by Shelly on March 8, 2018 2 Comments

A Wrinkle in Time Movie Review| Is it kid friendly?

Disney does it again. A Wrinkle in Time pulled on my heartstrings. There was a 56 year time span between the 1962 published children’s book and the 2018 live-action A Wrinkle in Time film. We’ll share the full breakdown, no spoilers and a few insights on what ages are appropriate to view this film. There is also a download for activity sheets and coloring pages at the end.

A Wrinkle in Time

When Madeleine L’Engle’s young adult novel “A Wrinkle in Time” was first published in 1962, it became an instant classic. The timeless story of a young girl searching the universe for her father enchanted countless readers around the world and spawned four additional books featuring the same characters known as L’Engle’s Time Quintet. In 1963 the book was awarded the Newbery Medal (as the most distinctive piece of work in children’s literature for that year), and its popularity has continued to grow since then.

I don’t recall reading A Wrinkle in Time as a child but once I’d seen the trailer I checked it out from the library right away! The story combined several of my favorite genres: YA, sci-fi and Disney. I personal enjoyed the book although it’s not a story I would re-read on my own again. On the other hand, I am excited to read it as a family with our daughter when she’s around 7 or 8.

Why We Took Our Four Year Old

Because there weren’t any reviews yet on the internet to give information on whether it would be appropriate for her, we brought her along to the preview. Our daughter is four and although I knew a large portion of the plot would be lost on her, I thought she would still enjoy the movie overall. She was a big fan of Charles Wallace’s character (played by Deric McCabe) because she assumes he is her age. She was also a fan of all of the beautiful scenery in the various areas of the universe an the cosmic costumes the Mrs’s wore.

Had I seen the movie before she did, I likely would not have had her watch it yet (definitely not in a theater where everything is more intense). If you’ve read the book, you’ll already know about ‘The It’ which is an evil force trying to take over the universe. It’s a dark concept and is portrayed as such in the film graphically. The film is rated PG for ‘thematic elements and some peril’. The ‘some peril’ portion is more suited for children ages 6 or 7+.

Why It’s Great for Kids

Although we won’t be showing this movie to our daughter for another few years, there were some excellent plot points that are amazing to share with your kids. I appreciated the casting of the film with it’s wide range of diversity. If we dig deeper into the story, we also see themes that make great talking points with our kids. Bullying. Broken emotional children. Split family dynamics. Loss. Pain of loss. Discovering our faults. Accepting our brokenness. Proving your self-worth. Trust. Finding the light within. Healing. Forgiveness. So many potential good good good post-movie conversations to be had here, especially with delicate tweens.

Are your kids begging to see A Wrinkle In Time every time they see the trailer or a poster like mine? Disney has been hitting it out of the park with their live action movies lately and this one is no exception.

In the meantime I’m excited to be able to download and print out these adorable Wrinkle In Time Coloring Pages for us– plus there are a couple of bonus activities! Simply CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD the coloring pages today!

Like A WRINKLE IN TIME on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WrinkleInTimeMovie/

Follow A WRINKLE IN TIME on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WrinkleinTime

Follow A WRINKLE IN TIME on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrinkleintime/

Visit the official A WRINKLE IN TIME website here: http://movies.disney.com/a-wrinkle-in-time

A WRINKLE IN TIME opens in theatres everywhere this Friday March 9th!

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by Shelly on September 21, 2017 Leave a Comment

Disney Pixar Coco Coloring Pages

Is your family looking forward to Disney Pixar’s Coco – in theaters November 2nd? Download and print FREE Disney Pixar COCO Coloring Pages today!

PIXAR’S COCO

Are your kids begging to see COCO every time they see the trailer or a poster like mine? I can’t lie, I’ll be the first in line for tickets whether she wants to go or not. I’m positive Pixar won’t disappoint. Their movies tend to be some of my all time favorite movies!

In the meantime I’m excited to be able to download and print out these adorable COCO Coloring Pages for us– plus there are a couple of bonus activities! Simply CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD the coloring pages today!

About the film:

Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (voice of newcomer Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt). Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector (voice of Gael García Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.

Like COCO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PixarCoco
Follow COCO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/pixarcoco
Follow COCO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pixarcoco/
Visit the official COCO website here: http://movies.disney.com/coco
COCO opens in theaters everywhere on November 22nd!

For another favorite Pixar post, check out my Inside Out Memory Orb Cake:

Inside Out Memory Orb Cake

by Shelly on July 12, 2017 4 Comments

Disney Without Kids: 10 Tips for a Magical Grown-Up Vacation

There are a lot of people that think Disney World is just for families with kids. That statement couldn’t be less true. I’ve been extremely fortunate in taking eight Disney vacations without kids and had an amazing experience each time. Disney has done a fantastic job of incorporating attractions, shows and cuisine for all ages. Here are my top ten tips for making your adult Disney vacation magical!

