In addition to the Disney Parks and Resorts announcements that took place at Day 2 of the D23 Expo, there were also announcements over the weekend in regards to movies coming up from Pixar and Walt Disney Studios, Disney, Marvel Studios, and Lucasfilm. Since there are quite a few new releases from each studio I will separate this blog post into two posts. One from Pixar and Walt Disney Studios and the second from Disney, Marvel Studios.
Here is my summary recap video of the news from Pixar and Walt Disney Studios.
Trailers
You can view available trailers for some of these upcoming movies below:
COCO
Olaf’s Frozen Adventure
And A Special Edna Mode Retrospective
John Lasseter was excited to share with fans a look at what the fashion world thinks of super-suit stylist Edna Mode—the petite-but-powerful character introduced in Pixar Animation Studio’s 2004 Oscar®-winning feature. Showcasing fashion phenoms from Heidi Klum and Kendall Jenner to Zac Posen and Rachel Zoe, the video can be viewed here:
With all these great movies coming out just from the Pixar and Walt Disney Studios you will have lots to do with the family for movie trips! Be sure to keep an eye out for my next update from Disney, Marvel Studios, and Lucasfilm. There’s just as many new movies coming from them as well!
My family and I travel to Walt Disney World often. This includes my husband and my two children who are now ten and eight years old. We are Disney DVC members and became Annual Pass holders again this summer. We typically travel to Disney in January for marathon weekend and then in the spring for their spring break.
I attended the #BlogHer conference recently and wanted to surprise the family with a trip to Walt Disney World since the conference was taking place in Orlando and they were already out of school. We have to be considerate of the time we have to take them out of school now that they are getting older. We also have a different park visiting strategy. Here are a few tips for the way we visit the Walt Disney World Parks during our vacation and a few parenting tips to remind us that kids are still just kids.
Keeping Your Cool
On this past trip I used some parenting advice that I had learned from a fellow blogger Kelly Bourne that I met at the Mom 2.0 conference. Taking your kids to Disney is a magical experience as long as everyone can keep their cool. I have to be honest, there may be several smiling pictures of us having fun; but there are times when it may be too hot for everyone, or someone is hungry, or things don’t go the way we had planned or hoped it would. And then you see a face like this. When this face happens, look out! You have to act quickly to avoid a major meltdown.
If you lose your temper, you are just adding to the situation and no one wins at that point. Like Kelly mentioned, the kids need to have you hear their concerns and feel loved. If you get down on their level and talk calmly with them (giving them your attention), they will be more receptive than you raising your voice or placing them in a time out. Then give them a choice on how they want to handle the situation. Do they need a minute to calm themselves down or can they go on with what everyone was doing. Giving them the choice make them feel like they have the power at that moment.
Parenting Advice from Kelly Bourne
Why Do Kids Act Up?
That is where Kelly’s advice really came in handy for me during this trip. She mentioned that kids have two main needs, they want attention and power. When the kids act up, it is usually because they are hot, hungry or frustrated and can’t find a way to vocalize these feelings.
There was a point during our recent trip that my daughter really got upset about something and it was late in the evening. We were hot and tired and she was just done. Instead of yelling or losing my temper I let her vent and say what she needed to say; but then I pulled her aside and asked her to take a breather and to think about what is going on. She sulked for a bit was we were walking to the car; but on the ride home she changed. She told me she wiped off her bad mood and threw it out the car window. I gave her the power to decide how she wanted to handle the situation.
Praise Them For Their Good Behavior?
I praised her for finding a great way to address her frustration and that if she ever feels it starting up again in the future that we should have a sign so each of us know she is having a hard time and she needs to take a minute. This has been a great way to avoid any meltdowns on vacation. Let’s face it, vacation is a lot of fun; but staying up late and trying to do as much as we can is tiring. I make sure to point out to the kids when I recognize that they haven’t been fighting, or that they have been polite and getting along with each other for an extended amount of time. It makes them feel good that their good behavior is being recognized and they know they are pleasing us.
