Sunday 29 May 2016

Disney Dream Girls 109 - Awakening Summer for Star Wars and Frozen

Welcome to the show notes for the Disney Dream Girls Podcast, show 109 for Sunday 29th May 2016. Whilst you read these notes, why not click on the audio player below.

 
On this show, our Walt Disney World princess, Jeanie Gallo, shares what she found out at the Awaken Summer Florida Residents Media Event. In these notes, we will particularly focus on the Galactic Firework Spectacular coming to Disney Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom at night and the additions plus changes to the Norway pavilion at EPCOT. Further information, such as the quoted ticket prices, are available on The Princess Papers.
At the event, Jeanie had the opportunity to chat with Michael Roddy (the show director). Funnily enough, he is a friend of Jeanie's so she was able to speak, at some length, to him about the new nighttime offering coming to DHS, which starts on 17th June 2016. 
Jeanie Gallo with Michael Roddy
From the wonderful description given, this sounds like it will be the place to be on an evening! With fireworks, pyrotechnics, lasers, buildings being cloaked and projections this sounds like something definitely from a galaxy far far away. Testing of the show has been a massive success and the team are very pleased with it and can't wait for you to be immersed in the Star Wars story. Even as a non Star Wars fan, I'm, anxious to see this as it sounds bigger and better than anything I have ever seen at Disney before! Further details are on the podcast.
Concept Art Released by Disney
Additionally, Jeanie was able to attend an 'over the wall tour' of the construction area that soon will become the new Frozen based attraction. 
Concept Art Released by Disney
Personally, I have been a little wary of the whole idea of the introduction of Anna and Elsa into Norway however Jeanie's description (from the tour and discussions with production leads on the project), says I shouldn't be worried. 
Norway Pavilion, EPCOT
Everything externally is a faithful reproduction of buildings in Norway - with the Frozen theme being contained to the internal elements of the meet and greet and the new attraction (that replaces Maelstrom). There will be a new gift shop, entitled The Wandering Reindeer, bathrooms and new exhibits in the Stave church also.
New bathrooms, Norway Pavilion, EPCOT
Something that has already begun is the nighttime offerings at Disney Animal Kingdom. Jeanie got the opportunity to talk to show producer Laura Offerdahl.

In addition to the parks attractions being open well into the evening (and I can't wait to ride Expedition Everest), Discovery Island will become alive with Carnivale, an exuberance of dance, live music and a celebration of the night. 
Expedition Everest - Photo Credit Disney World Website
The Animal Kingdoms' park icon is the Tree of Life and each evening it will come alive and retell four fables. In the time in between, watch the tree closely for the arrival of fireflies that will 'awaken' the carved animals in animated imagery. Jeanie can not praise this highly enough urging everyone to plan on spending a couple of hours there to enjoy it. 
Stage Area The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic

Sadly, the Rivers of Light show has no scheduled start date. In the meantime, you can go and see The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic, which soft opened on 27th May 2016. 
The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic - Photo Credit Disney World Website
On the show, we discuss the dining options available at Tusker House and Tiffins Restaurant, which both come with reserved seating. Both Jeanie and I have reservations so a full review will be forthcoming.   Take a listen to our podcast, show 109; it has all the details on the above and much much more. Listening is easy; you can press play on the audio player above of find us on either iTunes or any podcast catching app.  

We will be back next week with some more Disney theme park fun.

Ways to contact the show:
email info@disneydreamgirls.com
Twitter @disdreamgirls
Find our Facebook by www.facebook.com/DisneyDreamGirlsPodcast
Support the show financially by clicking on Patreon Page for Disney Dream Girls  

Also, find lots more blogs from our Princess Jeanie The Princess Papers

Sunday 22 May 2016

Disney Dream Girls 108 - Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

Welcome to the show notes for the Disney Dream Girls Podcast, show 108 for 22nd May 2016.
 
On this show, we start by taking a tongue-in-cheek look at the Disney property portfolio (from the viewpoint of an estate agent) and then our resident princess - Jeanie - discusses the opening of Town Centre at Disney Springs. Whilst on the show she mentions several eateries, below we share photos and some additional information on B. B. Wolf and The Daily Poutine.  So let's start with B. B. Wolf.
Walk up kiosk of B. B. Wolf - Photo Credit J. Gallo

