http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ Townsquare » Recent Posts en Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:24:57 +0000 http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/disney-cruise#post-390 Sat, 12 Feb 2011 21:33:50 +0000 koolerdog 390@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>We are leaving 2-26 for 7 days- Eastern trip. 1st time. Will post more when we get back. Unfortunately, you can't get the full scope of what is available until you reserve and have a reservation #. </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/teeth#post-389 Sat, 12 Feb 2011 21:31:09 +0000 koolerdog 389@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>Anyone ever had the teeth whitening @ Vista Spa on a Disney cruise? </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/glass-bottom-boat#post-388 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 19:03:01 +0000 koolerdog 388@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>Has anyone been on the glass bottom boat @ Castaway Cay? Is it REALLY worth the $$? </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/disney-on-ice-princess-wishes-shows#post-387 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:18:28 +0000 Anonymous 387@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>Princess Wishes, a fourth show of the Disney on ice touring musical first presented in 2006 has now become one of the most favorite family entertainment not only among small kids but also among the adults. Disney On Ice-Princess Wishes is adored by kids particularly girls who love to see their dream princesses like Snow White, Belle, Jasmine, Cinderella, Mulan, Aurora and Ariel acting live in front of their eyes. Most of the small aged kids already know about Jasmine and Cinderella but they hardly know about the other princesses. But matured kids and adults love to see the other princesses in action about whom their grandmothers used to tell those stories at nights.<br /> Disney On Ice-Princess Wishes tells the story of 7 fairies and little girls they love to dress up like their favorite fairies when they go out to catch the show. Disney On Ice-Princess Wishes, where dreams come true has been the most admired show on Broadway and according to last week’s ranking it was placed at number five.<br /> Princess Wishes featuring the characters from the fantasy Disney stories is known for its music, singing, costumes, and emotions and skating actions on ice. Princess Wishes Ice Musical is perfect of girls who are known for their admiration for true love. Princess Wishes tells them the story of Princess Belle from “Beauty and the Beast” that how she made the Beast Prince to realize the value of true love. It takes you go through the life of Snow White until she finds her true love. The only red haired princess of the show is Mermaid Princess Ariel who loves to make contact with human world. Each and every fairy of the show reminds us a different story of our childhood.<br /> Disney On Ice-Princess Wishes opens in New York at the Madison Square Garden on January 21 and runs till January 23. There next arrive at New Jersey to perform at Izod Center was from January 27 to January 30. Princess Wishes will continue its US tour through April 24, 2011 while performing concerts at venues including Manchester, Baltimore, Washington, Charleston, Minneapolis, Grand Rapids and Evansville among others. Princess Wishes has been scheduled to perform at the Scotiabank Place Kanata, Canada on March 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 before it heads up for its New Zealand tour to perform in Auckland and Christchurch from May 28, 2011 through June 7, 2011. Buy cheap Disney On Ice-Princess Wishes tickets and enjoy all the princess shows live in theater with your family and friends.<br /> <a href="http://www.broadwayticketsale.com/disney-on-ice-princess-wishes-tickets" rel="nofollow">http://www.broadwayticketsale.com/disney-on-ice-princess-wishes-tickets</a> </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/special-tips-for-diabetic-at-wdw#post-379 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 08:05:26 +0000 KT_DU 379@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>I, like davidgra, am a Type 1 diabetic but the only difference between the two is that I have had diabetes for 50 years. I have been to Disneyland - Anaheim on several (numerous) occasions as well having been to Disneyland - Paris. Like davidgra, I have never experienced ANY trouble with the food at either of these two parks. The point that davidgram makes bears repeating: “Diabetics are able to eat a normal (healthy) diet anywhere they go” and this certainly rings true for anyone visiting the Disney parks or any of the establishments inside. </p> <p>Disney often offers FABULOUS sugar free desserts at MANY of their restaurants --- one just has to check the menu, look around the tables or ask the server. Even sugar - free pancake/waffle syrup