pairing, but after reading the press release last year and giving it some thought, I realized there was great opportunity for these tunes to be re-imagined as well into something uniquely Brian Wilson. This he has certainly accomplished, but the work is uneven and many of the tracks lack the vitality of the original recordings.

In 2005 Wilson worked integrally with his band, a session group called “The Wonderments” and again collaborated with Van Dyke Parks, lyricist for the long since thought lost, “Smile” album. The completion of that CD and its accompanying DVD, “Beautiful Dreamer” were an enormous success, partly because the public could hear the completion of a record that had nearly passed into myth, but even more so that crack musicians and vocalists were used as Brian’s canvass on which the artist could paint his intricate soundscape. The finished product harkened back to the days of an experimental sound that was years ahead of its time and deservedly won Wilson’s only Grammy Award.

Drawing from the Disney well, however, appears to have limited Wilson’s ability to move beyond his early bubblegum surf pop sensibilities, which while in their time were enormously popular, now seem tired and a bit hackneyed. The arrangements are rife with lots of signature “Oooos” and “Aaaaahs” that support the lead vocal. But when compared to the complex open vowel harmonies on songs like, “The Warmth of the Sun”, “A Children’s Song” or “In My Room” that stretched the boundaries of what could be accomplished vocally in pop music and paved the way for bands that followed like Steely Dan and Queen, the harmonies on several tracks of this record are bland and uninspired.

Instrumentally the disk is slick and well produced with solid arrangements supporting the vocals, but layering the beach vibe on top of songs like “The Bare Necessities” and “I Just Can’t Wait to be King” smothers the energy inherent in the songs themselves. Part of that comes from Wilson’s own lackluster, over processed performance. In his live appearances, he sits behind a keyboard with his arms at his sides in front of a bank of monitors feeding him the lyrics of his own material. In that setting the live band invigorates the music regardless of Wilson’s invariably heavy, pitchy delivery. Here, auto-tuning only exemplifies the chasm of time that separates the man’s former soaring, effortless falsetto, to today’s limited vocal range… and the Disney lyrics feel phoned in.

Gratefully a few of the ballads and a jaunty medley do lend themselves far better to Wilson’s touch. “Baby Mine” from Dumbo has exquisite background vocals that echo the best of Brian’s work of the late 60s and early 70s. “Stay Awake” from Mary Poppins, widely accepted as Walt Disney’s favorite song, is positively haunting, with intricate subtle use of harpsichord and vibraphone and a beautiful alto flute solo. The whimsical medley of “Heigh-Ho / Whistle While You Work / Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)” is joyful fun. The album finishes with the indestructible, “When You Wish Upon a Star” with tight, interesting vocal harmonies, and drawing upon instruments that evoke the Pinocchio story’s Italian origin.

Few could fault the selection of songs which make up “In the Key of Disney”, nearly all classics, but downloading the individual standout tracks is the best way to add to your Disney music library.

But the biggest calamity to hit the Studios was the 1941 animators strike. The strike was during the production of the next film, “Dumbo”. At the time, the United States began the “Good Neighbor Policy” aimed at keeping Latin American countries and Mexico friendly towards the U.S. fearing encroachment by the growing Axis Powers. Disney went on a goodwill tour of South America with the intent of making a film for the United States. The government knew Mickey and other Disney characters were very popular there and thought Walt would make a perfect Ambassador.

Will little money coming in, Walt needed the government business. After Pearl Harbor, most of his staff was drafted and the Government took over his Studios for the war effort. The first film made for the tour (six total films were produced) was “Saludos Amigos”, Spanish for Hello Friends. Here the first of the “3 Caballeros” was introduced.  “Jose Ze Carioca”, a suave, Brazilian Parrot (Carioca, a term referring to a person born there). Jose is a friend of Donald Duck, our third “Caballero. It is set in Latin America and is comprised of four different segments. Donald stars in two of them and Goofy another. It was released in Rio de Janeiro on August 24, 1942 and the States on February 6, 1943.  It received mixed reviews and was only released once, in 1949.

In 1944 Disney released the film, “The Three Caballeros” which is an adventure through parts of Latin America, starring Donald Duck, and Jose Carioca, who represents Brazil and a new friend from Mexico, Panchito Pistoles,  a gun-toting rooster. This film combined live action and animation. It also starred several Latin American stars at the time, singer Aurora Miranda, Dora Luz and dancer Carmen Molina.

