Saturday

Weekly Look Back and Forward ~ 6/30/12





Happy Independence Day weekend! I hope you are all enjoying yourselves wherever you are. There are so many great pixie dusted celebrations going on this weekend in Disney World. The best park for me around the 4th is Epcot. It's nice and spread out. I wish I was there listening to the Voices of Liberty. What would you be doing if you were in WDW for the 4th of July weekend?


Staying focused on the magic this week was easy with two trips planned, there's lots of Disney magic swirling around in my air space lately.

First, we'll take a quick look back at the pixie dusted blog postulations posted this past week on Focused on the Magic and the what's coming up next week.

Friday

Destination Disney ~ The Color "Teal"

The topic today is the Disney color "Teal/Turquoise". Searching through my computer I came up with quite a few, more than I thought I would. Here's my Disney photographic journey with the color "Teal".

Actress Joodie Patootie ~ Disney Hollywood Studios

Oz is teal
Castle in Teal


Tuesday

Wordless Wednesday ~ Disney Letter "B"

Focused on the MagicWelcome to the The Disney Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop here at Focused on the Magic.com where each week Disney Bloggers gather together to share our Disney Wordless Wednesday or Almost Wordless Wednesday Disney related picture posts. You can share a Facebook picture, Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, Flickr or video post.
This week is brought to by the letter "B". Starting with a new Big Bold Banner for my Facebook page, the boys being Beatles, Big Thunder, blue birds, a brass band and Boyz II Men. 
Focused on the Magic Facebook Cover ~ All Rights Reserved

Boys being Beatles 
Blue Birds



Brass band

Boyz II Men


Time to link up your post ...


Please keep in mind you don't have to post along with the theme, but your picture post does have to be Disney related. This is a Disney WW Blog Hop afterall!

Please read:
  • No linky posts allowed (it would take away from the other bloggers linked up here) and a direct URL to the post.
  • Please leave a comment below after you link up and tell me what you think of the theme, my picture and whatever else is on your mind this week! I love to read your comments!


Focused On The Magic

~ºoº~


~ºoº~
Have a Happy Hop!  
Thanks for stopping by Focused on the Magic.com

Monday

Disney Animal Kingdom Resort Photo Fun in the Rain

 Tips for Disney Summer Rain!

It's summertime in Orlando - hazy, hot and humid.  The Africa hot temperatures may reach 90º but it feels like 103º! As if that isn't enough to wilt any diehard park hopper, there's high humidity! Touring the parks during the summer months for some is their only option during the year. Personally, I'd rather go during the summer than not go at all but my Dear Hubbly (DH) feels quite differently. So, for the past five summers I've spent a week in Walt Disney World with one or both of our boys while DH opts for joining us on our much cooler October or February trips.





Saturday

Weekly Look Back and Forward ~ 6/23




It's been a busy hot week as we enter full swing into the summer season but we continued to stay focused on the magic in Disney photography and Disney related blog posts. 
I have some great news to share but first let's take a quick look back at the pixie dusted blog postulations posted this past week on Focused on the Magic.  
 Looking ahead to next week ...

A few Disney related letter "B" ideas... not that you ever need any, 

you are all so creative:
BRAVE
Baloo
Balloons
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
Boardwalk
Blisters
Babies
Boats
Boma
Bambi
Band
Blizzard Beach
Bears
  • We're kicking off the summer with a new series of blog posts, 101 Things To Do At Disney World.


In this series I'll be counting down to our fabulous fall trip by sharing 101 of my favorite things to do at WDW, from rides to restaurants.


  • The next series will be all about planning a first trip to Disneyland Paris. Yes, you read it right, I'm going to Disneyland Paris in December for the first time! Doin' the happy DLP dance.
Well, that's all folks I hope you all have a pixie dusted week.


Till Then!
Thanks for stopping by Focused on the Magic.com

Thursday

Destination Disney ~ The Color "White"

This week's Destination Disney theme is brought to you by the color 'White' 
I found a few pictures of Disney white in the parks.

White Space Shuttle & white stripes -- taken at Hollywood Studios
White Chef's jacket


Tuesday

Wordless Wednesday ~ Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It!

Focused on the MagicWelcome to the The Disney Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop here at Focused on the Magic.com where each week we gather together to share our Disney Wordless Wednesday blog posts.
Just so you know, your post doesn't have to be wordless at all...just has to be Disney related. If you'd like to share a Facebook picture, Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, Flickr or blog post or video you are more than welcome to.

