April 15th- WDW NewsCast

For my daily Disney devotion on April 15th I watched the WDW newscast that aired on April 13th.  This newcast is a weekly show done by Lou Mongello of the Walt Disney World Trivia Books and WDW radio show.  I used to listen to his podcast religiously, but since becoming a mom, I really don't have the time to devote to a multi-hour podcast each week.  The WDW newcast is perfect for me, because its short and just hits the weeks highlights.  On April 13th they were discussing the possible return of the original Tiki Room and the enhancements to the Haunted Mansion queue.  Since I want the HM queue to be a total surprise, I fast forwarded through that part, but I did listen to the Tiki Room segment.  Basically it is all speculation at this time, but there is some hope that the original show may be restored for the 40th anniversary of the park.   I personally would love to see a return to the original, mostly because it wasn't as scary, and would be much more child friendly. 

If you would like to watch the show, you can see it below!

April 14th- a Virginia Safari

On April 14th I took Everett to the Reston Zoo,  a local park here in Virginia.  We really enjoyed all the animals, but the highlight of the day, for both me and Everett was the wagon ride around the free ranging animals.  It definitely did not rival Animal Kingdom in theming or authenticity, but there were some of the same animals.  We saw Pattersons Elin, and Watusi Cattle and (my favorite) Thompsons Gazelle- but everybody calls them Tommys!  I wanted to take some pictures, but I had to keep both hands on my little boy, he was really enjoying the ride and would have very much liked to jump overboard and join the animals on the "savannah".  

April 13th- Disney memories

I'll admit I tear up during Disney commercials, and the one I saw on April 13th was no exception.  I was watching TV, when one of the new Disney memories TV spots came on, all I could think about was how close our trip was, and how much I couldn't wait to get there to make new memories with my little boy.

April 12- Beast Castle

There are amazing things happening with the Fantasyland Expansion!  Portions of the Beast's castle are finished and for my daily Disney Devotion on April 12th, I read this article from WDWmagic.com about the progress that can be seen rising up from behind the wall.  I can't wait to get there and see it for myself!

April 11th- Shanghai Disney

Photo courtesy of the Disney Parks Blog

For my daily Disney devotion on April 7th, I read about the ground breaking for new Disney park in Shanghai.  The concept art is beautiful and I'm sure it will be an incredible park.  One of my goals is to visit every Disney park in the world, so I hope to someday get there, but I'm sure it will be a while.  Until then, I'll keep updated on its progress and continue to dream.  For coverage of the new park in Shanghai, you can check out the Disney Parks Blog.

April 10th- Babycakes

For my daily Disney devotion on April 10th, I decided to honor Downtown Disney's newly opened cupcake bakery, Babycakes, by enjoying some designer cupcakes from my local cupcake establishment.   I love cupcakes, and living right outside of DC, I'm in cupcake central.  There are literally three cupcake bakeries within walking distance of my house.  My favorite is Lavender Moon, and Everett and I split a flourless chocolate cupcake with chocolate buttercream icing.  It was so good, I may just have to honor Babycakes a little more often!

April 9th- Impressions de France

Photo courtesy of allears.net

On April 9th my husband Mark was entertaining Everett while I was attempting to get some chores done around the house.  He decided to put on some classical music in an attempt to create a calming atmosphere that might transition nicely into nap time ( I didn't want to tell him this, and hurt his feelings, but its going to take a lot more than classical music to calm my rambunctious boy!).  Anyway, while I was downstairs sorting laundry, I caught the strains of a familiar tune and recognized instantly the music from Impressions de France.  I abandoned the laundry and bounded upstairs to ask him what he was playing, and it was Claire de Lune by DeBussy, which is featured in the soundtrack from Impressions de France.

I think the film is beautiful, and I love to sit and watch it after I have stuffed my face with pastries from the Patisserie.  The music brought back some very happy memories and was my daily Disney devotion for April 9th.