The plot begins with Donald opening presents from his friends: A film projector, a book from Jose Carioca on Bahia in Brazil and a piñata by Panchito. The film is divided into seven segments; all involve the Three Caballeros and each showcase different customs and countries from Latin America. Donald also falls in love with some of the beautiful Latin American women. All of these segments revolve around Donald opening his presents.

The film premiered in Mexico City on December 21, 1944 and the United States on February 3, 1945. It received two Academy Award nominations, one for Best sound and Original Music score. The Three Caballeros were brought together for an attraction ride in the Mexico Pavilion in April of 2007, named the “Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros”.

The attraction I am speaking of can be none other than Dinosaur in Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, which is located in the Dinoland USA portion of the park.  Originally, this was called Countdown to Extinction, which opened the same day that Animal Kingdom itself opened, on April 22, 1998.  However, it was re-named Dinosaur to promote the film, also called Dinosaur, which opened in theatres on May 19, 2000.  There are no obvious mentions about the film in this attraction, although the two main dinosaurs are the iguanadon and carnotaurus, both of which were significant breeds of dinosaurs in the film.

When you enter the Dinoland Institute Building, you can see real dinosaur remains and a narration by the one and only Bill Nye the Science Guy (who can also be seen over at Ellen’s Energy Adventure in the Universe of Energy building at Epcot, only a bus ride away!).  After walking through this part of the queue, you enter the pre-show room, where there is a short video from Dr. Marsh telling you that you are going to be on this calm journey of some sort.  Right.  Shortly after, Dr. Seeker enters the picture and informs us as to what is REALLY going to happen.

After the video, you are led down a staircase and into the loading area.  Once you board the Time Rover, some bright lights flash around you, then you see some stars before entering the jungle.  Certain dinosaurs cross your path, some friendly and some not-so-friendly.  I do not want to spoil much for those who have not been on this attraction yet.  However, I highly recommend it.  The crew at Walt Disney Imagineering did a fantastic job on this attraction.

Hint: Your picture is taken when the carnotaurus appears in its full height and lets out a big roar.  When you can sense this part is happening, put on your brave face!

Photo Credit: TourWDW.tripod.com

There are normally Fastpasses available (to check availability, crowd levels, etc check out the Touring Plans website), and it is wheelchair accessible as well.  The entire attraction is three minutes and five seconds, and you must be 40” to ride.  I realize that they give a mandatory height to ride this, but even if they are 40” and at a tender age, we know full well that it all depends on the maturity of the child.  They may be quite young and not be able to handle the intensity of this.

To be completely honest, I have only been on this ride once, which was in 2007.  I was terrified and practically had my eyes closed throughout the duration.  However, on my next trip in May, I plan to ride again, this time in the front row, with eyes wide open and a positive attitude.  After all, I will make it out alive…right?  I’m going to survive this, right?

Photo Credit: Only WDWorld website

It’s that time again!  With a year behind us in 2011, it’s time to look forward to see what Disney has planned for 2012.  If you listen to the Disney Film Project Podcast, you know which one I’m looking forward to the most, but here’s the slate of films Disney will treat us to in 2012.

January 13 – Beauty and the Beast in 3D – Not much to say about this, except that it is probably the best hand drawn animated film ever, and it did get nominated for Best Picture.  The addition of 3D did wonders for the box office of The Lion King, and I’d expect the same here.  This will be a must see for me, if only to see it on the big screen again.

February 17 – The Secret World of Arriety – I know I’m in the minority here but I’ve never been a huge fan of the Studio Ghibli films.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the animation and the artistry, but for me, the stories are very difficult to follow and hard to understand.  This latest release by Studio Ghibli follows the story of the acclaimed kid’s book The Borrowers, which is a favorite in my house, so I hope that fixes the problem.  The story is about small magical creatures that are discovered by a young boy living in the house near where the small creatures call home.  Bridgit Mendler of Good Luck Charlie and Lemonade Mouth fame voices the main character, with an all star voice cast behind her.  This is one I’m tentative about seeing, although I know it will be a visual feast.

