Category: Disney Articles

It is a blustery, wintry day here in the Empire State and I am trapped indoors.  I have lots I could do to keep busy, but doing dishes and cleaning out closets doesn’t sound like much fun.  I started thinking how my family and I could celebrate Valentine’s Day, when I received a phone call from my parents inviting us to their house for a small gathering.  This was perfect!  Now…. how can I sneak in a little Disney flair to the party without completely taking over, being that my extended family is not as enthused with the Mouse as I?  Going out to the store to purchase party items is out of the question with this weather, so I started gathering craft items, scraps from previous projects, party supplies I had lying around the house.  Here is my challenge, to create a #Disneyside Valentine’s party fit for adults and children with only the items I have available to me in my house……. and without completely annoying my family.  One day they will all come around and enjoy the Magical Mouse as much as I!

 

I used items I found laying around the house, construction paper, left over party supplies, etc.  I also crafted a couple games to enhance our evening of fun.  I Disneyfied the Left/Right game using Cinderella’s story and a small plastic shoe (glass slipper) as the item to be passed around.  Here is my Cinderella Left/Right tale:

Cinderella LEFT for the ball…… the coachman knew the RIGHT directions and turned LEFT onto the RIGHT road.  Prince Charming was RIGHT in the middle of the room and asked for Cinderella’s LEFT hand and led her RIGHT to the dance floor.  She knew he was the RIGHT guy for her as he danced with her RIGHT around the room.  The hands of the clock moved to the RIGHT and struck mid-night, so she LEFT the castle running down the stairs and LEFT her shoe behind.  The carriage LEFT the castle in a hurry and went RIGHT down the path and into the woods.  Prince Charming’s soldiers LEFT the castle and stormed RIGHT into the woods after the carriage.  Midnight struck and the carriage turned RIGHT into a pumpkin and LEFT Cinderella behind.  The Prince sent the Duke RIGHT out to find Cinderella.  Cinderella had run RIGHT up to her room and her stepmother locked her door and LEFT the key in her pocket.  The Duke knocked RIGHT on Lady Tremaine’s door.  The stepsister’s sat RIGHT down and put their LEFT foot out for their shoe fitting.  Their feet were too big and the shoe flew RIGHT across the room.  The mice got the key RIGHT out of Lady Tremaine’s pocket and raced RIGHT up to Cinderella’s room.  Cinderella LEFT down the stairs and called to the Duke.  He slipped the shoe RIGHT on her foot then they raced her RIGHT back to the prince.  They were married RIGHT in the castle and LEFT , RIGHT away to for their honeymoon.

Walt was full of American spirit and proud of his country.  Being an innovator he looked onward to what our country could achieve and made note of our past accounts.  Walt Disney World is filled with his patriotic pride and we see Liberty Square paying homage to this.  This portion of the park shows a collective mix of historical patriotism and nostalgia.

What intrigues me most is the supreme attention to detail as is Disney’s style in all they do.  Let’s take a closer look into Liberty Square and all it has to share with us.  It is easy to breeze through without noticing the immense detail, so let’s take a slow stroll and enjoy the sights.

When crossing the bridge from the Central Hub you are symbolically crossing the ocean into the East Coast of the United States and entering the New World.  On your travels you will pass through periods of New England, Colonial Williamsburg, New Dutch, and the Hudson RiverValley.  

Take note of several things, doors, windows, and the ground.  Various doors have a two-digit number, like a street address.  If you place “18” in front of the door number it will reveal the year that house design was built.  Over at the attraction Hall of Presidents, their house number indicates the year our U.S Constitution was ratified.   Now look up at the shutters, they are slanted.  This nods toward the Revolutionary War when metal was gathered and recycled and used for bullets.  The metal shutter hinges were replaced with leather straps which gave way over time causing them to slant.  While checking out the windows, you will notice the upper window near Ye Olde Christmas Tree Shoppe and house #26 will have two lanterns placed on the sill.  This signifies the warning given to Paul Revere in 1776.  Right around the corner while still looking up you will spot a rifle leaning inside the window. This  gives notice that the man of the house is ready to defend his family, town and country.  Looking down as we are moving along, you will see a stream of brown gravel running along the street.  During colonial times there was no indoor plumbing, so waste was tossed from upper windows down into the streets.  Step carefully and look alive!  Walt also looking to maintain authenticity made sure the restrooms were tucked away, you will find them inside the two dining establishments.

Along the way we find The Liberty Tree, Liberty Bell and state flags of the original colonies.  “Liberty tree” was a meaningful term to the colonists.  It was a place they came together in their first defiant act against the crown.  Eventually there were “liberty trees” planted in all 13 colonies.  So this Oak tree (over 100 years old) has quite a special significance and holds 13 lanterns within its branches, representing the original colonies. 

As Freedoms Rings, this Liberty Bell reigns special; it is a replica made from the original mold used for the one placed in Philadelphia.  The bell is encircled by thirteen state flags, each one waving proud. They symbolize the original thirteen colonies; make sure to look closely at each flagpole where the date inscribed refers to their sanction with the U.S. Constitution.

We are about done with this historical tour in this charming square. I hope you enjoyed the sights and will be able to spot them on your next Magical trip to Walt Disney World.

 ~Maureen

 

This past Monday February 12, Walt Disney World Resort debuted a variety of costumes and floats set to be featured in the Magic Kingdom’s new parade premiering in March.

“Festival of Fantasy” is shaping up to be quite a departure from “Celebrate a Dream Come True”, it’s predecessor, which made its final trip down Main Street USA on January 4, 2014. According to Disney, the parade will feature “some of the most extravagant and elaborate costume designs in Disney Parks history.

Since the press event on Monday, Disney nerds across the internet have chimed in. Some calling the floats garish and the characters depicted in it unrecognizable. Others find them innovative, artistic and a refreshing change.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the float line up with include The Princess Garden, Tangled, Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, Brave, Sleeping Beauty, and Mickey’s Airship. Elsa and Anna will also be making their parade debut.

What do you think?? Do you recognize Merida and Ariel? I’m keeping an open mind until I see it all come together in March. Of course Two Moms blogger at large Nicole will be there to share all the details °o°

*photos courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel.