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Looking to discover new rides and activities while at Walt Disney World? Look no further! Here are five underrated Disney rides and activities for when you want something else to do. As a note, there are other underrated rides out there, and honestly, everything you can do is amazing at WDW, so this is just a select few. Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMoverLocation: Center of Rocket Tower Plaza, Tomorrowland, Magic Kingdom This fun jaunt through the future is the perfect way to relax after riding a ton of rides and doing a lot of walking. It takes you through Tomorrowland in the skies, themed as futuristic public transit, and offers a glimpse at the inside of Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. Don't miss this one for a fun, relaxing pause in the craziness of a Disney day. Astro OrbiterLocation: Rocket Tower Plaza, Tomorrowland, Magic Kingdom Great for riders of all ages, the Astro Orbiter is located above the PeopleMover and takes riders on a fun spin with a view of the whole park. Riders can control how high they fly with a lever in their ship as well. For a great ride, try this one at night. Carousel of ProgressLocation: Tomorrowland, Magic Kingdom While you're in Tomorrowland, hit up the Carousel of Progress for a 20 minute historic Audio-Animatronics show about the progress of humankind. This inspiring experience was created by Walt himself for the 1964-65 World's Fair in New York, and showcased what was, at the time, the latest animation technology. Bringing riders through the technological innovations affecting families from the turn of the century to the present, and accompanied by the classic Sherman brothers song "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow," this rotating show is an experience you won't want to miss. Discovery Island TrailsLocation: Near the Tree of Life, Animal Kingdom If you really want to make the most of Animal Kingdom and find the magic in nature, check out the Discovery Island Trails. Spiraling around the Tree of Life, the pathways allow you to see beautiful views, rare animals, and up-close details of the tree itself. Some of the animals available for viewing include the Asian Small-Clawed Otter, Macaw, Red Kangaroo, African Crested Porcupine, Ring-Tailed Lemur, Galapagos Tortoise, White Stork, and more. Spaceship EarthLocation: That huge golfball looking ride, EPCOT While we all know the large golfball-ish ride is the symbol of EPCOT, not everyone knows that there is an awesome ride inside that is a great way to cool off and learn about how communication has changed throughout human history. The ride is audience interactive and rockets you back to the beginning of history with immersive Audio-Animatronics. At the end, you even get to decide your own future. What other rides are underrated? Leave me a comment below!
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I thought I'd let you know what I have in store for this summer, and what will be posted after I get back from vacation in a place that has awful internet service. I am planning a ton of helpful posts about the park, giving you all information about finding characters, meal plans, fun and cheap things to do, and more. I'm gonna set up a Pinterest board for this blog too, where you can find more resources and fun links. I'm also going to (finally) finish my Best of Disney series with Epcot and Animal Kingdom, so be on the look out for that. Plus, I am planning on doing some more cooking and baking for A Spoonful of Sugar. Also, I will be updating the other pages of this blog in the near future as well, so those are a work in progress. Furthermore, I finally went back through and set up the categories for this blog, so you can look to the right and use those to find all of your favorite posts in a single topic! Until then, drop me a comment if you want to see anything else on this blog or just want to say hello. Hey there!
I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite Disney attractions, movies, characters, etc. just for fun. Also, I am awful at choosing favorites so I listed way more than one. Let me know your favorites in the comments below! First visit to Disney Parks? When I was in third grade, my family took a trip to Orlando Disney World. I've been loads of times since then! Hotels I have stayed at: The Castle Hotel, Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa What’s your favorite: Magic Kingdom attraction?
