Wordless Wednesday: The Letter L

This week's theme on the Wordless Wednesday Disney Blog Hop:

The Letter L

 

 

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Thanks to Deb @ Focused on the Magic  for hosting 
the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop! 

If you hopped over, I invite you to check out my other posts, and please consider joining the blog or following on twitter.

Check out all the other Wordless Wednesday links, and remember to share some comment love...

Disney Magic: Serendipity with a CM

One of the most magical moments we've had at Walt Disney World was an unexpected and touching moment of serendipity with a Cast Member.

During our last family visit, I wanted to get a silhouette done of my daughter. I had seen pictures of these amazing artists using small scissors to create likenesses of people in the Magic Kingdom, and it was on my must-do list. We had planned on doing this at the end of our trip, so we wouldn't have to store it and keep it safe throughout our stay. For some reason, on our first day in the Magic Kingdom, something told me to head right to the silhouette artist.

I approached the CM, whose name was Jan, and asked if we could have a silhouette done. She looked up from the pad she was sketching on. She set down her sketches, then noticed my daughter's birthday button. "Is that her name?", she asked me. "Her real name?" 

I get this question pretty often, because my daughter has an unusual name. I assured her that it was indeed her name. Jan smiled, paused for a moment, and then told my daughter to take a seat. 

She worked her magic with scissors and black paper, and in no time at all, we had a beautiful silhouette.

Before we left the silhouette stand, Jan said she needed to share something with me. She explained that she had a beloved cat who had lived with her for many, many years. The cat had recently passed away, and on this particular day, Jan was really missing her. She said the cat had been on her mind all morning, so she was drawing pictures of her. This is what she had been doing when we walked up to her stand. As she picked up the sketchpad and showed it to me, she told me that we had made her day. I wasn't sure what she meant at first- but as I looked down, I saw that across the page were various drawings of a beautiful cat, along with scrolling letters, spelling out her cat's name...Pepper. The same name as my daughter...

This keepsake silhouette not only represents a moment in time from my daughter's life, but also serves as a reminder of the magical connections we often find in unexpected places.

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Have you ever had a special or unexpected encounter with a Cast Member? Tell us about it in the comments...

Favorites on Friday: The Epcot Glass

I first saw the glass a few years ago in MouseGear, the shopping mecca located in Epcot's Future World. This gorgeous cobalt blue pint glass, with retro logo and a mirror-finish inside- it was calling my name. There was a whole corner of the store displaying these beauties. I had to have one, despite not having any room for it in my suitcase. I ended up carrying it in my hand on the flight home.

I returned several months later, and much to my surprise- there were now matching shot glasses! How could I pass that up? I started chatting with a Cast Member stocking the shelf. He told me that there are technically no shot glasses at WDW- they're officially called "tiny glasses", a term which supposedly has a more family-friendly ring to it. True? I'm not sure...but I like that tiny glass moniker.

I considered buying more of the pint glasses- why not go for a whole set? I'm a firm believer in having back-ups of favorite items, especially when they're breakable items. But one thing led to another on that trip, and before I knew it, I was returning home- no pint glasses secured. At least I had my new tiny glass.

I then found myself in the unbelievably lucky position of having to attend a work conference in Orlando just a short time later. I extended the trip by a few days- of course- so I could return to the parks. This time I was prepared! I used a larger suitcase, and made sure I had plenty of room. I was on a mission! I headed straight to MouseGear. Straight to my cobalt corner.

But wait a minute- hang on- what were all those tropical colors I saw up ahead? What's with all the floral? Where's my cobalt??

A new design scheme had taken over. Reds, pinks, and oranges were everywhere. Characters had taken the place of Epcot logos on the merchandise. No, they didn't have them displayed elsewhere. No, they didn't have any remnants "in the back".

My retro Epcot cobalt ship had sailed.

Consider this a Public Service Announcement:

Do not wait to buy something you really want. It may not be there when you return! Take heed of the moral of this story: if you like it- get it! Don't wait! You never know when something might be gone for good...

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How about you? Have you ever waited too long for a special item, only to be disappointed later? Did you learn your lesson? Do you have a favorite glass from WDW? Tell us in the comments...

Wordless Wednesday: Days of Summer

This week's theme on the Wordless Wednesday Disney Blog Hop:

Days of Summer

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Thanks to Deb @ Focused on the Magic  for hosting 
the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop! 

If you hopped over, I invite you to check out my other posts, and please consider joining the blog or following on twitter.

Check out all the other Wordless Wednesday links, and remember to share some comment love...

Monsters Giveaway: Roz Plush

Who doesn't love Roz?

