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Day 39–Ultimate 40th Anniversary Disney World Mousketeer Giveaway

Christy — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:25:51 +0000

While I love most things Disney, I am at heart a Mickey Mouse fan. I have loved him since I was very young, and have always seen Mickey Mouse as a symbol for happiness and joy. That love extends to one of his homes, Walt Disney World. In fact, it is a running joke with my husband that I knew we were meant to be when I found out that he was born on the day Disney World opened. It’s fate!

When I started planning my 40 Days of Giveaways, I knew that I wanted to celebrate not only my 40th birthday, but the 40th anniversary of Disney World. If I’m highlighting brands and products that I love, it would be incomplete without a nod to a brand that inspired my career path and influences my daily life. My lovely friends at the Disney Store agreed to come on board for this very special giveaway. You can see the whole thing in the picture above, but here’s what you could win:

40th Anniversary Mickey Mouse Ears for adults – These are so cute for a Disney fan. The hat is covered with pictures of memorabilia from Walt Disney World over the years. With a 40th Anniversary embroidered patch and pins for Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, these ears are extra special.

40th Anniversary Walt Disney World Tee for Women – This has a great vintage look to it and I love the way these T-shirts fit.

40th Anniversary Walt Disney World Lanyard Medal and Pin Set (2 piece) – Mickey, Goofy and Donald celebrate 40 Years of Magic.

40th Anniversary Walt Disney World Starter Pin Set – Whether you’re new to pin trading or a long-time collector, this set is amazing. It includes pins of Mickey, Pluto, Goofy and Donald, all with the 40th Anniversary logo.

40th Anniversary Walt Disney World Spinner Pin – This one is just plain fun. Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy spin around a pin with a lenticular plate in the center containing the 40th Anniversary logo.

This gorgeous set is worth more than $100 and is enough for a whole family to enjoy.

Want to win?

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THE TWO RULES. IF YOU’RE CONFUSED, JUST ASK!

The Prize: Ultimate Walt Disney World 40th Anniversary Mouseketeer Gift Pack

To Enter (once per person/household):

Leave a comment on THIS post (right down below) with your favorite Disney memory, whether it be a visit to the parks, an encounter with Mickey Mouse, piece of memorabilia from your childhood, etc.
Make sure you enter the correct email address in the email spot on the comment form so I can reach you. Please DON’T put your email in the actual comment.

Details:

Contest will end at 11:59 pm Eastern on July 28, 2011. Entries received after that time will not be valid.
U.S. addresses only (sorry, international friends!)
Adults (18+) only
Winners will be chosen via “And the Winner Is” random plug-in. Winner must comply with all rules mentioned here, or a new winner will be selected. I will have the final decision in this matter.
I will email the winner who will have roughly 48 hours to respond and claim their prize.

Bonus Entries:

Subscribe to this blog via email/RSS (once) – Already a subscriber? That counts!
Blog about this contest using the full url *no shortened links* (once)
Tweet about this contest (max 1 per day)
Fan/Like Quirky Fusion on Facebook (once) – If you’ve already “Liked” us, you can claim this one!

To claim bonus entries, please post one comment on this post per bonus entry (include permalink or tweet url).

Questions? Contact me.

Disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored by the Disney Store. I received a set as well for review purposes. There was no promise of a positive review and the opinions contained in this post are my own.

It’s a Small World and Family Dynamics

Christy — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 05:22:54 +0000

I mentioned earlier that we went to Disney World in December. It was an interesting trip, for a variety of reasons, but there was one experience that stood out for me in the way it captured our family dynamics. The It’s a Small World ride. I know, I know. Some of you are rolling your eyes, grumbling about the song getting stuck in your head, and thinking of all of the other rides you’d rather ride. But I love It’s a Small World. I like the song, I think the dolls are adorable, and I love the simplicity of it all. There’s a magic in how low-tech the ride is (rather like the appeal of the original Star Wars movies over the newer, glitzier titles) and, if you’re paying attention, there are fun surprises around each turn. It’s just a side bonus that it’s a lovely place to relax and cool off if you’re in the park on a hot and crowded day.

