One Lamp Three Wishes- Aladdin on Broadway

One Lamp, Three Wishes, 

Aladdin the Musical on Broadway is Magical!

Disney Holiday Gifts for the Kids

Disney is coming out with some great gifts that are sure to be on your child's wish list this Holiday season.

Disney Holiday Fashion

Here's a look at our favorite new Disney fashionables hitting the shelves this fall in time for the Holidays.  I personally can't wait to start shopping after getting a close up view of these items.

Once Begun is Half Done: Why I love Mary Poppins!

Welcome to the first stop aboard Magical Blogorail Peach. Enjoy the ride as we share our tribute to Mary Poppins in anticipation of the release of Disney's Saving Mr. Banks! 

I have always loved me some Mary! My sister and I used to pretend our toys were putting themselves away and we used to sing feed the birds if my mom ever let us throw old stale bread crumbs off our porch. We loved Mary (and Julie for that matter) and as I got older I realized how important some of the lessons I learned in Mary Poppins were... not just about hard work ("in every job that must be done there is an element of fun"), responsibility ("once begun is half done"), socio-economic differences, and the power of a wonderful imagination... but the idea that stuck with me the most is when Bert (also love Dick Van Dyke) said: 

They makes cages in all sizes and shapes, you know. Bank-shaped, some of 'em, carpets and all.

I think this stands out to me more as an adult but I loved all the interactions with Bert and to this day Mary & Bert may be my all time favorite Disney couple.  I see people caged every day it and makes me feel somehow sad but also uncontrollably happy to know how free I am.  If you are one of the caged people out there, whether that is a bank-shaped, cubicle-shaped, credit card-shaped, or even just lonely-shaped cage let today be your day and set yourself free. Reach for the stars! 

As for merry Mary memories.  I cherish my time seeing Mary Poppins on Broadway even more after my grandmother passed away this summer.  I remember how elated she was when we stepped off the train in Manhattan and how she smiled as we walked from Grand Central to the theatre.  My mother, sister, grandmother, and I had the perfect day... after all when Mary is involved how could it not have been practically perfect in every way?

And to wrap things up here is the dialogue from one of my favorite scenes:

Bert: All right, I'll do it myself!

Mary Poppins: Do what?

Bert: Bit o' magic!

Michael: A bit of magic?

Bert: It's easy! Let's see... You think. You wink You do a double blink. You close your eyes... and jump.

Jane: Is something s'posed to happen?

Mary Poppins: Bert, what utter nonsense!

Why do you always complicate things that are really quite simple? Give me your hand please, Michael. Don't slouch. One... two...

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Disney in Our Blood. If you are looking for more Disney magic, you can make your way over to The Magical Blogorail website to see all our members and their blogs.”

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Picturing Disney (You are here!)

2nd Stop ~ Disney in Our Blood

3rd Stop ~ Can Do It Mom AKA Mouse Fan Diane

4th Stop ~ 400 Miles to Disneyland

Adventures at New York Comic Con 2013!

While Disney XD was really mainly just offering viewings of shows that are already out and the Disney Publishing booth was no different than the one I saw at Book Expo America in June the diamond in the rough this year was really Artist Alley! This was my second time visiting NYCC and last year I missed this amazing section filled with amazing artists- who lucky enough also love Disney! ;)

Three standout artists come to mind for me: Chris Uminga, Karen Hallion, and Amy Memberson.  I didn't purchase any of the lithos from Amy although I adore her Pocket Princesses comic and you should totally check it out (these were Disney commissioned and a little high priced for their size plus she was giving away free sketches with all but the litho I wanted to I passed)!

Karen Hallion's Fairytale Who series is amazing! I got a print of Belle (below left), picked up a few for friends, and even made her Cinderella Who business card a fridge magnet. My sister grabbed her Rapunzel and Alice notecards to frame as well.  What's great about her prints was they were not exclusive or priced up so if you are Disney and Doctor Who fan you can nab them on RedBubble or Etsy no problem!

The Merida (above right) print I purchased from Chris Uminga's booth (which he kindly signed for me) was a NYCC exclusive but also introduced me to his awesome art! He has tons of awesome pop culture prints and even an adorable UP/Batman mashup! In Artist's Alley we also grabbed a couple new books, some Doctor who prints, an awesome Raphael (TMNT) print, and a Jack & Sally canvas.  There were so many talented artists there I was so glad to add this to my lineup!

If you are in the New York City area I highly recommend grabbing tickets next year.  NYCC does not disappoint.  Besides amazing art and merchandise you can stop by video game booths and play games that haven't come out yet or are brand new across all systems as well as check out new stuff from book publishers and you will find some amazing geekery around every corner! We met some great upstarts, got to explore a Walking Dead apocalypse vehicle, and so much more- Comic Conventions are not just about comic books anymore! ;)

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Big Balloon Blow Up!

With so many people traveling to the greatest city in the world during the most magical season of the year- the thought of finding a spot for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade drives some people crazy! Considering the weather and contemplating trying to get a hotel with a view can make or break people’s New York vacation planning!