If you're a fan of both Disney movies and the ASOIAF books (or Game of Thrones, the television show), then no doubt you have entertained where your favorite Disney characters would be placed within George R. R. Martin's world. Beyond some amazing fan art, both Disney universes and the universe of Game of Thrones offer endless options for world building and imagination. The PrincessesSnow White: I may be a little bit biased because her name is Snow, but I think Snow White fits in House Stark. She's kind and pure and has a good sense of honor as far as we know. And come on, she'd be awesome saying "Winter is Coming." Aurora: I think DjeDjehuti made a great choice in putting Aurora as a Lannister, but only because of her gorgeous blonde hair and her tumblr-born sass, though based on her actual character alone I think it would be interesting to put her in House Baratheon (maybe even a royal child who was raised by the Lannisters?). Cinderella: I can also see Cinderella as a Baratheon, but like a ward of the royal family who finds her time to shine. She is determined and works hard but fits in well with the royal family. Ariel: Ariel must be in House Tully: she has the beautiful red hair, the house's symbol is a fish, and the words are "family, duty, honor" which almost perfectly reflect Ariel's values at the end of her tale. Belle: I really want to place Belle in House Tyrell, if only for the rose as a symbol, though I don't think she's anywhere near as devious as Margaery or Olenna Redwyne. Willas Tyrell is a good parallel: Willas is calm, studious, kind-hearted, and educated just like Belle. Mulan: It's tempting to throw Mulan into House Targaryen (dragons, warriors, etc.) but Mulan doesn't possess the trademark Targaryen madness, and she is completely motivated by "family, duty, honor" so I also want to place her into House Tully. You could probably make a case for House Arryn as well, but they're crazy too. Jasmine: This is an easy choice: House Martell. Jasmine is headstrong and she is perfectly represented by the motto "unbowed, unbent, unbroken." Plus her fashion choice matches the Dornish weather and Dorne's radical views on women's rights would be right up her alley. Rapunzel: I'm tempted to put Rapunzel in House Arryn just for the puns on her being kept in a tall tower (as high as honor, am I right?), but I also feel like she would make a great Greyjoy. The Iron Islands are kind of isolated from the rest of Westeros, and Rapunzel's fierceness and courage reminds me of Yara Greyjoy. Merida: No doubt about it, Merida is a wildling. She's completely skilled with a bow, has a gorgeous accent, and her fiery red hair is reminiscent of Ygritte's. Merida doesn't need a house, because she'll be shooting for her own hand. Tiana: Tiana heavily reminds me of Missandei, Daenerys' trusted adviser and handmaiden. Both are determined and loyal, with fascinating journeys and emphasized work ethics. Pocahontas: Pocahontas would fit well in House Tyrell, with the motto "Growing strong." Linked with her surrounding nature, Pocahontas certainly grows strong over the course of her story, fighting for what she believes is right. Anna: Anna is also, hands-down, a Stark. In fact, she could basically be Sansa (with a bit of a happier journey). She is fairly young and naive at the beginning of her journey, and way too preoccupied with a boy who turns out of be awful, but over a long quest she grows up and becomes a fierce warrior. Elsa: Elsa is certainly reminiscent of Daenerys, with her strong and stubborn attitude and extremely blonde hair, but putting Elsa anywhere other than House Stark would be to steal from her the excitement of saying, "Winter is coming, and the cold never bothered me anyway." Keep an eye out for more characters soon!In addition to the Disney ones I made here, I just made a couple Studio Ghibli wallpapers (I know it's not strictly Disney, but these movies are definitely on par with Disney so give me a break). Also, I am selling these designs on my RedBubble here, so you can get them on shirts, notebooks, posters, stickers, pillows, and more! If you repost somewhere, please link back to this post or to my RedBubble!
Hello Disnerds and happy spring break if it is that time of year for you!
If you don't have the option of flying to one of the many Disney parks this spring, you can now take a virtual trip through the park with this 57-song playlist that takes a tour through each park. It is heavily based on Walt Disney World because that is what I could find the most ride soundtracks for, but there are some Disneyland-specific songs too. ​Make sure you listen in order for the best experience, and enjoy! Walt Disney Studios transported its viewers back to 1991 with its release of the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast on Friday, March 17, ushering in a new era of Disney nostalgia.
