Captain America is Calling on You to Join Forces!

Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Saving the world from destruction with The Avengers can be tough even for the best of super heroes, including Steve Roger, aka Captain America.  Trying to live quietly in Washington DC and adjust to the modern world, a tall order for even someone as tough as our adored Captain. Everything changes in a flash when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack. Once again we find Steve Rogers become embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. 

Click Your Heels 3 Times and say "There's No Place Like a #DisneySide Celebration"

The Madrone School Wizard of Oz Cast Gets the #DisneySide Surprise of their Lives!

The name Disney and Magic often go hand in hand and are often interchangeable but at no time was this more evident than at last week’s surprise #DisneySide @ Home Celebration thrown for the Madrone Elementary School Cast of “They Wizard of Oz”.  The 60 cast members thought they were being summoned to an unheard of last minute Friday rehearsal.  After being sequestered in the band room and given ears to put on-to make a Friday rehearsal “just a little more bearable”, the cast was ushered to the cafeteria where the booming “Soundsational Parade Music” could be heard through the cafeteria walls.  Once gathered at the doors, it was explained to them that Walt Disney said it best when he said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.”  The play, which only a few short months before was just a dream, was about to become a reality but in the meantime, it was time for some fun Disney style. 

To cheers, shrieks and even a few tears of joy, the doors opened to the big reveal-a party to end all parties. Complete with Disney treats aplenty, music from the Parks, their own

Disney photo booth to capture the moment and non stop fun, to be able to see each of these hard working, amazing and talented young people see what the magic of Disney was all about first hand is a snapshot in my mind that I will hold close to my heart for the rest of my life. One of the highlights of the party was our Wizard of Oz choreographer, who just happened to be one of forty participants chosen last summer for the DisneyPerforming Arts Conservatory teaching the entire cast actual dances from the Disney Parks!  

Check Out This Week's Travel Discounts with our Destinations in Florida Travel!

Disney & Orlando Digest 

Discounts with Destinations in Florida Travel

Disneyland® Resort in California

Disney Discounts 

Walt Disney World^® Resort

●      New!  Free Day to Play at the Disney Theme Parks:  Buy 6 or more tickets for your family or friends with the 4-Day, 5-Day, 6-Day, 7-Day, 8-Day, or 9-Day tickets and you will get an extra day free.  Imagine another day to ride Splash Mountain or another day to get pictures with Mickey Mouse!  If you are visiting together, order your tickets together to save money!  Must book by June 14.

●      Free Memory Maker to Cherish Your Disney World Moments:  Imagine capturing your favorite pictures from your Disney World vacation!  You can do that with Disney’s Memory Maker.  Book a package from August 15-September 30 for at least 3 nights with 2-Day tickets and get the new Memory Maker free.  Prices start from just $899 plus tax for a family of 3 at a Disney Value Resort.  

●      Save up to 30% on Rooms at Select Walt Disney World® Resort Hotels:  Savings apply for stays most nights March 14, 2014 - April 12, 2014 and April 20, 2014 – June 15, 2014.  Upgrade to a room and ticket package with a minimum 4-day Magic Your Way Ticket and get one more ticket day FREE!  Visit Destinations in Florida for more details.

●      Florida Resident Rates:  Florida Residents can take advantage of great rates on rooms at select Disney Resorts hotels for stays through May 29, 2014.  Plan a winter getaway to Disney or a Spring Break trip to the Disney Water Parks.  Book today with this incredible deal, just for Florida Residents.

●      Military Discount:  Active duty and retired members of the US military can get specially discounted rooms at Disney Resort most nights through September 27^th, 2014.  Thank you for serving our country.  

Wordless Wednesday - March 5, 2014

WELCOME TO THE DISNEY GALS WORDLESS WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP!

THE THEME OF THE DAY IS:

MARCH CALENDAR SHOT!