Many people don’t know about the FREE event that anyone can come to the day before the big Thanksgiving Day parade! Macy’s hosts the Big Balloon Blow Up from roughly 3pm to 10pm the day before Thanksgiving in the Central Park West area. There is an entrance at 79th (at Columbus) and it wraps around to loop into a whole second block filled with balloons getting their big blow up for the big day! (And there is classic holiday music piped in as you take the short walk to the next block which is also laid out as a path for you.)

My husband and I headed down for the balloon blow up in 2010.  We arrived around 4pm so that there was some air in the balloons already but we still beat the bigger evening crowds of everyone grabbing their kids after work and heading down.  

We were able to see some of our Disney (like DCL Mickey and Buzz) & non-Disney (like Kermit and Spiderman) favorites! We got to see Kermit almost completely blown up so we managed to nab a pic in front of him as we made our way down. 

 

You can get pretty close, get lots of pictures and be in awe of the size of the monstrous balloons! It is sure to be the highlight of your New York City trip!  

And if you live within driving distance (or a train ride) I would say this is a MUST for an upcoming holiday season! We even had a tiny flurry of snow as we made our way down the second row of balloons! And they pipe Christmas music in as you are walking the short block to the 2nd row of balloons!

Remember if you get down there by 4 you can head out by 6 or 7 when the biggest crowds hit and grab some dinner or maybe some shopping at the Disney Store in Times Square! 

 

The Wizarding World hits NYC

With so many features from Wizarding World of Harry Potter in my salute to J.K. Rowling's fabulous and imaginative world, I thought I would take a day out to talk about other Harry Potter goodness.

First, although I have no pictures since photography is not allowed, if you are in the New York area you should plan on hitting the Harry Potter Exhibit in Times Square.  I saw it when it was first in New York a couple years ago and it is INCREDIBLE.  Amazing props and costumes, petrified Colin Crevey, and you can SIT IN HAGRID'S CHAIR!!! I can not say enough about how much I love Discovery Times Square (I have seen about a half dozen different exhibits here with friends, family, and even taken my students here on field trips.)

Also, I just wanted to pay homage to the amazing world and how the Harry Potter stories tell such a strong tale of heroism and good versus evil.  I quote HP all the time and love finding adorable new fan art.  Join me and keep the magic alive everyday.

Mischief managed. ;)

NYCC: Epic Mickey 2, DisneyXD, Marvel, and more!!

This weekend was New York Comic Con (October 11-14) at the Javits Center in New York City.  It is the 2nd largest convention in the country (2nd to the San Diego Comic Con).  I have read some comics in my day and know a lot of the lore but the real pull for me and my husband was how Comic Con has expanded into a place that showcases the best in geekery, video gaming, and entertainment.  There were even a handful of Disney panels and exhibits as well as lots from Disney affiliated companies.  Stormtroopers walked the halls proudly and Star Wars toys and memoribilia were everywhere.

The recent connection that Disney has made with Marvel revealed even more to come at a panel where it was said that Disney and Marvel were working on a project together for a Disney property.  All that was alluded to however was that a big announcement would be made in the next few months.  

I do love Marvel stories but I hope this is not a new ride/attraction/meet and greet.  I feel like that has been done long ago at Six Flags and Islands of Adventure.  Additionally, while I think Disney would do it right I really want to see Hollywood Studios revive their Old Hollywood charm (please Disney bring Buena Vista Street to Orlando!!!) which I have seen slowly leaving the park.

I will say it was fun to see all the fun and hilarious merchandise available thanks to the wildly successful Avengers franchise. I especially loved the colognes and the free "Smell like an Avenger" swag that was being given out! haha! I also loved seeing the Lego and Tokidoki franchises rocking Marvel favorites!

Besides the obvious Disney connections with the Marvel company and LucasArts there were also some Disney specific panels, screenings, and demos.

I got my hands on Epic Mickey 2- which thankfully has improved greatly since the original.  I felt like the first Epic Mickey was an Epic Letdown! So many possibly awesome ideas and it looked like a Gamecube game ported for HD systems.  I was so disappointed in the gameplay mechanics also... some parts just didn't make sense.  And it took 2 or 3 bosses to actually get to a point where I understood the good vs evil, pain vs thinner would change my story.  I got to the point with that game that I felt like I was playing it just to finish it and luckily from the demo I played EP2 looks, sounds, and plays better!

Additionally, we saw a screening of Randy Cunningham 9th Grade Ninja which looked great! I didn't catch the premiere date but its coming soon to Disney XD with a couple other new series!

I really had a great time at New York Comic Con! It was my first time heading down for it and I enjoyed all the geekery, got tons of free stuff, and my husband and I got to see and play some games we had been looking forward to (besides Epic mickey 2 we checked out Assassin's Creed III, Tomb Raider, Lego LOTR, and the new God of War).  We also got to check out some publishing booths and watch others playing Little Big Planet Karting, PS Battle Royale, and Just Dance 4.  It was a great experience and even though it was super duper packed we had a great day in New York!

