It's Princess time! Polish those tiaras, lace up your Sauconys and queue up for today's Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend registration. Pixie dust for this sporting event is piling up, with additional weekend events added to ensure a lightening -quick sell out. Not sold? Take a look: - Princess Half Marathon Sunday, February 23, 2014 The sixth annual event takes you down Main Street U. S. A. and through Cinderella Castle. It just can't get better. You will never look at the castle the same way again; I promise. The course entertainment along this 13.1 journey is the best I have ever seen at a runDisney event. This race truly is fit for royalty!
- Inaugural Disney Enchanted 10K Saturday, February 22, 2014 This popular distance race comes to the Princess Weekend for the first time, and it is sure to appeal to newer runners; more than a beginner 5K, and half way to a half marathon. Take flight through Epcot and the Epcot Resorts for 6.2 miles. Warning: This race may just be your gateway to a full blown runDisney addiction. - Glass Slipper Challenge Saturday, February 22 & Sunday, February 23, 2014 Also new this year! A 10K plus a half marathon equals 19.3 miles of magic AND the Special Glass Slipper Challenge Finisher Medal - Special Edition of the Coast to Coast Race Challenge Sunday, January 19th & Sunday, February 23, 2014 All-new too! This pink dusted version of the well-known and loved runDisney Coast to Coast Race Challenge Medal can be yours for flitting from coast to coast within this 3 week period, and finishing both woman-tastic half marathons. **There will be a limited number of Tinker Bell Half Marathon entries available when Princess Half Marathon registration opens on Tuesday, June 11th. Rise and shine early princesses!!** If you miss out Sleeping Beauty, fear not. Your second chance to register for the Disneyland race is on Tuesday, July 9, 2013.
- Cinderella Royal Family 5K Friday, February 21, 2014 3.1 miles of fun for the family and racers/walkers of all abilities. - runDisney Kids Races Friday, February 21- Saturday, February 22, 2014 Little Princes and Princesses get there chance to show off their stuff for their royal subjects (er, parents) at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Track & Field Complex.
- Pasta in the Park Party Friday, February 21 & Saturday, February 22, 2014; 7:00- 8:30 p.m. IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth 9:00 p.m. A buffet dinner consisting of pastas, lean proteins and other healthy pre-race options, live DJ entertainment and Disney Character Meet & Greets followed by the classic Epcot fireworks as seen from your reserved viewing location on the World Showcase Lagoon.
- Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend Breakfast Friday, February 21, 2014; 7:15- 9:00 a.m. Breakfast is served madame... at Epcot. Disney Character Meet & Greets and photo opportunities are included. Perfect post 5K fix! - Disney's Fit for a Princess Expo Thursday, February 20- Saturday, February 22, 2014 (Please refer to times here.) What will the next, great runDisney perfectly-Princess must-have be? A new Dooney & Bourke bag? The next generation of New Balance Disney-inspired running shoes?? Stay tuned to @runDisney on Twitter and you can make your shopping list early.
Great news- the Expo returns to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex this year!!
- Race Retreat Sunday, February 23, 2014; 3:00- 5:30 a.m. (runners) 5:30- 10:30 (runners & Platinum chEAR Squad) A VIP treat I highly recommend. I can't think of a better version of "the royal treatment" for runners; pre and post race food and drink, private restrooms, private bag check, padded stretching area, and massage ($10 for 10 minutes). You earned it! They even ask some special friends to stop by.
How's that weekend lineup your highness? Disney has packed so much sparkle and bling into three days that the Disney Princess Half Marathon may just be a girl's dream come true... **Not only are these races sure to fill quickly, your favorite Disney Resorts may do the same! Destinations in Florida is offering great group rates at Disney's Pop Century Resort, Disney's Port Orleans Resort and Disney's Contemporary Resort. (Once again, all Disney resorts will be Host Resorts for this weekend.) Ask for my gal Siera!
Welcome to those of you joining me from Magik Mouse and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the second stop on our Magical Blogorail.
I believe magic must be a synonym for "cast member". Would you agree? After 41 years of experiencing Disney Parks pixie dust, my family has witnessed so many random acts of kindness from these folks that it is difficult to highlight just one. So instead, I've chosen a montage of those faces, those magic-makers, that stand out in the crowd.
They help you tuck in your chair, and put a big smile on your face. (Whispering Canyon Cafe)
They call your husband out for bad manners, and put a smile on your wife's face. (Whispering Canyon Cafe)
Our balloon artist entertains when the kids are starting to doze off on New Year's Eve. (Narcoossee's)
He springs to life, the day is saved! (Narcoossee's)
Whether a smile when you need it most, an unexpected accommodation for a special child, or those famous towel animals (thank you Mousekeeping!), I can't imagine a Disney vacation without the folks who are always on stage. Take a bow Disney cast members; bravo! Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Delightfully Disney.
