Walt Disney World: It's Not Just for Kids » Hedy’s favorite

WDW Not Just for Kids Review: Beauty and the Beast 3-D

Hedy — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:45:14 +0000

Beauty and the Beast 3-D

Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie. I saw it when it first came out. While I was sitting all slack-jawed and this is awesome at the movies last night, it occurred to me that it has been twenty years since I had seen it in theaters. I still remember how excited I was that there was Beauty and the Beast paper products for my birthday party that year (January baby). Of course, in the intermingling years I’ve seen it on ice, and the stage show* (thrice!).

So when I heard it was coming out it 3-D, I knew I had to see it. I was accompanied by my Beauty and the Beast loving (but non-Disney decade)aged friend, who also enjoyed it.

Folks, I gasped when I saw the villages first 3-D rose. It was freaking epic. It was beautiful, and well-done. I know it’s heresy, but 3-D Be Our Guest totally pwns the Philharmagic version (though there were no scents). The ballroom scene? Even more gorgeous than in the original.

However, as an adult (and especially one who feels like Belle gets a rap as being the anti-princess princess), I did wince a little at the non-consentual fooling around/cure your abuser messages.

That said, do not miss this movie.

Did you see it? What did you think? Let me know in a comment, Twitter , Facebook, or Google Plus. Come get pinned with me on Pinterest.

*Does the stage show cannon and movie cannon blur for anyone else? The fact “Human Again” never made it into the movie is a crime. Also, I was completely expecting the “In the Town I come from, people think I’m odd” bit in “Something There.”

Beauty and the Beast 3-D review

Magic Blogorail Green: Favorite Character Experience in the Park….

Hedy — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:00:49 +0000

Me and Ariel, October 2009

Welcome to those of you joining me from Makin’ Memories and those of you who have just hopped aboard. I am 4th stop on our Magical Blogorail.

This month’s theme is “Favorite Character Experiences in the Park.” See that photo to the left? That’s mine. Mkay, see you next month.

I kid, I kid. My favorite holiday is Halloween, so when I first heard about Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP), I knew I had to go. Although I prefer Belle to Ariel, I figured I should work with my red hair. Not wanting to fight fins all night, I decided to go with Ariel from the Kiss the Girl scene. I go a long skirt from Gap Outlet, a flowingy light blue top from Old Navy, and a corset from eBay. I made a bow myself. For my hair, I essentially did this with my hair, and I studied how to do my makeup. So I got all gussied up, and then I wanted to meet Ariel. So I went to the late Grotto.

As soon as Ariel saw me, she screamed. She was concerned I was Vanessa. After I assured her I was not, we had a nice chat.

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Your Highway in the Sky.
Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail Loop should you happen to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Magical Days with the Mouse

2nd Stop ~ Adventures of a Disney Princess

3rd Stop ~ Makin’ Memories

4th Stop ~ Walt Disney World: Not Just for Kids

Final Stop ~ Your Highway in the Sky

Magical Blogorail: My Favorite Park at Disney World

Hedy — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:00:06 +0000

Welcome to those of you joining me from Running Towards Disney or those of you who have just hopped aboard. I am the final stop on our Magical Blogorail. Today’s topic is our favorite Disney park.

For me, this is an easy answer-the Magic Kingdom is my favorite park. Why? Well, let’s start with the basics-Splash Mountain, my favorite ride, is located there. Columbia Harbor House is also located there. But there are plenty of things I love at other parks, so why the Magic Kingdom?

To be honest-I think part of it is its tradition-it’s still much the same as it was. I can walk from the bus stop to the gates and mentally relive the first time I did it, feeling in awe that I am actually at Disney World. Also, I love the theatrics of the Magic Kingdom-it is set up like a movie theatre. I love how you have to enter the Magic Kingdom to see the castle.
This plaque may be from Disneyland, but I think it suns up the wonder of the Magic Kingdom well. You can go from soaring over London with Peter Pan to seeing the American Presidents to going on a jungle cruise.
Thank you for joining us this month. We will be back April 22nd with an all new theme, though feel free to keep checking in with our blogs in between loops to keep up to date with our Disney info, photos and stories

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail Loop should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Your Highway in the Sky Disney Diva Tips

2nd Stop ~ Magical Memory Planners

3rd Stop ~ Adventures of a Disney Princess

4th Stop ~ A Disney Mom’s Thoughts

Final Stop ~ Walt Disney World: It’s Not Just For Kids

Welcome, Couponing to Disney Readers

Hedy — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 00:09:13 +0000

Welcome to those of you who are here from Couponing to Disney! Welcome to Walt Disney World: It’s Not Just for Kids!