is available at most of the places serving breakfast items. One has to just make sure to ask for the syrup before you decide to place your order ---- just to make sure that the restaurant has it on hand. A good idea is to inform the staff before you sit down that someone in the group is diabetic and remind yourself AND your server when ordering anything such as waffles and/or pancakes, to be sure that they hold off any sugar additive (i.e. powdered sugar) or non - fresh (canned) fruit. Bottled water, milk, unsweetened ice tea and diet sodas are available and actually, have been sold since the early 1970s. </p> <p>An idea to try beforehand ---- search the internet for the actual restaurants inside the park… sites such as<br /> <a href="http://allears.net" rel="nofollow">http://allears.net</a> or <a href="http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/" rel="nofollow">http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/</a> and research the restaurants. Check the restaurants for their menus and then see if you can go the extra step and find an interesting recipe online. 95% chance that if you find the recipe, you should be able to see if it contains sugar. Take notes…but the surest and safest bet when you are there is to just ask your server. </p> <p>Also, for additional (and REALLY helpful) suggestions addressing this issue, the following link contains EXTREMELY worthwhile hints/suggestions which are definitely worth the read:</p> <p><a href="http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/dining/dietary/default.asp" rel="nofollow">http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/dining/dietary/default.asp</a> </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/pirates-new-movie#post-376 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 18:10:40 +0000 Anonymous 376@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>I just happened to see the new Pirates marquee poster at the theater this week. I didn't know if there was supposed to be one or not, but I found a hidden Mickey in it. Anyone else happen to look for or see it? I had to take a picture of it. Can't wait to see the new one! I love Jack! </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/trapped-on-nemo#post-355 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:12:33 +0000 Mark Storer 355@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>John Frost posted about patrons being trapped on Harry Potter in Florida. Here on the West Coast, I had guests from Belgium and we rode the Finding Nemo Submarines. No pictures to show--unfortunately, we were too busy panicking. What follows is what occurred. </p> <p>We did have a bit of a misadventure, however. Sofie and Romi expressed interest in the Finding Nemo submarines. This is the old Undersea Submarine Voyage that has been re-branded with the Pixar Finding Nemo mark. You climb aboard the submarine and you’re suddenly in the oceans around Australia with a scientific crew studying life. It’s here you encounter Nemo, Marlin, Dory and all the gang in a rather well done set of vignettes throughout caves on the “ocean floor.” It feels for all the world like you are underwater and in a way, you are. The boat never actually dives, but the cabin is indeed under the water and the windows allow you to see into the undersea world.</p> <p>Well….</p> <p>In the middle of the ride, our submarine suddenly stopped and the lights around us went out except for a couple of underwater lamps near the cave scene where we had stopped. Mind you, the submarine itself is an interesting vehicle. You board it from the roof through an open hatch, walk down the stairs and into a folding seat with a window in front of you. It’s not abundantly comfortable, but it’s air-conditioned and it serves the purpose. It is also quite cramped, quite small. When your mind is fixed on what’s happening in the scenes outside the boat, it’s fine. You don’t think about it. But when the boat stops, the lights are out and no one is talking in an official capacity, it’s un-nerving. Like being aboard an airplane in bad turbulence when the Captain’s only words are: “Flight attendants take your seats.”</p> <p>Now, I’m bad in these situations. Very bad. I am prone to claustrophobic panic attacks and have been known to go whole hog into them, mostly when I was younger. But even now, on occasions such as this, I find it very hard to keep my cool and when it happened, and our “captain,” the guy who operates the boat, wasn’t saying anything, I found myself fidgety and a bit panicked. That feeling was growing when Romi hit her boiling point.</p> <p>It turns out Romi too is prone to claustrophobia and panic and she was in the throes of a good one. She began crying and shaking rather uncontrollably and so I turned my attention on her. I went into “daddy” mode, of which I am capable on occasion, and it allowed me to quell my own panic. I didn’t have time to panic–I had to help Romi calm down. Sofie, meanwhile, was calm and cool and she was trying to help Romi to “breathe” and be still. That didn’t work so well.