If you haven’t figured out that I am a giant (pun intended) Marvel fan. Ant-Man is one of my favorite comic book characters, especially the Scott Lang version. I think that Paul Rudd plays him perfectly, so I have been really excited to see what Ant-Man and The Wasp has in store for us! It feels like forever that we have known about this film, but we haven’t seen much of anything – UNTIL THIS MORNING. The Ant-Man and The Wasp trailer finally dropped, and it was well worth the wait!
See! I told you! If you want to see how I reacted watching it for the first time, check out my trailer reaction video. I really hope that this movie leads into a Young Avengers or Avengers Academy story line. If you haven’t read those comics yet, you need to. I would never steer you wrong in the world of Marvel Comics, so trust me on this one. Big changes are coming to the MCU after Infinity War, and I am willing to bet this is the direction it goes in.
About Ant-Man and The Wasp
From the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes a new chapter featuring heroes with the astonishing ability to shrink: “Ant-Man and The Wasp.” In the aftermath of “Captain America: Civil War,” Scott Lang (Rudd) grapples with the consequences of his choices as both a Super Hero and a father. As he struggles to rebalance his home life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he’s confronted by Hope van Dyne (Lilly) and Dr. Hank Pym (Douglas) with an urgent new mission. Scott must once again put on the suit and learn to fight alongside The Wasp as the team works together to uncover secrets from their past.
Ant-Man and the Wasp hits U.S. theaters on July 6, 2018!
Cartoon Network is one of my family’s favorite channels. There are several shows that we can watch all together and Steven Universe is one of them. In fact, we have been toying with the idea of dressing up as Steven, Pearl, Amethyst, and Garnet for Halloween sometime. It works out perfectly since we are a family with three girls and one boy. When we found out that the entire first season of Steven Universe was going to be available on DVD, we were thrilled. Now, we have watched it all, but this way my daughters can watch it in the car on long trips, or in their rooms.
About Steven Universe
Steven Universe is set in Beach City on the American East Coast, where the four Crystal Gems live in an ancient beachside temple, protecting the world from evil. As immortal alien warriors, they project female humanoid forms from magical gems that are the core of their being. The Crystal Gems are Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl and Steven. Steven is a young half-human, half-Gem boy who inherited the gem of his mother Rose Quartz, the former leader of the Crystal Gems. As Steven tries to figure out his powers, he spends his days with his human father Greg, his friend Connie, or the other Gems. He explores the abilities passed down to him by his mother, which include fusion – the ability of two Gems to temporarily merge their identities and bodies to form a distinct new personality.
Special Features
Featuring all 52 captivating episodes, relive the episodes that ignited a fierce and dedicated fandom. With 572 minutes of animation, Steven Universe: The Complete First Season delivers bonus features including a never-before-seen intimate conversations.
Recently I binge watched the first 4 seasons of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Unfortunately I caught up to season 5 a little too late and now I have to wait for the first 3 episodes to resurface. Likely on Netflix once the whole season is over and that makes me very sad. Once I really got in to it, this easily became my favorite current drama. It is totally my own fault that I have to wait to see what happens to my favorite agents now. Anyways, these were my thoughts as I finished up season 4.
Why Didn’t I Watch This Sooner?
The short answer to that is Agent Coulson. It is not that I don’t like him though. I love him. So much. And one thing I can’t stand is bringing people back to the dead – unless it is done right. I watched the first episode live when it premiered and I had a feeling (which was wrong for the record) that I was going to hate how he was brought back. So I stopped watching. I just did not agree with it, as much as I loved him.
Well, I was wrong – it was done perfectly, explained perfectly, and actually made sense to the entire story line. Not to mention that this show directly ties in with the MCU several times. I’m totally embarrassed and had failed as a Marvel Fan Girl. I am glad I made up for it by finally watching every episode.
Photo Credit: ABC
I Love Daisy Johnson
Skye, Daisy, whatever you want to call her, I LOVE her (Chloe Bennet). Again, at first I wasn’t so sure about her. But she turned out to be one of my favorite characters. She is super badass and adorable and WOW, I adore her. I want to be her best friend. Heck, I want to be HER. As far as Inhumans go, she’s my favorite. Which says a lot because I also adore Medusa and Black Bolt (I hope we see them on AoS at some point!).
