While browsing and meandering through the store, I found the absolutely most fun beach towel. It’s just so colorful yet simple and not in your face Mickey.  I like that sometimes.  It retails for $18.95.  I checked Disney Shopping online to see if it might be there, but it wasn’t. I guessing it’s only available on property.

With my pool I use beach towels all the time.  I think this one just might be a fine addition to my collection.

Also… I stopped at the cast discount store on my way home just to see what they had in stock. I go there maybe once a year just to check it out.  It’s a store where they sell out-dated merchandise or overstocked merchandise to the cast members at a discount price.  It’s not a big secret or hush-hush. Cast members can bring family or friends every once in awhile to shop there, too. Today I got the greatest deal ever on something I’ll probably never use  or need. But once you see it, you’ll understand why I had to have it.

Isn’t that great! It’s a New Year’s Eve Mickey ears  hat from last year.  And the best part is – it was under $1.00 AND because it’s my birthday month I got an additional percentage off that price. So, I practically got it for free. How fun!

Michelle Stevens, me at Rix Lounge

Gorgeous bar at Rix Lounge

  

Artsy cool lighting

I’m always a slightly nervous heading into these weekends. It goes back to the feelings we all felt in high-school, wondering if we’ll be liked, will we be accepted, and will we get along.  We all come from different backgrounds, different areas of the country, different living conditions, different family make-ups, different economic status.  But the one thing I think we all had or felt, was an appreciation and adoration of the Disney brand.

I was honored to meet these very amazing women.  There were 3 moms here who each have 6 children! Two moms with very 7-month old boys. Yet they were all so cool and calm and so much fun to be around. I’ve never been blessed with children, sadly, although I treat my two dogs as my kids. I had so much fun with everyone this weekend. AND I even had a golden opportunity to babysit a 7-month old for about an hour – and the precious baby never cried once! I did good. 

@mommysnacks; @momminitup; @lauraspencerone; @foldinglaundry; Miss something; and @momtalkradio

Me (@leannej); Megan http://www.velveteenmind.com) at good-bye breakfast Sunday morning

@crazyadventures little dude with Chip & Dale The Fantasyland Philharmagic band. Awesome!

@crazyadventures & Lil'Dude at Epcot's Chef de France

@crazyadventures

 

Hollywood Brown Derby celebrates DHS's 20th birthday

Hollywood Brown Derby

I’ll share more soon.  I had an extraordinary weekend – made many new friends and am totally exhausted.  Having a glass of wine then off to bed. @magicalmoms ROCK!

Today I was at Disney’s Animal Kingdom meeting up with someone I’ve had an online connection with, but hadn’t met in person yet. Allison from Texas and I have been communicating through Twitter and Facebook for several months and today we finally said hello – face-to-face. 

After spending time saying hello, I used the next 30 -minutes in the park (before my next conf. call) to head over to see my tiger friends.  Last time I was there I captured a great shot of one yawning.  I was hoping for the same spontaneous photo moment today. While the “action” shot didn’t happen, I still managed to take some great pictures of these magnificent beasts.

Aren’t they just gorgeous creatures?  And to think I’m a dog person. Huh.

Have a tiger-riffic weekend!

American Idol Class Reunion

 

All 7 American Idols at Disney World

The all-new American Idol Experience opened today to guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  The media premiere held Thursday night brought together all 7 former Idols for the very first time.  What a moment for American Idol fans!  I include myself in that group. I’ve watched the show since day one. 

Some of my favorites from the night:  Jordin Sparks, David Cook (of course!), Melinda Doolittle, Carrie Underwood.  And Paula looked darling her her little pink and blue tutu dress.I’m an AI junkie.  So it was definitely thrilling for me to be standing on the sidelines of the motorcade watching so many of the idols parade down Hollywood Blvd at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

 

Stunning Carrie Underwood

Jordin Sparks is all smiles!

Both Jordin Sparks and Carrie Underwood were fan favorites. Carrie was gorgeous, petite and so gracious meeting with her fans.  Jordin was more beautiful in person and had such a big smile.  It was fun to watch the fans take self-photos with the Idols.

Brooke White shares a photo moment with her fans.

Ryan Seacrest - I really like him.

"My Super Bowl Team" at Raymond James Stadium

Game Day has finally arrived here in Tampa. The weather forecast is outstanding, maybe slightly chilly for my Florida blood, but all the visitors will love it.
For those wondering why am I here – I am part of the Disney team that produces the “I’m Going to Disney World” commercial and helps bring the player to Walt Disney World the next day. I’ve been doing this since the last New Orleans bowl, which I think was 2002. I missed a few in-between for various reasons. All-in-all, this will be my 6th Super Bowl appearance. I feel very blessed and fortunate to have this opportunity. I don’t and never will take it for granted. I love the pageantry of the event, all the hype, all the devotion of the fans for their teams. I had that same devotion to the Miami Dolphins back in the days of Dan Marino and Don Shula. When those days ended, so did my hard-core passion for football. But, it is really cool to see others having so much fun and enjoying the moment.
So for tonight- I don’t have a favorite team. I only wish that everyone has a great time and enjoys the big game.

We had a wake-up call of 5:15am on New Year’s Day – which meant no heavy partying on New Year’s Eve, which actually wasn’t a problem for me. I meet up with my colleague Gary and our respective camera crews at 6:30am at Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom had Extra Magic Hours that day which put the odds very high that the first birthday guest would be at that park. It was a gamble we took, but one that paid off. Although as we were standing there waiting for the unknown first “free on your birthday” guest to arrive, we started thinking “Hhmm. What if they don’t show up here. Then what do we do?” It’s Disney – no worries!

Then, he was spotted. All eyes focused on the Guest Relations window where the birthday recipients check-in. We saw a family of four there and we all just knew that this was it. As they made their way to the turnstiles we asked them if anyone was celebrating their birthday and taking advantage of the Free on Your Birthday promotion. Yea – the answer was yes!

That’s when we met Andrew DaCosta and his lovely family who came all the way from Seattle – clear across the country – to celebrate his birthday at Walt Disney World. Once we explained to them they were the first official “free on your birthday” guests at a Disney Park, the magical day began. First, the DaCostas got to walk through the Magic Kingdom all by themselves – with no one else in the park where they took part in a photo shoot, video shoot and interview. They then made it back to the turnstiles in time for the park’s official grand opening for EMH and entered the park using their special extra-large birthday ticket created just for this moment. The crowd cheered for Andrew who seemed to absolutely enjoy what was happening to him. Later in the day, they served as Grand Marshals of the parade.

Some other cool facts – the next day a set of triplets came to the parks to celebrate their birthday as did two sets of twins. How cool!

Andrew holding his over-sized park tickets made especially for him on his birthday.

The DaCosta family walking through the park all by themselves.

Gary and me looking rather happy, despite having had very little sleep.

Me putting my interviewing skills to the test.

What a great family to recieve this honor. Happy birthday!