Mixing it up with Mickey & Minnie 
is our theme this week. A fun topic to kick off the start of summer! Yes, it's here, the first day of summer! School is almost out here in the NE so let's...

Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It ! With Mickey!

Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It ! With Mickey!


Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It ! With Minnie!
Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It ! With Minnie ! 

Counting Down to Our Disney Vacation



My countdown to Disney starts the minute my husband and I agree on a date for our next trip. I immediately call Guest Services and set up a reservation. Our trips are planned no more than 4 months off and many are last minute.
If my trip is a month or more away I like to put a countdown in my signature on board posts. The best place for making your own widget is MickeyPath.com. They have a variety of configurations  and backgrounds and even multiple trip countdowns. This is set up for my next trip. One of those flashes will get my summer dates when we decide on them.

When my boys were young I would make a whiteboard calendar with Mickey heads on it for each trip. Similar to this one. Click Here. Now I use our regular calendar and fill in the amount of days left. Nothing fancy but still fun to look at. That is, if you look at it...My husband is notorious for asking "How many more days?"
Leading up to our trips I'll bring out the planning videos from Disney and order a new one. Watching them provides me with a good opportunity for everyone to make their dining requests known. I then try to score a few of those the following day. Fortunately my family is flexible! Watching the videos also reminds them of rides and attractions that they may want to do this trip. My youngest (AS) son always disliked Space Mountain but now seems more open to trying it. We'll watch Disney movies and our own videos too. Both add to the excitement and planning as they are reminded of all the things they like to do in WDW.

One of my favorite things to do is listen to park music in the car. It gets me in the Disney mood but I am determined to update my music collection for this next trip. My kids always get a good laugh when I put in my "Broke Hoedown" music.

This trip I'll be counting down in blog posts too. With just about 101 days to go till we're in Disney, I'll be be blogging about 101 things I look forward to doing on our next trip. So stay tuned!
How do YOU countdown to Disney World? Share your ways of counting down in the comments below!


Have a magical day!  

Monday

9 #Disney Desserts Worth the Calories

Kitchen Sink at Beaches and Cream Yacht and Beach Club Focused on the Magic

Sweet Disney Dining News:
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Chef Scott Hunnel sells more than 10,000 dessert soufflés a year at Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. After a meal of everything from osetra caviar to seared Kobe beef tenderloin, discriminating diners at the award-winning restaurant look forward to a sweet ending.

An upswing in Walt Disney World dessert sales is a sign of the times, with sweet sales soaring in U.S. restaurants. And in spite of the no-carb craze, there’s no sign that the heightened demand is slowing down. Last year at Walt Disney World Resort, pastry chefs used more than 865,000 pounds of sugar.



Erich Herbitschek, master pastry chef at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, keeps a staff busy with increased dessert orders for his chocolate creations, crème brûlèe and other desserts. On a recent weekend at California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, 50 percent of the diners ordered desserts such as butterscotch crème brûlée with banana cakes and caramelized bananas; warm Valrhona chocolate cake with molten center and raspberry ice cream; and chocolate pyramid with chocolate gelato and berries.


Which Disney desserts are making memories? Though you’ll find house-made sorbets and fresh fruit on menus, here are the decadent, longtime best sellers:
Photo ©Disney




  1.  Silky chai cream with tea tuile at Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. 
  2. Warm berry cobbler at Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, seasonal fruit and a sugary crust served with vanilla ice cream.
  3. Old-fashioned s’mores at 50′s Prime Time Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios — graham crackers, chocolate square and marshmallows, served warm, just like the campfire days.
  4. A Florida favorite, the Key lime pie at Olivia’s Cafe at Disney’s Old Key West Resort.
  5. The legendary grapefruit cake at The Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, made from the 1920s recipe shared from the original Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood.
  6. The satiny crème brûlée with a crisp brown sugar topping served at restaurants at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
  7. The Kona Kone at Kona Café at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, a childish delight for kids of all ages: a giant waffle cone filled with ice cream and served with cotton candy and M&Ms.
  8. The Kitchen Sink at Beaches & Cream at Disney’s Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts, a wonderfully sinful sundae meant for sharing with a gallon of ice cream, multiple toppings and an entire can of whipped cream.
  9. Anything on the menu at Ghiradelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop at Downtown Disney Marketplace — a root beer float, hot fudge sundae, even an old-fashioned malt.
What is YOUR favorite Walt Disney World sweet treat? Share your dessert memories in the comments below!

