Walt Disney World Photo of the Day!

Todays ‎Disney‬ Picture from the Parks from Moments of the Magic by Joe Diebold
the Riverboat view - a little different view with the addition on Rapunzel's Tower

Memorable Monday by Guest Author Afton Mulvihill

Disney Vacations=Lasting Memories

By: Afton Mulvihill

The one thing I think of when I think of Disney vacations is memories. I think of all the memories that I have gained from Disney vacations. My most memorable Disney vacation is when my husband and I got engaged.  We were living in New York at the time and went home to family in California. While we were there we wanted to go with my parents to Disneyland! Keith and I have been planning on getting engaged on our trip home! I had no clue where or when he was going to do it. 

The day finally came and we were off to Disneyland! We had somehow convinced my parents to come with us!  I had figured that if Keith was going to proposed to me it would be when we first got there since he would not have to think about and carry my ring around all day with him! Well I was wrong. The day went on and nothing happened! I figured he had something else planned out with my parents. 

Keith and I have started a tradition of always getting our picture taken in front of the Castle weather  it be in Disneyland or the Magic Kingdom. It’s usually the first thing that we do. But this time we didn’t since there was so many people standing there waiting for that picture we figured we would do it later. Around lunch time we walked past the castle again and saw this family getting there pictures done by the castle but it was off to the side and surrounded with flowers. We thought that would be a great spot. So we waited our turn. At the same time they were also swapping out photographers. So we had a fresh one for this shot!! We did our usual pictures in front of the castle and after she was done I had turn to my parents and said this is our tradition to get this shot. I had heard Keith say something and turned back around and he was on one knee! 

He had proposed to me right then and there. He had my ring in a glass slipper and said “You will always be my Cinderella! Will you marry me?”  He had proposed to me right in front of the castle and my parents got to witness the whole thing. 

That will always be my fondest memory of Disney!

Sentimental Sunday

Here we are at the beginning of another week.  Thoughts running through my mind this morning of what to share for Sentimental Sunday.  The first thing that came to mind, was our last cruise in October of 2012 aboard the Disney Dream.  This was Paul's first cruise ever, and my second.....but first experience on a Disney cruise. 

The pictures here are from our dining experience at PALO.  What a wonderful and special evening it was as we celebrated one one year anniversary of Paul being cancer free!

Walt Disney World Picture of the Day!

Today's ‪Disney‬ Pic from the Park from Moments of the Magic by Joe Diebold- ]

Fireworks Friday - from Wishes - it is always a must for us to watch the fireworks, how about you?

Foodie Friday!

My day at Animal Kingdom in May of 2013..........
I was so excited to get there for rope-drop, that I brought my camera, and forgot to put the battery in it as I was re-charging it over night.  So, my pictures from that visit are all from my cell phone, and it was not the greatest, so these pictures from Yak & Yeti are not very good.  However, I still wanted to share what I had there. 

 Photo from the Walt Disney World website>









This was what I dined on for lunch
(I am pretty sure it was the )

Sweet-and-Sour Chicken

Tempura Chicken, Bell Peppers, Pineapple, Sweet-and-Sour Sauce, and White Rice

9.99

This was the view from my table.........(I was on the second floor)

And, it seems as though I had an uninvited dining partner!  ;-)

Throwback Thursday!

 Epcot, 2012/Meeting Mary Poppins for the first time! 

 Our friend Nick and Barbie have a chat with Mary!

More friends, Joe and Chrissy get a chance to spend some time with Mary as well!! 

Wordless Wednesday!

Walt Disney World Picture of the Day!

Today's ‪Disney‬ Picture from the Parks from Moments of the Magic by Joe Diebold
Canada Pavilion - I love visiting the garden at the Canadian Pavilion , so many wonderful smells and a beautiful area.

· 

Another beautiful shot by Joe!!

Look what's coming to Chi-town!!

George Lucas museum coming to Chicago: George Lucas museum coming to Chicago

Walt Disney World Picture of the Day!

Today's ‪Disney‬ Picture from the Parks from Moments of the Magic by Joe Diebold

 Nighttime at Rapunzel's village - amazing decor and theming. Every time we were at this area I always wanted to dance around.

Memorable Monday - My Disney Passion Really Began With..........

JUNGLE BOOK!  Yes, indeed it did!  Of course I loved watching The Wonderful World of Color, The Wonderful World of Disney, and many of the live actions Disney shows on TV.  I also loved Mary Poppins which I saw in the theater back in 1964.

 This is the Jungle Book movie poster.










