New Trailer for Cinderella Released - And it's GOOD!

Today was a big day, folks. The newest trailer for the live-action Cinderella was released and....it's going to be GOOD.  March 13th is the release date - and you can believe I'll be there opening night, popcorn in hand!

Take a look at the trailer (below) and let me know what you think! (Casting Cate Blanchett as the Stepmother was GENIUS, by the way. I smell another Oscar nomination!)




Have a magical day!

Movie Review - Big Hero 6

courtesy of Disney.com

This past weekend, I went to see Big Hero 6, Disney's newest animated feature. It's been #1 at the box office the last few weeks, and I was excited to see it for myself.

Taking place in the fictional town of San Fransokyo (a clever combination of San Francisco and Tokyo), the movie follows Hiro, a 14 year old genius who loves robotics. Hiro spends his time competing in robot fights, which are illegal. His brother Tadashi, a college student studying robotics, shows Hiro his lab in an attempt to sway Hiro from the robot fights - and it works. Hiro meets Tadahi's friends in the lab (GoGo, Wasabi, Honey Lemon and Fred) as well as their professor, Dr. Callaghan.  Hiro also meets Baymax, the personal healthcare robot that Tadashi has created.

Hiro is encouraged by Tadashi to enter into the University's robotics contest, where the winner receives admittance into the school. He impresses Dr. Callaghan and does get into the program, but then a fire at the conference takes the lives of both Dr. Callaghan and Hiro's brother, Tadashi.

In his grief, Hiro connects with Tadashi's friends and also Baymax, the personal healthcare consultant that Tadashi created. When the group encounters a villain who's stolen Hiro's prize-winning robotics design, they band together to bring him to justice.

I REALLY enjoyed this movie. The animation is (of course) incredible, the characters engaging and exciting, and the plot is fast-paced.  It was really clever seeing how they combined the look and feel of both San Francisco and Tokyo to create the fictional city; in the beginning scene, pay attention to how they recreated the famous Golden Gate Bridge.

Baymax steals the show; he was my favorite character, for sure! They've once again created a character that on the surface would seem pretty one-dimensional (a robot) but instead becomes this multi-faceted, interesting, exciting character that you really root for.

If you have little ones (or not so little ones!) in your family who love science and geek-out over new technologies, they will LOVE this movie! I really liked that Disney took the concept of the super hero movie, and put a twist on it by including the science aspect. Yes, there are super heros and they have super powers - but the powers come from the science they're studying. These might not be technologies that we have NOW, but you can imagine these are things that are currently being studied and tested in labs and universities across the world.

I haven't heard any rumors about sequels, but the end of the movie DOES set up the possibility of other Big Hero 6 movies. As long as the story lines are and dialogue are as good as this movie, I'd for sure go and see another Big Hero 6 movie.

The movie is rated PG. I would feel comfortable taking children as young as 3 or 4, but there is a bit of violence (and an off-screen death). If you have little ones who are sensitive to those things, you might want to wait until they're a bit older.

This for for sure be a part of my Disney movie collection when it's released on DVD.  I rate it an A+!

Thanks for reading, and have a magical day!

The Most Delightful Place is a Year Old!

So this year went FAST, people. Like "blink and it's November" fast. I cannot believe that we are mere weeks away from Thanksgiving, and then Christmas. (I should probably start my shopping....)

If you can believe it, it was one year ago today that I posted the first article on The Most Delightful Place. Holy crap on a cracker! A year already?! Jeebees.

I'll get all the mushy stuff out of the way first.  Thank you for reading. Thank you for being a part of this little old corner of the interwebs. I appreciate your readership more than you know, and I hope in the coming year I can keep entertaining you and giving you a little slice of Disney in your daily lives. I am infinitely blessed by all of you.

Sniff.

OK, on to the fun stuff!

I was talking with another Disney blogger, and we were both saying that the most viewed articles on our blogs surprise us nearly every time. You write something and think it'll go over big - and it's a few hits. And then something else you wrote in 5 minutes ends up getting 100s of views. It's comical! So without futher ado, here are the most popular blog posts from the past year.

* Guest Author Sarah Norris - Special Diets at Disney
Sarah did such an AWESOME job with her first guest post, I am not at all surprised she was near the top of the list! If you haven't read it, be sure and check it out! Also make sure you make her website part of your weekly website reading; she does a fabulous job.

*Snow White and Princess Faith
This one DID surprise me. I mean, what's not to love - an awesome Disney Princess and a birthday wish to a little girl. I wasn't sure it would resonate with you all, since it was personal but I'm glad to know it did. I still tear up watching it!

*Unannounced Change at Disney World - This Week's Toy Story Midway Mania Decision
I love Disney, but I feel it's my duty to get "real" with you guys when I see something I don't like, or when a decision is made that I feel negatively impacts the guest experience. This was one of those times.

