Disney's Animation Academy at Disney's Hollywood Studios

One of my favorite things to do while visiting Disney's Hollywood Studios is to visit the Animation Academy in the Magic of Disney Animation.  It is an experience that many pass by because they don't realize what it is all about.

At the Animation Academy you can get a glimpse of what it takes to draw a Disney Character, and you get to try your hand at it too!

It is like a private drawing lesson with a real, live Disney Animator/Artist.  You may be thinking, I don't know how to draw! Or, I can't even draw a stick figure let alone and Disney Character! No worries! You are supplied a piece of paper and a pencil. The pencil has no eraser by the way, but don't worry, this is a sketching process and you really won't need one! Really! The fact that the paper fits over pegs on a Mickey Mouse shaped drawing board only adds to the fun.

The  Animator's drawing is projected up on a screen in the middle of the room. You usually start out with a lightly drawn circle, put some guide lines in it and you go on from there. The Animator will draw the Disney Character shape by shape, explaining the process as you go along. Often they will tell you a little background information about the Character that you are drawing or talk about something interesting that they have seen or done.  Before you know it, you have a Disney Character on your own piece of paper!

I wish I could say this is my drawing, but I can't. This was the Disney Animator's drawing. She was kind enough to allow me to photograph it after the class. I will admit to peeking at the other class member's drawings and you know what...everyone had a recognizable Mickey Mouse on their paper! Sure, some were better then others but everyone had a smile on their face because they enjoyed the class, and that is what matters after all. The class took about 20 minutes to complete. Much to my delight the Cast Members do not mind if you go back and get in line again right after your class for the next one. Yes, I did that very thing, but I was careful. I kept an eye out for anyone walking up to join the class after I got in line. I was more then willing to allow someone who had not drawn a character yet to take my place. I was not willing to deny anyone the chance of drawing a character just because I enjoyed the experience so much!

Let The Magic Begin - Wordless Wednesday

"Let The Magic Begin" show on The Disney Wonder

The Disney Wonder And Mr. Toad's Wild Race

I was strolling through the Atrium one day aboard the Disney Wonder and I heard a lot of noise down on the lower level.  There was cheering and voices yelling, "Go! Go!" Well, of course I had to look down....way down into the Atrium.  A race was going on. It was Mr. Toad's Wild Race to be exact.

I decided that this was worth checking out since so many families seemed to be enjoying themselves.  There were two Crew Members who were dressed like they were going to the horse races, long ropes with colorful toads attached, and children at the end of the ropes. Yes, this was worth checking out!.

The children would pull and lift the rope in order to make the toad hop along. The child that had their toad cross the finish line first would be the winner. The boy in the yellow hat was impatient. He would pull hard and lift the rope high.  When the toad would get stuck the Crew Member would patiently lean down to adjust the toad and the boy would start pulling and tugging again.  He really wanted to beat the girl who was racing against him. I wonder if that was his sister?

The families cheered, the children tugged and pulled....guess who won?  Much to the disappointment of the boy in the yellow hat it was the girl who won.  Are you wondering why I didn't get a photo of the toad crossing the finish line?  Well, I was too busy having fun and cheering them on!

The Disney Cruise Line provides many fun filled activities to keep children and adults busy and happy during their cruises. They know how to treat their cruisers well!

Dining At The Crystal Palace In The Magic Kingdon

One of my favorite places to dine at the Magic Kingdom is at the Crystal Palace.

 The fact that it is a Character Meal with Winnie the Pooh and his friends just makes it that much more special!

It doesn't matter if you are there for breakfast, lunch or dinner you will find something at the buffet that everyone enjoys.

Not only is the food wonderful, but the details in the building are fun too.  You always need to remember to look up when you are in Walt Disney World because you never know what you might see. There are Disney details and magic to be found everywhere.  Look up inside the Crystal Palace and this is what you will see.

While you are eating Winnie the Pooh and his friends come around to your table and stop to greet you and for a photo.  Tigger is always fun, but be careful as you never know what he is going to do. He can be a little mischievous at times!

Pigglet is just sweet!

And of course a photo opportunity with Winnie The Pooh is always the highlight of the meal. 

Great food and Disney friends is always a perfect combination!

Towel Animal At Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort - Wordless Wednesday

This is the towel animal that we found in our room one night in the Port Orleans Riverside Resort at Walt Disney World. Cute!

Towel Animals On The Disney Cruise Line Ship The Wonder

When you cruise with the Disney Cruise Line you are surrounded by special touches that just make your experience aboard ship even more fun. Each night when we would return to our stateroom on The Disney Wonder our bed would be turned down, a towel animal would be waiting for us, and some yummy chocolate would be close by.

A swan waited for us on the first night.

How about a dinosaur? Next to the chocolate is a note that reminded all cruisers to set their clock back an hour that night. Disney Cruise Line is great at keeping 
their cruisers informed.

We found our nightly chocolate as they eyes of this cute little money! Our Stateroom host told us that if we didn't talk to the monkey every once in a while the monkey would become very mischievous.  Guess we talked to it enough, as we always found our stateroom in pristine condition. 

A bunny greeted us one night, but I must have eaten the chocolate before I took the photo! 

Talk about puppy dog eyes!

Lobster anyone?

I spied these towel swans one day on the deck.
For some reason I love towel animals. How about you?

Hippy Dippy Pool Ducks - Wordless Wednesday

Lifeguard meeting at the Hippy Dippy Pool at Disney's Pop Century Resort. The ducks are having a great time!  Ok, so this post wasn't totally wordless...I just couldn't help it! :)