 The one movie that really grabbed me was Jungle Book.  The story, the characters, the music..........OH..........yes, that music!!  I have always remembered EVERY word, to EVERY song, and EVERY spoken line from that movie. 

Speaking of the music.  My Dad bought me the soundtrack album for Christmas that year.  Jungle Book was released in theaters on October 18, 1967.  I was able to go see it shortly after that.  I remember sitting in the theater amazed, and happy, and a little scared.  Shere Kahn the Tiger was scary. ( After all, I was only nine.)

That music brought such joy into my life.  That was the year my paternal Grandmother died, and I think that is another reason why I connect to this so much.  It helped me get over a very tough time in my young life.  

The album also had a book in it that you could read along to as you listened to the music.  That wonderful music by that amazing team, The Sherman Brothers.  I have been looking around for that album for a while, as I have always wanted to have it again.  Well, I found it, and ordered it for myself, and here is some pictures of what I will be receiving in the mail in a week or so!

 Outside album cover.

 Inside cover, with the book pages.










This was the last film that Walt Disney was involved in, as he passed away before the film was ever released.  For those of you who are not familiar with details about this magnificent film, here is the breakdown.

Plot

Mowgli, a young orphan boy, is found in a basket in the deep jungles of Madhya Pradesh, India. Bagheera, a black panther who discovers the baby, promptly takes him to a mother Indian Wolf who has just had cubs. She raises him along with her own cubs and Mowgli soon becomes well acquainted with jungle life. Mowgli is shown ten years later, playing with his wolf siblings.
One night, when the wolf tribe learns that Shere Khan, a man-eating Bengal tiger, has returned to the jungle, they realize that Mowgli must be taken to the "Man-Village" for his own safety. Bagheera volunteers to escort him back.
They leave that very night, but Mowgli is determined to stay in the jungle. He and Bagheera rest in a tree for the night, when Kaa, a hungry Indian Python, appears and hypnotizes Mowgli into a deep and peaceful sleep, traps him tightly in his coils and tries to devour him, but fails when Bagheera intervenes. The next morning, Mowgli tries to join the elephant patrol led by Colonel Hathi and his wife Winifred. Bagheera finds Mowgli and they argue which results in Bagheera leaving Mowgli on his own. Mowgli soon meets up with the laid-back, fun-loving sloth bear Baloo, who shows Mowgli the fun of having a care-free life and promises to raise Mowgli himself and never take him back to the Man-Village.
Mowgli now wants to stay in the jungle more than ever. Shortly afterwards, Baloo is tricked and outsmarted by a gang of monkeys who kidnap Mowgli and take him to their leader, King Louie the orangutan, who makes a deal with Mowgli that if he tells him the secret of making fire like a human, then he will make it so he can stay in the jungle. However, since he was not raised by humans, Mowgli does not know how to make fire. Bagheera and Baloo arrive to rescue Mowgli and in the ensuing chaos, King Louie's palace is demolished to rubble. Bagheera speaks to Baloo that night and convinces him that the jungle will never be safe for Mowgli so long as Shere Khan is there. In the morning, Baloo reluctantly explains to Mowgli that the Man-Village is best for the boy, but Mowgli accuses him of breaking his promise and runs away. As Baloo sets off on foot in search of Mowgli, Bagheera rallies the help of Hathi and his patrol to make a search party. However, Shere Khan himself, who was eavesdropping on Bagheera and Hathi's conversation, is now determined to hunt and kill Mowgli himself. Meanwhile, Mowgli has encountered Kaa once again in a different tree and the hungry python exacts his revenge by hypnotizing Mowgli again, and tries to eat him, but thanks to the unwitting intervention of the suspicious Shere Khan, Mowgli awakens again, tricks the snake again, and escapes.
As a storm gathers, a depressed Mowgli encounters a group of puckish but friendly vultures who closely resemble English rock band The Beatles, and they agree to be his friends as they too are outcasts, and feel that everyone has to have friends. Shere Khan appears shortly after, scaring off the Vultures and confronting Mowgli. Baloo rushes to the rescue and tries to keep Shere Khan away from Mowgli, but is injured. When lightning strikes a nearby tree and sets it ablaze, the vultures swoop in to distract Shere Khan while Mowgli gathers flaming branches and ties them to Shere Khan's tail. As fire is his only fear, the tiger panics and runs off.
Bagheera and Baloo take Mowgli to the edge of the Man-Village, but Mowgli is still hesitant to go there. His mind soon changes when he is smitten by a beautiful young girl from the village who is coming down by the riverside to fetch water. After noticing Mowgli, she "accidentally" drops her water pot, and Mowgli retrieves it for her and follows her into the man village. After Mowgli chooses to stay in the Man-Village, Baloo and Bagheera decide to head home, content that Mowgli is safe and happy with his own kind.