I Want A Love Like Jemma & Fitz
Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my husband. And I am 99% sure he loves me back. But would be travel across the universe to save me? Probably not. I adore them together. The way that they look at each other, it’s magical. I really hope that at some point we see them get married and have kids. They have been through so much together and deserve to be happy – with each other.
It Keeps Getting Better
Just when I think this has to be the best season yet, they up their game. Every single season gets better and better. Season 4 totally blew me out of the water, so I cannot wait to start watching season 5 and see what ABC has up their sleeve. I can only imagine. If there is an Infinity War tie in, even better!
In case you have been living under a rock, let me tell you that I am a bit of a Marvel fan. I love the comic books as well as the movies. I also have an insane amount of Marvel collectibles. As you might already know, the Guardians of the Galaxy are one of my all time favorites (I mean, hello, I have a full tattoo sleeve featuring them). Lately, they have been tossed around the comic book universe. What I mean by that is there was a short run by Brian Bendis, then another by Gerry Duggan, which abruptly went from All New Guardians of the Galaxy #12 to Guardians of the Galaxy Infinity Quest #146 (still written by Gerry Duggan) seemingly over night. Which is not entirely a bad thing, however, because man, is it good.
If you are at all interested in Marvel, you should be reading this series. It is short, but detailed, and totally worth the read. Especially with movies like Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and The Wasp, and Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 coming to theaters.
The Panels Are Out Of This World
Like most comic book readers, I love a good panel. And there are quite a few of these in the Guardians of the Galaxy Infinity Quest run (issues 146 to 150 – #151 was cancelled with no explanation except that big things are coming). These images pulled me in. I found myself staring at panels, analyzing all of the items in the background, and wanting really badly to start ripping out pages and plaster them all over my walls. I mean, the imagery! Incredible. I gotta hand it to Marcus To (artist) and Ian Herring (color artist).
Infinity Stone Search
At this point in the Marvel comic book world, everyone is looking for the infinity stones. Thanos is MIA and everyone is nervous he will find them first. Talk about a race to find them. If Thanos gets his hands on them, pretty much all hope is lost. I have a feeling we will be seeing this in Infinity War, but you never know what they will pull from the comics.
A New Member of the Guardians of the Galaxy
Yea, a new member has joined the Guardians of the Galaxy (and one leaves too). I don’t want to give too much away, because it is awesome to discover it yourself as you read it. But trust me, most people will love to see this new member join (I sure did!). It totally makes me wonder what is going to happen in the MCU. If you want a background on a possible team up, these are the comics to read.
The Return of Warlock
Yup! You read that right. He (or should I say Him) is back baby! We pretty much knew that was going to happen thanks to the stinger at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2. Adam Warlock is a big deal in the comic books, like a BIG deal. So I was thrilled to see him break his way back in to the story line (literally). Even though we will likely get some of this story in Infinity War and/or Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, it can’t hurt to get the background in the comics.
Now, any fan of the Marvel Comic Books knows they do not play out on the big screen exactly how they are written. Honestly, that is one of my favorite things about the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). But after issue 150, Infinity Countdown starts. This is filled with one shots and cross overs and all the things that comic book fans dream of. I am sure it will be fine to start with the Infinity Countdown issues, but why would you? Guardians of the Galaxy Infinity Quest is only 5 issues. Important issues. You don’t want to miss them.
Preorder this run in trade paperback form (out March 27th) or support your local comic shop by heading out there and picking up these issues today!
Seeing as we are a family of four, we love that there is four player couch co-op in Rayman Legends for the Nintendo Switch! This is one of the few games we can all play together without taking turns. Our girls are young, but boy do they love it. We have had some real fun with the 100+ maps that are in this game. That means hours and hours of fun. It has also brought back some great memories of my early gaming life for me and my husband. The original came out in the early 90s I believe and I remember really enjoying it back then too. Of course, you can’t beat the 3D boss battles! They are pretty amazing looking – blows the original out of the water, that is for sure!
