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.

What's New for 2016-The Fate of DisneyQuest

So for a while we have heard rumors about DisneyQuest closing in 2016. We also noticed that in the packages for 2016, the DisneyQuest coupons were not available like in years past. Now we know that DisneyQuest in Downtown Disney will close next year to make way for the new NBA Experience.

DisneyQuest, an indoor interactive theme park located in Downtown Disney at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. It is housed in a five-story windowless building. Guests enter the first-floor lobby and are transported via a "magic" elevator to the third floor atrium at the start of their visit. Guests can expect to enter a large arcade complete with eight attractions inside.  The indoor virtual theme park first opened in 1998.

DisneyQuest will be replaced with the NBA Experience. The  NBA-themed attraction will include high-tech experiences, a restaurant and a store. The NBA Experience at Walt Disney World Resort will feature hands-on activities and immersive NBA video productions and numerous interactive experiences.

Ed Chambers said new jobs will be available for people who work at DisneyQuest.

What are your thoughts on DisneyQuest leaving? Are you sad to see it go or excited to see what the NBA Experience has to offer?


Amanda is a self-proclaimed Disney nerd who loves everything Disney. She is a Destination Specialist with Snapshot Getaways. You can find her and her travel deals on Facebook and Twitter. She loves to chat about Disney so feel free to leave her a message.

What's New for 2016?

Disney released their packages for 2016 and with it some changes.  Of course, your Snapshot Getaways agent is always there to help you muddle through the small print.  Here are the basics:

• Courtesy Holds are shortened from 7 days to 3 days in 2016.
• Final Payment is due at 30 days out from your trip in 2016, compared to 45 days.  There are no fee's made for changes or cancellations made before then (Add-on options like insurance and party tickets have different policies)
• Magic Your Way Packages now include:
•  4 Mini Golf passes (before 4pm) to Disney's Fantasia Gardens or Winter Summerland Golf Courses.
• 4 vouchers to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
• 10% Discount at Splitsville Luxury Lanes with no time/day restrictions.
• 15% Planet Hollywood Discount.

Disney has eliminated several of the discounts available with the Magic Your Way packages, including discounts for spa treatments, marinas, disney tours, and horseback trail rides.  No longer will you receive an arcade card or 2 DisneyQuest vouchers.  

Looking to book your package for 2016?  Submit a quote form to Snapshot Getaways and a member of our team will take care of it for you!

Allergy-Friendly Menus Now Available

Disney Parks have always been known for accommodating those with allergies in their table service and quick dining locations.  Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is the recipient of a FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) Award for providing safe and enjoyable dining for families.  

New allergy-friendly menus are now available at approximately 120 quick-service and table-service locations in Disneyland and Walt Disney World.  The allergy-friendly menu's will be available at almost all the locations by September 2015.

These new menus provide allergen content for each menu item, offering your Clients an easier way to make informed choices. Menu selection includes appetizers (where applicable), entrées, side items, desserts and kids’ meals, and focuses on the most common allergens, including gluten/wheat, milk, peanut, tree nut and fish.

It is still a good idea to let your waitstaff know of your allergy when making reservations and again upon arrival.  More often than not the chef will come to the table and consult with you about what to avoid and what to enjoy!

Maria is a Vacation Planner with Snapshot Getaways and loves to plan Disney trips!  Contact her today at maria@snapshotgetaways.com or follow her Facebook page.

Happy Father's Day

Today is the day we celebrate fathers everywhere. Walt Disney was a great father and loved his two girls; Sharon and Diane.

Diane did an interview with Huffington Post, awhile back,  about her dad and we found this interesting to share on this Father's Day.

Huffington Post : What is the one thing about him that you think people should know?

Diane Disney Miller: No one understands that he was really a dad. He drove my sister and me to school every morning. Every weekend, either Saturday or Sunday, he'd say it was Daddy's day, where he'd take us all day to the local park where they had a beautiful carousel or take us to the studio -- we'd run around the studio on weekends when there was nobody there, we'd go into every animation room and prowl around the lot. He was really a dad. He went to every school function, every Father's Night.

So today we are taking the time to thank some of the Disney Dad's that are in our lives.

Happy Father's Day!

Feel free to share a picture of you and your Disney Dad with us.