</p> <p>I got the “captain’s” attention and explained to him that Romi was having a rough time. He hadn’t really been thinking about what was happening to those of us in the cabin as his vantage point was different. The “captain’s” or drivers of these subs stand up on a bench that is the same height as where we all sit. They rise up into the “bridge” and they have a window that sees above the waterline and everything in front of them. I assume that he was simply thinking–”we’re stopped. We’ll go in a minute. No big deal.”</p> <p>When he saw what we were dealing with–Romi and some other folks becoming pretty uncomfortable, he explained the situation. A red light had illuminated where a green one was supposed to be and all the boats came to a stop. My guess is, he didn’t want to explain that too fully because doing so would reveal “behind the scenes” of the Disney Magic. I’m actually sympathetic to that. Disney wouldn’t be Disney if it said, “hey, come on in and see how we make the ghosts in the Haunted Mansions and the Pirates in Pirates of the Caribbean.” The suspension of disbelief is one of the joys of the place.</p> <p>The “captain” popped the hatch nearest Romi and I and he allowed us to open it and look out. This gave me a great deal of comfort, but it didn’t calm Romi as much as I would have liked. Still, it had some small palliative effect which was good. We got back down in the cabin, pulled the hatch closed and sat for a few more minutes. The “captain” then kept us pretty well updated and we were underway about five minutes later.</p> <p>All at the ride were very apologetic. They gave us a pass that we could use in our entire party allowing us front of the line status on whatever ride we chose (we used it on Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye) and they were kind. I have no complaints. </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/special-tips-for-diabetic-at-wdw#post-353 Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:31:48 +0000 Anonymous 353@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>I'm a little confused by this question. I've been a Type 1 diabetic for more than 30 years, and I go to Walt Disney World at least twice a year (DVC member, annual passholder). i've never had any issue with dining at all.</p> <p>Why is dining at WDW any different than dining anywhere else? Diabetic care is no longer like it was in the 1970s and 1980s, where you had to watch everything you ate. Nowadays, with sophisticated blood sugar monitoring and reliable information about food nutrition, diabetics are able to eat a normal (healthy) diet anywhere they go.</p> <p>Walt Disney World does not force-feed ice cream and candy bars to people, so again I ask, why is dining an issue? If you make sensible food choices, selecting meals with the proper balance of protein, carbs and fat, there should be no issue whatsoever with dining.</p> <p>The only stress you should have when it comes to dining at WDW is whether you are able to get a reservation at Le Cellier. Once you're there, eat whatever you'd normally eat for a meal. The food there is no different than food anywhere else in the United States. Except maybe it's better.</p> <p>I admit that the food choices are a little more limited in the Magic Kingdom, but there's no need to eat every meal there. Take Disney transportation to a resort or a different park, or check out Downtown Disney for many, many more restaurant options.</p> <p>I'm also curious as to why a diabetic would need to eat only salads? Diabetics need carbs like everyone else. Just a sensible amount. All you do is adjust your insulin dosage to reflect the carb intake, and you're all set. I've been doing this for more than three decades; it's not all that difficult... </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/sunday-july-18-ride-closures#post-352 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 07:32:25 +0000 Anonymous 352@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>Yesterday we were almost on Space Mountain - is closed and all in line were sent away. We went over to Splash Mountain -same story. Stopped at Pirates - SAME STORY! How often are three major rides closed in the middle of summer? Makes the ticket price a little steep.</p> <p>Thanks. </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/grad-nite-loses-its-luster-1#post-350 Sat, 03 Jul 2010 22:07:42 +0000 Anonymous 350@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>Yeah I went to Grad-Nite this year and it was the worst Disneyland trip ever!!! We waited at our school for 4 hours, went on the bus, got there at 11:30 then got in the park at 2:00. We were supposed to be at the bus at 5:00 but we got on at 6 because as a group we decided to waste one hour of their time because they did the same to us. Anyone with seniors that might want to go to Grad-Nite: Don't waste your money!!!! </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/is-a-trip-to-walt-disney-world-in-your-future/page/2#post-348 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:27:53 +0000 Whit 348@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>You know those suckers that go during the hottest, wettest, busiest time of the year? Yeah, that's me. Hey, it's the only time our schedule would allow -- although next time I'm pulling the kids out of school and going in a lower season.