These are a few of my favorite apps – Touring Plans!

The only Disney app I need is Touring Plans. I first heard about Touring Plans through their Unofficial Guide books, and through the (best) Disney podcast Mousetalgia. Yes it costs money ($6.95 I believe for a year’s DL/DCA subscription, more if you add WDW). Yes it is absolutely worth it. So much information at your fingertips!

Here’s a sample of some of the information I use most regularly. If you’re familiar with the books, however, you’ll know that they also offer…well, Touring Plans, hence the name. Their website says that their plans can save you hours in line; for me the most helpful information is the crowd calendar and wait time features. There’s even links to restaurant reviews and menus, if you’re hungry in the parks or just trying to plan your trip.

 

In my experience, I feel like the crowd predictions may have been slightly “off” in the past year or so (some days have a lower crowd prediction than it ends up being, it seems), but that’s probably because the Disneyland Resort is so very popular! All of the new additions I’m sure have an effect on crowds (UNDERSTATEMENT). However, I feel like the reported wait times you get is worth the price of the app alone – you can find out (via another user) an attraction’s wait time, or if it’s been closed, without having to make the trek yourself. Also, is it possible that Disney's posted wait times are sometimes...wrong? Their predicted wait times have proven (for me) to be more accurate.

 
For me, knowledge is power. The reason I became such a huge Disney nerd is because I was planning a trip and just…got…so…INTERESTED! I never stopped; now I try to know everything, because why not. This app helps me know (almost) everything, and I love it. Thank you, Touring Plans and The Unofficial Guide! (I would work for you guys in a second if I could. Also their website touringplans.com is pretty great, too.)

It’s especially nice if you’re stuck at home in rainy Washington, just wondering about how the parks are today. Sigh!

Got my nails did

All Disney, all the time. :) Picked out a color called "Pink Elephants!" Pretty pretty; I'm on a pink kick lately. Fairly sure that's not going to change anytime soon. ;)

Disney Store trip - my haul for today

I preordered Wreck-It Ralph a while ago, and today was the last day I could pick it up and still use the coupon that came with it. This happened when I preordered Peter Pan, too - what can I say, I don't live superclose to my Disney Stores! Basically, when you preorder you get a coupon that could be used for either $10 your entire purchase or $20 your purchase of $40 or more. WHAT a deal, I can never resist. In fact, I used my Peter Pan coupon to buy Wreck-It Ralph, so 1) it's like the circle of life, and 2) they REALLY have me in the palm of their hand, that Disney Store.

We have two Disney Stores in the area, Alderwood Mall and Southcenter (either one is more than an hour away from my house). Alderwood is bigger, but Southcenter is newer. So take your pick. We were at Alderwood today.

Even though nothing really struck my fancy (I have way too many stuffed animals as it is - maybe you'll see them later, sigh, yes boys I'm single!), I wanted to buy SOMETHING, because hey, $10 off! So, I bought this mug.

Also I have way too many mugs, but whatever. Someday I'll definitely post all of them so I can officially hate myself. Seriously, TOO MANY. I really like this style of mug they've come out with - I already own the Dumbo and Fantasia ones. Beautiful art, a good shape and (most importantly, since this isn't always true with Disney dishes) microwave and dishwasher safe! Allegedly - I'll let you know I guess.

And now Wreck-It Ralph is mine! If only I had the time to watch it! Ah well. Hope we all have a magical week!

Finally! Virginia Davis in Disney’s Alice Comedies – screening in Seattle 3/10

I was so excited to attend the Sunday Special Matinee (part of “The Women of Silent Film” series presented by Trader Joe’s) at the Paramount Theater in Seattle last weekend, March 10. I’d seen some of the Alice comedies before (on the Disney Rarities DVDs), but to have a real silent movie experience in such a gorgeous theater was such a beautiful experience!

