Disney Cruise Line Receives Top Honors in 2011

Since it's launch in 1998 the Disney Cruise Line has won over 50 awards for excellence in operations to dining and entertainment, youth activities and spas.  Disney Cruise Line is truly in a league of it's own when it comes to entertainment and onboard facilities.

2011 Honors: (compiled from different sources on the internet including forum posts and other blogs, if your blog or website is included here, please let me know and I will credit you, I made the list in notepad and didn't think to save the websites. I'm sorry, but will fix it if given the chance to.)

• Cruise International magazine gave Disney Cruise Line the “Best for Kids” award.
• Travel + Leisure magazine ranked Disney Cruise Line the No. 1 Large-Ship Cruise Line for Families and the No. 4 Large Ship Cruise Line overall.
• Condé Nast Traveler magazine recognized Disney Cruise Line as the No. 3 Medium-Sized Cruise Line.
• Cruise Critic recognized the Disney Dream with awards for “Best New Ship” and “Best Inside Cabins” as well as the entire Disney fleet for “Best Standard Cabins.”
•  Disney Cruise Line was named“Best Entertainment,” “Most Family-Oriented Line” and “Best Children’s Programs.” by Porthole Cruise Magazine.
• Travel Age West awarded Disney Cruise Line an Editor’s Pick award for “Cruise Line Providing the Highest Client Satisfaction (Big Ship)”
• Cruise Critic's Cruisers' Choice award for 2011  for “Best for Entertainment” in the mid-sized ship category.
• The World Waterpark Association presented an Innovation Award to Disney Cruise Line for the AquaDuck.

For more information about the Disney Cruise Line, please visit my website or contact me on Facebook.

Disney (Almost) Wordless Wednesday

I dedicate this post to my mother. The woman who introduced me to all things Disney. Today marks 6 months since God called her home. I hope she's telling Walt lots of good things about me.





As for the this week's theme... well, I couldn't pic a photo to represent the entire year, so I'm cheating and picking a photo to use for the month of January... this was taken right after midnight on New Year's Eve 2008 so it was technically January 1, 2009.

Straight No Chaser - Disney Medley

This is not the original lineup, but these kids are GOOD. Straight No Chaser is an accapella group from Indiana University. Every incarnation of the group has floored me.

This is my early Christmas gift to you...

DIY Minnie Mouse Bank

My niece made me the coolest birthday gift. She took a bank that was originally a cat, and painted it to be Minnie Mouse.
Not bad for an 11 year old, huh?!

Disney Christmas Decorations Part I

Rare pigs debut at Disney's Animal Kingdom

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Dec. 13, 2011 – The Animal Care team at Conservation Station has some new animals to brag about with the arrival of three kunekune pigs, a rare breed that has just made its debut at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Found in New Zealand but believed to have originated in China, kunekune pigs also are known as Maori pigs after the first people of New Zealand. “Kunekune” means “plump” in the Maori language. Kunekunes nearly became extinct in the 1980s before breeding efforts increased their numbers.
To help with the pigs’ care at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and to acclimate them to the up-close experience with Guests at Affection Section, animal keepers have been working with the kunekune pigs on a variety of behaviors. This training, which is similar to techniques used with pets, helps keeps the pigs fit, intellectually stimulated and comfortable around Guests.
“Most people have heard about endangered species in reference to wild animals, but many domestic animals are at risk of extinction as well,” said Jackie Ogden, Ph.D., vice president of Animals, Science and Environment for Disney Parks. “By showcasing rare domestic breeds, like babydoll sheep, Nigerian dwarf goats and kunekune pigs at Affection Section, we are helping our Guests learn more about them and how they can help.”

Fun facts about kunekune pigs:

• Kunekunes are a small breed that usually weighs from 90-120 pounds when fully grown. They have a round body, a short up-turned snout and a curly tail. Some have a wattle (a fleshy growth hanging from the neck).
• The pigs can be black, white, ginger (red), brown or gold tipped, and their coats can be spotted, striped, marbled, solid, curly, smooth, rough, long or short.
• They are grazers and foragers. They eat shrubs, weeds, bird eggs, snakes and mice, and usually don’t root.

