My husband is super talented when it comes to crafty things. He creates a lot of the DIY stuff here at Mama’s Geeky, including my daughters’ Star Vs. The Forces of Evil Halloween costumes! These cosplay outfits came out so good that we had talked about getting some professional photos taken. As if by magic, shortly after I received an offer to work with one of my favorite studios again – Portrait Innovations.
Free Photos at Halloween Event
The Portrait Studio located in the Walmart Supercenter in Rochester is pleased to offer parents with children dressed in costumes free portraits during its Halloween event Monday, Oct. 30. Photo opportunities run from 3 to 7 p.m., and parents will receive two free 5×7 portraits and the digital images of each child!
Following the free event, parents can also submit their children’s portrait as part of a fun Portrait Studio photo contest for a chance to win $1,000. To enter, participants should submit their Portrait Studio Halloween portrait, and then encourage friends and family to vote for it. The 10 portraits with the most votes will be judged by the Portrait Studio for costume originality and one winner will be chosen.
During the Portrait Studio free Halloween event, there will not be any sales or traditional studio appointments available so the team can focus on working with children dressed in costumes for Halloween. Employees will also be handing out candy to get everyone in the Halloween spirit. To find your closest Portrait Studio located in Walmart Supercenters, visit this link: www.portraitstudio.com/Find-a-Studio.
My Experience
I recently took my daughters to Portrait Innovations in Syracuse, which is a sister company of The Portrait Studio. This was our third time there and I must admit, it is our favorite place to go for photos! They are always super professional and get the best shots – even when my girls are acting a little silly. This time, we were sure to get some fall photos as well as Halloween pictures.
One of my favorite things about going here is their process of selecting the photos we want. It is the perfect way to make sure we get our favorite ones. Three similar photos are put on the screen at the same time and you select your favorite one. Just do this until you get to the end of the photos and then they are all displayed on the screen together. Narrow it down from there and select the package that you would like. You can even receive disks with your photos on them (Hi or Low Resolution) depending on the package and number of poses you go with.
About The Portrait Studio
The Portrait Studio specializes in giving customers a customized portrait studio experience with creative options for beautiful, professional portraits and personalized gifts and keepsakes. Photographers at each studio have been trained in the newest posing and shooting techniques and work with newborns, children, families, graduates, religious milestones and large groups.
The Portrait Studio located in Walmart Supercenters is a reinvention of the professional portrait studio experience based on the understanding of how important capturing and sharing cherished family and personal memories, events and milestones is to its customers. The Portrait Studio operates within Walmart Supercenters for complete convenience. To learn more, visit www.PortraitStudio.com.
Each giveaway has a value of a minimum of $15, however some are worth much more. Be sure to enter to win all of them because there is no limit to how many you can win. GOOD LUCK!
I have always loved playing video games – ever since I was a young girl and got my first Nintendo system. I enjoy all types of games, but some of my favorites have always been the LEGO games. These games can occupy me for literal hours on end. We own quite the collection of them – Harry Potter, Marvel Super Heroes, Dimensions, and now we have added the LEGO Ninjago Movie! I was super excited to see this show up in the mail because I just knew I would love it!
Initial Reaction
My husband and I took my daughters to see The LEGO Ninjago Movie before we started playing this game. From past experiences I knew that the game would more or less be a walkthrough of the movie, and just might include some spoilers. Right after we returned from the movie (which we loved!), we all ran upstairs and put the game in our Nintendo Switch. We spent a couple of hours playing all together. One really cool thing about this game is that in the Battle Maps mode you can play with up to 4 players! That means that my entire family was able to play together – something that is very rare with video gaming!
Be A Completionist
I am a total completionist when it comes to video games, which is one of the main reasons I love LEGO games! In each level you have a goal to collect a certain amount of coins, yellow bricks, and red bricks! I will not stop playing one of these games until I have a 100% on them. I just can’t because I such a completionist. It will bother me and I will think about that game until I complete it all. That is one of the things that makes LEGO games so fun and fulfilling for me.
About The LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game
Find your inner ninja with the all-new LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game! Play as your favorite ninjas, Lloyd, Jay, Kai, Cole, Zane, Nya and Master Wu to defend their home island of Ninjago from the evil Lord Garmadon and his Shark Army. Master the art of Ninjagility by wall-running, high-jumping and battling the foes of Ninjago to rank up and upgrade the ninja’s combat skills. Only in the LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game will you experience the film across 8 action packed locations each with its own unique Challenge Dojo. And with the Battle Maps, play against friends and family in competitions for up to four players!
The LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game is available now at all major retailers for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, & Steam (PC).
My husband and I totally lucked out and pre-ordered Hatchimalslast year as soon as we heard about them. We had a feeling they were going to be one of the hottest toys for the holidays – and we were right! When they arrived at our house, our daughters went crazy. At the time, they were 3 and 5, and had said they had found their best friends for life. We had a blast unboxing them and my girls have played with them nearly every day since. So when we heard that Spin Master had something up their sleeve for this holiday season – we just couldn’t wait to hear more.
Hatchimals Surprise
We learned about the Hatchimals Surprise and tried our hardest to secure one or two for our girls, but had no luck. Then, as if by magic, I was asked to team up with GameStop and Spin Master to hatch our very own Hatchimals Surprise! Of course we jumped at the chance! So happy Hatchimals Day! Here is a look at the newest Hatchimals, and guess what – it’s TWINS! Get yours at GameStop today!
Hatching Video
We were THRILLED when a Hatchimals Surprise showed up at our door. It came before the girls got home from school and to be honest, I almost hatched it without them. A few times. I just could not wait to find out what new friends were inside our egg. Somehow, I powered through those hours – and surprised the girls with their Hatchimals Surprise after school. And we immediately hatched it open. Here is our video.
It’s TWINS!
Guys, it was the coolest thing EVER when that egg cracked open and we found twins inside. I mean, from the box I could tell that it was going to be twins inside, but I was still super excited! They were just as adorable as I thought they would be! The hatching process was a little different, which you can see in the video. These guys have soft noses so there was no pecking around in a circle for a while to open up the egg. Instead, they pushed their way out of the top. I think this new way was a lot of fun – and seemed to help the process move along quicker too!
Similar to last year’s Hatchimals, you raise these guys from baby, to toddler, to kid! With each new stage, you unlock more surprises! These twins play with each other! I mean, they actually talk to each other and interact with each other and it is SO COOL! As you can see, we got the blue Peacats. But you can also get the pink Peacats, pink Giravens, and Blue and pink Giravens!
Our Hatchimals Surprise twin babies have already taken over our house. In just one day they have gone EVERYWHERE with the girls. They have even been given so much love they are both in the toddler stage right now. We love these little guys, and I think you will too!
WARNING: There is some serious price jacking going on over at Amazon right now. Get your Hatchimals Surprise in GameStop stores or online for RETAIL price right now. Go go go! They will sell out!
My experience was all thanks to Walt Disney World however, all opinions expressed are my own.
Something that I have always wanted to do while visiting Walt Disney World is attend a fireworks dessert party. In fact, we almost bought tickets to one during the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Partythis year. So imagine how excited we were to see a dessert party on our itinerary for our Copper Creek press event! I told my daughters right away and they started jumping up and down talking about all of the desserts they were going to eat. Honestly, I was more excited for the prime viewing spot for the Happily Ever After fireworks – but of course, the desserts were a great perk!
The Desserts & Drinks
As soon as we walked in the private area, we were taken aback by all of the delicious food that was waiting for us! We ate an early dinner knowing that we would be filling up on lots of tasty treats. I tried a bit over everything, and there was nothing I didn’t enjoy. My personal favorites were the chocolate-dipped strawberries and red velvet cupcakes. My daughters just loved creating their own cupcakes and cookies! This is such a fun activity for kids!
Desserts we saw:
Chocolate-dipped strawberries
Strawberry Tarts
Pineapple Delight
Various Flavored Macarons
Various Fruits
Ice cream
Create-your-own cookie and cupcake (my girls LOVED this!)
and so much more!
Create your Own Cupcakes & Cookies!
Drinks we saw:
Sparkling cider
Hot chocolate
Signature lemonades
Coffee
Tea
I was so happy that there was coffee available because after a long day, I needed a cup in order to wake myself up for the fireworks!
The Show – Happily Ever After Fireworks
As we approached showtime, cast members led us to a prime standing area in the Plaza Garden for priority viewing of the nighttime fireworks spectacular – Happily Ever After. There are really no words to describe how amazing this was. As we listened to some of our favorite Disney songs, our favorite characters were projected on to Cinderella Castle. While this was going on, the sky was lit up with an incredible fireworks show.