Disney Gal Lori:

 Disney Gal Lynette:

Special Thanks goes out to Deb from Focused on the Magic for

hosting the weekly blog hop!

Rock Your Disney Side 24 Hour Event...with some Discounts!

Photo credit: Disney Parks

Last week, Disney Parks announced that as a follow-up to the massive success of the 2013 Monstrous Summer All-Nighter Event last year, they will once again be keeping those gates open so we can all "Rock Your Disney Side" from 6:00 a.m. on May 23, 2014 through 6:00 a.m. on May 24, 2014. You and your family are invited to dress up for the occasion and join a gathering of Disney heroes and villains for 24 hours of fun and follies—along with a selection of beloved attractions, popular shows and classic entertainment only Disney can bring to life.
Now you can laugh bigger, scream louder and stay out all day and night at an enchanting summer kick-off celebration! No matter which coast you find yourself on, prepare to "Rock Your Disney Side" with a gang of pirates, princesses, villains and party animals, right inside select Disney Parks because both the Disneyland Resort and the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World are participating in the event!
For more information and updates, you can visit the Disney Parks Blog and also enter to WIN a free trip to Rock Your Disney Side. All you need to do is tweet how you plan to Rock Your Disney Side all season long tagged with #DisneySideSweepsEntry. Check out what the winner receives...a coast-to-coast, 7-day/6-night Disney Parks vacation for 4—with back-to-back stays at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida followed by the Disneyland Resort in California, where you can enjoy the Rock Your Disney Side: 24-Hours event… live and in person!

Amazing prize isn't it?? If you don't happen to be the lucky winner, there's still hope! Our friends at Destinations in Florida  have provided a Walt Disney World discount exclusive to affiliate members and we get to pass that along to our readers...YOU!

These discounts are valid May 22-27 2014, and will coincide with Star Wars Weekends at Hollywood Studios and the 24 hour Event at Magic Kingdom!! What a better way to kick off summer than in Walt Disney World for Memorial Day Weekend.

Destinations in Florida has discounts available at Pop Century, Port Orleans Riverside and Contemporary Resort PLUS Discount Theme Park tickets!

All you have to do to access these exclusive discounts, is contact Destinations in Florida travel agent, Dawn Gosdin by clicking this blue highlighted link, and mention this article for a free, no obligation quote. If you've been hearing all about this latest Disney Side craze and want to be a part of it too, it doesn't get any better than attending one of these events!

So come as a prince, princess or pirate; a monster, a mermaid or even a Mad Hatter—whatever rocks your Disney Side!


Tricia Kalita is a Disney Gal who loves finding something new and exciting on every Disney Parks vacation, enjoys every minute of being a Disney Vacation Club owner, has found a love for running thanks to runDisney, and strives to spread the Magic of Disney to all that will listen. To learn more about Tricia, click here.

Kid's Korner Teams Up With Muppet Most Wanted!

Let the campaigning begin. Miss Piggy and Kermit are back on March 21 in this sure to be “Best Picture” nominee for 2015. Disney’s “Muppets Most Wanted” takes the entire Muppets gang on a global tour, selling out grand theaters in some of Europe’s most exciting destinations, including Berlin, Madrid, Dublin and London. But mayhem follows the Muppets overseas, as they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper headed by Constantine—the World’s Number One Criminal and a dead ringer for Kermit—and his dastardly sidekick Dominic, aka Number Two, portrayed by Ricky Gervais. The film stars Tina Fey as Nadya, a feisty prison guard, and Ty Burrell as Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon.

The Making of a #DisneySide Cruise Party

Life has many mysteries; "What happens to the pairs of socks that go in the laundry yet come out as singles?", "Why can't we grow a vegetable that tastes like chocolate?", and the one that boggles my mind and maybe yours..."How do you get on Disney's social media radar?". I've got solutions for the first two, I buy more socks and eat my chocolate with a multi-vitamin, but getting on the Disney radar...no clue.