The kids did great on our trip that was filled with activity every single day. They loved staying up late and closing the parks. Then we would sleep until 10:00 the next day, swim for a few hours and then head to the parks for dinner and then close the park again. There was one day that was a challenging day and that we because we had to get up early after a late night, it was an extremely hot day, and we missed our bus back to the hotel. But we rolled with it and had our first Uber ride (a memory was made for our memory jar in that experience!) Then we took some time to have dinner and swim and returned to the park.
Let The Kids Decide
After the tough day we at at the parks we had a family meeting the next morning to plan out the events of the day. Giving the kids a voice in the plans lets them feel like they have some power and that they will be heard by us. We all decided on what we wanted to do that day so everyone had the same expectations. If plans had to change due to weather or unforeseen circumstances, we all knew that we would have to come up with an alternative. But the end results was that we all wanted to have fun and that we were going to do our best to do what we all wanted.
Check Out Kelly’s Program
So the next time you go on a trip or even in your every day lives, consider these tips that I mentioned from Kelly’s program. But even better, check out her program for yourself! I watched her webinar on How to Win Your Kids’ Cooperation (without losing your sh*t) to pick up these first simple tips. But she also has a lot more to offer with her membership as well as a Facebook group for parents. So I would highly recommend you take the time to watch her webinar and just hear what she recommends to help us help our kids and enjoy the summer without losing our sh*t!
I recently shared with you all of the new announcements that came from D23 Expo for the updates to the Parks in Walt Disney World, today I will share with you all of the updates that will take place in Disneyland.
Disneyland Enhancements
There were many announcements made about the changes coming to Walt Disney World’s attractions, transportation and lodging, but there are also great changes coming to Disneyland as well.
Attractions
The Star Wars Themed now named Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be opened on the West Coast first in 2019. This land will be intensely interactive and will put you in the middle of a battle between the Resistance and the First Order. They also showed how the land will feel with a fly through video. What is especially exciting is your experience on the Millennium Falcon ride. Your actions will affect your experience throughout the land. So take that into consideration for who you may encounter after your mission is over.
I think the biggest announcement is Marvel Land coming to Disney California Adventure. The park guests will team up with their favorite super heros along with several one-of-a-kind experiences in the park. With the success of the Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! this summer, there’s no doubt a Marvel Land will be another huge success for Disney. Spider-Man and The Avengers will be the main themes of this park.
Paradise Pier in California Adventure will now become Pixar Pier and will open in 2018. There will be a brand new look to the Pier and you can see your favorite characters from “The Incredibles”, “Inside Out”, and “Toy Story.”
Cars Land at California Adventure will now have a Haul-O-Ween theme coming this fall, including decorations and Cars in Halloween costumes. Guests are also encouraged to attend in costume.
Parades and Fireworks
Fantasmic! In Mickey’s Dreams, will be back for the 62nd anniversary of Disneyland and guests of the D23 Expo were given fastpasses to view the special showing times of this pyrotechnic spectacular before it is open to the public on July 17, 2017.
Photo by Disney
Paint the Night Parade will now come back and will take place at California Adventure and will feature a new float (yet to be announced).
Pixar Fest will debut in 2018. This event will feature all-new Pixar fireworks and a relocation of the Pixar Play Parade from California Adventure to Disneyland.
So there you have it, all the changes coming to Disneyland as announced at the D23 Expo. Next up will be the news released about the new movies and video games so stay tuned for more exciting news!
WOW! I sure missed out on a great year to attend the D23 Expo! There are so many announcements that have been coming out of Anaheim during this weekend’s D23 Expo that I will break it out into pieces for you.
Walt Disney World Enhancements
For starters, the changes that are coming to Walt Disney Word will take place in the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and there will be new property developed for DVC in Florida.
Attractions
The first Mickey Mouse ride is coming to Hollywood Studios. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is going to step you through the movie screen and insert you into the cartoon short. It’s the first ever Mickey Mouse ride0through attraction. And they also mentioned that there will be thousands of hidden Mickeys in this ride! Sadly, The Great Movie Ride will end its show on August 13, 2017. The Chinese Theatre will be the new home for this new attraction.
