Saturday

Weekly Roundup 3/31


Welcome Disney friends to the 3/31 edition of Focused on the Magic's recap! 

Since last I recapped I have suffered from a severe case of Disneyitis resulting in Disney dementia and a high spring fever complicated by computer malfunctions... April Fools:D 
As Goofy as it sounds, some of it rings true. My computer did crash. Good news is I'm writing this on my new laptop:) I really am in a constant state of Disneyitis. CLICK HERE to see if you are too. The Disney dementia and spring fever diagnosis is probably from the new computer smell;)
Ok, enough of the foolishness, I'll save the rest for tomorrow;) 


On to highlights of pixie dusted postulations from the past 2 weeks...
  • You may have noticed a new blog button for a new feature, Deb's Daily Dose of Disney. As the title implies I am sharing a daily dose of Disney magic through tips, pics, interviews and reviews with just enough pixie dust to give you a Disney fix for the day.
  • The Disney Wordless Wednesday Blog Hopwere awesome! The Sorcerer's Hat (Icon Theme) had 29 bloggers linked up and April Flowers (Flowers & Gardens Theme) had 25 bloggers linked in. Thank you all for linking up and making it a success!!
  • Photo Flashback Friday took us back in time once again, to a great family trip and a Flower & Garden Festival. I would love it if you would join us as we take a Disney trip back in time. Linking up your photo flashbacks is a fun way to share your favorite pictures and to meet new Disney friends.
  • Stop by and visit my friends  for the 20 Days to 20 Years series, a fabulous daily celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Disneyland Paris. 
Hosting Bloggers are:
 Didi Marie (@DISTherapy) of :DISTherapy
 Beth (@disneymom2jhe) of Pursuing the Magic and The Magical Blogorail
Manda (@mandadisneyblog) of Mandas Disney Blog!

      Coming up next week ...


      In honor of Easter, Spring and April Fools Day

      Focused on the Magic

      The theme for the Disney Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop 4/4/12 is ...... 
      Disney Hats, Caps, Bonnets and Bows
      Silly, saucy, big and small, we all wear them. 
      Let's share them! 
      I hope we'll see you at the hop!


      Till next time! 
      Stay focused on the magic!
      Thanks for stopping by


      Unrelated articles

      Friday

      Flashback Friday ~ Pixie Hollow

      It's time for Photo Flashback Friday here at Focused on the Magic! 

      Time to once again dust off our Walt Disney World photo albums and take another look at some of our favorite photos from vacations past. 


      If you are new to the hop, Welcome! I hope you enjoy your visit. For those returning, Welcome Back! If you are new here and would like to join in on the fun, you'll find out how at the end of this post. I would love to have you share your flashback photos with us. 



      This week I am continuing my Epcot Flower & Garden Festival theme. I had no idea when I started it I would be on my third week of F&G flashback. It's just too much fun for me, looking back at all the wonderful memories of the Flower & Garden Festival, I just had to share a few more. 


      Today's pictures are of the topiaries in Pixie Hollow. This is always a must-do attraction for me. I have to confess, I enjoy it most when I'm touring solo or with my flower and gardening buddies. I think my DH and two sons would rather count daisy petals in the wind than visit the flowering fairies at Epcot;)
      Focused on the Magic Flashback Friday Pixie Hollow
      Focused on the Magic Flashback Friday Pixie Hollow


      This attraction is exclusive to The Flower & Garden Festival each year. It's grown in size each year and this year they have added a new fairy friend this year. You can read all about her HERE at The Disney Parks Blog.
      Focused on the Magic Flashback Friday Pixie Hollow

      Focused on the Magic Flashback Friday Pixie Hollow
      Photo opportunities abound in Pixie Hollow so give yourself plenty of time. Sorry this flashback is so brief (and late) but I'm still enjoying " the new computer smell" today while loading up all my stuff. It's intoxicating:)
      ~~~~~~~º0º~~~~~~
      I hope you enjoyed my 
      Flashback Friday Post! 
      Would you like to join us & link up your 
      Disney Flashback Photo Post?
      New to our Blog Hops? Questions? Here's a link to the 411 on our blog hops. Feel free to email me with any questions. Please leave a comment below, I love reading comments!