Here’s the info from the program:

Virginia Davis stars in Disney’s ALICE COMEDIES (1920s), a series of short animated/live action films starring four year old child star Virginia Davis. The series was first produced by Disney’s Laugh-O-Gram studio in Kansas City, Missouri. Later M.J. Winkler became the first woman to produce and distribute animation at Walt Disney Studio in Hollywood. “It all started with a mouse,” is what most know as the beginning of the Walt Disney Company. In reality, Disney started in 1923 with his neighbor girl Alice in his innovative cartoon, Alice in Wonderland, that combined a live action girl interacting with cartoon drawings. Virginia starred in the first 14 of the 57 Alice short films and helped to set Disney on the map as an animator, director and producer. Today most of the Alice Comedies are rarely screened and 35mm prints are stored in the Disney vaults. We present these five shorts in DVD so audiences can have an opportunity to experience these early Disney creations. Shorts include: Alice in Wonderland, Alice’s Wild West Show, Alice Gets in Dutch, Alice’s Day at Sea and Alice in the Jungle.

 

The tickets were $10 each, and the show went a little over an hour. There was a decent turnout of both adults and kids. We weren’t sure what to expect, so we were thrilled when we entered the theater and saw Jim Riggs playing the Wurlitzer, front and center. He spoke a little about what he does, his process, etc. He also explained the live sound effects setup they had, provided by Gunnar Folsom. Basically both of them just watch the films over and over to get a feel for them. They rehearse, but really every performance is different!

 



The only short that was new to me was Alice’s Day at Sea, and it was just as charming as the others. It was just a fun afternoon enjoying some Disney history. Afterwards we went up front to thank Jim and Gunnar, and ran in to Don Morin from the PNWMM, so that was lovely, too.

Gunnar showing us some of the sound effects.

Such a fun time! I took some cool audio from the show, but I’m hopeless and busy, so it’s not up on here, sorry. Sigh, someday, someday I will learn.

Well, I’m off to a Sounders game! Hope your weekend is as fun as mine will be! xoxo

Food Friday! Carthay Circle House Biscuits (at home)

Okay, so I've never been to the Carthay Circle Restaurant. Oh, how I wish one day! But everyone freakin' raves about their house biscuits (described on the menu as: Carthay Signature Fried Biscuits - Stuffed with White Cheddar, Bacon, and Jalapeno, Served with Apricot Honey Butter. $11!), and I just am impatient and wanted a taste of the magic. So while making dinner one night I figured maybe I'd throw together something similar, like a semi-homemade or ghetto-ized version of my own. I got some biscuits-in-a-can, cubed some cheese, roasted a jalapeño and fried some small pieces of bacon. I chopped everything up and tucked the filling inside the biscuit. They baked okay and tasted good (I ate them with some honey) but nowhere near Disney quality. I am determined to do it, though, so maybe next time I'll try a homemade (or Bisquick) dough. And maybe fry them. That's really like a fritter though, yeah? Whatever. Have a magical weekend!

Subliminal Disney

So, I'm a preschool teacher, did I mention that? Anyway here's something I did but didn't realize I did - one of our projects this week was to make a handprint flower garden; I thought it would look cute on the wall for spring. I'm tired of winter! So I'm putting it up and had a few extra stems, so I created some flowers to go along with the rest.

crafty crafty

 

 

I chose the circle shape just because 1) it was easy, and 2) because I like making flowers that look like that - simple, bright, not really real. It wasn't until the next day (today) that I realized where I may have (unconsciously) drawn some inspiration!

 

 

Splash Mountain flowers!

Specifically these flowers. I notice them every time! So cute.

 

Oh, the Disney Things! Now when I look at the wall, my day is doubly brightened!

 

 

Splash Mountain LOVE. Have a zip-a-dee-doo-dah day!

Announcing...plans!

Going to be completely lame tonight and post something supershort - but exciting!



Caitlin and I are planning a DL trip! Here's our change jar - any guesses as to when we're going? ;)