</p> <p>We'll be there in less than two weeks and we're excited. We're also preparing for the worst (re: weather and crowds). </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/disneyland-vs-disneyworld#post-347 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:21:24 +0000 Whit 347@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>I grew up with Disneyland and found my first trip to the MK to be much like what Morrigoon described. Everything is just slightly off. That doesn't mean it isn't awesome!</p> <p>I also agree with blackcauldron that maintaining some unique attractions between the parks is both important and appreciated.</p> <p>My two young boys have been to Disneyland countless times and will soon be taking their first trip to WDW. I'm curious to see their reaction. </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/granddaughters-can-be-so-great-trip-to-wdw#post-346 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 23:57:18 +0000 Anonymous 346@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>My granddaughter and I love Disney and we both collect Disney items. We had planned on a trip together to WDW in August to look for more things I can sell. Selling Disney items helps me make ends meet when my only income is Social Security. </p> <p>A couple days ago, my granddaughter called and said she had seen a website about a Disney Expo in August. She had the idea that we could buy a package, go to the expo, get some great things for me to sell or even set up a vendor's table to make money, and write it off as a business expense! I called the person that does my taxes every year and asked if this was possible and he said YES!!!! </p> <p>Started looking into this "International Pin Expo" and it really sounds great. Pin trading at all hours of the day, auctions, vendor tables with everything collectible including the new vinylmations, guest speakers, guest stars, character signings, and it keeps going on and on....</p> <p>We bought our package to attend and can't wait to go. I absolutely have the smartest granddaughter in the world! This will not only help me financially but we'll have so much fun together. </p> <p>Was so happy, had to share the news with someone. </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/just-got-back-from-wdw#post-345 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:54:22 +0000 mrsdvc 345@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>&lt;Hotel was Pop Century-horrible food court and filthy-floor was disgusting.&gt;</p> <p>Wow, we stayed there and thought the chicken alfredo was the best. Was very clean, but we were there in lower season. There was a hot tub by our pool. </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/mcdonalds-in-wdws-downtown-disney-closing#post-344 Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:24:00 +0000 Anonymous 344@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>Is the replacement the dinosaur restaurant? If so we need even more restaurants in the downtown Disney area. </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/just-got-back-from-wdw#post-343 Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:22:11 +0000 Anonymous 343@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>What a horrible trip! Heat index of 110-115 for 4 days. I had the paramedics twice for me. Children (7, 4, 4, 3, 2) were crazy...probably with heat exhaustion too if only we had recognized. Long lines. A woman hit me at Tinkerbell's flying thing...she said I was too close to her, but had been standing there for 3 hours. : ( People were nuts I think due to heat. And their own stupidity. A lot less security at the night shows was not good. </p> <p>I lost my $5,000 camera but it was recovered. A good thing that was handled well. </p> <p>Food was hard-we were not hungry and we always, always, always lose so much on the meal plan. I left 4 sit downs, 13 snacks, and 2 stand-ups. Not as bad as last September though. </p> <p>Anyone have advice on taking children this age. I am a FL resident so I know that I need to avoid the heat, but that is when the dgc were there so we tried. </p> <p>Disney not as good on recovery now either with stolen water sprayer they did not want to replace. Hotel was Pop Century-horrible food court and filthy-floor was disgusting. Never there before. Room newly renovated-so fresh. Now I know to ask for the most recently reno-ed area. Buses were so jammed-the worst I have ever personally seen since 1980 of our first trip from PA. One night we waited in line for the 4th bus to get back to hotel. People rude and did not ask my ill husband(leukemia) if he would like to sit down. Sometimes daughters holding small children did get asked...but husband looked a lot sicker than daughters...and they gave Daddy the seat. With a lot of mean looks.