Disney Without Kids: 10 Tips for a Magical Grown-Up Vacation

Photo by Disney

Talk to the Cast Members

I may be biased, but Disney cast members are some of the greatest people on earth. They have a huge passion for making people happy. The cast members also have great insights to the best dining, rides and firework viewing locations. They know where you can find those silver sequin Minnie ears, what time the 3:00 parade starts (yes, I’d been asked that) and where the restrooms are. Cast members may also be able to get you on rides before they’re open, trade you a ‘hidden Mickey’ pin, get you to the front of the line on your favorite ride or bump up your room type because you’re celebrating an Anniversary (all of which has happened to us).

See the Fireworks

You have got to see them all. Magic Kingdom (Happily Ever After), EPCOT (IllumiNations), Animal Kingdom (Rivers of Light) and Hollywood Studios (Star Wars) each has a nightly firework show (not every night of the year). Every one of these shows is spectacular for different reasons. I watched the fireworks from Wishes shooting over my head every night while closing down the rides as a CP. The new firework show that replaced Wishes is called Happily Ever After. It is also fun to watch from California Grill (top of the Contemporary Resort) or the beaches at Polynesian or Grand Floridian. You can stroll around the world with a drink in hand watching the awesome fire and lazer firework show that is IllumiNations in EPCOT or watch while having dinner (which is super romantic). At Hollywood Studios you can get VIP treatment with a dessert party at Launch Bay while getting quality time with your favorite Star Wars characters. Check Magic Kingdom and Epcot for more dessert party fun.

Night Rides

If you’re not big on fireworks, enjoy no lines on the rides! It’s possible to run through the lines of Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster so many times that you feel you’ll never need to ride them again (although you totally will). Outdoor rides like Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Astro Orbiter and Test Track become much scarier. Dumbo and Prince Charming’s Carrousel are absolutely stunning at night. It’s a little bit like you have something better than FastPass+ for every ride because everyone’s watching the fireworks or trying to beat the crowd home.

Go Shopping

Disney Springs is the new hot spot for Disney shopping. The biggest Disney Store on property is at this location as well as the Disney Christmas store and Disney Art store. Former ‘Downtown Disney’ is full of high end shopping as well. Anthropology, Coca-Cola, Johnny Was, Kate Spade, Lilly Pulitzer and MAC are just a few of the big names that attract shoppers from around the world. My favorite part about shopping at any WDW Resort location is having your merchandise magically shipped back to your room on property so you can shop hands free!

Nice Meal

It’s so tricky to eat anything but quick service and counter service when you have little kids. My three year old only wants to eat fruit, burgers and chicken fingers so we never spend much money on food. I have been fortunate enough to have some nice meals on my last media trip to WDW. The ambiance is second to the amazing cuisine. There is only one place in Disney World that requires a suit anymore (Victoria and Albert’s) but it is kind of fun to get dressed up for a nice long meal in Disney. My favorite meals have been at the Flying Fish at Boardwalk, Jiko at Animal Kingdom Lodge and California Grill at the Contemporary. If you’re interested in restaurant reviews you can check out WDW Radio podcast where Lou Mongello frequents restaurants all over Disney property and takes his friends and family to try a large portion of the menu.

Take a Break

It’s so much easier to take things slow and really soak Disney in when you’re not worrying about whiny kids or trying to hold your lunch down after riding Tea Cups four times in a row. Finding those quite spots throughout the resorts and parks is one of my favorite things to do when visiting WDW. The zen gardens in Epcot is my favorite spot to sit and relax. You can also find a bench, anywhere, and people watch while having a snack. Most days we take a ‘nap’ break back at the resort even without kids so we’re able to go from rope drop through the fireworks without burning out. I might do laundry or lay by the pool but we always have that chance to take a breath and escape the stimuli of the parks.

Hang Pool-Side

Speaking of taking a break during the day for the pools, I just love hanging out at the pool on a busy Disney trip. We like to visit various resorts to try out different pools. Most resorts have ‘quiet’ pools that are smaller and have less chaos. Our favorite pool locations are the cabanas at Grand Floridian, the Wilderness Lodge and Art of Animation.

Visit Resorts

As a hospitality major, visiting hotels and resorts brings me great joy. While working at a college program student for a semester I took my time visiting every Disney property and seeing the rooms. If you are staying on property it is very easy to take the free transportation to resort hop and visit the various properties. Ask the front desk to see a suite if possible and while you’re on your tour ask about the added amenities the resort offers. I wrote about a few of the amenities in my Why Staying at a Disney Property is the Best Decision post. You can find family bikes to rent, sprite boats, massages, yoga classes, the newest technology in arcade games, street performing acts, night vision glasses for watching savanna animals and much more!