Big Guy doesn’t like It’s a Small World so I offered to take the kids while he ran over to Space Mountain. We waited in line and I wondered how they would receive this older, but much-loved Disney attraction. Bug was excited for the boat, while LadyBug didn’t quite know what to expect. When we finally got to the front of the line, we boarded the boat with LadyBug first, me in the middle, and Bug on my other side.

It's a World of Laughter

Bug loved the ride. It’s not surprising. There was absolutely nothing scary or loud or threatening in any way. And there are just so many details to take in. He and I pointed out our favorite dolls and scenery and sang along with the music. He spent the whole time saying, “Mama, look at that goat! Look… it’s a kangaroo!” It’s exactly who he is on a daily basis. I sometimes joke that he narrates our lives and he doesn’t miss a single detail.

It's a World of Hopes...

LadyBug spent most of the ride with her head resting on her arms on the side of the boat, staring dreamily at the sights. She didn’t point out any of the scenery, or acknowledge me when I tried to show her things I thought she’d like. She was happily in her own zone, just taking it all in. It was at this moment that I realized that my little girl DOES have something in common with me. She’s an introspective person and likes to spend time in her own head.

The kids loved the ride so much that they really wanted to share it with their dad. They told him all about it and asked several times if we could go back. So we did. Now, did I mention that Big Guy doesn’t really like the ride? Well, he was a trooper about it since the kids were so excited to share it with him. We waited in line and hopped on the boat with me next to LadyBug and Big Guy next to Bug. Through the whole ride, I could hear Bug chattering to Big Guy. It freed me up to sit in silence with LadyBug and just enjoy the the attraction.

And then we got to the end. The dolls were still singing and dancing when the lights came on and an announcement told us that the ride had temporarily stopped. Big Guy shifted in his seat. We waited. He shifted some more. The lights went out, but we were caught in a huge traffic jam in the last room of the ride. Big Guy didn’t say anything, but I could tell he was getting really restless. And that’s my husband. Not a big fan of seeing the sights, but willing to try to keep the rest of us happy.

And that is me. Trying to balance all of our different personalities and find activities that we can all enjoy. Maybe just a little bit too sensitive to how everyone else is feeling. While we’re at it, I’m the one who needs to check out and be in my own head sometimes, too.

Our Disney World vacation was so much fun, but it also magnified each of our personalities. Those two rides on It’s a Small World will probably stick with me forever. I hope so, because it reminds me that we are each (especially the kids!) our own people with our own needs. What works for one of us isn’t right for another. And yet, somehow, we make it all work.

Rayovac Powers Your Vacation – Magic Wand Sweepstakes

Christy — Thu, 13 May 2010 21:29:00 +0000

What if you could win a trip for four to Disney World or Disneyland? Well, Rayovac is giving you the chance to do just that. Entering is super easy. Just visit the Rayovac Powers Your Vacation website and fill out the form by July 31, 2010. The grand prize is a 5 day/4 night vacation for four to either Disney World or Disneyland. There is one first prize, which is a lifetime supply of Rayovac batteries (paid as a cash gift ~$3,600). The second prize (25 of them) is a $50 Disneygift card. I think any of those prizes sound great!

And if you’re in a prize-winning mood, you can join Rayovac and Momselect for a Twitter Party:

Join Rayovac and MomSelect for a Twitter Event to support the exciting Rayovac Powers Your Vacation-Magic Wand Sweepstakes. The evening will feature more than 20 fun giveaways from Rayovac ranging from a summer supply of Rayovac Batteries to Disney Gift Cards.

Rayovac Powers Your Vacation Sweepstakes
Date: Wednesday, May 19th
Time: 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. CST
Location: #rayovac
Follow: @Rayovac_Battery, @MomTalkRadio, @CirclePRMary

So what are you waiting for? Watch the video of Molly and her Magic Wand and submit your entry!

Disclosure: This post is part of a contest entry through Momselect.

Give a Day, Get a Disney Day – Gone Too Soon

Christy — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:15:01 +0000

I’ve been meaning to share my tips about Give a Day, Get a Disney Day, but Disney has (unexpectedly) reached their intended one million volunteers and ended the program. I’ll save my full experiences for another post, but I am joining other voices in asking Disney to recommit with another million (or more) volunteers.

