Thor's Chariot at Lowe's Build & Grow

If you are like me you are always trying to find things to keep your children occupied. If it is Disney related it makes it more fun.  Here is my scoop!

Thor has come to Lowe’s to end the “Marvel’s Avengers Assemble” Summer! Register your child so they don’t miss the final clinic!

Lowe's Build & Grow is building Thor's Chariot on Saturday, August 22, 2015 from 10 am- 11 am.
So to register go to this link : http://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/pages/default.aspx
Put in your zip code and hit register and it will walk you through the process.

Amanda Hansel is a self proclaimed Disney nerd who has 2 boys. She is also a travel agent with Snapshot Getaways. You can find her on Facebook and on Twitter. She would love to hear from you or chat about Disney with you.

Friday Freebie: Handmade Paper at Innoventions

If you're looking for a place to cool off, perhaps find a place to sit and relax while the kids explore some fun hands activities (even walk away with a FREE souvenir) then Innoventions East is the perfect place! The big draw here is Sum of All Thrills, but after your kiddo has created and tested their coaster don't forget to stop by Environmentality Corner.

Kids of all ages will have the opportunity to make their own piece of paper from pulp to dry rack. When it's complete they can even stamp it with a Disney character. And it's theirs to keep, absolutely free. 

Hope is ready to help you find more off the beaten path fun on your next vacation. Contact her at Hope@SnapshotGetaways.com or find her on Facebook. 

Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine Dinner at Walt Disney World Resort

This holiday season join Minnie and her friends during a festive dinner at Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Minnie’s Holiday Dine takes place select nights and features Minnie, Mickey, Donald, Daisy and Santa Goofy. (Characters are subject to change). With holiday-themed décor, food, music and activities this offering is the perfect spot to deck the halls with family and friends.

Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine Dinner is $46.99 for adults and $27.99 for children and is included on the Disney Dining Plan as one table-service entitlement.

You can also choose to enjoy reserved seating at Fantasmic! when your Snapshot Agent books Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine as part of the Fantasmic! Dining Package. The cost for the Fantasmic! Dining Package is $52.99 for adults and $31.99 for children, plus tax and gratuity.

Please contact your Snapshot Getaways agent so that we can get this amazing event booked for you today.

*Please note Disney Junior Play ‘n Dine will still take place during breakfast and lunch at Hollywood & Vine.

Amanda Hansel is a self proclaimed Disney nerd who has 2 boys. She is also a travel agent with Snapshot Getaways. You can find her on Facebook and on Twitter. She would love to hear from you or chat about Disney with you.

Disney Days: Phineas and Ferb

Recently I shared that in our family we bring Disney home by celebrating Disney Days. Some of these are laid back and small.  However, when we have something to celebrate or it's a billion degrees outside (so we're looking for fun inside) we go BIG! A few years ago we pulled out all the stops for a day that celebrated one of our all time favorite Disney Channel shows, Phineas and Ferb!

We started with our table scape. We wanted it to really represent the adventure and fun of summer so we pulled in all of our favorite summer toys from beach toys to sling shots.

It just so happened that my daughter has an Eiffel tower, so of course we had to have our favorite duo climb it!

We also found some great printables on the Disney Family webpage. (It's been a few years so they are probably different than the ones we found but there are still lots to choose from.)

The absolute highlight of this day was taking a page right from the adventurers playbook and building a roller coaster in our living room.

We used foam tubing found at our local hardware store and some marbles. The kids had a fun time finding just the right angle, loop size, and more to get their marbles to stay in the loop,   I think they may have even learned something! (Shhh... don't tell them it was educational!)

We've already whizzed by a few of our 104 days of summer vacation but there are still plenty left to create your own Phineas and Ferb day!

Hope love planning trips to Disney even more than she loves planning Disney themed parties. Contact her at Hope@SnapshotGetaways.com or find her on Facebook for help planning your next adventure! 

A Summer of Disney

So, now that were in the middle of Summer, and school is just around the corner, we find ourselves trying to come up with ways to make the best of our dog days of Summer.  Well, Disney has decided to make it a bit easier.

Starting on Friday, July 31^st, in certain markets, Cinemark and Disney will be bringing your favorites to the big screen.  Cinemark in:

                       Huntington Beach, CA                                     Woodridge, IL

                        Plano, TX                                                         Union City, CA

                        Valley View, OH                                              Orlando, FL

 There are pricing packages, and 4 show times daily.

                        Pricing:

                                    Daily Pass:                                           $  5.00

                                    Unlimited Weekly Pass:                      $10.00

                                    Unlimited Monthly Pass:                     $20.00

                                    Unlimited Quarterly Pass:                  $40.00

                         Show times:

                                    10:30 AM

                                    1:15 PM

                                    4:00 PM

                                    7:00 PM

Here’s the schedule of movies playing:

                         July 31^st – August 6^th                       10:30 – Jungle Book

                                                                                    1:15 – The Aristocats

                                                                                    4:00 – Hercules

                                                                                    7:00 – The Little Mermaid

                         August7th – August 13th               10:30 – The Fox & the Hound

                                                                                    1:15 – Oliver & Company

                                                                                    4:00 – Bolt

                                                                                    7:00 – Eight Below

                         August 14th – August 20^th             10:30 – Monster’s Inc.

