Wordless Wednesday: Jambo House

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* Wordless Wednesday: The Rainbow Connection
* Wordless Wednesday: Morning at Saratoga Springs
* Wordless Wednesday: In the Big Blue World

Overheard in Walt Disney World: Sunset Blvd Edition

(A costumed cast member, in full character as “The Mayor,” bursts out of the backstage area into the morning crowds)

Mayor: GOOD MORNING, CITIZENS!

Woman: Good morning. Can you tell me where the bathrooms are?

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* The American Idol Experience ... Sort Of
* Overheard in Walt Disney World

Golden Oak: If You're Not Rich, Then Why Are You Reading This?

The time has come to say goodbye to New York. Yes, dear friends, I am moving to Walt Disney World. Not for a short stay mind you, and not to the Orlando area. I am moving into Walt Disney World. To a place of privilege, of restricted access, a place where real Disney fans show their pride buy purchasing real estate – not Mickey ears. In short, I am moving to Golden Oak.

And YOU can’t come! HA! Suck it, poor people.

“Whatever,” you scoff, “living in a multimillion dollar house in a retirement community on Disney property? That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Excuse you, peasant. Stupid? I daresay, living in a theme park is the best way I could spend my millions. Do you have any idea how exhausting it is to make dinner reservations? I mean, have you ever tried to schedule a tee time? And what kind of self-respecting person does their own grocery shopping? It’s like I’m talking to children here.

And speaking of children (elite children, that is), what better way for them to spend their childhood than by growing up in a theme park? Just look at the Golden Oak website:

Special dewivery bawoons all fo meeeeeeeeeee!

And after we finish playing Princess, you will clean up my room, slave.

Tra la, tra la.

As you can see from the photos above, boys are not allowed in Golden Oak. Too messy.

Oh what, now you're crying? Because my fancy house is sitting on property that could have been used for theme park expansion or another resort hotel? TOO BAD. I need to live in a community that was named after a tree that pooped golden nuggets. NUGGET HOUSE WINS.

And want to know why you couldn't get that ADR at California Grill? Because my concierge got there first. Want to know why there are no more tickets to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party? Because me and my neighbors got first dibs. Oh sorry, is my VIP towncar blocking your parking space? 

I think we're done here. Don't you have a Hoop-de-Doo to attend or something?

This post is part of the DisMarks Carnival. Click here for more Disney-related posts by the best in the blogosphere!

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Related Links:
* The Five People You Meet in Line at WDW
* The Problem with Disney Princesses

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Plot Makes Me Eat My Words

I've previously written, both here and on Twitter, about how I think a fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie will ruin the franchise, is completely unnecessary, (insert random crankiness), etc. So imagine my surprise when I read the official, recently released plot description to discover that this one sounds, well, good:

Johnny Depp returns to his iconic, Academy Award -nominated role of Captain Jack Sparrow, newly joined by Academy Award winner Penelope Cruz ("Vicky Cristina Barcelona," Rob Marshall's "Nine"), Ian McShane (HBO's "Deadwood") and newcomers Astrid Berges-Frisbey and Sam Claflin. Also rejoining Johnny Depp and Captain Jack are Academy Award-winner and three-time nominee Geoffrey Rush ("Shine," "Shakespeare in Love") and Kevin R. McNally (first three "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, "Valkyrie").


"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise --this time in Disney Digital 3D(TM). In this action-packed tale of truth, betrayal, youth and demise, Captain Jack Sparrow crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz), and he's not sure if it's love--or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.

Rush reprises his role as the vengeful Captain Hector Barbossa, and Kevin R. McNally returns as Captain Jack's longtime comrade Joshamee Gibbs. Claflin stars as a stalwart missionary, while Berges-Frisbey is transformed into a mysterious mermaid.

Sounds promising, right? And Blackbeard is a wayyyy better villian than Davy Jones and his tentacle head. I mean, Blackbeard has a miniature golf course named after him. And Ian McShane rocks. So, win. And the Fountain of Youth plotline is cool. Wonder if the crew will meet some conquistadors along the way. May I suggest Antonio Banderas as Juan Ponce de Leon? No? Too much history? Fine.

If I may put my old man hat back on, there are still some reasons for concern. First, does this movie really need to be in 3D? I've seen enough 3D movies to realize that the only reason to release a movie in 3D is if it is animated (fine), or if it is bad but the studio needs to break even so they release in 3D because the tickets cost $5 more (cough*AliceinWonderland*cough). And it's directed by Rob Marshall, who is new to the franchise and who directed Nine, which was a complete snore. Also, this movie has "a mysterious mermaid." Hey, remember that awesome movie with the mysterious mermaid character?! No? Yeah, me neither.

Still, I trust in the Bruckheimer to deliver the summer fun. I'll see you in line!

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides hits theatres on May 20, 2011, when it will presumably shatter box office records and destroy any movie that sails in its path.