I was in attendance at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration this past February. One of the events we participated in was the official press kick-off of the Give a Day, Get a Disney Day program. They had chosen volunteer families representing each of the states to come to Disney World, receive recognition and participate in a large volunteer activity. Although I wasn’t there as an “official” volunteer, I was actually one of the million Give a Day, Get a Disney Day participants (see my badge?!) and it was an amazing experience all around. It was interesting to be there as a member of the press AND as a volunteer. I’m glad I had the opportunity to experience it.

My volunteer activity was actually pretty simple. A local YMCA needed help with set up, serving and clean up for a spaghetti dinner. The event was fun and I enjoyed chatting with the kids and their families. The staff told me that they rarely have any help at all and were surprised by how quickly we had things ready to go. We ended up standing around for almost an hour before the event began because the work was done in half the time. While there, I also had a chance to talk with some of the other Give a Day volunteers. One of the families I volunteered with chooses to volunteer on a regular basis. They were considering donating their Disney tickets to charity. One of the women at the event committed to becoming a long-term volunteer with the organization. Although none of us had met, we bonded over our shared experience with the program. And we had fun asking each other about our planned Disney trips.

I chose to use my ticket to get an early start to the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. Upon collecting my free Disney ticket at the Magic Kingdom, I received a “VoluntEAR!” badge. Everywhere I went in the park, Disney Cast Members asked about my volunteer activity and thanked me for giving back. I know it’s their job, but as a solo traveler, I really appreciated their comments. I was even offered a special after dinner treat as a thank you for my volunteer work. I didn’t do it for that reason, but it’s so nice to be recognized even when you aren’t looking for it.

Volunteerism is a part of my life. I don’t always have the time to commit to big projects, but I try to help out now and again as I can. I believe in giving back to the community and I think it’s essential to think of others besides yourself and your immediate family. I didn’t need Disney to convince me that volunteering is important. But Disney pulled off something I didn’t expect. They made volunteering feel magical, too.

I hope that Disney will bring back Give a Day, Get a Disney Day, or even offer some continued incentive for volunteering, such as the special Fast Pass exchange card.

Disney Social Media Moms – My Recap

Christy — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:44:11 +0000

It’s the last night of the first Disney Social Media Moms Celebration and I’m left with a tired, but magical glow. For the record, I wasn’t on the original invite list for the conference, but as soon as I heard that the registration had opened for everyone, I jumped on board. I have a long-time love relationship with Disney and, in particular, Mickey Mouse, and knew that they would put on quite a show.

Minnie and I (in the funky lighting)

The first night of our experience was actually a press event. Families of attendees took part in activities, while bloggers joined a cadre of other journalists to learn about new Disney ventures. In particular, we learned about the Fantasyland expansion and the newest addition to the Disney Cruise line (what I wouldn’t give for a cruise on that gorgeous ship!). We also heard about the long-term ESPN vision and how they are working to achieve those goals. After the press conference, we joined back with families for a rousing dinner filled with music, dancing and plenty of Disney character opportunities.

Day 2 started far earlier than I would have preferred with a 7:30am bus to EPCOT. That said, it was fun to arrive backstage before the park was open to the general public. We had breakfast and then listened to Guy Kawaski speak about using Twitter as a marketing tool. It was my least favorite part of the conference, in part because it was so early, in part because there was almost nothing I could/would eat, and in part because most of what Guy was talking about didn’t apply to me.

Hey, Kermit, Over here!

After that, we walked to a different World Pavilion for the Family Volunteer Celebration. One volunteer family from each of the 50 states was invited to Disney World to kick off a year of Disney’s Give a Day, Get a Disney Day program. The event, which was staged in a Disney-typical grand manner, involved the families marching in to applause from media (including us) and Disney cast members. We had special appearances by Kermit the Frog and Ty Pennington before Disney unveiled a can sculpture involving nearly 120,000 cans, plus an additional 10,000 other food items. As an aside, when I later asked where the cans came from, they told me, “We bought them. We went over to the local Publix and picked them up.” The afternoon was filled with volunteer opportunities, but by the time we made it back after lunch, they had finished all of the work.