B. B. Wolf is themed around the 1933 Disney Silly Symphony of The Three Little Pigs and there are some cute little nods to this within the theme such as the brick chimney and the wolf shaped weather vane. Its sells sausage and tasty sausage at that!
B B Wolf - Photo Credit J Gallo
Three Little Pigs - Photo Credit J Gallo
Hot Sweet Sausage - Photo Credit J Gallo
Bavarian Sausage - Photo Credit J Gallo
Italian Veggie Sausage - Photo Credit J Gallo
Looks amazing? Well Jeanie can confirm that each and every one tastes fabulous. She was particularly impressed with the Italian veggie sausage, which she said had a lovely texture, and tasted sublime (a pleasant change from the usual tofu variety). Each sausage is served with a zingy side of crispy house-made pickles. Prices range from $8.49 to $10.39. Soft drinks, as well as two draft beers, are available. 
Menu with prices - Photo Credit J Gallo
Next port of call was The Daily Poutine. This is a dish I have never eaten... I know where have I been hiding! Thanks to Jeanie, I know now this is a Canadian speciality based on thick cut fries (or as Brits like me call them - chunky chips), cheese curds and beef gravy. The store is nestled across from Amorettes (which we also discuss on this show) and has a stunning fountain surrounded by pretty flowers right by the queue line.
Area Outside - Photo Credit J Gallo
Four varieties are currently being served; the classic, Latin, Italian and French. Each one looks delicious and are distinctly different. We discuss each on the podcast but I can't help but say that the servings are very generous and the Latin is a very unique take - not involving fried potato at all!
Menu - Photo Credit J Gallo
The Classic - Photo Credit - J Gallo
The Latin - Photo Credit J Gallo
The Italian - Photo Credit J Gallo
French - Photo Credit J Gallo
Both B. B. Wolfe and The Daily Poutine accept the Disney Dining Plan Counter Service credit but as there is no dessert option, they offer two non-alcoholic drinks instead. 

We hope we have tantalised your taste-buds... however, there are lots more detail on the podcast so please give it a listen and get in touch when you try these dishes! We will be back next week with some more Disney theme park fun.  

Don't forget to tweet us as you listen @DisDreamGirls, you can also contact us via our Facebook page by searching for Disney Dream Girls. 

Ways to contact the show:
email info@disneydreamgirls.com
Twitter @disdreamgirls 
Find our Facebook by www.facebook.com/DisneyDreamGirlsPodcast
Support the show financially by clicking on Patreon Page for Disney Dream Girls  

Also, find lots more blogs from our Princess Jeanie The Princess Papers  

Sunday 15 May 2016

Disney Dream Girls 107 - Skywalking Through a Trip Review

Welcome to the show notes for the Disney Dream Girls post, show 107 for Sunday 15th May 2016.

 

Once at your favourite park, you will will be busily spending your money. However some things are better value that others. So we discuss some of these. Here is our list:

5. Generic chocolate bars (such as twix etc)
4. Mickey bars
3. Glowing merchandise
2. Water
1. Popcorn
Then we move over to doing an attraction rumble - Mr Toad's Wild Ride vs  Journey into Imagination with Figment. 
Mr Toad's Wild Ride - Photo Credit Disney Website

Journey into Imagination with Figment - Photo Credit WDW Website
Finally, we are joined by podcasting duo - Sarah and Richard Woloski (from Skywalking through Neverland) and they share stories from their recent trip to Walt Disney World. Highlights include a review of what it was like to compete in the Star Wars Half Marathon - The Dark Side at Walt Disney World, covert podcasting in Disney Springs and a visit to Universal Orlando Resort. Listeners of our show, will recall both Sarah and Richard are firm favourites of ours at DDG and it was wonderful to have to them back to talk about their latest trip.
Richard and Sarah in role for Run Disney event Photo Credit S Woloski
Richard and Sarah using Photo Pass Magic Shot - Photo Credit S Woloski

Star Wars Medal Collection - Photo Credit S Woloski
Sarah and Richard produce a high energy podcast called Skywalking Through Neverland. Their incredibly successful show celebrates fandom, whilst primarily focussed on Star Wars and Disney it also embraces lots more within pop culture. 
Photo Credit - Skywalking Through Neverland

If you haven't heard their podcast as yet, I highly urge you to do so! Not only is fabulously entertaining but Richard and Sarah put an amazing amount of energy into it and that is what makes it such a successful show. This link will take your straight to their website http://skywalkingthroughneverland.com/
 
We hope you have enjoyed this edition of the Disney Dream Girls Podcast and we will be back next week with some more Disney theme park fun.  

Don't forget to tweet us as you listen @DisDreamGirls, you can also contact us via our Facebook page by searching for Disney Dream Girls. 