Who It’s For
Rayman Legends is tons of fun for the entire family. As I said, we love to play with our young daughters. They are 5 and 7 years old and we giggle and jump around as we play. Honestly, we have a blast with this game. So much so, that we play it almost every night for about thirty minutes before the girls go to bed.
About Rayman Legends
In Rayman Legends, Rayman, Globox and the Teensies have gotten themselves in trouble yet again. As they roam around an enchanted forest, they discover a collection of immersive paintings. Each painting depicts the story of a unique, mythical world. One painting of a medieval world is particularly immersive. Rayman and friends finds themselves literally sucked inside of it, and a long journey begins. Download Rayman Legends for PC to control the gang as it fights its way through each painting’s world, and work to uncover all of the secrets held within this strange collection.
Available Platforms
Rayman Legends is available for PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. We have it for the Switch and it has quickly become a favorite for our family to play.
My Niro Road Trip was sponsored by Kia, however all opinions expressed are 100% my own.
A road trip is always a good idea. No matter where you are, or where you are going, it is good for the soul. The summer is a great time to cruise around with the windows down and the radio up. In the winter, it is ideal to drive to a warmer climate, or somewhere to ski or explore the outdoors. Whether you have decided to visit a Chevy Dealership to purchase a vehicle or borrowed a family member’s car, make the most out of your road trip. It’s the people you spend your time with that will make this trip memorable. Some people may have the idea that to go on a roadtrip, you’ll need to have your own car. There are so many other options you can look into that will make this trip on to remember. Not everyone owns a car, so this doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Why not look into hiring a van just for this trip? If so, consider getting van insurance, so you know that you are protected from anything that could happen on the road during your trip. These are important factors you will need to consider before going ahead with any form of road trip. But once you have this covered, you can create those wonderful memories with your family and friends.
Recently, I took a mini road trip with Shelley from A Magical Mess in the 2018 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid up part of the coast of California. We had a great time thanks to Kia, and our type A personalities had us planning like crazy before we even left. If you are planning a road trip in a PHEV, here are some pointers to make sure you have the best time.
Plot Out Your Charging Stops
Thanks to ChargePoint, you can search the map for any and all charging stations that are along your path. ChargePoint helps drivers make the switch to electric easy by offering connected charging wherever they work, shop, eat and play. And with the free mobile app, special driver discounts, and integration with automakers, they offer a seamless driving and charging experience. Plotting out your stops ahead of time will make your road trip more efficient – imagine if you can do the whole thing using NO GAS! What a way to help the environment (and save money!).
Don’t Book Your Hotels
Wing it. Trust me. On our road trip Shelley and I tried to plan ahead and book a hotel but never did. I am so glad that we didn’t. We ended up at a gorgeous, seaside hotel – Pismo Lighthouse Suites. The price for a room what phenomenal. We ended up with a large pull out couch, two bathrooms, and a bedroom. There is nothing like waking up to the waves crashing on the shore. So, even if you are tempted, don’t plan ahead with your hotels. You never know what you might discover when we decide to stop for the night!
Create A Road Trip Playlist
One of the best parts about a road trip is blasting music and singing along (even if you don’t know the words). In the Kia Niro PHEV, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay make it easy to listen to music directly from your phone. Create the perfect music playlist to give your road trip the soundtrack it needs. If it were up to me, it would be a lot of 90s and 2000s music.
I don’t mean that literally – although he does have a great book that we got while on our road trip, Addicted to Americana. In this book, Charles Pheonix points out many great places to stop on a road trip. So what I mean by this is, if you see a sign for something that sounds fun, like an adventure, just pull on over and go! The sky is the limit on a road trip, and there is so much to explore in this world. Take the time to do it.
We stopped in San Simeon to see the Elephant Seals!
Make It A Kia Niro
Trust me on this one. If you want the most comfortable road trip you have ever had, go with the Kia Niro PHEV. The engine runs smoothly and quietly, the Harmon Kardon speaker system will allow you to totally rock out, and it fully charges in about two hours. But don’t take my word for it. Plus, no matter how many bags you are bringing along, you can fit them with the 19.4 cu. ft. of cargo space with the rear seats up (and a whopping 54.4 cu. ft. with them down!). Find out for yourself and test drive one at your local Kia dealership.