March 9 – John Carter – If ever there were a Disney film that carried more intrigue, I don’t know what it could possibly be.  Andrew Stanton, award winning director of Finding Nemo, steps out from Pixar to film the first live action film from a Pixar filmmaker.  Taylor Kitsch, best known for his role on Friday Night Lights, steps into the title role of John Carter, the traveler to Mars from the Edgar Rice Burroughs stories.  This sort of special effects laden film seems like it would be a better fit for summer, but Disney has chosen to launch it in the Spring, which is risky to say the least.  There is so much riding on this picture.  Will Pixar directors keep doing live action?  Is this Disney’s next big franchise?  Can Disney produce an action film without Jerry Bruckheimer?  Is Kitsch a movie star?  This is a must see for me, just because of everything riding on this film.

April 20 – Chimpanzee – The latest addition to Disney’s now annual release of new nature films, similar to the old True Life Adventure series.  This one obviously focuses on chimpanzees, focusing on a baby chimp the filmmakers have named Oscar.  If it’s in line with the other three releases in the nature series, it will be somewhat entertaining if you’re interested in the subject matter, but as a whole, not that compelling.  That’s not to say it’s bad, but just not my cup of tea

May 4 – The Avengers – This is the biggest movie release of the year for me.  Not just Disney, but any studio.  Bringing together CaptainAmerica, Thor, Iron Man and the Hulk in one film, directed by Buffy/Firefly creator Joss Whedon?  There could not be a better geek film than this.  In case you’re not familiar, this is the first time a team of superheroes will be depicted on film, where superheroes from previous Marvel Studios films team up to take on the threat of Loki, Thor’s evil brother from that film.  There’s way more to the story that Marvel and Disney are not talking about, which only makes me anticipate this film more.  This film should feature action, humor, great dialogue and more.  People I have heard who read the script rave about it.  Joss Whedon’s feature film debut, Serenity, was an amazing film.  The cast of this film is unreal, capped by Robert Downey, Jr reprising his role asIronMan.  This is THE movie of 2012, a must see.

June 22 – Brave – Every year now brings a new Pixar film, and after the sequel efforts of Toy Story 3 and Cars 2, 2012 brings a new original concept with Brave.  After Up and Wall-E, I was extremely excited to see what original material Pixar would come up with in the future.  Brave looks to be a departure for the studio, with a fantasy bent to it.  A young girl named Merida takes on the role of an archer and inadvertently unleashes chaos in the kingdom.  I can only presume that hilarity ensues.  This is the Pixar film I’ve been waiting for, and I intend to see this one as soon as possible.

August 15 – The Odd Life of Timothy Green – Not much is known about this film other than the intriguing and quirky poster.  Starring Jennifer Garner and Ron Livingston, the synopsis basically states that the film is about a young married couple who suddenly finds a child on their doorstep.  Not sure what happens from there, but with Peter Hedges of What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? fame directing, there will be some surprises in store.  I like Livingston and Garner, so I may catch a matinee of this one, but I’ll need more info to really hook me.

September 14 – Finding Nemo in 3D – It’s just me, I’m sure, but wouldn’t this be better served coming out earlier in the year in the Beauty and the Beast slot?  That way you could promote Andrew Stanton’s involvement in John Carter.  Regardless, this is the original classic film, now in 3D.  I’m sure you’ve all seen it, it’s great, and most of you will go see it again.  I like that about you.

October 5 – Frankenweenie – A Tim Burton stop motion animated film?  Yes, please.  Based onBurton’s original 1984 short about a boy re-animating his dead dog, this promises to be aBurtonfilm in the best sense of the term.  Filmed in black and white and then converted to 3D, this has the potential to be the stop motion version of Avatar, taking 3D to all new levels.   I can’t wait to see this one.

November 2 – Wreck-It Ralph – Here’s the wild card in the bunch.  This computer animated film is from Disney, not Pixar.  Disney’s last computer animated film, Tangled, was a big success for the company.  This is a bit more of a departure, following an old 8-bit video game character as he jumps out of his game and into other games, taking a journey through modern games.  There is tons of potential in the idea, but pulling it off is going to be VERY tricky.  Notably, Disney is not releasing it Thanksgiving week, like they have done with some of their other family films (Tangled, The Muppets).  Not sure what that says about Wreck-It Ralph, but I know I’ll be checking it out.

So to recap, here’s my anticipation for Disney’s 2012 slate:

Will see opening night – Avengers, Frankenweenie

Opening weekend – John Carter, Brave, Wreck-It Ralph

Matinee viewing – Beauty and the Beast 3D, Finding Nemo 3D

Will catch it if I can – Secret World of Arriety, Chimpanzee, The Odd Life of Timothy Green

What about you?  What are you looking forward to?