</p> <p>I have stayed on property over 50 times in my life. This was the worst. Oh, and no hot tub although they said on ressies that there was one. Great lifeguards though-the best on property I have seen. Best part of the trip! : ) I also missed having a place to sit in lobby-never thought to ask about that. Going again in December with dh alone. </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/grad-nite-loses-its-luster-1#post-342 Sat, 12 Jun 2010 01:15:13 +0000 Mark Storer 342@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>All-nighters at Disneyland are a rite of passage in California this time of year. High schools from up and down the state, indeed some from out of state, send their seniors by bus, weary of their studies, to revel in the adolescents-only environs of the Magic Kingdom. </p> <p>It’s called “grad nite” and it has been an icon of both the park-and California for many years. It’s a symbol that high school seniors have made it and deserve a party all their own, one their parents can sanction and one in which they can participate with abandon.</p> <p>My high school seniors got back this morning from their much vaunted, greatly anticipated trip. Graduation was today at Adolfo Camarillo High School, where I teach, in Ventura County, CA. We’re about 85 miles north of Anaheim and our kids participate every year. I was especially close to this year’s seniors and they knew of my love for Disneyland. They also knew that at 44, with a 9-year old at home and second career as a writer, I wouldn’t be joining them. I can stay up late…but not all night.</p> <p>So, I was anxious to get their report this morning. The past few years have seen students complain more and more about Disneyland’s indifference to the crowds who show up on grad-nite and the frustration with the high cost, low value of the experience. This year proved and set in concrete that view. Grad-nite is no longer fun, no longer a good idea and no longer worth the money.</p> <p>I spoke to more than a dozen seniors today and all of them related their stories. Busses arrived at the park around 11:30, the official start-time of the event. But so many busses were on hand, that students were forced to wait in lines, on the busses themselves for more than an hour. The system in place at the park involves a Disneyland Cast Member boarding each bus and providing students with a wristband. One group I spoke with didn’t get their wristbands until close to 1:00 A.M. </p> <p>Once they were off the bus, they entered the line to get in the park and again, the crowds were so large, they didn’t get inside the gates and onto Main Street USA until close to 2:00 A.M. Their bus driver gave them instructions to be back at their bus by 5:00 A.M. This left the kids three hours to “have fun” in the most crowded place on earth. Disneyland has allowed more and more schools to participate in grad-nite and the result is a park so crowded, that simple moving from one ride to another is an exercise in frustration. The kids say they cannot walk with their friends and talk. There is no room. If they are to stay together, they have to hold hands, or agree to meet at a certain spot and then go.</p> <p>The cost for each student? $115.00. Now, this includes transportation, yes, but still, it’s a high price to pay. Seniors at our school shell out $115.00 for Disneyland, $120.00 for prom (per person), $100.00 for a yearbook, and the list goes on.</p> <p>The point isn’t how much money they have to spend, however. The point is how much value each student gets for what they paid.</p> <p>“It really isn’t worth it to go to Disneyland,” they said today. “It’s so crowded. We rode on three rides, got some food, and headed home.” Others talked about the large list of things they weren’t allowed to bring in to the park. “You couldn’t bring in Advil, but you could buy it there. You couldn’t bring in water, but you could buy it there. I mean, I’m willing to spend my money at Disneyland, but they seem to just want to take it from us and not give us much in return.”</p> <p>I’ve been teaching for 19 years. I chaperoned grad-nite back in 1995 and even then, I said to my colleagues, “this is amazingly crowded and it hardly seems worth it to me.” Apparently, it’s gotten much worse. </p> <p>As I said, I spoke to more than a dozen seniors today. Of those dozen, not one had a positive comment about grad-nite. Not one. The only positive comment I got about Disneyland was from the student who didn’t go last night. “No way,” she said. “I didn’t go to grad-nite. I’ll wait until later this summer or fall and go then on my own. That way, I can have my own time and more fun.”