My family had so much fun singing the words to these songs at the top of our lungs and we ooh’ed and ahh’ed over the show we were seeing. There were several moments where I even teared up. These are the memories that I will never forget. Create your own once in a lifetime memories andbook a Fireworks Dessert Party at Walt Disney Worldtoday!
We are a family of gamers – so imagine our excitement when Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions showed up on our doorstep! One of the reasons we were practically jumping up and down was because it was nearly a full three weeks before it’s release to the public. This is a game that we had been waiting a long time for, and we couldn’t wait to dig right in! My daughter, Ivy, and I started playing it immediately – and quickly became addicted to it.
About the Game
The game that launched the Mario & Luigi series returns looking better than ever before. In this renewed classic, Mario and Luigi journey to the Beanbean Kingdom with Bowser to restore Princess Peach’s voice. Control Mario and Luigi simultaneously, making use of their unique Bros. Moves to solve puzzles and emerge victorious in action-packed battles. Pay heed to the enemy’s patterns and time your reactions right to land satisfying counterblows. Included in this remake is the Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser mode, which tells the story of the game from the perspective of Bowser’s minions. Recruit characters to grow your own Minion army as you ght to locate your missing leader!
Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga
I hate to say that I never played the original Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga on Game Boy (I know, I know, big geek fail – sorry!) but that made me even more excited for this game. From the opening scene, I knew that I would not be disappointed. It is not an exaggeration to say that I played this game for hours the first week that it arrived. The turn-based battles are something I was not used to in Mario Bros. games before Mario + Rabbids came out. I really enjoyed being able to level up Mario and Luigi, as well as their different battle techniques. The fact that they can team up during a battle for some bigger moves was a lot of fun!
As far as the story line goes, I must say, I loved it! I didn’t want to put the game down sometimes because I just wanted to know what was going to happen next. There are a lot of puzzles in this game that you need to use strategy for. For example, using the different kinds of spins to get from one place to another. If you are a Mario & Luigi fan, this is a must play game – even if you never played the original!
Minion Quest
This is the brand new mode of the game – so something new for everyone, even fans of the original game. In this mode titled Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser, you get to play Captain Goomba. I was really excited about this because who doesn’t love a Goomba! Journey alongside ShyGuy, Boo, and other familiar Baddies to hunt for Bowser. This storyline takes place during Mario & Luigi’s adventure so you can discover what really happened behind-the-scenes!
I tend to like the villains more than the heroes in most cases – in movies, TV shows, and yes, even video games. That is probably why I was most excited to play this mode of the game. I had so much fun getting to be one of my favorite Baddies and to be able to see a different side of the story.
Use Your Amiibos
One thing I really love about this game is that it is compatible with amiibos! Just tap in an amiibo accessory to score new characters, game modes, or other perks. Amiibos are super fun to collect and it is way cool how they interact with different Nintendo games. My daughters enjoy picking new Amiibos out at the store to join our collection all the time.
I am so excited to let you guys know that I am heading to LA for the #ThorRagnarokEvent with 24 other awesome bloggers in a couple of weeks! Make sure you follow along 10/9 to 10/11 as I do so many cool things including walking the red carpet at the Thor: Ragnarok premiere. I will also be chatting with some of the cast and filmmakers, so if you have any questions, please let me know. The best part of this trip just might be getting to see my BFF, Joyce from WomenandThierPretties.net. She lives far away so these press events are often the only time I can see her.
That is not all we will be doing though, so be sure to check out the full details below.
Hashtags to follow: #ThorRagnarokEvent
#Cars3Bluray
#Vampirina
#littleBits
#TheMayor
#ABCTVEvent
Thor: Ragnarok Red Carpet & Interviews
During this trip, I will be walking the red carpet at the Thor: Ragnarok premiere in LA! Yes, it is true, I am no stranger to a Marvel red carpet, but that does not mean it isn’t fun each time. Every red carpet definitely has a different feel to it – each experience is different. The time flies by, so you have to soak it all in while you can. Stay tuned for lots of pictures coming to you live from the red carpet on my social media channels.
Not only will be attending the premiere, but we will be interviewing some of the cast and filmmakers as well. Here is the full list of our scheduled interviews. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to let me know – either in the comments, or you can email [email protected].