©D23

How far have we come?  It’s been almost 50 years since his “I have a dream” speech, yet I find myself, on the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, asking: How far have we come?

It is safe to say that the strides against racial intolerance have improved.  Inequality in many forms is far from obliterated in our society, but the days of the ridiculous “separate but equal” (and the akin “don’t ask don’t tell”) are gone.  It’s difficult to say that the undoing of a senseless law is progress, but there you have it.  The United States got off to an unusual start.  Truly it was a conglomeration of nationalities…but friction was nearly inevitable when everyone tried to scrape their way to the top, fight for power and autonomy and, in general, make a life.  A nation built on freedoms?  Well, with all due respect, I suppose that depends on whose perspective you’re viewing.

I wish I’d seen the Marceline, Missouri that was so beloved by Walt Disney.  In my vision, it is the America that was intended.  I don’t know this as fact, but I do know that the representation of Marceline in Magic Kingdom, is a slice of perfect American apple pie.  Of course it is quaint…it is old fashioned, down home, representative of simpler times and good ol’ values.  Would you like to know my favorite part?  I love that I can look down Main Street USA and see an idyllic America.  Within the architectural splendor, coupled with the flowers and the clean streets, the real beauty emerges: a melting pot.  People of all colors, of all religions and ethnicities, sexual orientation and levels of disabilities –together…peacefully…happily.

“At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.” –mlk

Do we love more when we visit Disney World?

I would give that a great big Maybe.  Maybe we simply tolerate more.  Maybe we understand the “principle of love” more than we usually let on.  I’d like to explore this idea, though.  How is it that when we enter the Magic Kingdom, all differences can be set aside?  Perhaps we all get sprinkled with pixie dust as we enter the gates and love is in the air!  No?  Are we all just happy to be there?  Perhaps, but I do know I have witnessed many a grumpy grump…especially at the end of the day.  Maybe it is because we have all paid the same price to get in?

Is that it?  We all paid the same price, so we all deserve to be there enjoying it just as much as everyone else.

Who paid the highest price to get to live in the United States?  Is there a continuous struggle between cost and guilt, admittance and denials? I am in no position to answer this question with any authority, but it is interesting to think about. I will say that as we ponder the price our own ancestors paid, it might be good to consider objectively the cost to others as well.  No one got in for free, but guilty consciences don’t solve quandaries either.  In the end, cost really doesn’t add up to a satisfying conclusion.  In the end we are all living in this small world, we deserve to be here, we deserve respect and we deserve love.  Everyone.  No exceptions.

“If we are to go forward, we must go back and rediscover those precious values – that all reality hinges on moral foundations and that all reality has spiritual control.”-mlk

The United States was built on values.  Some have been tweaked, ignored or forgotten completely, but underneath it all is a foundation of good intentions.  Tolerance isn’t enough, it is important to accept.  Yes, and even to love.

“Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.”-mlk

Can you imagine?  How would life be if that Magical Main Street were the norm in every town across our beautiful nation?  What if you walked down the block and every face you saw had a smile and a “good morning” for you…and you for them?  A celebration of differences!  I do believe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would be proud.

“Whatever your life’s work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.”

This is the essence of Walt Disney’s Main Street.  It could be done no better, but we sure can better the rest of the streets of America.

With a passion for Disney, what pursuits does Craig Duncan squeeze in between a full time job and family? How about working on ‘They Disney Brit’, the UKs largest and longest running Disney podcast, the ‘Destination Disney’ radio show and the ‘Eye on Orlando’ radio show both of which are aired live on Florida radio shows. Then there is ‘Mousemeets’ which is UKs Disney annual fan convention and ‘Mousemag’ a free bi-monthly magazine all about Disney written by the Disney Community for the Community. “We have also done something different with our associated web sites. We have made DisneyBrit.com one of the best sources for Disney related news anywhere in the world. EyeonOrlando.com is a pure Orlando holiday portal.”

Listeners of their shows know where the guys at ‘Just One Moon’ have their  priorities. “I am a big believer in family before work” says Craig “and always will, probably to the detriment of my career but not to my kids.”

Craig has found the magic of chasing his dream and including his kids. His 9 year old daughter and 7 year old son both adore Disney and even contribute to their dads shows. “In fact my daughter is working on her own Disney radio show!”