Ways to contact the show:

email info@disneydreamgirls.com
Twitter @disdreamgirls 
Find our Facebook by www.facebook.com/DisneyDreamGirlsPodcast
Support the show financially by clicking on Patreon Page for Disney Dream Girls 

Sunday 8 May 2016

Disney Dream Girls 106 - Haunted Mansion and What Flavour Would Star Wars Be?

Welcome to the show notes for the Disney Dream Girls podcast, show 106 for Sunday 8th May 2016.

We start the show by answering a listeners question, what doe we consider to be the best value Disney snack, meal and sounvenir. Obviously, this is something that is open to your perspective. I know I have paid $$$ for a meal at Club 33, was it good value no but was it memorable - yes! Why not get in touch and let us know what you think is good value at your favourite Disney park.
Plaza Inn (DLR) - Photo Credit Disneyland Website
Next, we welcome our guest, host of the Creepy Kingdom Podcast, James H Carter II. Somehow, we got off topic and distracted by the talk of the new ice cream parlour - Ample Hills Creamery. We pose the question, if Star Wars was a flavour, what would it taste like? Well, over on our Facebook page we have a competition for our listeners... design your own Star Wars themed sundae! So why not visit our Disney Dream Girls Facebook page to enter.
Photo Credit - Ample Hills Creamery

Finally, we got to talk about the Haunted Mansion. After that, James discusses his new project, Foolish Mortals, which is a documentary he is looking to create about the Haunted Mansion. To find out more, visit Foolish Mortals: A Haunted Mansion Documentary.
Haunted Mansion (WDW) - Photo Credit Disney World Website

We hope you have enjoyed this edition of the Disney Dream Girls Podcast and we will be back next week with some more Disney theme park fun.  

Don't forget to tweet us as you listen @DisDreamGirls, you can also contact us via our Facebook page by searching for Disney Dream Girls. 

Ways to contact the show:

email info@disneydreamgirls.com
Twitter @disdreamgirls 
Support the show financially by clicking on Patreon Page for Disney Dream Girls 

Wednesday 4 May 2016

Terri Hardin Presents her 60th Disneyland LE Sculpture

In August 2015, I had the pleasure of visiting Terri Hardin, in her Burbank studio, to see a piece of work she was working on for Disneyland's 60th. Yesterday, she emailed me to say it will be completed this month so I thought I would like to share some details with you.
Photo Credit - M Young
What Terri has decided to do, was to create a diamond shaped celebration piece. The main central design is of the iconic Disneyland castle. Then, a close up of six ride vehicles; each one carefully chosen to represent a decade that particular attraction opened in Disneyland. 
Artwork - T Hardin
Work began with sculpting the design, however the completed work will be done in Bas Relief and the completed pieces details are as follows:

Name: 60 Years of Magic
Edition Size: 200, numbered and signed by Terri
Approximate Size: 12" high by 6/7" wide
Cost: $325 + tax including continental US shipping
First Cast From Mold - Photo Credit T Hardin
As mentioned above, this is a limited edition piece so don't delay. If you want one, you can contact Terri direct by emailing terrihardinspeaks@gmail.com 

Sunday 1 May 2016

Disney Dream Girls 105 - Making a Splash with an Imagineer

Welcome to the show notes for the Disney Dream Girls Podcast, show 105 for Sunday 1st May 2016.

 
Coming up in todays show, we are joined by former Disney Imagineer - Terri Hardin. Terri shares another set of tales from her days in imagineering but also she answers some of our listeners questions.

Firstly, Terri tells about the time when she was involved in a stage version of the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Tiffany Theatre. I include this because on 30th April 2016, Jayne and I should have been seeing this show together... however, I will be having knee surgery and Jayne will end up enjoying the show with her husband Simon. 
Terri Hardin and Michelle having fun (photo credit M Young)
Then we move on to talk about Splash Mountain. Terri explains what parts of the Walt Disney World attraction and Tokyo Disneyland version she worked on as well as sharing some interesting behind the scenes stories.

Splash Mountain, Magic Kingdom, WDW  (photo credit Disneyworld website)
Splash Mountain, Tokyo Disneyland (photo credit Tokyo Disneyland Resort website)
Then, Terri answers some listeners questions. Interestingly, she shares details on the animator Hayao Miyazaki.

We hope you have enjoyed this edition of the Disney Dream Girls Podcast and we will be back next week with some more Disney theme park fun.  

Don't forget to tweet us as you listen @DisDreamGirls, you can also contact us via our Facebook page by searching for Disney Dream Girls.

Ways to contact the show:
Email us info@disneydreamgirls.com
Tweet us @DisDreamGirls
Find our Disney Dream Girls Facebook Page  

Support us financially to make the show bigger and better by clicking on Patreon Page for Disney Dream Girls