Tron Lightcycle Power Run coaster will be coming to the Magic Kingdom for the park’s 50th anniversary in 2021. It will NOT replace the Tomorrowland Speedway. It will be in a new area behind Space Mountain.
A new theater is coming to Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom. The look is based on the Willis Wood theater in 1920s Kansas City. This is where Walt lived after he left Marceline.
Ratatouille attraction is coming to the France pavilion in Epcot. This attraction will be similar to the 4-D attraction in Paris. This attraction is also scheduled to be open by the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World in 2021.
Guardians of the Galaxy attraction is coming to Epcot. This will be an E-ticket attraction and will replace Ellen’s Universe of Energy attraction. The Universe of Energy Attraction will close on August 13, 2017.
Mission Space has a new green ride, so now the whole family can enjoy the adventures in space with a non-spinning ride simulation. This mission will give guests an orbital adventure around the planet.
Toy Story Land will open at Hollywood Studios in the Summer of 2018. The Slinky Dog Dash family coaster and the Alien Swirling Saucers will be the two main attractions, as you are shrunk down to the size of a toy and explore Andy’s backyard.
The Star Wars Themed land in Hollywood Studios now has a name. It will be called Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. It represents a remote trading port on the edge of space. Many Star Wars characters can be found in this galaxy including the First Order and the Resistance. There will be a large scale Star Destroyer hangar bay as one attraction and the second one will simulate flying the Millenium Falcon and completing a critical mission. How you perform on your mission will determine your fate when you exit the ship. And the famous blue milk will also be available in this land. The new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is said to open in 2019.
Transportation
The rumor of an aerial transportation system is true. BoB Chapek announced that there are going to be gondolas called the “Disney Skyliner”, transporting guests between the Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach and the newly-announced DVC resort – “Disney’s Riviera Resort”. It will also connect guests with Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the International Gateway at Epcot.
Minnie Vans will transport you from point-to-point within the Walt Disney World property. I am not aware of the details of this service at this point in terms of cost, if it will replace Uber, and how to create a reservation for this service.
Accommodations
DVC is building a new property called Disney’s Riviera Resort near Epcot. As mentioned above, this resort will be a stop on the Disney Skyliner gondola system. It was also said during the D23 Expo announcement that this hotel will give you views of Epcot and Hollywood Studios from its rooftop restaurant. The planned opening of this new DVC property is the fall of 2019.
A Star Wars-Inspired Themed Resort is coming to Walt Disney World. This resort will be a fully immersive experience. When guests enter the resort, they will immediately become a part of the story. This experience also includes dressing up in the proper attire!
Dining
There is a new restaurant coming to Epcot adjacent to Mission: Space. It is an ‘Out-of-this-World’ Dining Experience that will offer amazing meals with spectacular views from space! I believe the location for this restaurant is where the current Electric Umbrella is now. Which could use some major updating. So I am looking forward to this new option being added to the park.
Disneyland Enhancements
Stay tuned for my next blog post which will cover all of the enhancements coming to Disneyland.
It all started with a walk on the first Monday of summer vacation. My children and I opened up our world to something wonderful. After dinner I suggested to the kids that we should take a walk up the street. The pool was being repaired so they couldn’t swim yet, so we had time on our hands and it was a nice evening. We walked up to the farm at the top of our street and saw people in the field. The kids were curious about what they were doing, and so was I. So we walked closer and asked them what was going on. They graciously invited us to come over to where they were and they showed us! From that moment on a beautiful relationship began with the kids, Lynn, Jeff and I as we help them with caring for their chickens and cows.
Tending To The Chickens On The Farm
Lynn and Jeff Andrews were tending to their chickens in the farm that night. They were gently coaxing them to go into the chicken tractor for the night and refilling their grain bins and water bowls. We were all full of questions. What kind of birds are they, what do they eat, why do they go in the wagon each night, when do they wake up, what do they eat, how many eggs do they lay, you name it, we asked it! After Lynn and Jeff patiently answered all our questions, they invited us back the next day to help collect eggs and to put the birds to bed again!
