50 Days to Go

June 20, 2019 by cryan.com

Today marks 50 days to August 9th.

What's so special about August 9th 2019? It's the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney's Haunted Mansion.

When Disneyland opened the doors on August 9, 1969, guests were treated to ride the Haunted Mansion for the first time. The ride is pretty much the same today as it was back then. Which is amazing when you consider all the new technology that has come about in the past 50 years.

As a huge Haunted Mansion fan, I put together a blog post with some fun facts about the Haunted Mansion that I learned over the years. I am thinking of putting together a special post for August 9th.

Top 7 Disney Post of 2017

December 25, 2017 by cryan.com

This year Disney blog posts started off exciting as we took a nice week-long vacation in early February. We spent time researching various sites and attractions just to get a taste of the magic.

On our vacation, we gathered a lot of great material for future blog postings. It was fun walking through the park looking for ideas.

We are not planning on going back until 2019, so the motivation to do Disney posts wasn't there towards the end of the year.

We still manage to get interesting Disney content every Monday. We have decided to pause the Disney content for a few months. It was fun to look back and see what we did get out and how we might have approached the various topics differently.

Here are the top seven Disney post for 2017, in no particular order.

• Leave a Legacy - We saw the large stones in front of Epcot but never knew much about them.
• Palm Parlor - One of our favorite Disneyland Main Street attractions.
• Tom Sawyer Island - it was fun learning more about the island.
• Disney Rapid-Fill Mug - we use the mug every day. Now we know what those lines are for in the mug.
• Disney Springs - We know that its better to get two tokens instead of one.
• Bippity Boppity Boutique - We were disappointed about our Bippity Bop experience and probably won't do it again.
• Finding Cinderella's Horse - This was a fun to discover before our trip and to see the horse in person without others guests having the same knowledge. We knew which horse to ride on the Carousel.

Looking foward to adding some new content next year. If you have any topics that you wished to be covered let us know via the comments below or via the feedback form.

Last Day in the Park

December 18, 2017 by cryan.com

The toughest part of vacation is realizing its over. You are about to embark to the park for the last full day of vacation.

Before you start your day, here are some things to think about that will help get the most out of your last vacation day.

Plan Your Last Day in The Park

• Check your leftover snack points
• Check pictures - Have they come out well?
• Check Bounce back
• Check suitcase. Make sure there's no surprises when you leave.
• Make a list of rides and things to buy.

Check your Snack Points

If you're on the Meal Plan, check your snack points. You may have a lot of snack points - don't let them go to waste by using them on snacks at your hotel Lobby. (Really your going to use a Disney Snack point on Snickers?) Know how many snack points you have available before you head to the park. At the end of the day, If you do have any remaining, check out the candy shop on Main Street for a better snack collection.

Dont eat candy? Disney Snacks make great gifts.

Check your Photos

Make sure you have all the pictures that you intended to take. Make sure you got the pictures that you wanted. You don't want to be checking the pictures at home only to find out that you didn't get any good pictures of Mickey.

Bounce Back Program

If your staying on property Disney offers a special discount if you book your return trip before you leave. This is usually the cheapest way to book an on property hotel. Check the booklet in your room, or call the front desk details.

Quick Suitcase Test

Here's an idea that you probably didn't think of...

Did you buy too many souvenirs on this trip? Why not do a quick packing test to see how you're planning to get things home. This would be a good time to check, as if you can find out if need to mail things home or buy another bag. In addition, it's a good way to know if you have room for that souvenir you been thinking about. (Do you have room for that unique souvenir bucket?)

Make the Group Task List

What rides or shows do people in your party want to do on the last day? Getting everyone involve will make it a fun day.

This would be a good conversation to have over breakfast. Take out the park map and start circling the key points.

Have Fun

Make the most of the last day, and be excited to come back to the park on your next vacation.

If you have any good tip please leave them in the comments below.

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom

December 11, 2017 by cryan.com

Did you know that inside the Magic Kingdom is a hidden game where kids can become heroes and defeat the evildoers that are lurking around the kingdom. It's called Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom and it's become very popular.

Important Details:

• Sign up for the game at the Firehouse at Main Street, U.S.A.
• Players will receive one map and pack of spell cards per day.
• Missions last from 20 to 30 minutes, sometimes longer depending on degree of difficulty.
• Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is included in your theme park admission.