I first encountered Roz in person at Disney's California Adventure. At the end of the Monsters, Inc. attraction, my car stopped in front of her. She said, "Hey you there- you in the front- with the glasses! Nice glasses! They look like mine...". True story. From then on, I've had a soft spot for her.

In honor of Monsters University debuting later this week, we're giving away a Roz plush!

Disney's Boardwalk: Seashore Sweets

The Boardwalk area at Walt Disney World, located adjacent to Epcot via the International Gateway, is one of my favorite places to stroll. 

photo courtesy of Walt Disney World official website

A recent Wordless Wednesday post (found here) prompted me to write about a place I discovered during my last visit. Nestled under the Boardwalk Inn, between restaurants Kouzzina and Flying Fish, is a "beauty" of a shop known for its delectable offerings: Seashore Sweets.

From the Disney website:

Enjoy “confections served with affection” by the Sweet Sisters, proprietors of this old-fashioned Atlantic shore-style candy shop. Saltwater taffy, fudge, hand-dipped ice cream, shakes, floats, chocolate, bulk candy and more are in store.

This description- while accurate- fails to mention one of the most prominent features of the establishment: an homage to the Miss America Pageant. 

Never missing a chance to immerse us in theme, Disney takes a page out of boardwalk history by theming this sweet shop after one of the most famous products to come out of Atlantic City.

The Miss America Pageant, which was started as a marketing ploy to keep tourists around after Labor Day, has been a boardwalk staple since the Businessmen's League of Atlantic City started holding the event in the early 1920s.  After a brief foray to Las Vegas in 2006, the pageant returns to Atlantic City later this year.

One of the first things to greet you upon entering is a glass case housing the familiar regal cape, scepter, crown and trophy...

Photographs of beach scenes, boardwalk attractions, and pageantry dot the walls and create a nostalgic backdrop...

Remember to look up: the shop is bordered by photos of all the women who have worn the crown throughout the years...

Framed posters and memorabilia can be found in every corner. A souvenir program from the 1942 pageant would have cost you 25 cents that year. I wonder how much it would fetch today...

Ice cream, candy, beverages, fudge, and assorted treats are all for sale.... including my favorite, Disney popcorn.

If you're interested in learning all about the era and how Disney's Boardwalk recreates that magic, I recommend WDW Radio episode #313. This podcast episode features Lou Mongello and Disney legend Jim Korkis exploring the area with in-depth commentary and a fun lesson in boardwalk history. 

The next time you're strolling the Boardwalk area, make a stop in Seashore Sweets. Even if you're not in the mood for a snack, it's a great place to take in a slice of Americana.


Have you visited Seashore Sweets? What's your favorite stop along Disney's Boardwalk? Share it with us in the comments...

Wordless Wednesday: Disney Dads

This week's theme on the Wordless Wednesday Disney Blog Hop:
Disney Dads

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Thanks to Deb @ Focused on the Magic  for hosting 
the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop! 

If you hopped over, I invite you to check out my other posts, and please consider joining the blog or following on twitter.

Check out all the other Wordless Wednesday links, and remember to share some comment love...

Disney Social Media Moms Celebration- On the Road!

I was thrilled to receive an invitation to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration On the Road event, which I wrote about here. The On the Road version is meant to bring a small sampling of the annual  DSMMC to a few different markets around the country, sharing the magic with some of the many who did not make it onto the coveted invitee list for the big celebration. The New York City stop was the one for me!  I took the opportunity to visit family in the area, then headed in to Manhattan on the morning of June 5, 2013 to take part in #DisneyOnTheRoad!

The celebration was held in midtown, at the Doubletree Hilton. After a quick check-in and

Do I Hear runDisney Calling my Name?

I just completed my first race- not a runDisney race, but a local 5K with the Girls on the Run program. Ten weeks ago, I had never run so much as a city block. My daughter was in the GOTR program, and I found myself with some time on my hands and in need of a challenge. I hopped into a 10 week training schedule, and despite wanting to give up after the first week, I stuck it out. I'm thrilled to say I completed the race today, running along side two of my favorite people- my daughter and my best friend.

I had two little bits of Disney magic accompanying me for good luck:

The Hidden Mickey sneaker (for obvious reasons), along with one of my favorite pins: the Maelstrom FASTPASS. There were a few relevant reasons for the Maelstrom pin. First, the FASTPASS  reference- to help me go fast. Next, Maelstrom is in Norway, my favorite World Showcase pavilion. This pavilion is also home to the beautiful statue of Norwegian Grete Waitz, an Olympian and runner who won nine NYC marathons- more than any other runner in history. And finally, because...Maelstrom. Maelstrom just rocks.

Is there a runDisney race in my future? I think I might hear them calling my name....