If you want to, you certainly can read about me or the blog, otherwise, here are some posts I think might interest you:

It’s probably old hat to all of you, but check out my How to Save Money on a Disney Vacation post, as well my Easy ways to earn extra Disney money page.

If you’re looking to find a little information about Universal because you’re considering it for the first time due to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, my Universal 101 for Disney Fans series may be of use to you.

Catch a glimpse into my views on a Disney Vacation by reviewing my Friday Favorites.

Please feel free to poke around and comment as you like!

Hedy

Welcome, Mint.com readers

Universal Planning 101 for Adult Disney Fans: Part IV

Hedy — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 14:22:16 +0000

First of all, let me do you a favor. The Universal parks do not have Expedition Everest, Splash Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, or the Jungle Cruise. Dig? Dig. Then, let me start discussing the best rides and shows at each park.

At Universal Studios, my top five must sees are:

Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Review is a great show. The vocals are great, the jokes are great (last year there was Twilight and Jon and Kate jokes). If you poke around on YouTube, you’ll find out there’s “Hott Dracula” and non-hot dracula. I’ve seen both, and the difference between the two is the difference between the Yeti in A mode and B mode ;). This is rated PG-13 with good reason, which kind of exemplifies why I think adult Disney fans should give Universal a shot-nothing like a few double-entendres to start of a vacation.
The Simpsons Ride-It’s a simulator ride where you both are in a seat that moves, as well as a screen that wraps around you. I’m not really a Simpsons fan, but this ride is the funniest one in Orlando. It snarks on Pirates of the Carribean, it’s a Small World, Shamu, and the entire themepark culture. Don’t miss this one!
Men in Black (MIB) is a shooting game where you shoot aliens. It’s a lot of fun, however, you have to use a locker to put your stuff in, which is a massive pain in the butt. I won’t give too much away, but I”ll just remark that there comes a time when you do need to press the red button.
Terminator 2: 3-D is a great 3-D show. I’ve never seen any of the Terminator movies, but this show is so great (and yes, it does feature the govenator), it’s worth seeing. I don’t think I’ve had to life my glasses off to see what was “real” in a 3-D movie since I was about nine. Do be forewarned though-their dump shop is quite possibly the geekiest store on the planet (I say that affectionately, as I always buy something for a friend or family member there)-they have Terminator stuff, Batman stuff, Halo stuff, Battlestar Galactica stuff, you name it.
The Mummy is an awesome ride. There’s some really cool tracking switching and airtime. The effects are really great.

At Islands of Adventure, my top 5 must sees are:

The Amazing Adventure of Spiderman is the BEST ride in Orlando, hands down. It combines a 3-D ride, a dark ride, and has some really great effects. I cannot recommend this ride highly enough.
Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges-grab your quick drying shirts and shorts, pop on your flip-flops, store your electronics in a waterproof pouch, and get on this ride. Yes, you will get wicked wet. However, this ride is pure fun.
The High in the Sky Trolley Train Ride-It’s based on the Sneeches story. This ride is worth it just for their views you get of Islands of Adventure.
The Cat in the Hat-The dark rode goes awesome. You spin, and see scenes.
It’s not a ride, but just walk around Islands of Adventure. Drink in the themeing of Jurassic Park. Enjoy Seuss landing.

I’m sure this may change once the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens, but that’s what I have for now.

Friday Favorites: Planet Hollywood

Hedy — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:18:30 +0000

This week’s Friday Favorites is a bit more unique than others. Let’s face it-you don’t NEED an ADR for Planet Hollywood. You may also get a $15 voucher if you book a Disney World vacation package.