</p> <p>I hope the folks at Disneyland are paying attention. Grad-nite isn’t fun anymore. I’m sure it’s a fine moneymaker for the Mouse, and that’s just fine. But if the idea is to offer entertainment value for the money being shelled out—that stopped, it seems to me, years ago. I will be encouraging my seniors from here on not to attend. Save your money, kids. Go to Disneyland on your own time. Tell your schools to stop participating. When the Magic Kingdom loses its magic to teenagers—it’s time to change something. </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/grad-nite-loses-its-luster#post-341 Sat, 12 Jun 2010 01:14:11 +0000 Mark Storer 341@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>All-nighters at Disneyland are a rite of passage in California this time of year. High schools from up and down the state, indeed some from out of state, send their seniors by bus, weary of their studies, to revel in the adolescents-only environs of the Magic Kingdom.<br /> It’s called “grad nite” and it has been an icon of both the park-and California for many years. It’s a symbol that high school seniors have made it and deserve a party all their own, one their parents can sanction and one in which they can participate with abandon.<br /> My high school seniors got back this morning from their much vaunted, greatly anticipated trip. Graduation was today at Adolfo Camarillo High School, where I teach, in Ventura County, CA. We’re about 85 miles north of Anaheim and our kids participate every year. I was especially close to this year’s seniors and they knew of my love for Disneyland. They also knew that at 44, with a 9-year old at home and second career as a writer, I wouldn’t be joining them. I can stay up late…but not all night.<br /> So, I was anxious to get their report this morning. The past few years have seen students complain more and more about Disneyland’s indifference to the crowds who show up on grad-nite and the frustration with the high cost, low value of the experience. This year proved and set in concrete that view. Grad-nite is no longer fun, no longer a good idea and no longer worth the money.<br /> I spoke to more than a dozen seniors today and all of them related their stories. Busses arrived at the park around 11:30, the official start-time of the event. But so many busses were on hand, that students were forced to wait in lines, on the busses themselves for more than an hour. The system in place at the park involves a Disneyland Cast Member boarding each bus and providing students with a wristband. One group I spoke with didn’t get their wristbands until close to 1:00 A.M.<br /> Once they were off the bus, they entered the line to get in the park and again, the crowds were so large, they didn’t get inside the gates and onto Main Street USA until close to 2:00 A.M. Their bus driver gave them instructions to be back at their bus by 5:00 A.M. This left the kids three hours to “have fun” in the most crowded place on earth. Disneyland has allowed more and more schools to participate in grad-nite and the result is a park so crowded, that simple moving from one ride to another is an exercise in frustration. The kids say they cannot walk with their friends and talk. There is no room. If they are to stay together, they have to hold hands, or agree to meet at a certain spot and then go.<br /> The cost for each student? $115.00. Now, this includes transportation, yes, but still, it’s a high price to pay. Seniors at our school shell out $115.00 for Disneyland, $120.00 for prom (per person), $100.00 for a yearbook, and the list goes on.<br /> The point isn’t how much money they have to spend, however. The point is how much value each student gets for what they paid.<br /> “It really isn’t worth it to go to Disneyland,” they said today. “It’s so crowded. We rode on three rides, got some food, and headed home.” Others talked about the large list of things they weren’t allowed to bring in to the park. “You couldn’t bring in Advil, but you could buy it there. You couldn’t bring in water, but you could buy it there. I mean, I’m willing to spend my money at Disneyland, but they seem to just want to take it from us and not give us much in return.”<br /> I’ve been teaching for 19 years. I chaperoned grad-nite back in 1995 and even then, I said to my colleagues, “this is amazingly crowded and it hardly seems worth it to me.” Apparently, it’s gotten much worse.<br /> As I said, I spoke to more than a dozen seniors today. Of those dozen, not one had a positive comment about grad-nite. Not one. The only positive comment I got about Disneyland was from the student who didn’t go last night. “No way,” she said. “I didn’t go to grad-nite. I’ll wait until later this summer or fall and go then on my own. That way, I can have my own time and more fun.”