(image via Screen Crave)
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* Do We Really Need a Pirates 4?
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Wordless Wednesday: Main Street USA

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What Does It Mean to Be a Disney Fan?

It’s a question that’s been bugging me a lot lately. After recently returning from WDW, I was having dinner at a new friend’s house. She asked where I had gone on vacation and I told her my family and I had just spent a wonderful week in Disney.

“Hmm,” she replied, “I never would have guessed that.”

“What do you mean?” I said.

“I dunno, I guess … you just don’t look like someone who would be into Disney.”

And there it was. Someone Who Would Be Into Disney. I had been branded, well, I’m not sure exactly what. But I’ve been thinking about it ever since.

What does a Disney fan look like? And when did being a Disney fan become a bad thing? And why does it sound so lame when other people say it?

I can see how it would be awkward, to an outsider/non-Disney fan, knowing there is Someone Who Would Be Into Disney in the room. I mean, I could burst into song at any moment, flitting about the room sprinkling pixie dust everywhere and getting glitter all over the table. And what if someone makes a disparaging remark about the latest Jerry Bruckheimer film? Would I jump on the couch and make a passionate defense of G-Force, because it is a Disney film and therefore cannot be bad? And where were my manners, showing up dressed as a normal person? How else with others be able to identify my Disney-ness if I am not wearing my Mickey ears?

But here’s the thing. I’m more than Someone Who Would Be Into Disney. I AM into Disney, period. And while other adults may choose to go to Vegas, or Palm Beach, or New York City on vacation, I choose to spend some of my vacation days in Walt Disney World. It’s an escape for me. I like having a week or so a year where I don’t have to be a grown-up all the time. And I’ve vacationed in plenty of other places as well (including the dinner-party-friendly destinations of Greece, Ireland, United Kingdom, and India), but every so often, I like to be a kid. I appreciate culture, but I also appreciate the fine art of a perfectly made Dole Whip.

In a way, Disney fans are not all that much different from (insert sports team) fans, or comic book fans, or any other niche fan group. In fact, if you got to know us, you’d realize that we have lots of other interests besides Disney, and guess what? We might even have a few things in common.

Here’s what I know about Disney fans: we’re a strong community of good people who share a love of Disney parks, music, movies, and magic.  We celebrate the best Disney has to offer, but we aren’t afraid to complain if there’s a problem. We rally when there’s a tragedy. We offer advice, share information, and honor the rich history of Walt Disney World. And best of all, we connect online and make new friends. Turns out, Disney fans are pretty awesome.

And I’m proud to call myself one.

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Related Links:
*The Five People You Meet in Line at WDW
* 10 Signs You Are a Disney Dork

Toy Story 3 Behind-the-Scenes: Concept Art

If you're like me, then you've been counting the minutes until the release of Toy Story 3 (five days, people). And so, to help cope with the anticipation (or maybe make it worse), here are some pics I took of the concept art that's currently on display at Disney's Hollywood Studios in The Magic of Disney Animation. Come, let us geek out together.

All together now: squee! Five days!
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Wordless Wednesday: In the Future, There Will Be Cocktails

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Sweet Bread - Kona Cafe, Polynesian Resort

Summer is here, which means it's now appropriate to make all kinds of tropical goodies. And so, I figured there's no better place to start than by making Sweet Bread from Kona Cafe. This recipe makes four mini-loaves - this bread is light, delicious, and easy to make. (Confession: this was my first time making bread ever. The result was fantastic. If I can do it, so can you.)

Ingredients:

4 ¾  cups All Purpose Flour
Pinch Salt
¼ cup Sugar
2 Teaspoons Active Dry Yeast
3 Each Eggs – Room Temp
¼ cup Pineapple Juice Concentrate
4 Tablespoon Margarine - Softened
¾ cup Warm Water

To Make:

1. Combine warm water, pineapple juice concentrate, margarine and eggs.  Mix with the paddle attachment.

2. Combine dry ingredients, flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.  Add to liquid ingredients and mix with dough hook/your hands.

3. Mix until dough pulls away from sides of bowl.

4. Place dough in a large bowl and let rise until doubled in size, about 2-3 hours.

5. Turn dough out onto a floured surface.

6. Divide the dough into four 10 oz portions and form into balls, cut an X about ½” deep into the top of each ball.

7. Cover and let rise for 45 minutes in the warmest part of the kitchen.

8. Bake at 325F for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Aloha!

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* French Toast Loaf - Main Street Bakery

* Mango Mousse - Food & Wine Festival

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Wordless Wednesday: It's the End of the World As We Know It

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* Wordless Wednesday: Blast Off!
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Overheard in Walt Disney World

As Mulan is signing autographs in the China pavillion, Epcot:

Kid: Dad, who's that lady?

Dad: That is ... a traditional Chinese woman.

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Related Links:
* The Five People You Meet in Line at WDW
* 10 Signs You Are a Disney Dork