Directed by	Wolfgang Reitherman
Produced by	Walt Disney
Screenplay by	Larry Clemmons Ralph Wright Ken Anderson Vance Gerry Floyd Norman (uncredited) Bill Peet (uncredited)
Based on	The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
Starring	Phil Harris Sebastian Cabot Louis Prima George Sanders Sterling Holloway J. Pat O'Malley Bruce Reitherman
Narrated by	Sebastian Cabot
Music by	George Bruns (Score) Terry Gilkyson Richard M. Sherman Robert B. Sherman (Songs)
Production   company	Walt Disney Productions
Distributed by	Buena Vista Distribution
Release date(s)	October 18, 1967
Running time	78 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$4 million
Box office	$205,843,612

Sentimental Sunday

Happy Sunday everyone!  Since we have this cruise coming up in just 130 days from today, I am going to dedicate Sundays until we go to great memories from our last cruise aboard the Disney Dream.  I think it best to start at the beginning. 

Traveling from Walt Disney World on the Disney Cruise Line bus, as we enter the cruise port area, this is what we see out the window!  What a beauty she is!

Getting a little closer you realize just how big this ship is!

This was so exciting, being on that bus, seeing our "home" for the next four nights!  I look forward to sharing more pictures and memories with you over  the summer!

Next week, we will take a look inside the cruise terminal.
See ya' real soon!

Frozen pre-parade with Anna, Elsa and Olaf debuts at Disneyland Park

Foodie Friday!

Our feature food item for Foodie Friday comes from our last trip to Walt Disney World, and a warm afternoon with Paul enjoying a delicious Dole Whip!  Yumm!

from Aloha Isle!

Throwback Thursday!

Aaaahhhh........the Memories!  Another element of conquering my fear of heights!!  Characters in Flight at Downtown Disney!  If you have never done this, it's a must! 

Memorable Monday!

Lady and the Tramp. And Lady and the Tramp : Story Behind the Photo 

 by: Nick Maglio from Disney Musings

http://disneymusings.blogspot.com

Back in October of 2009, while at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, we were looking around Exposition Hall, which is now the Town Square Theater.

 

We asked a Cast Member (I wish I could remember his name!) to take our picture. Another Cast Member (and I can't remember her name either!) came over holding the stuffed Lady and the Tramp pictured above. She then told my wife to close her eyes, and motioned for me to get on my knees in front of her.
We asked yet another Cast Member to photograph us all together.
I honestly can't remember how we all wound up hamming it up like this, but it's yet another wonderful Disney moment captured in a photo.

Walt Disney World Picture of the Day!

Today's ‪‎Disney‬ Picture from the Park from Moments of the Magic by Joe Diebold

 Mickey Balloons and Cinderella Castle - one of my many playful shots with my fisheye lens from October.

Walt Disney World Picture of the Day!

Today's Disney Picture from the Park - One of the stops along the Tiger Trek

Besides looking for the different spots where the Tigers love to sleep - We love looking at the different scenes and how the area looks ancient.

Foodie Friday!

As we have been posting the last several weeks on Friday, we continue today with the newest edition of FOODIE FRIDAY!

The items below are from the Be Our Guest Restaurant lunch menu. 

I had the first item pictured which was:

Carved Prime Chuck Roast Beef Sandwich*

Served warm on a Baguette with Horseradish Sour Cream and Pommes Frites. 

 *This item may contain raw or undercooked ingredients. Consuming raw or undercooked meats, seafood, shellfish or eggs may increase your risk of foodborne illness.

$12.49

 

 

 

and my friend  Amy had:

Braised Pork (Coq Au Vin Style)

Eight Hour Slow-cooked Pork with Mushrooms, Onions, Carrots and Bacon served with Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans Jardiniere.

$12.99

 

 

 

 

 

and for dessert we shared:

Chocolate Cream Puff

Chocolate Cream Puff filled with Chocolate Mousse topped with Whipped Cream.

$4.19

 Since I was on the dining plan, I got dessert included with my lunch.  I knew I would never eat the entire thing, so Amy and I shared!  :-)

 

 

Everything was delicious!!  Such a beautiful place to eat, for lunch or dinner.  No reservations are required for lunch, but there can be a long wait to get in.  Try going as early as possible for lunch to get in line.  We waited about 40 minutes, which is probably on the short side.  I have heard of people waiting for 2 hours.  I would not do that.  Like I said, go more like 11am and get in line.  Your wait time should not be that long.  