      Focused On The Magic

      Have a Magical Day!  
      Thanks for stopping by Focused on the Magic.com

      Thursday

      Are You Ready for the next Disney Mom's Contest?

      It's coming soon...

      Did you have as much fun as we did with the last big giveaway, with the Dooney & Bourke Purse?! Well then, we have a surprise for you -- or maybe not, based on a poll we ran earlier in the month!




      Our readers voted, and starting on Sunday, April 1st, 2012 -- and this is NO April Fools Joke -- we will be giving away one $100 Disney Gift Card to a very lucky fan! 
      The contest will run from Sunday, April 1st, 2012 starting at 12:01 AM until Monday, April 16th, 2012 at 12:01AM. We debated whether or not to run it until April 15th, 2012 -- the traditional Tax Day in the United States -- but decided to run it until April 16th so that you could have that mad rush of getting your entry in at the last minute on April 15th, just like many of us used to do when we mailed our tax returns to the IRS at the last possible moment!

      Look for the official kick-off post on Sunday and good luck everyone!



      Have a Disney Day!  
      Thanks for stopping by Focused on the Magic.com

      Destination Disney: My Favorite Disney Characters

      It's time for another Disney meme. The topic this week is our 
      Top 9 Disney Characters
      It was tough narrowing my selection down to just 9 from all the Disney legendary characters. I have so many favorites from Disney TV, movies, parks and books that I needed to break it down. Oh the decisions! 

      After much thought, (think Pooh and his thoughtful spot) I decided I better stick with just characters I've met and interacted with in Walt Disney World. Some meet and greets are just that, you meet the character get their autograph take your picture and go. Other characters really connect and interact with guests making the experience even more magical.
      Also, putting a number on it was a challenge. I finally had to go with 10 instead of just 9, consider it a Disney 9 "plus". You know how Disney always "pluses" everything.

      Tuesday

      Wordless Wednesday ~ April Flowers

      The
      Welcome to our happy hop!

      Where all Almost or Wordless Wednesday

      Disney-related Photo Posts are always welcome to link up!!
      Come along and join the fun! Link up your Disney Almost Wordless or Wordless Wednesday posts to the hop, make new Disney friends, visit with old friends, see some great pictures at 
      with me, Debs Dis @ Focused on the Magic  

      If you were to make a 2012 calendar, which one of your Disney pictures would you use for the month of April? That's the theme this week. It was a tough choice for me again this month. I couldn't decide if I wanted to go with a cherished family photo, an Easter picture or a photo from The Flower & Garden Festival.
      Well, it's time for April's Calendar Shot! 
      Epcot Flower and Garden Entrance Display ©Focused on the Magic.com
      After you've decided on a picture for your calendar you may want to check out this link to a site where you can create and print your own free photo calendar.

      Disney Trader Sam’s Schweitzer Falls Cocktail Recipe





      Disney InsidEARS Recipe: Refreshing Drink from Trader Sam’s-Enchanted Tiki Bar




      How about a refreshing drink from Trader Sam’s―Enchanted Tiki Bar to cool you off in preparation for spring break? If you can’t get to the tropics, bring the tropics home to friends and family with this fun drink recipe for Trader Sam’s Schweitzer Falls non-alcoholic cocktail. Enjoy! 





                     
       Schweitzer Falls (Non-Alcoholic)


      4 ounces Sam’s “Gorilla Grog” (a blend of pineapple, orange, guava, and passion fruit juices, fresh lemon juice, and falernum*)
      4 ounces Sprite
      Maraschino cherry, for garnish
      Pineapple wedge, for garnish
      Mint sprig, for garnish
      1. Build in a Collins glass over ice, roll into mixing tin, and back into glass.
      2. Garnish with maraschino cherry, pineapple, and mint.
      * Falernum is a sweet syrup used in Caribbean and tropical drinks. It contains flavors of almond, ginger and/or cloves, and lime, and sometimes vanilla or allspice.
      Source: Disney Parks InsidEARS News
      Have a Magical Day!  