Get 'Rockin' Ever After" with Disney on Ice

From the moment you enter the arena the excitement of attending a live performance of “Disney on Ice “ is all around you-little girls dressed as their favorite princess, the light up swirling Mickeys and of course the smell of popcorn in your own collectible tin. 

If you haven’t attended a “Disney on Ice” production lately, or ever then make sure not to miss the current tour. Put on by the Feld Entertainment Group, in conjunction with Disney, young and old alike will be “Rockin Ever After” with Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy as this year’s Disney on Ice skates into a venue near you.  

Wordless Wednesday - February 26, 2014

WELCOME TO THE DISNEY GALS WORDLESS WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP!

THE THEME OF THE DAY IS:

DISNEY HISTORY!

Disney Gal Kelly:

Big Red Boat photo courtesy of simplonpc.co.uk

Dream It! Do It!

Dream It! Do It! 

A Presentation by Marty Sklar

Disney Gal Judy: This past Sunday, Kelly and I were fortunate enough to have been at the Museum of Science and Industry for a presentation by Marty Sklar for his new book Dream It! Do It! The event was opened by Kurt Haunfelner, VP of Exhibits and Collections for the museum.  This was a great person to open for Marty Sklar as Kurt worked for Disney under Marty many years ago.  Kurt shared many interesting tidbits on Marty's live at Disney such as: 

• Marty started working for Disney part-time a few weeks before Disneyland opened;
• He worked on all four exhibits for the 1964 New York World's Fair;
• He is a 2001 Disney Legend;
• He held many titles at the Walt Disney Imagineering including; Vice President of Concepts and Planning; then he was promoted to President and his last title was Vice Chairman and Principal Creative Executive of the Company; and
• He worked for Disney for 54 years.

Disney's Frozen Soundtrack

Disney's Frozen Soundtrack

Photo courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

Disney's Frozen has been one of the most popular movies of this winter, along with the music from the movie in which they are now showing the movie in a "Sing-A-Long" format, which as also taken off!   If you enjoyed the movie and also more importantly the music Disney has a special release just for you.  A special version of the soundtrack that’s available for a very limited time.

Spice Up Your Disneyland Visit at the Paradise Garden Grill

Last month, our friends over at The Adult Side of Disney asked if I'd like to share some on my Disneyland insider eating suggestions for visiting Disneyland. The first place that came to mind was The Paradise Garden Grill. Nestled in the back corner of Disney California Adventure Park lies a little slice of the exotic and spicy styling of the Middle East. The Paradise Garden Grill is perfect for when you’re in search of a little something out of the ordinary. Guaranteed to wake up your taste buds, the Garden Grill is the ideal choice whether you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, or you’re a vegetarian or vegan in search of a satisfying meal.

Meet Disney on Ice Performer Antonia Mitchell

Across the nation, young and old alike are chEARing with delight as this year’s Disney on Ice “Rockin Ever After” featuring Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy  skates into a venue near them.   Adventurous moments from Disney•Pixar’s BRAVE and Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Tangled and Beauty and the Beast are featured along with comical Disney characters performing their unique talents for Mickey and the gang. 

Wordless Wednesday - February 19, 2014

WELCOME TO THE DISNEY GALS WORDLESS WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP!

THE THEME OF THE DAY IS:

DISNEY LETTER "T"!

Disney Gal Kelly:

Beat the Winter Blues at MSI Chicago

Raise your hand if you are tired of hearing "I'm bored". Keep them up if you think your children have been watching way too much television these past snow-covered weeks. Why not do yourself and your wallet a favor by heading the the Museum of Science and Industries this month. How can you beat this deal:

It’s FREE KIDS FEBRUARY at MSI!

From February 1 through February 28 the Museum of Science and Industry Chicago will offer FREE MUSEUM ENTRY to kids, ages 3-11. This is a perfect time to escape the house, beat the winter blues and experiment in fun at MSI with the whole family!