I've been fortunate to attend a few blogger conferences in the 2 years I've been tapping at the keyboard; whether Bloggy Boot Camp or SheCon, I've searched for the precious tidbits... Those pearls of wisdom that would adorn DIStherapy. My PT professor once said that if you have just one solid takeaway from any conference, you've gotten your money's worth. Well, at last September's Disney Social Media Moms Celebration "On-the-Road" Long Island I had five... (And it was free!) Top 5 Takeaways and Tips
1. Since this was a Disney-based event, it felt like a family affair!! Putting human faces on Twitter handles solidified those relationships, and relationship building is a very large part of any such gathering. Luckily, a solid group of us gathered early for registration, and we put that time to good use!
Look! It's @DragynAlly and @KathyKellyRN!!
We even got a sneak preview from one of the Keynote Speakers, dynamo @TheMojoCoach aka Debi Silber.
My tip? This is a half-day celebration, so don't miss a minute of what this golden opportunity is gifting you. Push your Sleeping Beauty traits aside and arrive early, early, early! 2. As said, the power and value of networking at these gatherings cannot be underestimated. By pure coincidence and several degrees of separation, the gals we sat with that day were all social media princesses in their own right. Linda @RunEatDisney is a running machine (I swear she runs at least a half every weekend) and runDisney costume ace . I followed her epic trials during this year's Boston Marathon, and was so glad for the connection during that difficult time. Erin @LoveDisneyRun is a social media runDisney guru. (Watch for her at 2013 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Full Recap in this official runDisney video at about the 0.40 mark.) Susan @MacKidSuze is editor, publisher, PR/Marketing Exec for Macaroni Kid LLC and is everywhere on the web. Add in bloggers from Special Mouse and The Dragyn's Lair and it became quite the table of talent!
Another tip- don't be shy. It never hurts to introduce yourself and meet new folks. You might just find your next social media BFF. 3. Business Cards Thank goodness for these little memory-joggers. All dutiful conference goers wear lanyards stuffed with their business cards proudly. But these double as around-the-neck rolodexs. DO exchange cards with your fellow bloggers and file them in your lanyard. Upon returning home, create a lanyard collection. In six months, when you are struggling to remember that oh-so-important contact from the local parenting magazine, simply return to your swinging "filing cabinet". You just never know who you might meet and who might become a powerful mentor.
4. Take notes, tweet, post to Instagram; you name it. But give yourself the chance to truly listen to the speakers and be inspired. The speakers at the Disney Social Media Moms "On-the-Road" seem to be hand-picked for not only momtrepreneurial know-how, but for their pixie dust and inspirational value.
Despite their successes and achievements, they do make us feel as though anything is possible as long as you believe. One by one they pull us into the sisterhood, leaving no one behind. "We're in this together gals" seems to be the message, and empowerment is the result. (If you'd like to view videos from several of these speakers, refer to the Disney Social Media Moms Event Gallery.) My suggestion? Do some research on the background of your speakers. For the 2012 session, I put together a "Disney On-the-Road" board on Pinterest; it helped me to get maximum value for maximum magic! 5. In the literal takeaway category- swag. Think of it as a party favor. After all, any Disney celebration should be a joyful one. Considering this conference was a freebie, I must confess that I wasn't expecting anything beyond content. However, we were given t-shirts (perfect pajamas), a utility bag, and this beauty that sits on my desk every day:
Not only does it remind me of lessons learned, it always produces a smile. Always. I love it! If this year's celebrations come bearing gifts, display them proudly; they are links to yet another form of magical Disney memories.
Come this Wednesday, Disney Social Media Moms "On-the-Road" Celebration is at it again, and spreading its reach across the country: Manhattan, New York Wednesday, June 5th Bethesda, Maryland Friday, June 7th Berkeley, California Tuesday, June 25th Bellevue, Washington Thursday, June 27th Will you be there? What are you most looking forward to? I will be in attendance in New York City, eagerly looking for familiar faces, ready to make new contacts, with my listening Ears wide open, and with a renewed eagerness to learn. I believe!!!