Click Here For More Foodie Fare Posts
Source: Disney Parks InsidEARS News 
For more information, please visit the Disney Parks InsidEARS Program 

Sunday

Weekly Look Back and Forward ~ 6/16


Happy Father's Day to all the Disney Dads! I hope you are enjoying a Disney day with your loved ones!
Let's take a quick look back at the pixie dusted blog postulations from the past week. Then we will take a look at what's coming up next week here on Focused on the Magic.
One thing I learned this week, being sick isn't conducive to blogging. Here goes...


►We have a new Disney's BRAVE Gift & $100 VISA Gift Card #Giveaway
 that just started yesterday. This one doesn't have tons of links you have to follow. Just leave a comment about your being brave for one entry. Easy enough!
Destination Disney ~ The Color "Black"
Destination Disney ~ The Color "Yellow"

►This week was International Hollywood Studios Awareness Week, an annual event hosted by StudiosCentral.com and I just love Disney Hollywood Studios so we did our part with:



Ok, now that we've looked back it's time to--
 Look Ahead ...

►The theme for the Disney Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop 6/20/12 is ... 
Mixing It Up with Mickey & Minnie 
~~~~~~~~~ºoº~~~~~~~~~~
Wondering how you can join in on the blog hop fun? 
Check this out: The Disney Wordless Wednesday 411  


► We'll be kicking off the summer with a new series of blog posts101 Things To Do At Disney World. 
In this series I'll be counting down to our fabulous fall trip by sharing 101 of my favorite things to do at WDW, from rides to restaurants.

Well, that's all folks. I hope you all have a pixie dusted week.
Till Then!
Thanks for stopping by Focused on the Magic.com



Saturday

Disney's BRAVE Gift & $100 VISA Gift Card #Giveaway

$100 Visa Gift card Giveaway & Brave Prize Pack
As you probably know, Disney’s new movie, Brave is opening in theaters on June 22nd, and to celebrate, I've teamed up with a "Brave" group of Disney bloggers to offer one lucky winner a
$100 Visa Gift Card and a Disney "Brave" Prize Pack!
The giveaway starts June 16th and runs till June 30th.
Entering is easy through the Rafflecopter form below.
Once all the entries are verified to be in in compliance with the terms of the giveaway, the winner will be drawn by Rafflecopter.

The lucky winner will be sent an email as well as being announced right here on Focused on the Magic, so check back to see if you’ve won!
  • Open to all residents of U.S., Canada & International.
  • Must be 18+ to enter. 
  • Leave a comment on this post telling us about a time you were 'Brave'. 
  • $100 Visa Gift Card will be mailed to the winner along with a "Brave" Prize Pack! 
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good Luck!!  

Friday

Destination Disney ~ The Color "Yellow"

This week's Destination Disney theme is brought to you by the color 'Yellow' 
I found lots of Disney yellow in the parks.

Yellow bow tied Freddie Fiddlesticks

Yellow wine

Photo Flashback ~ Star Wars Weekend

Welcome to Disney Photo Flashback where each week we enter the Wayback Machine of our Disney trip photos( that's E drive on my computer;) and share a few of our favorites.

This week is International Hollywood Studios Awareness Week, an annual event hosted by StudiosCentral.com. I enjoyed it so much last year that I thought I'd join in again.
We're posting on Hollywood Studios all week. Check out the Wordless Wednesday Blog hop with 26 bloggers joining in on the celebration this week.
Disney Hollywood Studios is a great park and I think sometimes it gets overshadowed. Thanks to Matt for bringing attention to it. Be sure to stop by the StudiosCentral.com and check out all that's happening.

Today we're taking a look back at Star Wars Weekends. We have a blast in the Studios running from character meet & greet to the parade and special events, not to mention the shopping! Autograph seekers queue up early (pre-dawn) but not my group. We usually stay out late the night before enjoying EMH and roll in to Hollywood Studios around 10am. There's still plenty to see and do if you arrive later in the day. Course you won't get TSM FPs but there's plenty of Star Wars activities and all the other attractions going on. If you have a Star Wars fan in your group, they are going to love it.




Celebrity meet & greets are held throughout the park.
Many fans dress up for the occasion as well, not me. When you're almost as old as Yoda it's time to leave it to the young ones. I'll wear Star Wars shirts and pick up a few limited edition shirts as souvenir. Lightsabers don't pack well;)
 


My favorite part of the weekends is the Hyperspace Hoopla, where all your favorite characters put on a show at the end of the day. It gets pretty crowded so you might want to head over there early to get a good spot. 

I hope you enjoyed our photographic journey.
Would you like to link up your Disney Photo Flashback?

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...