      Monday

      Disney Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop Theme for 3/28



      If you were to make a 2012 calendar, which one of your Disney pictures would you use for the month of April? 
      That's the theme for this week's 

      Disney Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop ....

      I hope we'll see you at the hop with your ~ 
      April Calendar Shot!
      All Disney-related Photo Posts are always welcome to link up!!


      After you've decided on a picture for your calendar you may want to check out this link to a site where you can create and print your own free photo calendar.
      Questions? We have a whole page dedicated to answering all your questions: 
      The Disney Wordless Wednesday 411 page.


      Just a reminder! Each week we host a Flashback Friday Blog Hop.

      Come join us as we flash back in time with photos from our past Disney adventures on Photo Flashback Friday


      It's free to link up, it's fun and a great way to preserve precious Disney travel memories.




      Happy Snapping!  

      Sunday

      Walt Disney World Resort Horticulture Fun Facts


      Spring is in the air, flowers are blooming here at home and soon at the annual Epcot Flower and Garden Festiva
      l which will be held this year from March 05 - May 18, 2014 , so let's talk horticulture today!

      Well-trimmed trees and clean-cut lawns grace Walt Disney World Resort property year-round (not just during the annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival but it’s no easy task. Take a look at these fun facts to get a better idea of the Disney magic that goes into making Walt Disney World Resort the best groomed place on earth:

      • Nearly 12 percent of Walt Disney World property — an area equivalent to nearly 3,000 football fields — is devoted to gardens and maintained landscapes. (That’s 4,000 acres worth of beauty.)


      • Each year the Walt Disney World Horticulture team plants 3 million bedding plants and annuals, and maintains millions of other plants including more than 4 million shrubs, 13,000 roses and more than 200 of the famous topiaries that have become synonymous with Disney Parks.



      • The “Liberty Oak,” which is the focal point of the Liberty Square area in Magic Kingdom park, is the proud parent of more than 500 young trees. They all started out as acorns harvested from the majestic oak.
      •  Horticulturists use 8,500 interior plants each year and add 6,000 trees to the exterior landscapes throughout Walt Disney World Resort . . . and they maintain some four million shrubs in landscapes.
      If you are looking for some help in keeping your grounds green, head to the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival to see one of the many sessions dedicated to helping you build a better garden.
      Versailles comes to mind at the perfectly manicured parterre garden accented with geraniums at the France pavilion in the World Showcase during the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.

      Source: Disney Parks 
      Images: ©Disney
      ________________________________________________________________

      What is your favorite part of the Flower & Garden Festival?


      Have a magical day! 
      ______________
      Now it's time to hop aboard the magical Blogorail and see what my friends on the Magical Blogorail are sharing.

      Saturday

      Disney Parks News: Vinylmation Christmas in March




      Today's Daily Dose of Disney news comes to you straight from the Disney Park InsidEARS.


      It doesn’t have to be Christmas for me to stock up on gifts. If you have the same mindset I’m sure you’ll love this Vinylmation promotion I just heard about.  But be quick, because the offer is available only while supplies last.






      Thursday

      Photo Flashback ~Flower & Garden Butterflies

      It's Photo Flashback Friday! Time to once again dust off our Walt Disney World photo albums and take another look at some of our favorite photos from vacations past.
      Continuing the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival theme from the last two weeks, I am sharing photos today that were taken in Bambi's Butterfly House. Many you've seen here before but they are oldies but goodies to me.
      I've also included a few fun butterfly facts because a trip to The Butterfly House is also an educational experience.
      This attraction is exclusive to The Flower & Garden Festival each year. I always try to plan enough time to see all the displays and to snap a few (dozen;) shots
      There are over 1,000 native butterflies representing up to 10 species.
      © Focused on the Magic.com