Free Museum Entry for kids also makes it a great time to purchase tickets to the Museum’s temporary exhibit offering, Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives, presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. Explore nine decades of marvelous Disney innovation and history; see drawings, props, costumes and artwork from famed Disney films and television shows; and even learn to draw a favorite Disney character in the Animation Academy! (NOTE: This exhibit still requires an additional ticket for kids, but the Museum Entry portion for those 3-11 would be waived.)

MSI offers a convenient indoor garage parking to escape the cold—and an exciting day of science-filled adventures. Run in a human-sized hamster wheel. See lightning strike—indoors! Manipulate a tornado. Climb inside a historic locomotive. Dissect a real eyeball. Witness fiery chemistry at work. And much, much more

Free Kids Museum Entry tickets must be obtained on-site at the Museum ticket counter. They cannot be acquired online. Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives tickets can be added at ticket counter. For more information and restrictions, visit msichicago.org.

NOTE: This offer is good for child Museum Entry tickets only (valid for ages 3-11).Up to four free child tickets allowed with the purchase of one full paying adult. Additional experiences, including Omnimax^® films, U-505 Submarine on-board tour, Future Energy Chicago, Coal Mine, Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives and special tours are not included in Museum Entry. They require additional, timed-entry tickets. Offer not valid for groups taking advantage of group pricing or those using any other discount or offer.  No refunds will be given for tickets already purchased for February dates. Parking is not included.

Disney Gal Judy and I were just at the museum Sunday to attend a presentation/book signing by Disney Legend Marty Sklar. It was an inspiring afternoon which we will be posting about later this week. We also had a chance to revisit D23 Presents - Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives. How wonderful to see parents sharing their childhood Disney memories with their children as they walked through the exhibit. Why not share the magic with your children? Make sure your weekend plans include a stop at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industries, you won't be disappointed.

Dream It, Do It... Who is Marty Sklar?

Photo courtesy of MSI Chicago

That is the question many of my friends asked when I told them where I am going. The Museum of Science and Industries in Chicago reached out to Disney Gal Judy to cover Marty Sklar's presentation today, and she's letting me tag along! When I tried to explain to my friends exactly who this man is, words like "Disney Legend" and "He has a window" were met with many confused looks. (Yes, I have friends that are not Disney fanatics, believe it or not.)  Then I thought of the introduction in Marty's book "Dream It! Do It!: My Half-Century Creating Disney Magic Kingdoms", written by none other than the fabulously talented Richard Sherman. He wrote this song in 2009 when Marty retired, to celebrate his 50 years of dedication. If this doesn't fill in the blanks for my friends, I don't know what will. (Maybe Marty's book!)

Sung to the tune of Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious:

VERSE 1:
Before the doors of Disneyland
Were opened to the world
Young Marty Sklar was asked
To have his writing skills unfurled
The Disneyland newspaper
Was first product of his skills
Then PR and Publicity
Young Marty fit the bill...He's...

CHORUS:
Never fearing, Imagineering
Mar-ty Sklar-e-docious
For years he's led Imagineers
With passion so ferocious
Through stress and strains
He's held the reins
With leadership precocious
Never fearing, Imagineering
Mar-ty Sklar-e-docious

VERSE 2:
For Walt he wrote his speeches
And his annual reports
Then moved to WED to help create
Attractions and resorts
From Small World to Space Mountain
To eleven Disney Parks
Our Marty steered Imagineers
With their creative sparks... (and his)

repeat chorus

VERSE 3:
He's first to give out credit
To the great creative teams
His one persisting goal
Was to perpetuate Walt's dream
Succeed he did, and so we stand
As one to give three cheers
To Marty Sklar the champion
Of all Imagineers...He's

FINAL CHORUS:
Never fearing, Imagineering
Mar-ty Sklar-e-docious
For years he's led Imagineers
With passion so ferocious
Through stress and strains
He's held the reins
With leadership precocious
Never fearing, Imagineering
Mar-ty Sklar-e-docious!

We look forward to telling you all about this amazing opportunity this coming week. Keep your eyes on the blog for many pictures and stories!

Let the #DisneySide @Home Celebrations Begin!

Our #DisneySide parties are just around the corner! As we put the finishing touches on our decorations and finalize our plans, we wanted to give you another sneak peek before the final unveiling:

Disney Gals Kelly and Judy:

Plan updates:

The plans are in high swing right now as our party is only one week away! We have ordered some special banners to show the different area's of our #Disney Side Ship (which we cannot wait to see)! We are putting the finishing touches on the dinner:

(thanks to a friend who were just at WDW)

and the all important dessert menu.



Should we make these?

Romance + Valentine's Day = Everyone's Favorite Diva-Miss Piggy

MISS PIGGY CALLS ON VIVIENNE WESTWOOD TO DESIGN KEY WARDROBE FOR THE ALL-NEW DISNEY FILM “MUPPETS MOST WANTED”

© Disney. All rights reserved.

Vivienne Westwood Couture Wedding Dress Designed Exclusively for the Divine Diva

Will Kermit the Frog Finally Say “I Do”?

Valentine’s Day-the one day out of the year that romance is in the air-where love blooms all around and who better to talk about romance than the divine diva herself-the incomparable Miss Piggy.  On March 21, our beloved fashion icon and super diva returns to the silver screen right where she belongs in new theatrical release, Disney’s “Muppets Most Wanted “. Starring along side the one true love of her life, Kermit the Frog, this grand, star-studded tour throughout Europe, is a setting that screams romance. Will this finally be the year that our beloved Miss Pig finally convinces Kermit to tie the knot? And more importantly, if this indeed is the year that our super couple finally makes it to the altar, just what will the divine Piggy be wearing-knowing that the eyes of the world will be watching? When only the best will do, Miss Piggy went right to the best of the best, Vivienne Westwood, who was commissioned to create couture designs for the fashion icon, including a white dress that also just happens to be perfect for a wedding…if one should actually take place.

“Vivienne Westwood is fabulous—just like moi,” said Miss Piggy. “When I asked her to design this wedding dress for moi’s new movie “Muppets Most Wanted,” she was thrilled and I was thrilled. The only one a bit ‘iffy’ about it was the Frog.”

In the film, Miss Piggy wears Vivienne Westwood couture Long Ivory Court wedding gown, with corset detailing and paillettes made from recycled plastic bottles, accessorised with an ivory tulle veil. Piggy also entrusted the designer with additional looks for the film, including a Vivienne Westwood couture Harris Tweed houndstooth check coat and matching beret worn in a scene set at Tower of London. Miss Piggy also chose a long silver hand-embroidered floral lace gown for a very special number in the film.

 

                                                                                      © Disney. All rights reserved.

So the question on everyone’s lips remains: Will we see Miss Piggy marry her beloved Kermie in “Muppets Most Wanted,” and will she finally get to wear her dream Vivienne Westwood gown down the aisle?

“You’ll have to see the movie to find out,” insisted Miss Piggy.

Want to know more about our fashion forward, always the trendsetter, Miss Piggy? Be sure to check out -An exclusive Q&A with Vivienne Westwood about designing this gown is available in the March issue of US Harpers’ Bazaar, click here to read the story www.harpersbazaar.com/misspiggy And be sure not to miss “Muppets Most Wanted “when it hits the big screen March 21, 2014. For more information, visit Disney.com/Muppets, like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/Muppets, and follow us on Twitter: Twitter.com/TheMuppets.

© Disney. All rights reserved.

Gayle is a Disney Gal that loves churros for breakfast, still gets giddy with delight at the first sight of the “Disneyland next exit sign”, loves the overwhelming emotions and memories that come with each and every return to the Happiest Place on Earth and dreams of one day being the Captain of the Jungle Boat. To learn more about Gayle, click here