That night, there was a massive VIP party that closed off portions of EPCOT. We enjoyed a dinner by Chef Robert Irvine of Dinner:Impossible fame, and performances by a variety of Disney Channel stars (including Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato.)

Marissa Jaret Winokur and I

The last day of our experience was the actual conference at the Contemporary Resort. We heard from Kathy Ireland, Marissa Jaret Winokur (Hairspray/Dancing with the Stars), Chris Brogan (Social Media Guru), Maxine (the founder/CEO of Build-a-Bear) and comedienne, Mary Ellen Hooper. All of the speakers were wonderful. There were goodies and giveaways, including a magical night in the Princess Suite at Cinderella’s Castle.

That's my high score up there - 193700!

This evening, we had dinner at Hollywood Studios and then had two hours of private time at the Toy Story Midway Mania ride with access to Woody and Buzz Lightyear for pictures. I rode the ride countless times with the lovely and sweet KristenWDW before securing the high score of the night. By the end, the cast members let us just stay on the ride over and over!

Our conference registration of just $350 included all of the above activities/meals, as well as 7-day park hopper passes for the attendee and up to 3 additional family members. It also included 2 nights at the Polynesian resort. My favorite perk came in the form of a media fast past card that allowed us to get immediate fast passes on rides with no wait time and no restrictions, even when regular fast passes had already been distributed. Wow! And, because Disney knows how to treat us right, we were loaded down with all manner of swag from custom watches and bags to t-shirts and jackets. It was truly a magical experience both for conference attendees and their families.

I thought I’d share some highlights from the conference, as well as some things that I hope will change for future events.

Loved:

Those crazy fast passes
Inspirational, high-quality speakers
Plenty of surprises and goodies
Bloggers without families felt treated the same as bloggers with families
The opportunity to include families with family-friendly activities

Could Use Improvement:

Communication before the conference and especially before travel arrangements were made
Lack of quiet space/time early on during our stay for us to connect with each other without other media present
Extremely early mornings followed by events going into the night (give us a day with a bit of sleep-in time)

My favorite ride - Toy Story Midway Mania

Want more details? Head on over to the Cutest Kid Ever – she did a fabulous job of liveblogging the sessions. I am a pitiful liveblogger. I can’t blog and listen at the same time!

* Disclosure: I attended the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration at my own cost, but the price of the conference (including meals and hotel) for all of the attendees was at a discounted rate. The opinions contained in this post are my own.

First Star to the Right

Christy — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 06:07:42 +0000

I wish I could fly. Well, maybe not, but it would certainly make things easier. I’m currently recovering from CES (yes, I’m due for a recap here) in Vegas and scurrying around making plans for my crazy February. Here are the highlights:

Blissdom in Nashville – I’m speaking at a “Wisdom Workshop” at this great conference geared toward female bloggers. After my experience at the intimate Blogalicious, I’m really excited about the whole weekend.
Disney Social Media Moms Celebration/Conference – Anyone who knows me in real life knows how much I love Disney and, in particular, Mickey Mouse. People who know me online are probably aware that I also love social media. Put the two together and it’s sheer heaven for me. So, yeah, I’m going. It wasn’t really a question!
Toy Fair – While much smaller than CES, Toy Fair is THE place to be to learn about the hottest trends in toys, gadgets and gear for the kids. I’ll be there representing the Family Computing site at About.com, but also doing some recon for my readers here at Quirky Fusion. It will be a crazy couple of days (I fly straight to NY from Orlando), but I’m really looking forward to seeing what’s new this year. The line between computers and toys has completely blurred, so I’ll be looking for lots of innovation.
Engage Expo – This conference is dedicated to virtual worlds and the people who make and market them. It has traditionally been held on the West Coast, so I’m very happy that it’s moved to NYC. It’s being held in conjunction with Toy Fair (see my note above about blurred lines) and so I get to kill two birds with one stone. Woot!

My travel schedule settles down after February, but I think this is just the start of a fantastic year. Hope you’ll join me for the ride!