As I am sure you know, I am a big fan of movies. It is hard with young kids, but my husband and I try to go to the movies at least once a month. Of course, for most Disney films, we can take them along with us. 2018 is going to be one incredible year – for the entire Smith family. From Marvel films that I could have dreamed of 10 years ago, to re-imaginings and sequels of a couple of my favorite films – it is going to have it all.
February 16, 2018: BLACK PANTHER
(Marvel Studios)
Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life.
Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” hits U.S. theaters on February 16, 2018.
#BlackPanther
March 9, 2018: A WRINKLE IN TIME
(Walt Disney Studios)
Meg Murry is a typical middle school student struggling with issues of self-worth who just wants to fit in. The daughter of two world-renowned physicists, she is intelligent and uniquely gifted, as is Meg’s younger brother, Charles Wallace, but she has yet to realize it for herself. Complicating matters is the mysterious disappearance of Mr. Murry, which has left Meg devastated and her mother broken-hearted. Charles Wallace introduces Meg and her fellow classmate Calvin to three celestial beings (Mrs. Which, Mrs. Whatsit and Mrs. Who) who have journeyed to Earth to help search for their father, and together they embark on their formidable quest. Travelling via a wrinkling of time and space known as tessering, they are transported to worlds beyond their imagination where they must confront a powerful evil force. To make it back home to Earth, Meg must face the darkness within herself in order to harness the strength necessary to defeat the darkness rapidly enveloping the Universe.
“A Wrinkle in Time” opens nationwide on March 9, 2018.
#WrinkleInTime
May 4, 2018: AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR
(Marvel Studios)
An unprecedented cinematic journey ten years in the making and spanning the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Infinity War” brings to the screen the ultimate, deadliest showdown of all time. The Avengers and their Super Hero allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
“Avengers: Infinity War” releases in U.S. theaters on May 4, 2018.
#InfinityWar
May 25, 2018: SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY
(Lucasfilm)
Board the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” an all-new adventure with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and encounters the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes.
“Solo: A Star Wars Story” releases in U.S. theatres on May 25, 2018.
June 15, 2018: INCREDIBLES 2
(Disney / Pixar)
Everyone’s favorite family of superheroes is back in “Incredibles 2” but this time Helen is in the spotlight, leaving Bob at home with Violet and Dash to navigate the day-to-day heroics of “normal” life. It’s a tough transition for everyone, made tougher by the fact that the family is still unaware of baby Jack-Jack’s emerging superpowers. When a new villain hatches a brilliant and dangerous plot, the family and Frozone must find a way to work together again – which is easier said than done, even when they’re all Incredible.
“Incredibles 2” busts into theaters on June 15, 2018.
#Incredibles2
July 6, 2018: ANT-MAN AND THE WASP
(Marvel Studios)
From the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes a new chapter featuring heroes with the astonishing ability to shrink: “Ant-Man and The Wasp.” In the aftermath of “Captain America: Civil War,” Scott Lang grapples with the consequences of his choices as both a Super Hero and a father. As he struggles to rebalance his home life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he’s confronted by Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym with an urgent new mission. Scott must once again put on the suit and learn to fight alongside The Wasp as the team works together to uncover secrets from their past.
“Ant-Man and the Wasp” hits U.S. theatres on July 6, 2018.
#AntManAndTheWasp
August 3, 2018: DISNEY’S CHRISTOPHER ROBIN
(Walt Disney Studios)
In the heartwarming live action adventure “Disney’s Christopher Robin,” the young boy who loved embarking on adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood with a band of spirited and loveable stuffed animals, has grown up and lost his way. Now it’s up to his childhood friends to venture into our world and help Christopher Robin remember the loving and playful boy who is still inside.
“Disney’s Christopher Robin” releases in U.S. theatres on August 3, 2018.