Interviews TBD…
Synopsis
In Marvel Studios’ THOR: RAGNAROK, Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok—the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization—at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela. But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger—the Incredible Hulk! THOR: RAGNAROK is directed by Taika Waititi and returns Chris Hemsworth starring as Thor and Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as Loki. They are joined by Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson and Karl Urban, with Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Hopkins.
My family saw Cars 3 in theaters and I have to say, I think it is my favorite Cars movie of them all! I am thrilled that while in LA we are going to have a Cars 3 themed dinner to celebrate the upcoming In-Home release! I think it is really important for kids to watch this movie – and adults too. There are some great lessons to be learned – and as per usual with Pixar, a few tears to cry.
I am super excited because the CARS 3 dinner will be at Flo’s V8 Cafe inside Cars Land at Disney California Adventure! For the first time ever Cars Land will be fully decked out for “Haul-O-Ween” which will make the night that much more fun! After dinner we will go on Radiator Springs Racers, Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween, and Mater’s Graveyard JamBooree AND we even get to check out the brand new GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY ride Mission: BREAKOUT! I am a bit of a Guardians fan so I am thrilled about this! It will be themed out to Halloween with the new name “Monsters After Dark” which sounds so cool!
Synopsis
In Cars 3, the legendary Lightning McQueen is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician, Cruz Ramirez, with her own plan to win, plus inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected turns. Proving that #95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage!
Cars 3 is racing home on Digital Oct 24, Blu-ray Nov 7 & New on 4K UHD!
I am really excited about the fact that we will also screen a new episode of Disney Junior’s new animated series “Vampirina“. This show tells the story of a young vampire girl who faces the joys and trials of being the new kid in town when her family moves from Transylvania to Pennsylvania. This show premiered this part weekend and my family could not be more excited about it. We love all things fun and creepy, which is exactly what Vampirina is! I am glad I thought to record it – because we rewatched it immediately! My girls loved it so much!
After the screening there will be a Q&A with the series’ Executive Producer, Chris Nee (“Doc McStuffins”) and I couldn’t be more excited. I love picking the brains of the creative masterminds behind the Disney shows. Be sure to let me know if you have any questions for him.
Vampira premiered October 1st at 11am on Disney Junior!
Probably one of the coolest things ever will happen on this trip, I will be able to build my own Droid. I mean, that is pretty much every Star Wars fan’s dream, is it now? The littleBits Droid Inventor Kit allows kids (and adults) t0 create their own custom Droid and bring it to life using littleBits electronic blocks! With the free Droid Inventor app, we will be able to give our R2 Unit new abilities and take it on 16+ missions. With this kit, you can also reconfigure parts to design any Droid you can dream up! I promise you that my husband and daughters are going to flip over this when they see it!
We got a last minute addition to our event that I am super excited about! We will get to screen 2 new episodes of the brand new ABC Tuesday night comedy THE MAYOR. We will also get to meet with 2 of the shows stars Bernard David Jones (“Jermaine Leforge”) and Marcel Spears (“T.K. Clifton”) and interview them! Let me know if you have any questions for them!
THE MAYOR – ABC’s “The Mayor” stars Bernard David Jones as Jermaine Leforge, Brandon Micheal Hall as Courtney Rose and Marcel Spears as T.K. Clifton. (Photo Credit: ABC/Bob D’Amico)
After years of toiling away in a small inner-city apartment, making music in his bedroom closet, young rapper Courtney Rose is ready for his big break. Tired of waiting for opportunity, Courtney cooks up the publicity stunt of the century — running for mayor of his hometown in California to generate buzz for his music career. His master plan goes wildly awry, ending in the most terrifying of outcomes: an election victory. With the help of his mother and friends, Courtney will have to overcome his hubris if he wants to transform the struggling city he loves.
You don’t want to miss out on all of the inside scoop that I drop while on this trip, do you? From interview quotes, to photos live from the red carpet, make sure you are following me so don’t miss a thing! Check out my Instagram Stories, Twitter Feed, Facebook Wall, and of course, my Instagram pictures so that you will feel like you are right there with me.
Whenever we go to Walt Disney World or on a Disney Cruise, one of our favorite things to do is watch the cartoons on the TV. So imagine how excited we were to see that a bunch of Halloween & Christmas themed ones were put on to a DVD. When we were sent a copy of Mickey Mouse: Merry & Scary, we opened it right up and put it on. Watching these cartoons totally transported us back to Disney World, and we felt like we were really there again. I just know this DVD will be watched whenever we are missing it there (which is all the time!).