‘Just One Moon’ is the umbrella organization over all these efforts, and is made up of Adam, Juz and Craig, the guys teaming to bring us more Disney venue than just about anyone in the UK. And there’s more. “One exciting thing we have recently created is a social media site purely for Disney Fans called [disCOT.net]. It’s a site where people who share the love of Disney can interact, talk and communicate their Disney passions without non-Disney people saying ‘what?’ or ‘geek!’

Being a UK focused media company bumps up against some unique challenges. “The Brits are a nation of kickers. For some reason we get immense pleasure from putting others down and we have had a lot of that!” But the efforts have also yielded some magical returns for this family guy. “one moment that made me proud was when my 7 year old son worked on a school project. He had to do a 20 min presentation on a topic of his choice and he picked ‘My other life in Orlando.’ He wrote the presentation, prepared all the props and was really engrossed. I asked him if he liked this assignment and he said ‘Oh yes Daddy I love it!’ So I asked why so much? He said it was because ‘Disney was magic and when he grows up he wants to be the new DisneyBrit!’ That’s my boy!”

Craig was first exposed to Disney World in 1980 when as an 8 year old he visited the parks for the first time. “To see the things there that we had never even imagined before was amazing. Then in the 90s I fell in love with the Lion King and Beauty & the Beast films.” Today Disney offers Craig that escape from the ‘mad and sometimes sad world in which we live.’ “I have a complete release of emotion every time I walk down main street that any problems just fade away.”

With all these efforts, Craig’s dream is to have people look to them as the premium UK based source for Disney news and the worldwide source for Orlando news, views and opinions. “We would all love DisCOT to really take off. We have a great backer now and see big things for it.” Check out their sites at DisneyBrit.com Destination Disney Eye on Orlando Discot.com Facebook and Twitter.

Image courtesy of Disney Parks Blog (copyright Disney)

Here’s the Jeopardy Question: What is the new, exciting news from the House of Mouse? If you answered right, well, kudos to you-you are well on your way to becoming a Disney insider!

So here’s the scoop:

Open 24 hours is not something you would normally associate with Disney. But on February 29, 2012, Magic Kingdom and Disneyland will offer an unlimited day of fun. That’s right, the parks will be open ALL DAY and ALL NIGHT! The new goal? Not to close down the park but to stay all 24 hours! This special announcement premiered at 11:00 PM on New Year’s Eve for those that got to see it (supreme dislike for my local news which preempted the official announcement-ARGH!) But I had already heard the rumors and was quickly notified by my Tweeps of the “One More Disney Day” theme. So who’s in? And is there enough Red Bull to sustain you? I wish I could say I would be there, but alas, it’s not in the cards–unless I can finagle a belated birthday trip for Leap Year Day under the guise of my 40th Birthday present?!?

Here’s my consolation prize: the One More Disney Day SWEEPSTAKES where Disney is giving away a family of four vacation EVERY day from January 1 to February 29th. Believe me, you will HEAR me scream if we win! And if you win because of this link, can you at least get me a cool souvenir? Thanks in advance!

OK, so since the first two are likely busts for me, one thing I CAN count on this year is the new Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom experience set to unveil sometime this year (yeah, not more specific a date given than that). Being touted as an interactive quest, Sorcerers will transform Magic Kingdom guests into apprentice sorcerers whose mission is to defeat the evildoers strategically hidden all around the park. (Cue the ominous music and smoke machine!) I LOVE this concept and here’s why: 1) I’ve been reading Kingdom Keepers with my 10 year old DD and am embracing the idea of facing off with Disney villains; 2) it sounds very similar to the Midship Detective Agency onboard the Disney Dream, which my kids adored (Read all about that experience HERE); and 3) it’s included in your park admission! I am prepared to summon all my pixie dust, put on my Mickey sorcerer hat and face off with those baddies. As my son says, “It’s on like Donkey Kong!”

And for those of you who just need a pickup today, watch One Republic’s “Good Life” VIDEO filmed at Magic Kingdom. I practically have this on a loop at my house! This song just epitomizes the optimism, happiness and pure joy that Disney delivers to its guests every day. I dare you not to smile!

Photo Credit: Molly B. Mickey and Friends banner supplied by Discount Party Supplies, 2012 Mickey banner hand made and supplied by Kush Event Planning

Besides actually being in Walt Disney World for New Years Eve, I’m not sure if I can think of any better way to ring in the New Year, then to do it Disney Driven Life style, and throw a Mickey Mouse themed party for the little ones, celebrating the birth of 2012! I truly envy those of you who were lucky enough to be within arms reach of my favorite castle on the eve of 2012, but I guarantee you that our little soiree was just a tad less crowded. Probably just as noisy though!

