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5 Disney Things

5 Disney Things You Should Know This Week – May 27, 2016

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Each Friday, I provide 5 Disney things all Disney fans should know from this past week, just in case you missed them. This week was a very, very slow Disney news week. Here are the super important Disney news items for this week:

Fall 2017 Disney Cruises Announced

2017 disney cruise

This week Disney Cruise Line announced their Fall 2017 schedule, including cruises from New York, Galveston and San Diego in addition to their Florida based cruises. These cruises are now available to book, and if you want to get the best deal possible on a Disney Cruise, book early.

For more information: Fall 2017 Disney Cruises Announced

Adventures by Disney Discount

adventures by disney

Announced this week was a brand new discount on Summer Adventures by Disney. Act soon, as dates are very limited. We rarely see discounts on Adventures by Disney, so if you are thinking about going on one, this would be a great time. Adventures by Disney is a world class tour service featuring tours all around the world. While no Disney characters will be joining your tour (unless you are on one of the adventures around the parks of course), you will be treated to first class hotels, guides and experiences.

For more information: Special Rates on Select 2016 Adventures by Disney

Frozen – Live at the Hyperion Now Open

frozen live

“Frozen – Live at the Hyperion” officially opens today, bringing to the stage all the heart-warming emotion of Anna and Elsa’s story, along with show-stopping production numbers, elaborate costumes, special effects, surprising scenic transformations and a few unique theatrical twists. Of course, nothing beats the magic of experiencing live theater firsthand, so you will definitely want to catch a performance on your next visit. “Frozen – Live at the Hyperion” is now playing daily in the beautiful Hyperion Theater at Disney California Adventure Park.

Animal Kingdom at Night Opens Today

jungle book

For the First time in Forever, wait, that is Frozen. OK, for basically the first time ever, the Animal Kingdom theme park will be open at night time starting today, May 27. In addition to special night time entertainment, the nightly show on the tree of life and Kilimanjaro Safaris all lit up, there will be a brand new night time show available in the Animal Kingdom for the first time. This Summer, we will be able to see The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic, and eventually the permanent show, Rivers of Light, will open once it is finished. I have been in the Animal Kingdom at night a few times for private parties, and it is spectacular. I can’t wait to see what it is like with all the night time additions that have been made. Night time is the best time in any Disney theme park.

‘Inside Disney Parks’ Newscast #2

Welcome back “Inside Disney Parks” Newscast with a brand new episode, featuring a special look at what’s happening at Disney Springs at the Walt Disney World Resort, Ample Hills Creamery at Disney’s Boardwalk, the reimagined Autopia at Disneyland Park and more! Check it out!

Did I miss any Disney news this week that should have been included?

memory maker

Memory Maker Pros and Cons

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At Walt Disney World, Disneyland and Aulani, you can purchase a product called Memory Maker. Let me let Disney describe it for you:

Memory Maker is an incredible new way to enjoy unlimited digital Disney PhotoPass photos captured at hundreds of locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort—including select attraction and dining locations. The photos are conveniently connected to your online Disney account with a touch of your MagicBand or card.

You can conveniently view, download and share your Disney PhotoPass memories on MyDisneyPhotoPass.com and on the My Disney Experience Mobile App.

There’s no need to purchase each photo individually. You can simply enjoy your vacation knowing that your memories are being captured for you.

Disney has another product called PhotoPass, which you will notice mentioned in the text above. PhotosPass is technically the photos that Disney captures, you still have access to them all, same as with the Memory Maker. However, if you do not have the Memory Maker, you must pay to download any of the photos, and they are expensive, $10+ per photo. With the Memory Maker, you have access to every single photo and video, and you can download them all for free. The cost for the Memory Maker is $169 unless you add it to your Disney package or purchase it at least three days in advance, which then lowers the cost to $149. That sounds expensive, but is it worth it?

Memory Maker Pros

  • Fantastic picture quality – Most photos are taken by experienced Disney photographers with top notch camera equipment, and the results are usually out of this world. Usually you have to ask a stranger to take a photo of your family using a phone they have never even seen before, and the results can be disappointing. The Disney photographers do this all day long, and know how to get the best shot available.
  • Disney Magic Shot – Just tell your photographer you want to do a Magic Shot, and he will pose you perfectly to fit in with the animated Disney characters that will be added to your photo. Imagine you with your hand out, holding Tinker Bell. Or maybe a photo with Ariel or Olaf. Anyone can have a boring theme park photo, but who can say they got a photos with Stitch, and survived!
  • Ride Photos and Videos – Since the introduction of the Magic Bands, Disney has been adding new and interesting uses. Currently, for many rides that take your photo (or a video) of you on the ride, these photos are automatically linked to your account, by using your Magic Band and a little location awareness science (or black magic, totally up to you). No need to wait in line, find your photo and buy it at the ride, you can just download it once you get home.
  • Sharing – While the Memory Maker works, imagine if you are traveling with 20+ people. Well, Disney has made it so that only one party has to purchase the Memory Maker, and can then link all of their family and friends to the one account. Once you are home, just download everyone’s photos.
  • Everyone is included – No longer will you get home and realize that Mom or Dad is missing from every single photo, as they were the ones behind the camera.
  • They are your photos – Once downloaded at home, you can then print any of the photos you want wherever you want, you don’t have to pay the crazy prices Disney charges.
  • Customization – Once home, you can add borders, character signatures and stickers to the photos before downloading. You can have several different version of each photo, so adding a border does not permanently change the photo.
  • More photo – I have found that usually, I get home and have about 10 photos of my family/kids on my phone from a week long trip. But, when I do the Memory Maker, we take the 30 seconds it takes to stop and get your photo done by a Disney photographer. When I get home, I often have 100+ photos from my vacation.