For some reason, Planet Hollywood has been maligned continuously in the Disney Fan community. They have been accused of having bad food, of service being bad, and of being unfair in their coupons.

I’ve been a Planet Hollywood addict since I was at my first one in San Francisco in 1998. Since then, I’ve been to both New York City ones, Washington, DC; Baltimore, Las Vegas, Toronto, Montreal, and Orlando. I am unashamed to say that when I was looking at a Disneyland Paris trip report this week, I was excited to see the Planet Hollywood there.

My main adoration of them is that they have memorabilia that’s just plain cool. The one in Walt Disney World has one of Judy Garland’s Dorothy dresses, part of Joey Fatone’s costume from Rent, and the model of the Halloween Town City hall from The Nightmare Before Christmas. They have plenty of other memorabilia, but these pieces I think are of special interest to adult Disney fans. I personally am planning on using the Townhall as being an ace on the hole to get my family there in 2011 by piquing my Nightmare Before Christmas fan older-brother. And do kids even know who Joey Fatone is, or remember NSync? (Or do they even know Rent?)

While I’d heard the food at Planet Hollywood is not good, I’ve always had a great meal-I’m partial to their Pasta Pomodoro. My service has always been great (I once got up to look around, and returned to find my waitress upbraiding the bus boy for removing my Cokewithnoiceplease. He had thought I had left).

I will; however, concede that Planet Hollywood is a bit of a pain regarding their coupons. If you have the $15 voucher that comes with the package, you cannot use any coupons. Nor can you use a Planet Hollywood gift card with either the voucher or a coupon. If you don’t have a package, you can get coupons from either your Entertainment book, or online.

I hope this blog has convinced you to look at Planet Hollywood differently. Not only is it a good restaurant, it’s also this week’s Friday Favorite.

Friday Favorites: Podcasts!

Hedy — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:17:29 +0000

Every Friday, I’ll be talking about one of my favorite things related to being an adult at Walt Disney World. This week, I’m talking podcasts. In my opinion, Podcasts are one of the best ways to add a little Disney fun into your everyday-there’s nothing like driving to the grocery store while hearing about someone’s Disney trip. While there are a number of great Walt Disney World podcasts out there, I do have a few that I think are best for adult Disney fans who are traveling without children.

My first one, and the one which is my personal “don’t miss” podcast, is The DISUnplugged. The DISUnplugged “round table” team is clever, funny, and able to be on top of things as they are in the Orlando area. The majority of the DISUnplugged’s team do nt have children, which leads to me find many of their reviews and comments very relevant. At one time, they had a segment on “A ‘Couple’ of Things to Do,” with unique ideas for adult couples to participate in at Walt Disney World. Although these segments have stopped, the ideas are still relavent, if older. I’m going on their cruise in December, and cannot wait.

The second podcast which I love is the Be Our Guest podcast. One thing I really appreciate about the Be Our Guest panel is that they’re just like me-they love Disney, but they still go around in their non-Disney jobs and lives. A decent amount of their panels, as well as their guests, featured adult travelers to Walt Disney World. I’ve been listening since show #4, so I kind of feel like I’ve seen them grow up into a big podcast.

The third must-listen podcast of mine is Betamouse. While Betamouse is a really new podcast, their tech talk s so unique to Disney podcasts-technology. This gives them a tendency to focus on adult topics, as well as things other podcasts just don’t talk about (Tweeting in the parks, cameras).

listen to other podcasts, but these are my top three. How about you? What’s your favorite Disney podcast?

Characters

Hedy — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:20:45 +0000

For some weird reason, I feel like this is the definitive Adults at WDW topic. Now, there are a million different viewpoints on this topic, from mine to a child’s; from my dear/Disney sister-in-law, to the then 11 year old Sharpay, who would shield her face every time she saw a character. So I am going to stage a bit of a role-play between myself, and the family which was in front of me at Pixie Hollow in October of 2009.

Hedy has gotten to Pixie Hollow at five minutes after opening time, having secured an early morning ADR purely so that she may be on time to this momentous occasion of meeting Tinkerbell. She sees a 60 Minute wait sign, but has been prepared for this for months. As such, she people-watches, and sends out a handful of Tweets.