* BIG Disney Movie News!
This was one of the "I wrote it in 2 1/2 minutes" blogs that got TONS of hits.  Like, crazy. Not sure why, but there you go!

* Resort Review: Port Orleans French Quarter
My review of Port Orleans French Quarter is my most-viewed resort review and I couldn't agree more. That's not me patting myself on the back - it just seems that others love POFQ as much as I do! It's my favorite Moderate resort, and quite possibly my favorite resort on property, period.

So share with me - - what's been your favorite post this past year? Also - since you know this blog is full audience participation - what would you like to see / read about in the coming year?

Have a magical day And THANK YOU!

New Section: Pennies for Neverland!

Those of you who are eagle-eyed have probably already noticed a little change to the top of the site. If you haven't, go ahead and take a look. I'll wait.

WOW, that was quick! Yes, there is now a new section on The Most Delightful Place called Pennies for Neverland.

I have lots of ideas for posts on how you can save your pennies for your Disney vacation - and I wanted a special place to house those posts. Much like the Resort and Dining page, and the Disney Cruise Line page, this will be a place where I'll link posts that talk about how to save money for your Disney trips (and really, for vacations in general).

I'm by no means a financial whiz, but I always find it super helpful when people write about tricks, tips and how-tos to save time, money, resources, etc. I plan on having 2-3 posts a month in the Pennies for Neverland category and as always, LOVE your suggestions and ideas about posts you'd like to see.

Thanks again for reading! Have a magical day!

Welcome, The Chirping Mom readers!

If you've come over today via The Chirping Moms, Welcome! So glad to have you here. Please, make yourselves at home; I tell my readers, this blog is Full Audience Participation so I welcome your comments, input about what you'd like to see on the blog, etc.

On the right hand side are posts from the past year; you can also find Resort and Dining review via the links above. If you're a solo traveler, check out my Single Gal's Guide to Disney posts!

Thanks again ~ glad to have you here!

Guest Author - Sarah Norris: Holidays at Disney with a Special Diet

When traveling to the Walt Disney World Resort with a special diet during the holidays, guests might wonder if they’ll be able to celebrate with special treats. The great news is that at Disney World, you can enjoy the jolliest of holidays with ease and delicious (and safe!) food. Here are some particularly magical holiday tips and ideas to help create that extra special holiday vacation.

Enjoy a holiday feast! Not matter what holiday you’re celebrating this fall and winter season, you can get a traditional turkey dinner any day of the week at Liberty Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom. Gluten free diners can happily enjoy honest to goodness gravy (which happens to be dairy free and allergy friendly too) with their turkey dinner. Dairy free? You’ll swoon over the delicious dairy free mashed potatoes. My family dines here every year during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party for that holiday tradition. You’ll also love the holiday décor in the restaurant.

Did someone say cookies? Santa Claus isn’t the only one who loves holiday cookies! If you’re attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, head to one of the many cookies & cocoa stations located throughout the Magic Kingdom. Let a cast member know you have special dietary needs, and you’ll be treated to Enjoy Life cookies or OMG It’s Gluten Free cookies. Cocoa isn’t gluten free or dairy free, but you can always bring a safe mix from home and ask for hot water! 

Gingerbread displays & shops sometimes carry special diets treats! One of my favorite holiday traditions is to check out all the gingerbread and holiday displays at the various resorts. The biggest and most impressive are at Disney’s Grand Floridian and Disney’s Contemporary Resorts. There, take a look through all of the goodies for sale (yes, the gingerbread displays turn into honest to goodness shops!). For the past several years, Babycakes NYC treats have been available for purchase, including gingerbread people and cinnamon French toastie loaves. 

Enjoy a snack in the parks! Even though they aren’t holiday specific, I always look for gluten free and dairy free treats in the park. There’s something magical about watching the Holiday Wishes fireworks show while eating popcorn. For something sweet, you can score gluten free and dairy free caramel corn at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (the only known place to get it!). Of course, there’s always the classic turkey leg, which is both holiday inspired and gluten free and dairy free.

Make plans for a special meal. Disney excels at making amazing special diets options. Looking for sushi on Thanksgiving? A classic Feast of Seven Fishes Italian meal? Chances are, you’ll find it at one of Disney’s hundreds of restaurants. Planning ahead is key. Make your ADRs well in advance and be sure to note your special dietary needs on your reservation. 

It’s not just about the food! Of course, food is really important when you have a special diet, but Disney also offers so much amazing holiday entertainment that you’ll want to take advantage of it! From the Osborne Lights, Candelight Processional (pro tip: book a holiday dining package with this for an extra magical experience. My favorite is Biergarten), to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, there’s something for everyone!

I hope you enjoy your magical visit to Disney during the holidays. It’s one of my favorite times of year in the Disney Parks and Resorts!

Sarah Norris is the owner of Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW, where she chronicles her experiences visiting the Walt Disney World Resort gluten free, dairy free, and Crohn’s disease. You can frequently find her scouring the parks for the latest special diets Disney dining news and enjoying a safe and delicious meal.

What's In A (Disney Baby) Name?

Me & Sleeping Beauty - It's pink city!

This morning I read that TV & movie stars Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen named their newborn daughter Briar Rose. Awww, cute, right?! Congratulations, you two! Now, I don't know for 100% sure that they're Disney fans but the name would seemed to suggest so. (For those of you who might not know - Sleeping Beauty's name is Briar Rose.)

So it got me thinking; I wonder how many other people in the US have names inspired by Disney characters. I fired up my laptop, sauntered over to the Social Security website and had a go.

(Did you know you can go to the SS website, HERE, and look up the popularity of ANY name?! I've had friends use this when they name their children. Pretty cool stuff!)

Using both the Social Security website as well as HowManyOfMe.com, I went searching for Disney-inspired names. And here's what I found!

* There are approximately 11,172 people in the US named Belle. Also, about 6,200 people are named Gaston.

* In 2013, Ariel was the 146th most popular girls name in the US.

* Flynn (from Tangled) made its way into the Top 1000 US baby names in 2011.  Last year, it was ranked 664th.

* Jasmine has been one of the top 100 baby names since 1986!

* Donald peaked in popularity in the early 1930s, where it was ranked in the Top 10.

Do you know anyone with Disney inspired names? If so, please share here or on Facebook/Twitter!

Have a magical day!

A Mini Giveaway

Hello, and happy Tuesday!

Those of you who follow the Facebook page (and I know ALL of you do, right?!) saw this announcement last night, but I wanted to be sure and tell you about it here, too.

See the little "Like What You're Reading?" spot on the right hand side of the blog? If you enter in your email address into that field, you'll be "in the know" for any updates to the blog. You'll get an email anytime a new blog is posted, so you never miss anything - pretty cool, huh?

And to sweeten the deal - if you subscribe to the blog before 9AM Central on Wednesday morning, November 5th, I'll put your name in a drawing to win a $20 Disney Gift Card!

So subscribe away!

Have a magical day!

I will use random.org to pick a winner from the email subscribers. Only one email address per person, please.

How much DO you walk at Walt Disney World?

Picture from Fitbit.com

First, I wanted to say - - I haven't forgotten about the Trip Report. :) I hope to get this one finished before I go on the Disney Dream again in January! However, my iPhoto decided to freak out and the pictures I KNEW I took at Splittsville aren't showing up. Grrr - don't you love technology?! So instead, let's talk about walking around the World, shall we?

I have a FitBit activity device that I wear on my wrist; it tracks your steps and activity, and you can also use it as an alarm clock, to track your eating, your sleep, etc. It's a neat way to track just how much you move during the day; as I have a desk job, it really helps me know when I need to get around and move more.

Since I wore it while I was walking around Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line in August/September, I wanted to share with you just HOW much an average person probably walks at Disney, and why it's important to be prepared with appropriate footwear.

I looked at my steps logged on August 31 - September 4th, and each day I walked about 14,000 steps, or nearly 6 miles. Keep in mind - I wasn't killing myself running from place to place, or jogging from one end of Magic Kingdom to the other. This distance came from your normal touring and walking; from your room to the bus stop, from the bus stop at the park to the entrance, around the park, back to the bus and your room, etc.

It's SO important to have appropriate shoes! I remember one trip I took back in college, in the early 2000s. I bought some of the cute (and cheap!) flip flops, the kind that come in 100s of colors, to match my outfits (of course). I found out about 1/2 way through our first day that this was a BAD idea. My feet were killing me, and so after about 4 hours at Disney, I bought a pair of Mickey Mouse Keds-style sneakers and socks.  And lesson learned.

I recently purchased a pair of Sketchers GoWalk shoes and used those for the first time in August/September. OMG they are the BEST - - I will be buying more pairs, for sure. They're cute and stylish but still give you the support you need as you make your way through the World. Please excuse the general state of these shoes - they're "much loved", as you can tell!

I am confident in saying that the average person walks between 5-8 miles per DAY while at Disney World. So how do you get your feet ready for Disney, and keep them in good shape once you're there?

* If you're mostly sedentary at home, start walking a bit more each day to get your body ready for the many miles you'll be logging at Disney.

* Wear comfortable shoes - I cannot stress this enough. Comfort OVER fashion, every time! No one wants to stay in their room because they're in such pain they can't enjoy themselves.

* Be sure to pack some Band-Aids, just in case. I find that on occasion, I get blisters and so having Band-Aids at the ready is a real lifesaver.

*  Closely watch little ones - they're not used to walking this much, either (probably) and so they might need a few more breaks. Depending on the age of the child, you might also consider taking or renting a stroller, even if they don't use one at home. This beats having to carry them! :)

How much do YOU walk and Disney, and what steps do you take to protect your feet?

Have a magical day!