April 8th- Hidden Mickey

On April 8th I took Everett to a soft play area at our local mall, and there I noticed a hidden  Mickey!  I love hidden Mickeys, and although I'm not the greatest at spotting them in the parks (that distinction goes to my husband Mark), every time I find one it makes me smile.  This hidden Mickey outside of the parks was an extra special surprise and it made my day.

April 7- Mickey Mail

On April 7th I received a wonderful letter in the mail- my Magical Express packet!  I was extra excited because this will be my first experience with Magical Express and it was my first time receiving "Mickey Mail".  I know this mean my vacation is right around the corner, I can't wait!

April 6th- It is a small world!

Photo courtesy of intercot.com

On April 6th, I was sitting watching the news with my husband Mark.  There was a report about how Japanese children are returning back to school after the tsunami and earthquake, and then the cut to some footage of first day festivities.  The children were in an auditorium, and the chorus was performing.  When I recognized the tune, I at first couldn't believe my ears.  Sometimes I worry that my Disney obsession causes me to view the whole world through "magic-colored" glasses, and I thought perhaps I was imagining the Disney reference.  I looked over to my husband who was laughing at me, and verified that I indeed was hearing the Japanese schoolchildren singing that Disney classic, "Its a Small World".

April 5th- Phineaus and Ferb

For my daily Disney devotion on April 5th I read this article in the Disney Parks Blog about the new Phineas and Ferb meet and greet coming to Hollywood Studios.  I was pretty excited about it, because we're big Phineas and Ferb fans in this house.  We'll have to check it out on our May trip!

April 4th- Disney on sale

On April 4th I was taking a walk through my neighborhood, when I noticed that our local Books-a-million was getting ready to close.  I was a little disappointed, because I hate to see any stores close in Old Town, especially ones that I frequent.   I decided to head in to take a look at some of the store closing sales, and I found a great book for Everett.  Its from the Thumper tails series and it features little windows that slide open and shut.  Everett has a Christmas book that is similar, and it is a favorite.  I'm getting a little tired of reading about holly and reindeer, so I figured Thumper would be a good substitute.

April 3rd- Disney expertise comes in handy outside the parks.

On April 7th I traveled with my family back into DC to take in the cherry blossom festival.  I had some misgivings about the crowd level, since it was literally the first nice day all spring, and I knew that it would be mobbed.   While on the metro traveling into DC, I decided to use a technique inspired by the monorail to judge the crowd level.  There is one point on the metro where you are outside and elevated, which affords you a pretty decent view of the tidal basin and surrounding traffic.  I figured I could use this birds-eye view to help figure out where the crowds were concentrated.  Those of you familiar with the Epcot monorail loop can easily figure out where I got this idea, since you can easily scope out the crowds in Future World, and if you have keen eyes, even read some of the wait times, while you are looping through.  This was a small moment of Disney serendipity, and a good example of how Disney knowledge is useful both inside and outside the parks.

April 2th- cave paintings

On April 6th I visited the Natural History Smithsonian with my family.  It is a wonderful museum, and we just happened to run into a few Disney touches.  The museum recently opened a new exhibit on human origins, and being an anthropologist, I really wanted to check it out.  The whole exhibit was really well done, I think they did a great job of catering to lay people, while also providing enough to keep professionals engaged.  One of my favorite parts of the exhibit was a section that was built to look just like the inside of a neolithic cave, complete with cave paintings.  It really reminded of the cave scene in Spaceship earth, complete with the handprint paintings that I have always found so fascinating.   I tried to take a picture with my new phone, but since it was pretty dark it didn't really turn out, but if you can picture Spaceship earth in your mind, you'll have a good idea of what the exhibit looked like.