The film, pulling directly from the original animation, tells the story of the bookish Belle (Emma Watson) who saves her father’s life by taking his place as the prisoner of former prince (Dan Stevens) cursed with a beastly appearance. To return the Beast and a host of cavorting characters in the form of the candelabra Lumiere (Ewan McGregor), the clock Cogsworth (Sir Ian McKellen), the teapot Mrs. Potts (Emma Thompson), and more to human form, both the former prince and Belle must find true love while fending of the boorish Gaston (Luke Evans) and a mob of angry villagers. The remake sticks closely to the original storyline, adding embellishments on Belle’s mother and Gaston’s backstory that allow viewers to find excitement in further development of a childhood story. Disney also strives to connect this adaptation with both history and the present, creating by far the most compelling addition. The Beast’s castle clearly resembles the palace of Versailles, and the costume and makeup sense reflect royal fervor, linking him to famed French monarch Louis XIV. Belle’s provincial life and the slight look at eighteenth century Paris also provide glimpses into the real history behind the story. Still, Beauty and the Beast does not stop at brief allusions to history; the movie cautions the current age. The ideas of mob mentality — the film’s “The Mob Song” includes the noteworthy line, “We don’t like what we don’t understand and in fact it scares us” -- as shown through the town’s angry assault on the Beast’s castle, and the folly of judging a book by its cover represent morals that still have a place in today’s dialogue. Furthermore, by including a racially diverse cast, a bisexual character, and a major show of female empowerment, Disney hearkens to a new generation of societal values without getting left behind in 1991. Even Evans’ Gaston acts as a clear warning for a new generation of girls: he mirrors the downfall of patriarchal expectations and represents all aspects of an abusive relationship, from gaslighting to psychotic tendencies. The casting for the brute makes the moral that much more obvious, with Evans boasting not only a stellar voice but also an impressive ability to convince the audience of his malice. Disney also relies on a star-studded supporting cast to round the film out. McGregor’s Lumière lights up the theater, providing a rousing rendition of the famous “Be Our Guest” and one of the only French accents in the movie — ah, the common downfall of English-speaking French films. McKellen and McGregor work well as the film’s metaphorical Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, driving the plot and the comedy along with perfect timing. Furthermore, Disney hit the jackpot with Thompson’s Mrs. Potts; from sassy comments to the motherly love of the titular song, Thompson fits the musical landscape to a tee. Stevens and Watson make a near-perfect Beast and Belle, as well. Though Stevens feels disjointed from his Beast, as for the majority of the movie digitized hair hides his face, his acting chops impress nonetheless, and the character arc comes across clearly. Watson looks like a dream as the headstrong Belle and meets the high acting expectations placed upon her, though she falters slightly in vocal ability as her songs sound canned at times. Nevertheless, the dynamic between the two draws laughter, sadness, and love that captures the essence of one of Disney’s most classic tales. Disney legend Alan Menken modernized the classic score with fresh verses and songs galore. The opening song “Belle” received an update through added dialogue, and Gaston’s self-titled number also benefits from numerous new verses and a dance break. The gorgeous “Days in the Sun” and “How Does a Moment Last Forever” add to the emotional backstories of each character, giving them life beyond the screen. Furthermore, Menken finally gives the Beast a dramatic tune of his own in “Evermore.” The new music advances the storyline swiftly and allows the audience further insight into each compelling character. Beyond the story and casting, Disney’s visual prowess comes across as usual. Each setting, from the provincial town to the towering chateau, acts as eye candy for viewers of any age, added to by the larger-than-life costumes and makeup. Costume designer Jacqueline Durran mirrors each costume from the original film, adding updates and embellishments, while the makeup adds to the grandness of the tale. The visual effects used to transform Stevens into the titular Beast represent the highest quality of computer-generated design available, showing how much technology has changed since the debut of the original film. Only Disney could pull off such skilled grandeur with ease. Walt Disney succeeded in revamping one of their most famous films with only slight hiccups, proving that Beauty and the Beast will forever be a tale as old as time. Kat's Grade: A- Hello lovely readers, Welcome to the new year; it will be one full of exciting opportunities for all Disney fans! Check out all of the events under the Read More break. MoviesWalt Disney Studios Motion Pictures has a huge lineup of movies ready for 2017, ranging from animated films to superhero flicks. March 17: Beauty and the Beast The long-awaited live-action remake will finally arrive in theaters in the middle of March. Starring Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the Beast, the remake is sure to be magical.
Hello my lovely readers! Welcome to a new year, a new semester, and (hopefully) more Disney content. I have recently gotten into graphic design to sell on RedBubble (#ad), and I thought I would design some super cute posters with some of my favorite Disney quotes on them. I've made 19 posters to share with you guys here; they are the perfect size for phone backgrounds as well. Also, I am selling these designs on my RedBubble here, so you can get them on shirts, notebooks, posters, stickers, pillows, and more! If you repost somewhere, please link back to this post or to my RedBubble! |
AuthorKat Shambaugh: photographer, graphic designer, wannabe Disney princess. Literature, Media, and Communications major at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Categories
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