November 2, 2018: THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS
(Walt Disney Studios)
All Clara wants is a key – a one-of-a-kind key that will unlock a box that holds a priceless gift. A golden thread, presented to her at godfather Drosselmeyer’s annual holiday party, leads her to the coveted key – which promptly disappears into a strange and mysterious parallel world. It’s there that Clara encounters a soldier named Phillip, a gang of mice and the regents who preside over three Realms: Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers and Land of Sweets. Clara and Phillip must brave the ominous Fourth Realm, home to the tyrant Mother Ginger, to retrieve Clara’s key and hopefully return harmony to the unstable world. Starring Keira Knightley as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Disney’s new holiday feature film “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” is directed by Lasse Hallström and inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale.
“The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” releases in U.S. theatres on November 2, 2018.
#DisneysNutcracker
November 21, 2018: RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2
(Walt Disney Animation Studios)
“Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2” leaves Litwak’s video arcade behind, venturing into the uncharted, expansive and thrilling world of the internet – which may or may not survive Ralph’s wrecking. Video game bad guy Ralph and fellow misfit Vanellope von Schweetz must risk it all by traveling to the world wide web in search of a replacement part to save Vanellope’s video game, Sugar Rush. In way over their heads, Ralph and Vanellope rely on the citizens of the internet – the netizens – to help navigate their way, including a webite entrepreneur named Yesss, who is the head algorithm and the heart and soul of trend-making site “BuzzzTube.”
“Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-Ralph 2” hits theaters on Nov. 21, 2018.
December 25, 2018: MARY POPPINS RETURNS
(Walt Disney Studios)
In Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns,” an all new sequel with a fresh sensibility that celebrates the spirit of the original, Mary Poppins is back to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder missing in their lives. Emily Blunt stars as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn any task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure and Lin-Manuel Miranda plays her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter who helps bring light – and life – to the streets of London.
“Mary Poppins Returns” will be released in U.S. theaters on December 25, 2018.
I received no compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own. This article contains affiliate links.
This Keto “Mac” and Cheese was one of our favorite recipes! Make a cheese sauce from scratch and serve over zoodles.
As you might know already, I started the Keto Diet with Intermittent Fasting two weeks ago. I have succeeded with no cheating – plus a 30 minute workout (21 day fix) 6 days a week. My weight at the start was 174 pounds (I hate admitting that). Which is significantly more than I care to be. My first goal is 155 (healthy weight according to BMI) and my overall goal is 140.
I am happy to say that after 2 weeks of hard work and delicious fatty foods (a total perk to Keto!), I now weigh in at 164. That is a 10 pound loss – and I ate some amazing foods in the process. We even went out to eat a few times.
Biggest Struggles
My biggest struggle has been avoiding carbs. I knew it would be tough at first, and I am getting used to it, however some days I REALLY want pizza. And bread. And cake. Of course, my youngest daughter turned 5 on January 2nd and we had a party for her on the 6th.
There was fresh hot pizza and way too much cake that looked delicious around. But I am very proud to say that I stayed strong and did not have any of it (OK I had SOME frosting, but it wasn’t really that much – just a finger or two full).
Seeing the pounds melt off in the mirror and on the scale has kept me going. That plus the fact that the food is really good. I mean REALLY good. There hasn’t been one meal that I would not have again. We searched for a good keto friendly pizza crust recipe – tried a couple – and fell in love with the cream cheese crust. It was a fork and knife pizza, but man was it delicious. It helped satisfy any pizza cravings I was dealing with.
My favorite meal hands down was the taco cheese bowls that my husband and I made. They were super easy (although I thought it would be daunting). We found this recipe in the Ketogenic Cookbook by Jimmy Moore & Maria Emmerich. We did alter it a bit, by using our own spices to taste and not the taco seasoning as well as adding different toppings. My young daughters loved them too. I can easily see these becoming a staple in the Smith household.
If you are looking a delicious fat bomb (helps you get that last bit of fat that you couldn’t get throughout the day) that will also help satisfy your sweet tooth, boy do I have one for you.
My husband and I both love Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, but of course, we can’t have them on this diet (in case you didn’t know, sugar is carbs). These chocolate peanut butter fat bombs are the closest thing to them and totally hit the spot a few nights a week.