My children LOVE Mickey Mouse. I know I have talked about this before here on the DDL, and it comes up in so many of my posts, because it’s really very true. Whenever I talk to my children about doing special things, our main man Mickey usually has to have some part in it. So when I told Jake he could pick any Disney character to have a party centered around, it was no surprise to me that it was again, The Mouse.

Photo Credit: Molly B. Cake made by Molly B.

Photo Credit: Molly B. Cake made by Molly B.

The focal point for our party was the cake. I made a Mickey Ear Hat cake which is an idea that has been dancing around my head for a while now. Like most of the cakes I dream up, I was trying to figure out how exactly I was going to make this thing a reality. The one thing I knew is that essentially, I wanted to create a replica of a Mickey ear hat. First I baked a cake in a Pirex bowl. This became the actual “hat”. I made my own butter cream icing and used a whole container of black Wilson food coloring to make it black. I iced the cake black and did my best to make it smooth but this is no easy task for an amateur cake maker! The ears were by far the hardest part. I made them out of rice crispy treat. At first I made them too thick and they were too heavy for the cake. I  ended up cutting them in half and I just barely got them to stay up using tooth picks and wooden skewers hidden in the back. Icing these was extremely difficult but I did my best. I finished by piping a white circle with a black Mickey head in the middle. I then drew a red circle around the Mickey head and wrote “2012″ in food grade markers. Voila. Our cake was finit.

Photo Credit: Molly B. Streamers supplied by Discount Party Supplies

Photo Credit: Molly B. Balloon supplied by Discount Party Supplies

Photo Credit: Molly B. Pinata supplied by Discount Party Supplies

Photo Credit: Molly B. Balloon supplied by Discount Party Supplies

Photo Credit: Molly B. Centerpiece supplied by Disount Party Supplies

Photo Credit: Molly B. Candles, table cloth, cutterly, cups, plates, and napkins supplied by Discount Party Supplies

The decor for our party came from two places. First, the wonderful folks over at Discount Party Supplies supplied us with all sorts of fabulous goodies! These things included Mickey invitations, red and blue streamers, blue and red latex balloons  (I brought them to my local party store to get filled with helium and have ribbons and weights tied to them. I also blew some up myself and scattered them around the floor.), a Mickey and Friends Happy Birthday Banner, a Mickey pull string pinata (Loved the pull strings! Much better than having the kids swat at the thing with a bat inside the house!!), Mickey dinner and cake plates and napkins, Mickey cups, a Mickey and Friends center piece (this was super cute and the kids had a ball playing with it after as well!), yellow cutlery, multi colored candles, and a red table plastic table cloth. All of these items were excellent quality, and I received them in a timely fashion after the order was placed. Definitely check out Discount Party Supplies for a website that is very easy to navigate and some great party supplies!

Photo Credit: Molly B. Party hats hand made and supplied by Kush Event Planning

Photo Credit: Molly B. Favor Boxes hand made and supplied by Kush Event Planning

Photo Credit: Raychel W. Favors hand made and supplied by Kush Event Planning

Photo Credit: Molly B. Labels hand made and supplied by Kush Event Planning

The rest of our decor was hand made by my amazing friend Raychel over at Kush Event Planning. She made us the “2012″ Mickey Head banner, party hats, favor boxes and favors, and labels for our food.

Photo Credit: Molly B.

Photo Credit: Molly B.

Photo Credit: Molly B.

For food, we had Kirkland brand Mickey shaped chicken nuggets that I get at Costco (Really good chicken nuggets actually!), mini bagel pizzas arranged like Mickey heads, fruit, and veggies and hummus. I made a Mickey red punch out of cranberry juice and Sierra Mist.

Photo Credit: Molly Beckley

The kids got to take home their favor boxes with oreos that looked almost too good too eat, and I also picked up some little Mickey themed favors and bags at my local party supply store.

The kids had an awesome time ringing in the new year with their pal Mickey. This year, I think my resolution is to seize each and every opportunity to throw a party. Especially if I’m doing it Disney Driven Life style!

Photo Credit: Molly B. The kids had so much fun. I'm pretty sure the look on this little cutie's face speaks for itself!