Dinner is another story all together.  I booked for just myself 180 days out, and was lucky to get a reservation on my night of arrival May 1, 2013.  It's possible you can always try a walk-up when the dinner hour starts, as I know people who have done it, but you never know.  I think it's worth a shot if you are there and have no plans for dinner.  There may be a little magic in the air!

 

Throwback Thursday!

This day really got away from me!  Here is my Throwback Thursday picture!  Remembering a wonderful stay at Disney's Polynesian Resort from our trip in 2010.

This waterfall in the lobby of the resort will be no more, with the new renovation coming in.  We are sorry to see it go, as it is such an iconic part of the resort itself.

Wordless Wednesday!

The BIG Reveal! We are going on another Disney Cruise!

As I just posted, today is Paul's 60th birthday.  We had many things to celebrate over the last month.
May 10, was his three year anniversary of being cancer free, May 16 was our fifth wedding anniversary, and today his his 60th birthday.
Three BIG events like that deserve a really BIG gift, right?  Well, in my humble opinion they do!

The big reveal of that very BIG gift was yesterday at his big birthday bash.  We had somewhere between 40 and 50 people here, and I believe everyone had a really good time.  Food was good, lots of beer, wine, pop, and a beautiful cake made by my next door neighbor. 


Our front yard decorated!

 Paul with his older brother, Dave.

 Family party guests!

 Our chef, Dave!

 Me and my son, Tim!

 The look on the face..........priceless!  "What the heck have you done?"

 The awesome cake!

So, now for the big secret this girl has been keeping for almost a year.  I want Paul to know just how much he means to me.  Yes, words will cover it, but this year above all he needs words and special things.   So, as always, his big issue is "where is the money coming from to pay for this?"  Well, SURPRISE!  It's already all paid for!  I have been saving up the money for this since July of 2013!  He just kind of looked at me, in total amazement.  Yup, that's just the kind of gal I am! 

Last July, (the weekend after the 4th) we had a garage sale.  We did so-so on it, but didn't really make the money I had hoped for.  I think because many people were out of town for the holiday.  Anyway, my proceeds from the sale were intended for a down payment on something special.  I was still able to come up with the money that I needed, and booked a very special trip for the two of us for this coming October 31!

We are going on our second Disney cruise!  Like I said, I have been keeping the secret for close to a year, with only telling a few of my close friends and family about it, as I needed an outlet so I would not bust!  I was also doing a countdown on my Walt Disney Maniacs page as a way to share this, so I didn't spoil the surprise for Paul.  He is not a Facebook person, so it was all good.

We will be sailing aboard the Disney Wonder!  A much smaller ship than our first experience with Disney Cruise Line, but from what I have read, and seen in pictures, besides talking to others who have sailed on her, we will not be disappointed.

The trip will actually start on October 30, as we fly out of Chicago Midway on Delta Airlines.  That is another great thing!  Airfare to Miami is TERRIBLE!  I searched and searched for good deals, but was really having a hard time.  Our usual airline of choice is Southwest, however they do not fly to Miami (but should!) so I checked on flying into Ft. Lauderdale (as it's only 28 miles away) but the charges for getting to Miami and back, and the (not so reasonable) charges for flights that I was finding were not much less than going directly to Miami.  I got an e-mail one morning from Expedia, who I use quite often.  A flight was added to the schedule for the day we wanted.  Also flying out of Midway (instead of O'Hare) so that was a plus.  When I saw the times and price I had to jump on it right away.  That too is all paid for.

We will be staying in Miami the night before the cruise at the Conrad Miami.  It's a beautiful place, and it's one of the three hotels that Disney Cruise Line will pick up guests and take them to the cruise port.
I booked this on booking.com and got a really wonderful rate.

Below is cruise itinerary.

5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise on Disney Wonder - Itinerary B

October 31 to November 5
Disney Wonder

Day	Port	Ashore	Onboard
1	Miami, Florida	—	4:00 p.m.
2	At Sea	—	—
3	Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands*	7:30 a.m.	3:30 p.m.
4	Cozumel, Mexico	9:45 a.m.	5:45 p.m.
4	At Sea	—	—
6	Miami, Florida	7:30 a.m.	—

I have been to both Grand Cayman and Cozumel before, and loved them.  I am so looking forward to going again, and experiencing them with Paul!

We will update you on the shore excursions that we choose as we work on them over the next few weeks!  I finally get to share all this information with Paul!  It makes it so much more fun and exciting now!