<br /> I hope the folks at Disneyland are paying attention. Grad-nite isn’t fun anymore. I’m sure it’s a fine moneymaker for the Mouse, and that’s just fine. But if the idea is to offer entertainment value for the money being shelled out—that stopped, it seems to me, years ago. I will be encouraging my seniors from here on not to attend. Save your money, kids. Go to Disneyland on your own time. Tell your schools to stop participating. When the Magic Kingdom loses its magic to teenagers—it’s time to change something. </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/what-is-your-favorite-disney-movie#post-340 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:40:39 +0000 Anonymous 340@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>I love classics like Escape to Witch Mountain and Bedknobs and Broomsticks...and I love that my young kids love them as if they were new releases! </p> <p>Love the music from the Jungle Book, Hercules and The Princess and the Frog--which is good because once I get the songs in my head, they are stuck there all day.</p> <p>Also love Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland--such a layered and interesting adaptation. </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/what-is-your-favorite-disney-video-game#post-337 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 08:53:44 +0000 Anonymous 337@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>a long time ago--my now late teen girls...owned a Little Mermaid game, and also a Disney princess one. Can't remember the name. My son .....all things Star Wars :) </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/special-tips-for-diabetic-at-wdw#post-336 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 08:51:27 +0000 Anonymous 336@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>My son in law was just diagnosed, and they are planning a trip there next winter. Hope someone comes up with great ideas-other than eating salads. I don't think that eating all the Mickey Ice Creams is a good idea :( </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/expectations-for-the-princess-and-the-frog-too-high#post-335 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 08:49:43 +0000 Anonymous 335@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>I JUST saw this last night-took it out of the local library. Wanted to see it on the big screen, but never got there. I LOVED it. Agreed,parts are a wee bit scarey for the younger crowd. The animation was amazing! </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/what-is-your-favorite-disney-movie#post-334 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 08:47:34 +0000 Anonymous 334@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>I don't know if I can choose just one movie. I did just see Alice in Wonderland...and love it, because it is based on my favorite childhood book. I love Toy Story, also...because I remember all those toys as a kid-and now by them as classics for my own kids and grandkids. Also love Lion King! </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/pirates-of-the-caribbean-on-stranger-tides-world-premiere#post-332 Thu, 20 May 2010 23:27:07 +0000 Anonymous 332@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>I know it might be a little early to know any news or details on the matter of where the next Pirates of the Caribbean World Premiere will be held or when it will be. I figure if I were to guess it would be a year from now at the Disneyland in California like the last premiere was 3 years ago. If anyone has any news or details on this matter, please post something or reply on this post. Thank You Everyone! </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/nemo-the-musical#post-305 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:40:15 +0000 Lauren D 305@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>I have never seen it but have heard many good things about it. There is always the few that don't like it of course. Nemo is on of my many favorite movies. I need to make my way over to Animal KIngdom some time soon for it. Is it worth it? </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/disney-press-releases#post-295 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:41:33 +0000 phabius 295@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>Hi guys! </p> <p>My name is Fabio, and I am a brazilian student. I'm gonna graduate in Journalism this semester, and to get my diploma I need to write a kind of a "thesis". It's like writing a book about something, and I must explain this idea according to journalistic methods... </p> <p>Anyway, my work/thesis is about "how Disney gets to maintain the same media speech in different countries", It seems complicated, but actually is pretty simple. </p> <p>My problem is: I need to get some Disney Press-Releases sent to the US press last year, but I can't! Cuz I'm not american and I'm not a journalist yet. </p> <p>I'd like to know if you guys could help me with this issue. </p> <p>I just need Press Releases abou tho specific cases: the launch of Disney-Pixar film "UP" for the North American theaters, and the DVD release of the movie "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" to the stores and sales in general.