April 1st- Pirates Invade NYC

April 1st marked the launch of the latest collaboration between Hayden-Harnett and Walt Disney Signature, Pirates of the Caribbean!  Hayden-Harnett is a Brooklyn based design team that creates fashion forward handbags, accessories and apparel.   They've partnered with Disney to celebrate the upcoming release of the 4th Pirates film and have created an exquisite collection including cuffs, handbags and scarves.  The details exhibited throughout the collection are enough to make any Disney fan swoon and look like they have been swiped right from the beloved attraction.  These are some truly beautiful fashion pieces, but you can tell that Tony Hacker and Ben Harnett really studied both the attraction and films and incorporated that theming into the design, making them over the top outstanding to both  fashionists and Disney fanatics. You can check out the Hayden-Harnett website and the new Pirates Collection here

March 31- Mary Blair does diapers!

I don't know if I've been living under a rock, but on March 31st I discovered the Mary Blair inspired diaper bag design by Petunia Pickle Bottom.  The PPB company partnered with Disney to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Its a Small World and created the unique design.  The print is beautiful with stylized cherry blossoms and really does look like something created by the signature style of Mary Blair.  I'm completely in love and am wishing upon a star to receive one as a Mothers Day gift.  You can check it out here

March 30th- Disney at Gymboree

I've been taking Everett to Gymboree since he was 10 months old.  He really loves the program, and I think it has really helped him advance his motor and social skills.  On March 30th we moved up to the next age group, the 16-26 month olds.  This was a new class, with all new kids and new activities.  One of the new things that really caught my attention was a song based on the tune "Hi-Ho, (The Work Song)" from Snow White.  I don't remember the exact wording, but it made me smile that every week at Gymboree we'll be sneaking in a little extra Disney into Everett's life.

March 29th- another check in the box

For my daily Disney devotion on March 29th, I put another check in the box of my trip planning spreadsheet.  One thing that I needed to buy before our trip was a pool floaty for Everett.  I wanted to get one of the baby inner tubes so he could comfortably float around the pool at Port Orleans Riverside.  I picked one up at Walmart while running errands, so now I am one step closer to our May vacation!

March 28th- Diaper cake

On March 28th I began creating a diaper cake for my friend Caroline who is having her second baby this month.  I had never made one before, but, I had seen lots of them at various baby showers and I thought I'd give making one a try.  I do have a secret crafty side, but I don't get to tap into it very often because I don't have the space or the time for any serious craft projects.  One of the things I would obviously need for a diaper cake would be diapers, and there was no doubt in my mind which brand I would buy.  I'm a loyal Huggies customer, and I'll leave it up to the readers to decide if it is because I think they are the best product, or if I just love that they are decorated with Disney characters.   Anyway, I think the diaper cake came out really cute, even if the lighting in my house is awful and my camera takes poor pictures :)

March 27th- WDW Today LIVE

For my daily Disney devotion on March 27th I listened to one of my favorite podcasts (other than Communicore Online, of course) WDW today do their monthly live show.  I was considering calling in with a question, but I was having too much fun in the chat room and listening along.  The live show is  posted in itunes on on the WDW today website  if you would like to listen along.

March 26th- Music from the Poly

Photo courtesy of wdwmemories.com

On March 26th I took Everett to a music class at Gymboree.  We've taken a few music classes, but I wasn't prepared for what I would hear when we entered the classroom. The class was starting a unit on music from the south Pacific, and it sounded like I had just walked into the lobby of the Poly.  I really enjoyed being transported away from the cold northeast and into one of my favorite places on Disney property, if only for an hour.

March 25th- Epcot video

For my daily Disney devotion on March 25th I watched this really awesome video on youtube.  You can check it out here.  It is a photo tour of Epcot using stop motion photography.  The video uses over 5,000 photographs and it looks like the guy is just floating through the park.  What I love best about this video is that he synced the audio that you would hear in each section of the park/country in WS, with the images that you are seeing.  Its one of the best fan videos that I have ever seen, so I think you all should take a look.

March 24th- Podcast

On March 24th I recorded another episode of Communicore Online with Shane Roberts.  In "Marissa's Mommy Tips" for the week of the 24th we discussed child friendly (and not so friendly) dining in the Magic Kingdom and Magic Kingdom Resort area.  The podcast can be found on itunes, or you can check it out at the Communicore Online website