I always run by their farm and we drive by it often since it is so close to our house. So we always saw the goings on at the farm; but never knew what happens on the farm. You’d be surprised. It’s like a show where you see the stage, but don’t really know what goes on behind the scenes. This is a busy little place! They have chickens that lay eggs, chickens that are going to lay eggs soon and younger chickens called Barnvelders, that will also lay eggs once they get older.
Tending To The Cows On The Farm
Not only do they care for their chickens, but there is a beekeeper that has hives on property. He tends to the bees there with about 15 hives on property. There are also cows that the Bozzutos have Jeff take care of. Of those cows, Jeff and Lynn own one calf named Moon who was born on their farm three months ago. Moon wasn’t cared for properly by his mother so they are caring for him on their own with bottles and trying to integrate him with the other herd. We love feeding Moon his bottle. He sucks it down within a few minutes and is looking for the second one right away! If you don’t give it to him he starts to chase you around the field and nudges you!
All The Things We Are Learning On The Farm
It’s been close to a month since that walk and we haven’t missed our time to feed the chickens, feed moon, or put them all to bed except when we had to leave for travel. Otherwise, we have made helping at the farm our priority. But it’s not a chore, we really all enjoy it. So much so, that when the kids have play dates they invite their friends to come up and see what they have been doing all summer.
What I also love most is everything that we are learning. I had no idea why the cows were in the field they were in and then the reason why the chickens are moved around in that same field every couple of days. It all has to do with the bugs and protein in the grass cow manure that the chickens eat, to help cut down the fly population, which then helps the cows. Chickens eat ticks, and bugs and the cows eat the grass which has carbs at the top of the tall grass and when they get down to the bottom stems of the grass it contains more protein. This is another reason why eating farm fresh eggs is better for you. The chickens are eating from pastures and not in cages so they are eating more nutrients from the land and not processed foods that may contain chemicals. We also learned that it takes 26 hours to make and egg and 24 hours of that time is to develop the shell. There were two baby calves born in the past week and the children got to name them!
This farm life experience has been so rewarding to us and I know that Jeff and Lynn appreciate the help. Jeff is so pleased to see that the young kids are still interested in what happens on farms and that they care, work hard and have good work ethic. I’m glad, too. Not only are they learning and enjoying this, but I may be enjoying it more than them! Stay tuned as we share our adventures on Facebook and Instagram throughout the summer!
Well, it’s coming closer than I thought! There are just 18 weeks until the NYC marathon! I had to get out on the road and start putting in some miles. We were away last week and I took that time off from working out and running; but was on my feet a lot while walking through the Disney Parks. So while I wasn’t running, I did get some mileage on my feet.
When we returned home from our trip I got back into my video workout routines and started running again. My latest longest distance is now 6.5 miles. It scares me to think that I have to increase that mileage back into the double digits, especially during the summer hours.
I got out on the road Sunday afternoon past noon and it was H-O-T! At that point it was 92 degrees. I made sure to make a water bottle with ice, brought my Dr. Cool cooling cloth and stayed in the shade on the road as much as possible. I used my 30/30 intervals. And if I was getting too warm I poured ice water on my head and my towel and walked an interval longer to be safe.
I was happy with my progress. My speed wasn’t fast; but I wanted the miles to increase from my previous run which was 4 miles on Friday. I don’t feel any affects from running in the heat and my legs feel fine so I’ll continue with my Beach Body workouts to help keep my hamstrings and glutes strong and will hopefully increase the mileage again along with my confidence.
This is the reason why I started my blog in the first place. I wanted to use it as a diary for my running progress and to help me look back on past training to see what worked and what didn’t work. I do recall that with every marathon I begin to increase my mileage for, I always get nervous when I have to get back up to the double digits; but I always do fine. It’s a mental challenge more than anything else.
So with 18 weeks to go, I have no interest in rushing my summer away counting down the weeks; but I will put in my time and I want to have a very strong NYC marathon experience.