Disney Bound, Wear Buttons and Lanyards

Even though you don’t have kids with you, there’s no reason to bring out the ‘kid’ in you when visiting Disney World. Disney bounding is dressing similar to a favorite character by wearing clothes you already have in your wardrobe. It is very popular at Disneyland but has become more popular at WDW in the past few years. Each resort and park has free buttons at the concierge desk or guest relations to announce what you’re celebrating (anniversary, birthday, first visit etc.) It’s a great conversation starter with other guests as you’re waiting in line. We’re big pin traders so we’re always sure to wear our lanyards to the parks to trade with guests and cast members. Again, another great way to start up a conversation with people in the parks.

Unplug

Ditch the camera/phone for a night and just enjoy being together. If you need photos to document your evening there are Disney Photopass photographers all over the parks that can snap photos as you go. Keeping your phone out of your hand helps to really connect with your partner. With your MagicBand you have access to your dining reservations, FastPass+, room key and Photopass account. If you want a backup you can always print out reservation information (like the old days) to have on hand in case of emergency. It’s really quite nice to step away from the electronics an fully experience the magic of Disney.

Let me know what you do to enjoy your adult-only vacation at Disney World. I’d love to know ways to make it even more magical on my next kid-free vacation.

For more Disney related posts:

Pandora – World of Avatar at Disney World

Disney Park Tips

Disney College Program

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by Shelly on May 25, 2017 4 Comments

Pandora – World of Avatar at Disney World

I was invited by Walt Disney Special Events to attend a private preview of Pandora – World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom, but all opinions and photos are my own.

Pandora – World of Avatar at Disney World is a wonder to behold. I had my skepticism towards the new expansion in Animal Kingdom. ‘How are they going to make it feel as huge as the World of Avatar?’ ‘Is there going to be anything to do over there?’ ‘Is it just an addition to keep people in Animal Kingdom full day?’ See, even hard core Disney lovers are skeptical about change. I could not have been more pleasantly surprised and wowed by the additions Disney World has made in Animal Kingdom with Pandora.

Must Sees in Pandora – World of Avatar at Disney World

I was fortunate enough to get a sneak peek of Pandora a few weeks before it will open May 27th, 2017. It was a bit of a whirlwind trip through the land and I definitely did not get enough time to explore. I would say that, currently, Pandora is a half-day experience, even without being completely finished. On May 27th Pandora will include Satu’li Canteen, and Pongu Pongu (refreshments), Na’vi River Journey, and Avatar – Flight of Passage (attractions).

My Top Choice

If you only have a short time in Pandora, I suggest making Avatar – Flight of Passage your only stop. After riding that attraction I had a hard time describing it to my friends and family. The best way to describe that ride is ’emotional’. The ride simulates a thrilling ride on the back of a banshee with technology that hasn’t been used anywhere. I felt a little silly when I caught myself tearing up during the ride and was worried someone would have seen. After leaving the ride, many of my fellow bloggers had the exact same experience!

TIP: Stay at a Disney World Resort to earn an extra hour in the park before it opens to the public! I hadn’t planned on visiting Disney World again until Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land had both opened in 2019 but I’m afraid I can not wait that long to go on Flight of Passage again.

My skepticism regarding Disney not being able to make the park feel like Pandora – World of Avatar was silly. I should have known the Imagineers would blow us all out of the water. We were there during the day and was able to see all the beautiful colors of the flora and mountains. During the night the land becomes bio luminescent like the Na’vi River Journey.

The attraction is similar to Small World in that you sit in a boat and float through the ride viewing the night time world of Pandora. There’s so much to look at as you glide through the mysterious land but the highlight is the Shaman of Songs sending her positive energy out into the forest through the power of her music. They used the CGI animation technology they used on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train but perfected it on a giant Avatar. It’s hard to believe she’s not real!

The photos don’t even do it justice. You’ll need to go check it out for yourself! Check out my friend Misty’s thoughts on our trip to Pandora. If you’d like to see more about my favorite attractions in Disney World, go here.

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by Shelly on November 4, 2015 12 Comments

Surviving Disney World with a Toddler

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive compensation if you make a purchase using links below.
I want to start out by saying how absolutely perfect our trip was and that I wouldn’t change one thing about it. The reason I loved our trip, despite the tears and tantrums, was because I expected the worst. Not to say I was dreading our trip, knowing Sophie might not be her smiling self 100% of the time, but I was prepared for the melt downs. Surviving Disney World with a toddler is easy when you’re prepared to leave a show with a 30min wait time or know that she’ll only eat one bite of her $15 meal.

I may have been, what some say as, over-prepared. Being a Girl Scout and ex-Disney cast member, I had thought of every possible disaster and had a plan to turn our frowns upside down. There were a few key tips that I want to share with you that may not make your vacation bliss, but will help in making it more fun for everyone. The goal is for both parents, siblings and toddlers is to have a magical time during their stay at Disney World!