Did I mention we stopped for some Christmas decoration shopping in Times Square Disney Store on the way home? ;)

Terra Cotta Soldiers from Epcot to Manhattan

 I recently had the opportunity to see one of China's rarest treasures up close and personal.  The Discovery Times Square Exposition center in Manhattan features some of Shi Huangdi's Terra Cotta warriors at a once in a lifetime exhibit! These may seem farmiliar to even those of you who do not have a passionate love of history as I do because in the China Pavilion in Epcot there is replica Terra Cotta army.  (In my photo above you can see me at Epcot in the top and a few pics from NYC on the bottom).  Discovery TSX rarely allows photography at all so the last thing I expected was to be able to snap pictures.  This was a once in a lifetime experience that even my English Teacher husband was in awe of! If you live in the northeast don't pass it up!

And obvi I couldn't visit Manhattan without a stop to the Times Square Disney Store! I grabbed the newest release in the Around the World vinyl series that was making its way to flagship stores (Burbank, San Fran, Chicago, NYC) and my little feathered friend, Panchito!

Terra Cotta Army

Okay, so I had to post these lovely guys again because they make my World History loving heart flutter AND 6 of the actual terra cotta soldiers will be on display in New York City this summer at the Discovery Times Square Exposition Center! Yay!

Mickey Loves NYC

Lucky for me I have the greatest job in the world and as not just a Social Studies teacher but as our schools SADD advisor I am able to share some unique opportunities with my students. This Tuesday I was down on a field trip in Rockefeller Plaza and we ended up being able to take the kids into Times Square for some touring and shopping. 

Of course I myself stayed in a central location until we all met up for a quick stop at The Times Square Disney Store where I got to see the Unlocking the Imagination ceremony.  From what I have gathered this happened in all Disney Stores and the helper gets a commemorative key (I was so jealous of the cute little girl there in NYC)!

And as it turned out a stowaway hitched a ride back from the city with me! ;)

Alice in New York

If you are an Alice fan (or there is one in your family) there is a lot more Wonderland in New York City besides in Disney Store Times Square. 

Central Park features the famous Alice in Wonderland statue (check out the view of Alice, Dinah, and White Rabbit above).  You can also dine at one of a few locations of this fun teahouse, Alice's Tea Cup.  Chapter One is located conveniently close to Central Park if you are stopping to check out the statue! The atmosphere is fun and the food & tea are delicious!

Disney Wedding Table Numbers

As you probably know by now I am a history teacher so when we were deciding how to name our tables I decided on "Great Couples in History" we had lots of favorites who were recreated Disney style like Robin Hood an Maid Marion, some of my favorite couples from history like Justinian & Theodora, the Adams' and Roosevelts, and I tried to pay homage to all kinds of love by including Bogart & Bacall, George Burns & Gracie Allen, Lucy & Desi, Elvis & Pricilla... but this is a Disney blog so instead of talking about every other table here are some that might just interest you:

Disney on Ice

Have you been to any Disney on Ice shows?  I was thrilled to see Princess Wishes last January at Madison Square Garden with my sister and niece. LOVE!

Mad Tea Party

Although I can't take any credit for it since my mother, sister, and the rest of my bridal party surprised me with my Wedding Shower- it had an AWESOME Mad Tea Party theme! Here are some pictures to grab some ideas from if you are thinking of theming any or your wedding parties (or other celebrations) this way!

Once Upon a Time

Our engagement party started with "Once Upon a Time" invitations and my mother made us this amazing fairytale castle cake.  

We had little nods to Cinderella here too like pumpkin centerpieces (it was fall)! 

A little Wedding Magic

I married my Prince Charming in July 2009 and we decided early on that while we wanted summery colors and a light airy theme to our wedding we weren't going to have a full on Disney theme.  I was more delighted coming up with small touches that would be personal and maybe even unnoticeable to others.  A"Once Upon a Time" theme came out at our engagement party with invitations, the awesome cake (pictured above) made by my talented mom and pumpkins here and there.  At a Christmas trip to New York City I picked up Mickey green stone stud earrings for my bridesmaids to wear on our big day.

We ended up with some more classic Cinderella nods at the wedding because our cake topper (which was too heavy to sit on the cake and instead stayed nearby on the table) was the Lenox Cinderella one and my dad and I danced to Stephen Curtis Chapman's 'Cinderella'.  I wore blue toenail polish as my "something blue" that was called Cinderella's dress.  Finding the little fairy tale touches without being over the top turned out to be a fun way to bring our personality into the wedding.

Supercalifrangelisticexpalidocious!

We couldn't properly end a tour of Disney on Broadway without everyone's favorite Nanny!

This was a magical performance! Magical enough to see again!

King of Broadway

We continue our posts about Disney on Broadway with The Lion King.  This should be included in any trip to New York City, London, or Vegas.  What an incredible show! The "He Lives in You" segment alone makes it worth the money! Have you seen the Lion King on stage?