The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular!
For Halloween, Mickey has tricked out his house like a “tomb, sweet, tomb” and along with his pals Donald and Goofy, plans to tell hair-raising Halloween stories! However, his attempt at being scary falls flatter than a pancake. Can Mickey conjure up a truly terrifying tale before the stroke of midnight?
Duck The Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…to migrate south for the winter! But Donald wants to stay put and celebrate his first Christmas with his friends. Mickey creates the ultimate list of everything to make Donald’s first Christmas great, but before you can catch a snowflake on your tongue, Donald has turned into a shivering, sneezing duck-cicle!
Voice Cast: Chris Diamantopoulus as Mickey Mouse/Vampire; Russi Taylor as Minnie/Huey/Dewey/Louie/The Witch; Bill Farmer as Goofy; Tony Anselmo as Donald Duck; Tress MacNeille as Daisy Duck; and Corey Burton as Professor Von Drake. Executive Producer: Paul Rudish
Episodes
Includes two 22-minute holiday themed episodes (Halloween & Christmas). The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular & Duck The Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special.
My experience was all thanks to Walt Disney World however, all opinions expressed are my own.
My family and I were thrilled when Disney invited us to come check out their latest Disney Vacation Club Resort, Copper Creek Villas & Cabins, this past weekend. All I can say is WOW! Believe me when I say, you could spend your entire vacation at the resort and not get bored. But don’t get me wrong, no Disney trip is complete without at least a few days in the parks! However, Copper Creek is a great place to stay if you wish to spend a half day (or full day) hanging out at the resort to take a break from the busy of the parks.
Copper Creek is located at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and has a plethora of activities for the whole family to enjoy. The resort is themed around the settlers trek across the country on the railroad – and there are many hints of that everywhere you look. You can even take an hour long tour of the architecture and theme to learn more about it! This tour runs Wednesday through Saturday and meets at the lobby fireplace at 9am.
From movies under the stars to a wide selection of restaurants – here are 5 reasons to stay at Copper Creek!
All-You-Care-To-Enjoy Skillet at Whispering Canyon Cafe
The Restaurants
If you are looking for somewhere to eat while staying at Copper Creek, which is part of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, there are many different options! We ate at three different restaurants and all of them were exceptional. You are sure to find something that everyone in your family likes.
NEW! Geyser Point Bar & Grill – This was our favorite place to eat lunch. You can’t beat the view and the turkey sandwiches were delicious!
Whispering Canyon Cafe – This is the BEST place around to have dinner! The food is phenomenal (try the All-You-Care-To-Enjoy Skillet with 5 different meats!) and be sure to ask for ketchup.
REOPENED! Roaring Fork – Stop by the refreshed quick-service restaurant to enjoy Mickey waffles, specialty sandwiches and flatbreads, grilled chicken sandwiches, pulled pork and more. My girls loved the saddlebag sandwiches for breakfast!
Don’t ask for ketchup at Whispering Canyon Cafe!
There are also two other places you can check out while staying here:
Artist Point – Celebrate the culinary heritage of the Pacific Northwest with seasonal and regional menu selections and an award-winning wine list at this signature dining experience that captures the spirit of National Park lodges.
Territory Lounge – Curl up in the warmth of this rustic lodge bar where you can imbibe in signature cocktails, Pacific Northwest wines and craft beers at night and specialty coffees in the morning. Evening visitors can have a fireside feast with artisanal flatbreads, poutine, a charcuterie board and a seasonal cobbler for dessert.
The Pools
Yes, you read that right. Pools. As in multiple. As a Disney Vacation Club member staying at Copper Creek you will have access to a private DVC pool. This pool is much more calm than the other pool at Wilderness Lodge, which has a water slide.
If you have young kids that want to splash around and have a blast, that pool is for you. But if you are looking to relax by the pool with a cocktail and read a book – head to the DVC pool. Just tap your magic band at the gate and you are in!
Here’s a fun fact – the oil rig at the DVC pool is actually taken from Catastrophe Canyon, which was part of The Backlot Tour. This was always one of our favorite things to do at Hollywood Studios, so we were excited to see it again! I love that Disney recycles things whenever possible, creating less waste when a ride or attraction is closed down.