Things I have learned

• This games is especially fun for anyone that is learning to read (1st and 2nd Graders). It's a great way to get them to use their new learning skills to work.
• If you are going to the Magic Kingdom over multiple days, get the card/map on the way out the first day, that way the kids can learn about all the clues to the game to play the next day.
• You get the cards and Merlin's Map at the Firehouse on Main Street USA. You start by going to the first portal in the Firehouse and holding up the Sorcerer Key Card to unlock and gain access. The Castmember at the firehouse will explain all the rules.
• Playing the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is a great way to use up time in-between fast pass rides.
• As a parent, feel free to ask a cast member for help solving the puzzle. Nothing wrong with asking for help!
• The game cards are very collectible! Make sure you save them especially during major events, such as Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. There are also special cards for anniversaries such as the "Country Bear Jamboree."

Disney Slack Images

December 4, 2017 by cryan.com

Slack is a popular corporate chat communication tool. Companies like it because employees can communicate with each other in an instant. (As if the old way of phone calls and walking up to people is totally outdated.

One of the cool features of Slack is the use of emoji as reaction icons. So someone can make a simple comment, and people can react to it. (Better than everyone cluttering the chat log with 'I agree.')

There aren't any default icons in Slack for Disney enthusiasts. Fortunately you can add your own! Slack provides all the information to make that happen.

Here are six Disney icons that are ready to be used in Slack. All of these images are using the required 128x128 image size.

Click on image to download Zip collection.

In the collection are:

• Mickey Mouse Ears Silhouette
• Epcot Disney Symbol
• Donald Duck
• Hey Mickey
• Typical Mickey Stance
• Minnie Mouse
• Point Right
• Point Left

Country Bear Jamboree

November 27, 2017 by cryan.com

The Country Bear Jamboree is an attraction at the Magic Kingdom in the Walt Disney World Resort.

The attraction is a stage show with audio-animatronic figures. Most of the characters are bears who perform Country music. Characters rise up to the stage on platforms, descend from the ceiling, and appear from behind curtains. The audience includes audio-animatronic animal heads mounted on the walls who interact with characters on stage.

The attraction was removed from Disneyland park on September 9, 2001. It had shown for approximately 10,781 days during its run at Disneyland.

On April 11, 2003, a new attraction called, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh opened.

Ten Things you may not know about the Country Bear Jamboree

• Originally debut in Disney World in 1971, then to Disneyland in 1972.
• Buff the Buffalo in the Country Bear Jamboree was voiced by Thurl Ravenscroft. (Who also voiced the Tiki Room, Pirates of the Caribbean among other popular rides)
• You can still see Melvin, Buff, and Max - the Animal Heads in Disneyland. They are in the "Honey Heaven" room, but you have to turn around to see them. (They aren't the first thing you see as it's is in Disney World.)
• On the sign near the entrance the Grizzly Hall it says the hall was established in 1898. There isn't any real clue of the significance of the date. Dick Hummer was born on January 2, 1898, he was an animator of the Golden Age of Animation.
• There are 20 audio-animatronic bears singing in the act. (Most show up in the grand finale.)
• Walt Disney personally helped developed The Country Bear Jamboree attraction - and it was the last attraction that he worked on. (Walt Disney loved Animatronics)
• This is the third longest running stage show:
  • Carousel of Progress - Started on July 2, 1967
  • Enchanted Tiki Room - Started on June 23, 1963 (Closed from 1999 to March 2005)
  • Country Bear Jamboree - Started on October 1, 1971
• The show is approximately 12 minutes long.
• According to iTunes, the most popular downloaded song in the show is the Red River Valley. (Which is also played at the Big Thunder Mountain ride.)
• In 2002, Disney release "The Country Bears" which featured members of the "Five Bear Rug" family; Ted, Fred Bedderhead, and Tennessee O'Neil and Zeb Zoober. The movie did really bad at the box office as it only grossed $16,988,996. The estimated original budget was $35,000,000.




Hidden Mickey's

On the wooden walkway near the Country Bear Jamboree there are 3 barrels (one large/two small) in a wheelbarrow stacked in the Hidden Mickey fashion.

Many of the spotlights shine Mickey heads before opening up into full circular spotlights.