New Disney Princess

Disney confirmed that they are introducing an animated movie and TV series about Sofia. Sophia becomes a Princess when her mother marries the king of their fairy tale kingdom.

The "Sofia" movie will debut in fall 2012, with the TV series following in spring 2013.


"Sofia" will debut on the Disney Channel and Disney Junior, the daytime block of programming that will launch as its own cable channel early in 2012. Disney Junior is aimed at the 2-7-year-old age group.

"Although Sofia will have plenty of pretty dresses and sparkly shoes, our stories will show Sofia, and our viewers, that what makes a real princess is what's inside, not what's outside," said Nancy Kanter, senior vice president of programming and general manager for Disney Junior Worldwide. "That the inner character of kindness, generosity, loyalty, honesty and grace make you special, not the dress you wear.
"In Sofia, we have a 'peer to peer princess,' a relatable girl experiencing the same social issues as our young viewers … learning how to fit in, making new friends, conquering new skills and building sibling relationships."

While Sophia is a princess, and is Disney, she will not be a part of the  "Disney Princess" franchise.

I think she is adorable!

Photo: Copyright Disney

Disney DVD/Bluray Deal - BOGO 50% Off!

Okay first... 

TODAY ONLY - Free ShopRunner membership for a year ($79 value).

Go to their FB page and like their page and then click on the FREE MEMBERSHIP option on the left. Don't put in your cc info and it will sign you up for the free membership. https://www.facebook.com/ShopRunner?sk=wall

If this promotion is offer by the time you read this, don't worry! Readers of my blog can try the service FREE for 30 days by using THIS LINK to join.

You get unlimited FREE 2 day shipping with no minimum order size. They have millions of products and exclusive deals from the best stores.

Toys R Us is listed as one of their stores and they list the specials they have going on. One of which is Buy 1 Get 1 50% off ALL Disney DVDs & Blu-Rays.

Combine that with the free 2 day shipping and it's an awesome deal! 


*I am posting this on my own, my friends use this site and introduced me to it today, it is not a PR post or anything, I just thought you might like the deals.*

Grand Floridian DVC - Rumors Confirmed!

After months of speculation, rumors, and reports, Walt Disney World today officially announced the expansion of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa with new Disney Vacation Club villas. An estimated 147 villas will open in late 2013, making the Grand Floridian the 12th DVC property. (There are conflicting reports about the opening date. Some say 2013 while others are saying 2014. Perhaps it will be like at Animal Kingdom Lodge where they convert some rooms that open in 2013 and the new villas open in 2014.)

Is anyone else as excited about this as I am?! I just hope it is not the start of a tiered DVC system. 

A Very Disney Christmas - Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

This photo was taken during the very first trip Lord Hill and I ever took to Walt Disney World together.
I had never heard of the Osborne Spectacle of Lights and we happened to walk down the "street" at just the perfect moment when the show started. It was one of the most amazing and magical moments I have ever experience at Disney. Hubby would probably kill me if he realized I posted a photo of him wearing a fanny pack, but in all fairness, I forced him into it and it doesn't really count since it says Disney and anything Disney is awesome.

Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights January 2009

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights is included with standard admission to Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park and the year it is running through January 7th.
For more information, visit THIS page of the Disney website.

For more Christmas inspired Disney blog posts, check out the Christmas Countdown hop!

What rocks more?

My new haircut?

or

My "new to me" Vintage EPCOT Center Sweatshirt/Jacket?

The jacket was my mom's. I found it in her drawer today while going through her stuff with dad and haven't taken it off since. It still smells like her, plus, it's Disney, so it's my new favorite thing.

Work and Disney

I am very lucky to work in an industry I love, Bridal. Not only is the bridal market something I am passionate about but every once in a while my boss will give me an awesome Disney related gift such as ...

These fabulous bride and groom pens!

I am in love with these pens. So much so, that my husband is not allowed to use them and whenever he picks one up I scold him. 

More Disney Wedding items coming up in a future post, stay tuned!