The “Keto Flu”
Something I had been warned about going in to this diet was what some call the “Keto flu”. As your body runs out of carbs to burn, you can get a foggy brain, sniffles, and body aches. Basically, you might feel like you have the flu. I was told not to worry and this is just your body becoming healthy.
To be 100% honest I don’t think I felt this much at all. Maybe for a day or two I had the chills, however it was like negative seven degrees where I live, so it might have just been that.
I was in no way compensated for this article. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. This post contains affiliate links.
As I am sure you know, my family and I are Disney Vacation Club Members. We went so often that we decided it would make financial sense to join. Our only regret? That we didn’t join sooner. Because of this we tend to slow down a bit at the parks (however I honestly think we still move faster than the average Disney World goer). Some trips we tend to focus on the rides and the shows, and not as much on the meet and greets. That being said, there are a handful at each park that we try our hardest to make it to, no matter what our plans are.
Magic Kingdom
Mickey Mouse at Town Square: This is a MUST for Disney fans of all ages! This Mickey will talk with his visitors. YUP! He talks. If you do no other meet and greets in Walt Disney World (but don’t do that to yourself), he is the one to meet!
Anastasia, Drizella, and Lady Tremaine: This trio is so much fun to meet! Sometimes they are a duo (Lady Tremaine is not always with them). You can also meet them at one of our favorite character meals, Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner at 1900 Park Fare.
Rapunzel: I adore Rapunzel! She is one of my favorite Princesses and is so sweet. She is my oldest daughter’s favorite as well. The meetings with her are always so special. My daughter has sung with her, danced with her, and even gotten kisses from her.
Daisy Duck, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Minnie Mouse: One of my favorite locations at Magic Kingdom is Pete’s Silly Sideshow. It’s air conditioned, which is a nice break from the Florida heat, plus you get to meet four of the Fab Five! You can usually be in and out with all 4 met in 30 to 45 minutes or less.
Gaston: Gaston is an incredible meet and greet. He is fun, arrogant, and well, everything you would expect from Gaston. One of my oldest daughter’s favorite things to do when she meets him is tell him that she loves to read – and his reaction is amazing!
Beast: There is only one place in all of Walt Disney World that you can currently meet the Beast. And that is when you book dinner at Be Our Guest. Disney Cast Members will tell you that it is not a guarantee and that this is not categorized as a character meal, however every time we have eaten there we have met him. He has danced with my daughters, and even bent down (and he is HUGE) so that my little one could kiss his nose once. This is a MUST – especially if you are a Beauty and the Beast fan.
Epcot
Anna & Elsa: When Anna and Elsa first came to Epcot, the wait was hours and hours. I have seemed to notice that as the day goes on, you can get away with seeing them after a 15 or 20 minute wait. The World Showcase, where they are located, does not open when Epcot does (usually 11am vs. 9am), however Arendelle does open. That means you can meet Anna and Elsa as well as go on their ride, Frozen Ever After.
Joy & Sadness: These guys are a fantastic meet and greet. We have always spent at least 5 minutes with them. My youngest loves Sadness and has ended up sitting on her lap, giving her kisses more times than I can count.
Baymax: Who doesn’t want to fist bump Baymax? Well you can at Epcot! Be sure to give him a nice fluffy hug too!
Snow White: Snow White has become one of our favorite meet and greets because of her interaction with our family. My husband once told her not to take apples from strange old ladies anymore, and she giggled and talked about dreams coming true. My daughter told her that she liked oranges and Snow White asked her what those were, stating they didn’t grow in her kingdom. And my other daughter let her know that when she met Grumpy he wasn’t very social, she said that sure sounds like him. When we leave, she always tells us to come back and visit soon.
Hollywood Studios
Kylo Ren: One of my absolute favorite meet and greets at Walt Disney World is Kylo Ren. He is intimidating, just as you would expect him to be. Don’t hope for a hugging, loving experience with him. One year he told my youngest daughter that he would come for her when she was ready to join the darkside. Ever since, she is not a big fan of his – yet, she always asks to meet him when we are at Hollywood Studios.
Woody & Buzz Lightyear: Woody and Buzz are only going to get more popular as Toy Story 4 nears closer and closer. These guys are a really fun meet and greet! Although, I suggest going straight to them in the morning as the line can get pretty long.