Above the center of the stage, there is a Hidden Mickey formed by a flower and some scrollwork. It is just above the picture of Ursus H. Bear. In addition, check out the squirrel. The squirrel's tail splits and the on top of the flower are two little balls.

One of the backdrops that falls down during one of the songs contain a pile of logs on it. The ends of the logs come together in that familiar shape. It is proportional and is visible only during that song.

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Geographic Center of Epcot

November 20, 2017 by cryan.com

When Epcot opened on October 1, 1982, it became the largest park in geographic size. Today that honor goes to Animal Kingdom.

Do you know where the center of the park is? Well the answer may not surprise you:

Center of Epcot

Just in front of the bushes at the Showcase Plaza is the center of the park. Technically it's the single bush at the Showcase Plaza.

Best Meeting Spot

This a great meeting point for groups and families at Epcot! If your splitting up your group, you can make this your meet up spot.

I was very surprised that this is the location. Clearly, this indicates that the Epcot design team has worked hard to keep its original layout.

Liberty Square Riverboat

November 13, 2017 by cryan.com

The Liberty Square Riverboat ride is a boat ride on Tom Sawyer Island. Its a nice quiet ride interrupted by an occasional blowing of the boat horn.

When you do hear the Steamboat horn, the boat is leaving the dock.

Ten Things about the Liberty Square Riverboat ride.

• Ride started for the first time on October 2, 1971 (The day after the park opened.)
• Boat official name is Liberty Belle (appropriately named since it's docks in Liberty Square.)
• The boat can hold 450 people. Now you know how many people on the boat when they say it's full!
• The Liberty Square Riverboat will be closed for refurbishment Jan. 8 - Jun. 28, 2018. (Usually, the ride is closed in January, so to be closed for 6 months means they are doing some major enhancement.)
• The entire ride takes 17 minutes (With additional time waiting for people to board) Usually the attraction isn't open until an hour after the park officially opens and closes an hour before the park opens. Which means that it's not available for Magic Hours.
• If you have family that is exploring Tom Sawyer Island, let them know you're taking the Liberty Square Riverboat. There are great photo opportunities by the island.
• The back upper deck is a great place for taking Haunted Mansion pictures. You'll get close up opportunities as the boat passes by the Mansion on the return trip.
• When you see the Indian Village your have reached the midpoint of the ride.
• For much of the ride, sitting on the left of the boat is the best place to be.
• The narration of the ride is done by Mark Twain.

Disney Family Shirts

November 6, 2017 by cryan.com

Have you ever been to Disney World and see a group of people wearing similar family team shirts? They are a fun way to celebrate a birthday or a cause.

Have you wondered where they get them? There are actually several places online that offer them. This weeks post I'll focus on three of them.

Remember to allow plenty of time to order the shirts, many places will ship 1-2 weeks for custom orders.

Three Sites that Offer Family Shirts

Etsy

There are a lot of sellers on Etsy that offer all sorts of creative designs in various colors. I don't have any favorite vendor, just make sure that you order them well in advance.

You order each shirt color, and size based on the pattern you see. Good thing about this route is many of these places are Disney fanatics and pay attention to the detail.

Go.Custom on Amazon

If your an Amazon fan try Go.Custom. They offer a large selection of common patterns that you'll see in the park. The good thing about Go.Custom is that they accept Amazon Gift Cards.

Logan's Locker & Layla's

Logan's Locker & Layla's offer a wide selection of Disney Family shirts.

Description from logantolayla.com website:

2017 Pumpkin Decoration

October 30, 2017 by cryan.com

This weekend we did some pumpkin carving, but instead of doing a typical Disney design we decided to do something different. We decided to put hidden Mickey's on our pumpkin.

Here's some of our past designs:

2017 Change Up

This year we decided to make a bunch of hidden Mickey's on the pumpkin. This was the easiest Disney pumpkin decoration that we have ever done. The only tool need we need was a drill with different drill bits.

How We did it

We used two drill bits on our Craftman drill:

• Mickey head was a 3/8 bit
• Ears were the 21/64 bit

We first did all the heads, and then we switched bits and did the ears.

After we put about 20 ears on the pumpkin, we went back and took an even smaller bit and drilled random holes on the pumpkin.