Memory Maker Cons

  • Cost – Yes, $149 is a lot of money, so you need to make sure it will work for you in advance. Plus, the price is the same regardless of the length of your stay, so shorter trips may run you $50 a day or more.
  • Time – If you don’t take the time to stop and get photos done, you just wasted your money.
  • 30 Days – All of the photos in your account are deleted after 30 days, so when you get home, don’t forget to download and customize everything you want ASAP.
  • Character Meals – Typically, there are Disney photographers with all characters at character meals, however, that isn’t a hard and fast rule. I have been to a few character meals lately where no photographers were present, so I had to take my own photos.
  • Lines – Sometimes, especially at popular places or times, there can be a wait to get with a photographer. Want to stop and get a photo of your family first thing in the morning on Main Street? Disney usually places a bunch of photographers there, but you still may have to wait, which is especially tough with little kids are are ready to hit the rides.

Who should purchase the Memory Maker?

  • Large Groups – Anyone traveling in a larger group should purchase the Memory Maker and split the cost, makes total sense.
  • Longer Trips – If you are staying 7+ nights, then the cost of the Memory Maker is $20 per day or less.
  • Picky Moms – Do you insist on perfect photos of your kids? Don’t leave your memories up to another vacationer, leave it up to Disney

I have found that when I buy the Memory Maker I end up with quite a few more and much better quality of photos once I get home. They are easy to download and customize and for my family, it is totally worth the cost.

Have you ever purchased the Memory Maker?

obsessed with Disney

50 Signs you are Obsessed with Disney

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Sure, you like Disney and all, and all your friends contact you every time they plan a Disney vacation for tips and tricks, but are you obsessed with Disney?

Signs you are obsessed with Disney

  1. You always dress as a Disney character for Halloween, and usually have your costume picked out months in advance.
  2. You have a Disney themed phone case.
  3. You get personally offended when anyone compliments a theme park other than Disney.
  4. Your profile picture is you with a Disney character
  5. You have a Disney tattoo (or two, or three)
  6. You have a Dole Whip scented air freshener in your car
  7. You have a Disney character as a spirit animal
  8. You once had a friend that went to Disney and didn’t get a Dole Whip. They aren’t your friend anymore.
  9. Your only bucket list item is visiting every single Disney theme park
  10. You own a Disney coffee mug (or two, or three)
  11. When you go to karaoke, it is a Disney song or bust
  12. Every single one of your favorite foods can only be found at Disney
  13. Your pet is named after a Disney character
  14. You have more Disney themed clothes than regular clothes
  15. You still own all of your Disney VHS tapes
  16. You know all the lyrics to both Pirates of the Caribbean and “it’s a small world”
  17. Your ringtone is a Disney song
  18. You see Hidden Mickeys on a daily basis, regardless of where you are
  19. You own a Disney antenna topper
  20. Your license plate cover is from Disneyland
  21. You have a Disney themed room in your house (or two, or three)
  22. You wouldn’t date someone if they didn’t love Disney as much as you
  23. You haven’t actually use a Disney map in a long time, but insist on bringing home copies after each trip
  24. You own Mouse Ears (or two, or three)
  25. You have a Disney countdown calendar for your next Disney trip
  26. Your retirement involves working for Disney
  27. You have a Disney sticker on your car (or two, or three)
  28. You have mailed yourself a postcard from Castaway Cay or one of the Disney parks
  29. You think anything Mickey shaped tastes better
  30. You learned Spanish by riding the monorail
  31. You can tell the difference between Chip and Dale
  32. You own Disney themed pajamas
  33. You check your Disney app for wait times, even when you are just sitting at work
  34. You insist on calling all the Walt Disney World resorts and theme parks by their original names (Hello Dixie Landings!)
  35. You know where all the ride cameras are located
  36. It doesn’t matter where you are in the Magic Kingdom, you will only use the Tangled bathrooms in Fantasyland
  37. You have planned a new Disney trip while on a Disney trip
  38. You have a collection of unused FastPasses
  39. You have called one of your kids by the name of a Disney character
  40. All of your family photos are from Disney vacations
  41. You have been on all four Disney cruise ships
  42. You know how to correctly pronounce Castaway Cay
  43. You have considered moving to Orlando, more than once
  44. You have a Disney cookbook (or two, or three)
  45. At work, people just know you as the “Disney Lady”
  46. You have a Disney themed email address
  47. You are annoyed at non-Disney hold music
  48. You always wonder “what would I be doing if I was at Disney right now?”
  49. People have quit asking you were you are going on vacation
  50. You change the theme of your Disney VISA card every few months

So, how obsessed are you?