The line is possibly the slowest Hedy has seen in her WDW career, and Hedy has been here on December 26 in a vyear before Fastpasses. She smiles to herself upon seeing two college-aged girls ahead of her. With hipster hair, facial piercings, and tattoos, they don’t look like something out of the promotional DVD. However, they are chattering away about how the cut class to come to see Tinkerbell for one girl’s birthday. Aww.

Hedy hears the parents behind her muttering. Their two princesses look about five and seven, and are waiting very patiently, giggling and chattering to each other. “Look at all these adults!” One parent says. “It’s disgraceful. What are they doing here? There have got to be ten adults here! They were at the meet and greets last night too! It’s ridiculous! Why won’t they just let the kids go in?”

Well, here’s why! I love the characters too! And since Disney World is for everybody I can meet characters. If I wanted to justify it, I could play the “I paid more to get in this park that your kid did” game, but I won’t as I am an adult. I love character meals, meet and greets, and I am a total autograph addict (and have been since 1993, thank you very much). And I love that Walt Disney World lets me do that.

Do you have any thoughts or experiences on being an adult at Walt Disney World around the characters?

No related posts.

WDW Not Just for Kids Review: Disney Guidebooks

Hedy — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:35:20 +0000

Guidebooks-how quaint, right? However, I find that nothing beats a guidebook in terms of portable information.

The obvious guide to discuss on this site is Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World Without Kids 2010. I’ve got the book from the library, and was completely underwhelmed. I found it to be regurgitated stuff from the original Birnbaum’s guide, and nothing which I wiuld consider educational for the readers of this site. I do; however, have a certain fondness for the original Birnbaum’s Guide. Part of this fondness is that it takes me back to when I was nine and devouring every Disney guidebook in site, and part of it is that while it may be biased and skimpy, it can be a good reference as well.

I used to be way into The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2010 (Unofficial Guides); however, of the past few years I’ve grown weary of touring plans that every other tourist has (seriously-glance around in line at Peter Pan’s Flight sometime), tips about fake dirty diapers on your stroller, and the like.

PassPorter’s Walt Disney World 2010: The Unique Travel Guide, Planner, Organizer, Journal, and Keepsake! has become my guide of choice. Not only does it have great pockets/organizer, but it also has great information that’s not too family focused and easy to use (and, they updated their old packing list which included film and phone cards).

While not a true guidebook, I would like to nominate Vegetarian Walt Disney World and Greater Orlando, 2nd: The Essential Guide for the Health-Conscious Traveler as being the best guidebook (possibly ever). It has every detail and tip for eating as well as you can as a vegetarian in Walt Disney World. It is somewhat painfully outdated, but still has a ton of information.

Do you have a favorite guidebook? Let me know.

Basic Walt Disney World Hotel info

Hedy — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:02:49 +0000

Where to stay? When adults are considering the possible places to stay at Disney World, children are a concern. My father (a parent of seven, for crying out loud) refused to consider a Value resort in 2002*. His concern was that there would be “a lot of kids running around.” So we stayed at Port Orleans Riverside (POR) (again). I then stuck to Moderates for my trips in 2006 and 2007. However, in 2008 I had the opportunity to go to WDW with my nephews, which I couldn’t pass up. However, as it wasn’t a Disney year**, I had to do some shifting around, and stay at a (gulp) value. I actually ended splitting my stay between there and the Dolphin-truth be told, I loved Pop, and the Dolphin is the only WDW hotel I’m lukewarm on. I found the Dolphin’s service lacking. More ironically, I found the Dolphin louder than Pop-drunk business people are louder than kids. Furthermore, I find hotels with inside corridors louder than those with outside corridors. For me, moderates are a good Moderate between the vales and the deluxes.

*The year is important here. In 1993 and 1996 we stayed at Dixie Landings (now Port Orleans Riverside). At this time, Dixie Landings, Port Orleans (now French Quarter), and Caribbean Beach Resort were the “Value” hotels. Once the All Stars opened, the became the Value category, and created the Moderate category. There’s your Disney pedantry for the day.

**Some people, at the age of 22 and graduating college, decide that they are moving to LA. Or getting a dog. Me? I vowed to go to Disney every other year.