                                                                                    1:15 – A Bug’s Life

                                                                                    4:00 – UP

                                                                                    7:00 – Ratatouille

                        August 21st – August 27^th             10:30 – Dumbo

                                                                                    1:15 – Chicken Little

                                                                                    4:00 – Lilo & Stitch

                                                                                    7:00 – Iron Will

The exact show times have not been posted for the next 4 weeks, but the movies have been.  They are:

                        Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Princess & the Frog, Mulan

                        Wall-E, The Rocketeer, Cars, The Love Bug

                        The Emperor’s New Groove, Robin Hood, 101 Dalmations, The Sorcerer’s

                        Apprentice

                        Old Yeller, The Absent Minded Professor, Swiss Family Robinson, Polyana

Hopefully this will help fill your Summer days with a touch of Disney.  For more information, please contact the Cinemark in one of the cities above.

2 Moms, 4 Boys & A Movie: Inside Out

As many of us know Disney/Pixar Inside Out was just released. Inside Out, the studio’s latest offering, debuted with an estimated $91.1 million in North American ticket sales, giving it the largest opening ever for an original property, surpassing the 2009 opening weekend of Avatar ($77 million). Pete Docter’s film also ranks as the second biggest Pixar opening of all time, putting it squarely between “Toy Story 3’s” $110.3 million opening and ahead of 2013’s “Monsters University’s” $82.4 million opening. Do you have a little one that has been asking to go and you are not sure?  Two Disney Devoted moms took our little ones out to see it during opening week and we are giving you our thoughts.

My name is Amanda...

      As you may or may not know I am a mom of 2 boys who are 6 and 11. When I first heard about this movie I thought it was a reference to Inside Out Boy who was on in the early 90's. Then as time passed I saw more trailers and I thought "this will not be a good movie". None the less my boys know that I like Disney & Pixar and was getting excited to see it. So we went.
      Little did I know that this movie will keep adults very entertained and laughing, oh and crying. Pixar is no stranger when it comes to showing emotions, relationships, and this movie is no different. Yes, I cried...Thanks Pixar. Some of the concepts of how the core emotions caused personality and long term memory and things like that I think got lost on my 6 year old at times but he was still entertained. With that being said, I was so fascinated in how they explained memories and core memories and nothing was missed.  The brain is complex and to break it down in an animated way for everyone to understand was amazing. My boys enjoyed the movie as well as myself.
         You can not miss Bing Bong and his catchy little tune. Also stay for the end because you get to see different inside the heads of different people and animals. Our favorites were the cats. The Pixar short at the beginning is called Lava, it is very catchy and you may here it at more times that one at home.  It was another successful movie for my household.

My name is Maria...
I am also the mother of 2 boys, 8 and 4.  We try not to miss out on any Disney/Pixar movies, especially on a hot summer day when school is out!  I wasn't sure this movie was for my youngest, but he wouldn't be denied a chance to gorge on popcorn.  So off we went!  This movie reminds me a bit of "Wreck it Ralph" in the sense that there is a hidden "world" in your brain.  This world consists of emotions (in the form of cute characters) and personality worlds.  Your memories are little globes, delicately handled by your emotions.
The premise of the story is following the inner thoughts of a 11 year old girl as she moves from Minnesota to San Francisco.  Dealing with new home, new school and a pizza shop that only serves pizza with broccoli!  It brought me back to when my parents moved us from NY to Maine when I was 16.  So I certaintly identified immediately with all the emotions.  Some of the best parts of the movie are the emotions arguing amoungst themselves about how best to handle things like Dad's new job or having a nightmare.
As an adult, I followed and understood all the layers of the movie.  My kids appreciated it on a different level.  My 4 year old was enjoying things until a scary clown nightmare came into play.  Then he had to be bribed with more popcorn to stay in his seat.  My 8 year old laughed throughout most of the movie and understood the technicalities of the "brain" as portrayed by Pixar.  So with all Disney movies, it meant something different to everyone.  All in all, a success by Disney/Pixar!

Wordless Wednesday: 4th of July Merchandise

Thank you to the Disney Parks Blog for helping us with this week Wordless Wednesday.
You will see 4th of July Merchandise so you can rock your Disney side for the holiday.

The newest retail MagicBand features Mickey Mouse standing in front of an American flag. This limited release item has a retail of $24.95 and can be found in select merchandise locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort.

 Fourth of July limited edition pin with Carl and Ellie from Disney•Pixar’s “Up.” This pin has an edition size of 3,500 and will be released at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. A few others are the new, open edition Minnie Mouse bow decorated in red, white and blue and Oswald with flag.

The Graphic Apparel team introduced shirts including a tank top along with short and long sleeved options. These designs will be similar in both California and Florida with the only differences being the name of the Disney Resort destination.

Guests visiting Heritage Manor Gifts in World Showcase at Epcot will find some unique Americana items including shirts. 

Many locations at Disney World and Disneyland will carry USA Charm Bracelets by Alex and Ani in both gold and silver.