Surviving Disney World with a Toddler

Hydrate. No matter what time of year you visit Disney World, you’ll need to stay hydrated from the sheer amount of walking. Some people bring filtered water bottles to the parks to re-fill as needed. We chose to carry a Camelbak bladder in a hiking backpack so we would have water any time we needed. Having it easily accessible to Sophie as we waited in lines was perfect. It also saved us money by avoiding sodas and juices in the parks.
Just do it. Go with the flow. If there’s something you think your toddler may or may not like, just try it. Sophie surprised us on the things she liked and didn’t like. For example, we thought she’d love the Festival of the Lion King and Frozen Sing-Along Celebration but both had fog that terrified her. Also, if there are rides they love, let them go multiple times. We did Teacups and Aladdin’s Carpet multiple times, yet she was afraid to go on Dumbo. Our plan was to have three must-do attractions each day and anything else was a bonus. Remember not all fights are worth a tantrum. Sophie wanted to wear her sweatshirt one morning when it was 80 degrees outside. We let her wear it and by the time we got to the parks she was ready to take it off. Our motto was ‘if it doesn’t hurt her, or someone else, let her do it’ (to a degree). She was the star of the show during the Enchanted Tiki Room because she was singing and dancing in the aisle. She wasn’t bothering anyone and it made her (and the rest of the visitors) happy. We went on this trip to see Disney World through her eyes.
Bring your own. I did a lot of research ahead of time regarding bringing our own stroller. I had been wary because Sophie always refuses her stroller, wanting to be independent and walking on her own. We decided to bring it to make the airport experience easier and are so glad we did. Sophie’s City Select Stroller was the perfect stroller to take with us. She loved riding in it because she could climb up on her own and it was comfortable. The stroller was heavy enough to hold our rain cover and our backpack without tipping. We attached a Fetch locator in a discrete location so we would be able to locate our stroller via our phones if it got stolen. I also wanted to make sure we would be able to easily spot it in the line up of identical strollers by tying a tassel of colorful ribbons to the handle. If you’re not comfortable bringing your own stroller, there are several stroller rental places in Orlando that will deliver to your hotel. They’re much easier to manage and more comfortable than the park’s plastic strollers.
Nap. My biggest tip to anyone who asks me for advice on their Disney vacation is to nap, no matter their age. Every trip we’ve taken, we wake up early to be there at park opening, have lunch at the resort, nap or lay by the pool during the hottest part of the day and head back for Extra Magic Hours. Unless you’re used to high sensory during your every day life, you’ll need a break from the sensory overload that the parks bring. If your kids no longer nap, a relaxing walk around your resort, cartoon watching or reading books will help them last until the end of the night without breaking down from exhaustion. If you’re only in the parks a few days and don’t want to take time to nap, plan to do calm rides in the middle of the day such as TTA, Hall of Presidents, Carousel of Progress or the Monorail.
Embrace the rain. It rains a lot in Orlando. During certain seasons it rains every day at 3 o’clock. The slowest season is hurricane season (for a reason), which is when we always visit. Don’t let the rain stop you from enjoying your time in the happiest place on earth. Bring your own poncho or buy the Mickey Mouse ponchos in the park to keep as souvenirs. If your kids won’t wear their poncho (like mine) it’s warm enough that it’s ok if they’re wet for a little while. I remember going as a kid and loving that it rained because all you saw was a sea of yellow ponchos everywhere! The rain also clears a lot of people out of the parks meaning shorter wait times. If you’re sure you don’t want to get caught in the rain, have a few inside attractions set aside to visit while it rains.

We would love to be able to visit Disney World every year but realistically can not. We will be better prepared for our next trip by learning from our trip this past September. We will probably wait until Star Wars and Pandora construction is done before going next (if I’m able to stand waiting that long). What are your biggest tips when traveling to Disney World with kids?

For more Disney vacation tips, check out my favorite Disney World pins:

A Wrinkle in Time Movie Review| Is it kid friendly?

A Wrinkle in Time

Why We Took Our Four Year Old

Why It’s Great for Kids

Disney Pixar Coco Coloring Pages

PIXAR’S COCO

About the film:

Disney Without Kids: 10 Tips for a Magical Grown-Up Vacation

Disney Without Kids: 10 Tips for a Magical Grown-Up Vacation

Talk to the Cast Members

See the Fireworks

Night Rides

Go Shopping

Nice Meal

Take a Break

Hang Pool-Side

Visit Resorts

Disney Bound, Wear Buttons and Lanyards

Unplug

Pandora – World of Avatar at Disney World

Must Sees in Pandora – World of Avatar at Disney World

My Top Choice

Surviving Disney World with a Toddler

Surviving Disney World with a Toddler

Life Planner

Preschool Montessori Bedroom

7 Tips to Make your Road Trip to Disney Magical