Last summer, families took their road trips to Disney's California Adventure for a first spin around the brand spanking-new Cars Land; they had waited five long years for its production, and it proved so worth the assembly time! When school break begins this year, the focus will no doubt be on a different park on a far away coast. Summer 2013 will see a rush to the new Walt Disney World wonderment; New Fantasyland. In the three years since its announcement, this sizable Magic Kingdom expansion (growing from 10 acres to 21 acres) has captivated both imaginations and dreams. Much focus has been placed on its headliner attractions, and with good reason. Beast's Castle (with Be Our Guest Restaurant as its star), Maurice's Cottage (home to the adorable and interactive Enchanted Tales with Belle), two Dumbo the Flying Elephants and the familiar to Disneyland fans Under the Sea~ Journey of the Little Mermaid are all stellar experiences. But to fully appreciate the Enchanted Forest and Storybook Circus, to truly become part of the story, you must stop, and look, and smell and savor your surroundings. MUST. To help you step inside these storybooks, these "tales as old as time", I share my Top 5 Hidden MUST-DOS at New Fantasyland. 1. Belle's Village Grab your favorite book, (or buy a new one at Main Street U.S.A.'s Emporium), buy a Lefou's Brew (Cars Land-goers will recognize this as Red's Apple Freeze from the Cozy Cone Motel) from Gaston's Tavern, and sit in the middle of this "quiet little village"... Take some time to drink in your surroundings:
Eye the local tavern.
Listen to the bubbling fountain that pays homage to the man.
Savor the aroma wafting from Maurice's Amazing Popping Machine.
Check out those dreamy guns for yourself... (And try not to go weak at the knees.)
Bonjour! I dare you to not hear the strains of Belle in the backdrop of this provincial square. 2. Royal Majesty Makers
Upon entering the Magic Kingdom, be sure to pick up a Park Guide and plan your day around the new "atmosphere performers". Disney California Adventure-goers know what these players add to a stroll down Buena Vista Street, and the latest experiment in "Streetmoshere" does the same for the Castle Court in New Fantasyland. One of the Magic Kingdom troupe, the Royal Majesty Makers (Lady LIewellyn, Sir Sterling, squire Tobias and lady-in-waiting Bridget), are the official ambassadors of Cinderella's court, and lead princes and princesses of all sizes in pure merriment. From learning royal etiquette,
A proper regal wave.
to a rousing game of "Sir Sterling Says", your Fantasyland experience will not be completely magical without them! 3. Under the Sea~ Journey of the Little Mermaid QUEUE
Even if you are familiar with this attraction from its California predecessor, please don't skip this mesmerizing queue and its interactive elements. As you wind past palm trees, waterfalls, sand and caverns inside Prince Eric's Castle (and luckily for you, it's always low tide), you are indeed traveling under the sea. The attention to detail in New Fantasyland marks a new era at Disney Parks. You will be surrounded by shipwrecked treasures, and The Little Mermaid story is etched in the ceiling; but the interactivity begins with Scuttle's Scavenger Hunt.
Be sure to help the digital blue crabs (created using Pepper's ghost effects), sort through the whozits and whatzits in a game of "trash or treasure". By pointing to the images, you can decide what Ariel saves in her thingamabob treasure chest. Be advised, the queue is part of your adventure, but you will miss it if you take the FastPass line. For first-time visitors, I would suggest arriving early and enjoying the full journey. 4. Dumbo's Interactive Queue and Big Top Tent
Again, Disney pulls you into one of their classic films. Not only will you want to grab a flight on one of two Dumbo the Flying Elephant spinners, but be sure to set aside at least 15 minutes for your child to "star" in this Big Top show. In this air-conditioned tent in the Storybook Circus section of New Fantasyland, immersive storytelling is absolute. With Dumbo and Timothy Q soaring overhead and the burning building from Dumbo's dramatic ending in the backdrop,
your child can play with toddler equipment in the center ring, or climb on nets, bounce and slide their way through the aerial circus "stage".
See your child become a "Human Cannonball"!
While your little performer is entertaining all, you can SIT on the benches, and keep your eye on the pager that will alert you it's time for the actual ride. Be warned: you may have difficulty getting your child out of this tent!! (I know I had that trouble with my 20 year old!) Again, you may want to forgo the FastPass and queue it. 5. Explore Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak Station
This is the perfect spot for total mid-afternoon refreshment; grab a hot dog and churro, let your family cool off while splashing around in the circus-themed water play area and people watch.
If you don't want to get wet, instead bathe in the air conditioning at Pete's Silly Sideshow, and meet The Great Goofini or The Astounding Donaldo. This area is a bit off the beaten path, so take this virtual tour so that you don't miss this little slice of carnival magic: The downside to these hidden MUST-DOS? You may have to add an extra day of touring to your plan! From peanuts embedded in the path leading to Storybook Circus to the castle moat around Beast's Castle in the Enchanted Forest, New Fantasyland is a story you will want to surround yourself in. Be sure to make all of it "part of your world".