Star-Lord and Baby Groot: Behind One Man’s Dream, you can travel through space and meet with a couple of the Guardians of the Galaxy. These guys are fantastic and tend to spend a lot of time with each group, which does make the wait a bit long. Baby Groot was flirting with my youngest according to Star-Lord, and I think she wants to marry him now. I cannot say for certain that they are still available for meet and greets – but I go back soon and will let you know!
Animal Kingdom
Flik: One of my favorite movies is A Bug’s Life, so getting to meet Flik was pretty cool! The first time, we just happened to see him standing there with a pretty short line. Now we seek him out. Once or twice I have seen Thumper come out in the same spot – so keep an eye out!
Baloo and King Louie: If you like The Jungle Book, than this is the meet and greet for you! Don’t forget to get a big bear hug from Baloo!
Pocahontas: Pocahontas is just as beautiful as you would expect her to be. We love to meet her and chat about nature and Percy (since we have a pug too!).
This post is sponsored by One2One Network. All opinions are my own.
You might know this about me already, but I am a huge fan of music. There is a record player in my front room on the first floor of my house and whenever I need a moment to myself to just relax, I sit in there and put it on. Music is so powerful, so I was thrilled to get the chance to preview the debut album from Whole Damn Mess, The Queen and The Outcast. I was pretty much blown away by this album. I enjoyed it so much that I listened to it three times in a row. It was really powerful and is clearly all about a fantastic love story.
About Whole Damn Mess
Success stories don’t usually come with a twist ending. But that’s exactly what happened to singer/songwriter Don Miggs – only when he stopped trying to force his life to follow the familiar “fame and fortune” narrative did he finally realize that the story he’d already written was far more compelling. That story, as complicated and offbeat as life itself, is the focus of Miggs’ raw and confessional new project the Whole Damn Mess.
To have the Whole Damn Mess, in other words, means that gaining wisdom and maturity doesn’t necessarily extinguish the fire in your belly or satisfy the dream in your heart. It’s about not holding back, about opening the floodgates and letting honesty and passion come out in all their unfiltered glory. It’s about giving up on perfection in favor of emotion in hopes of touching listeners’ souls, not just striking a hipster pose.
About The Queen and The Outcast
The band’s debut album, The Queen and the Outcast, is at its core an unexpected love story. It’s a rock and roll fairy tale – on the surface the clichéd tale of two archetypes, the Rich Girl and the Bad Boy. In Miggs’ revealing, autobiographical songs, though, a more complex and richly detailed truth emerges. In the process, Miggs realizes that having everything you need doesn’t mean that you should give up on what you’ve always wanted.
“I want this music to be everything to someone, not something to everyone,” Miggs says. “I’d love to show people that no matter what you have, every day can still be the best day of your life. It can be the day that you do something that you’ve never done before. It would be cool if this album gave even one person the hope to dream a little bigger than they have been.”
The Queen and the Outcast is the kind of album that can only come after the ripening of life experience, and not just because of the singular story that it tells. The music itself is a unique blend of rock abandon tempered by a knowing cleverness, with pop hooks that are not only able to worm their way into the ear but provide something to ponder for the brain inside. In a culture that seems increasingly skewed to the 14-year-old mentality, it’s refreshing to find an album not made for kids that can nonetheless still make you feel like one.
While I honestly enjoyed the entire album (I don’t think there is even one song I was “meh” about), there are two tracks that really stood out to me and I found myself wanting to listen to them over and over.
“Anywhere Without You”: This song is pretty powerful, in my opinion. I love the feeling of love that I get from it. He is saying he doesn’t want to go anywhere without her – and is so adamant about it, that it makes my heart melt. The lyrics give me goosebumps.
“When She Says”: I adore this song. It is the second to last song on the album and my favorite. After first listening to it, it got stuck in my head. I was eager to play it for my husband, who also loves this type of music. He agreed, it is the best on the album – although the whole album is amazing. Something about this song really reels me in, but I can’t say 100% what it is. Between the lyrics and the beat – I would say it is damn near perfect.
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