      Tuesday

      Wordless Wednesday (Almost) ~ The Sorcerer's Hat

      Disney Wordless Wednesday Logo

      Welcome to our happy hop! 
      Where all, Almost or Wordless Wednesday 
      Disney-related photo posts are always welcome to link up!
      Come along and join the fun! Make new Disney friends (DFs), visit with old friends, see some great pictures and share yours at the hop!
      is happily hosted each week by myself, Debs Dis of
      Focused on the Magic  
       

      Disney Parks InsidEARS Welcome

      DebsDis


      Disney has launched a new site, Disney Parks InsidEARS , which is still in Beta form right now. It will be a site where Disney Park enthusiasts can connect, share insights and information on Disney travel.
      I am thrilled to share with you that I have been invited to be part of the group!! 

      The Disney InsidEARS magical email arrived at just the right moment for me. I had been so down in the dumps for days over my computers St. Patricks Day crash that I just couldn't believe my eyes when I first saw it. Instantly, my mood went from Eeyoresque to over the top Tigger-ific!
      After finishing my registration and quiz (about Disney World) I received this: 

      You're Officially An InsidEAR - Time To Mouse Around!



      So, I guess, it's official, I'm a Disney InsidEAR! 

      Sunday

      Weekly Roundup Button
      Welcome to our Week in Review at Focused on the Magic! We stayed focused on the magic of Disney this week with photo fun hops, friends & flashbacks, and an unexpected meltdown. 
      St. Patrick's Day morning I awoke to the shock of all bloggers shocks, my computer's motherboard had a meltdown overnight. Nasty trick for such a fun day. Overworked and long overdue she'll have a much needed makeover and come back with zippy new bells and whistles designed for photography and blogging. If not, that's me you hear wailing in the distance!

      Friday

      Photo Flashback ~ Flower Power Concert

      It's Photo Flashback Friday! Time to once again enter the Wayback Machine and have another look at our Disney photos.
      Continuing the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival theme from last week I have another flashback from a magical trip I took to Walt Disney World in 2006 with our whole family. 
      This is such a special picture because it was taken during the Flower Power concert series. All four of us (DH and both DSs) were sitting right up front singing along and truly enjoying the show. My kids grew up hearing The Association so they knew all the songs and DH and I grew up listening to them on the radio. It was such a wonderful experience to see them perform live and with my boys.

      Wednesday

      Guest Blogging Day ~ 20 Days to 20 Years

      Today is a big day for Focused on the Magic
      I'm guest blogging over at DIStherapy for the 20 Day to 20 Years series. We're celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Disneyland Paris and my post is about Disneyland Paris in 1994, a year of major changes for the park! Stop by and follow along!!
      CLICK HERE for Disneyland Paris, 1994






      We're also hosting The Disney Wordless Wednesday Blog today. The theme this week is Frontierland! You can hitch up your posts HERE.
      Have a Disney Day!  
      Thanks for stopping by Focused on the Magic.com

      Tuesday

      Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ~ (Almost) Wordless Wednesday

      Disney Wordless Wednesday Logo

      Welcome to our happy hop! 
      Where all, Almost or Wordless Wednesday 
      Disney-related photo posts are always welcome to link up!
      Come along and join the fun! Make new Disney friends (DFs), visit with old friends, see some great pictures and share yours at the hop!
      is happily hosted each week by myself, Debs Dis of
      Focused on the Magic  


      This week's theme is...
      Disney's  Frontierland
      YeeHa! We love Frontierland! Everything about the wild west theme, shoot 'em up arcade, Pecos Bill, Honky Tonk music and all it's old western goodness has to offer. Frontierland is full of great photo ops for me. While the boys are busy shooting on the range I'm shooting the western scenes with my camera. 

      Our favorite ride is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and my favorite place to take a picture of it is from The Liberty Belle as she makes her way around the bend. BTMR is just close enough at that point to get a good shot of everyone flying by on the runaway train as they head into the mountain.
      Pin It
      Fun Facts From Disney™The names of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad trains are: U.B. Bold, U.R. Daring, U.R. Courageous,  I.M. Brave,  I.B. Hearty,  I.M. Fearless.

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