</p> <p>Please, HELP ME! I'm getting desperate!</p> <p>Best Regards</p> <p>Fab </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/nemo-the-musical#post-293 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:12:29 +0000 Anonymous 293@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>Nemo musical held my 4 yr old's attention, but this was a LONG show. I personally didn't care for it, but I can see where this would be a GREAT break from the heat if you happen to be there during the summer months. Our March 1 - 5, 2010 trip was unseasonably cool so the only 'break' mom/dad got was the opportunity to sit for a while! Twin 8 yr old boys didn't care too much for it. Would have rather been riding the coaster's since there was hardly anyone at WDW the entire week. </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/on-2010-dining-plan#post-292 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:08:39 +0000 Anonymous 292@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>Just returned (3/5/10) from our first trip to Disney (Orlando). Did the quick service w/2 snacks and Mr. Frost' list of 'snacks' is accurate, but I don't know that my family really benefitted from this plan. May have been due to the cool Florida weather, but we weren't searching for snacks or drinks as much as I had anticipated. Twin boys (8) and a 4 yr old boy that don't eat that much to begin with. Best tip I rec'd was that Wolfgang Puck Express at D'town Disney accepts the dining plan. We ordered all five meals from the adult menu (perfectly legal to do so) and it was far more food than we could eat in a single meal. This one meal though more than paid for an entire days worth of snacks and the 2 quick service meals alloted for the day. I tipped as if I were eating in a regular restaurant since you actually order, sit and the food is brought to you by the server staff. EXCELLENT food, highly recommend the trip. </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/mcdonalds-in-wdws-downtown-disney-closing#post-287 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:55:40 +0000 thegoz85 287@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>Just wanted to gauge everyone's opinion on the news that McDonald's in Orlando's Downtown Disney will be closing soon. What do you think of its replacement? </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/rapunzel#post-286 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:52:48 +0000 thegoz85 286@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>They recently changed the film's name to "Tangled" - probably confirmation that they aren't going to follow the source material that closely.</p> <p><a href="http://thedisneyblog.com/2010/02/13/disney-changes-title-of-next-animated-film/" rel="nofollow">http://thedisneyblog.com/2010/02/13/disney-changes-title-of-next-animated-film/</a> </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/is-a-trip-to-walt-disney-world-in-your-future/page/2#post-285 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:50:01 +0000 thegoz85 285@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>We just got back and had an awesome vacation! It was a little chilly outside, but that's way better than the 30" of snow we got back home! </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/is-a-trip-to-walt-disney-world-in-your-future/page/2#post-281 Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:48:58 +0000 thegoz85 281@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>Heading down to FL next week! Only have time for one day at Disney, though. My wife has never been to the Animal Kingdom, so I think we're going there. I haven't been there in about 3 years, too. </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/what-is-your-favorite-disney-video-game#post-280 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:36:55 +0000 Anonymous 280@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>here you can bought cheap one,on dvd-fan(dot)com.It can work </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/what-is-your-favorite-disney-video-game#post-279 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:11:37 +0000 Anonymous 279@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>My favorite disney is snow white,it's so cassical disney dvd movie ,here it is <a href="http://www.dvd-fan.com/snow-white.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.dvd-fan.com/snow-white.html</a> </p> http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/topic/hii#post-278 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:52:35 +0000 sara10101 278@http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare/ <p>I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. 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