Movies Under the Stars
If you come to my blog often, you probably know I am a huge fan of watching movies under the stars. This summer my family and I had many outdoor Disney movie nights, so we were thrilled to see that this was something Copper Creek offers. They have the perfect spot set aside where you can come a little early to roast marshmallows and make s’mores! Then the inflatable movie screen comes up and you can relax with the family and watch a movie. The night we were there it was Beauty and the Beast (2017 version) and we loved it. With a view of the lake, this is the perfect way to unwind after a long day.
Tons of Recreational Activities
Copper Creek offers tons of fun recreational activities to do around the resort. There is a nature trail that connects Wilderness Lodge and Wilderness Campgrounds that you walk, jog, or even rent a bike to ride it. They have a daily pool party with Humphry and a nightly Electrical Water Pageant. Not to mention the Disney Trivia, Arts & Crafts, Guess Who, and Bingo games! If you are willing to pay a small fee you can rent a boat, participate in Mickey Tie-Dye, or take a Fireworks Cruise! But our personal favorite was the Hidden Mickey Scavenger Hunt! Get clues and search the resort for some hidden Mickeys – a super fun family activity! I promise you, the fun never ends at Copper Creek!
The Rooms
Of course, one of the most important aspects of the hotel you are staying at is the rooms. I will have a much more detailed article on these soon, but I had to mention them here. They are a great reason to book your next vacation club stay at Copper Creek. The rooms are spacious, well-laid out, and just gorgeous. The railroad theme flows form the hallways in to the rooms where the hooks are all bent railroad ties. There are also railroad beams lining the walls. You won’t be disappointed!
The fact of the matter is, Copper Creek is somewhere that instantly became a favorite for my family to stay. After staying in a one bedroom there, my husband and I are discussing adding on points at Copper Creek. We even called my in-laws our first night there telling them all about it – and inviting them to come stay with us there some day (hopefully sooner than later!).
My experience was all thanks to Walt Disney World however, all opinions expressed are my own. This article contains affiliate links.
In case you have not picked up on it yet, my family is big in to Walt Disney World. We are Disney Vacation Club members and visit at least twice a year – despite the fact that we are all the way across the country in Upstate New York. Animal Kingdom has always been a half day park for us – full day if we decide to check out all the animals and take our time. But now things have changed. Honestly, we could probably spend an entire day in new part of the park, Pandora – The World of Avatar, especially taking in to consideration those pesky wait times that come along with brand new rides opening.
The Food
There are a couple of food places in Pandora – and I highly recommend trying them both out. Pick up a delicious frozen drink (that glows!!) at Pongu Pongu or sit down and have a full meal at Satu’li Canteen. We ate at Satu’li for lunch during our last visit – and the entire family loved their meals. So much so that we plan to go back during our next trip, and the next, and the next.
I had the Chopped Wood-Grilled Chicken Bowl and it was so good that I can’t stop thinking about it. My husband loved his Slow-Roasted Sliced Grilled Beef Bowl. The cool thing about these bowls is that you totally create your own! Just select your protein, base, and sauce – I went with chicken, rice, and garlic sauce. Yum! My young daughters were huge fans of the Cheeseburger Steamed Pod & Cheese Quesadilla. There are so many options there that the whole family is sure to find something they will love! I highly recommend it.
The Rides
There are two rides at Pandora – The World of Avatar and as of the time of writing this, you are only allowed to book a FastPass+ for one of them. It can be a hard choice to make, but if Flight of Passage is available, I suggest you pick that one up. There is really no way to describe this ride. The basis of the ride is that you link up with an Avatar to ride an ikran, or as we call them – a banshee. This ride has the feel of Soarin’, but way cooler. You will fly through Pandora and see many breathtaking sights. One of the coolest things is feeling the banshee’s belly expand on your legs as it breathes. I have never experienced anything like this before, and I was dying to get back on it the second I got off! There is a height restriction of 44 inches on this ride so our youngest could not ride. I cannot wait to take her on it when she is tall enough – she will LOVE it!
The Na’vi River Journey is amazing as well – and is a ride for all heights! On it you will take a boat ride through a magical Na’vi River – and it really feels like you are on Pandora. Be sure to take it all in and look around every aspect of the ride so you don’t miss a thing – be sure to look up as well! There are so many creatures to see – and you might even a few Na’vi! At the end, you will see the beautiful Shaman of Song – which was my youngest daughter’s favorite part. The truth is, the lines for both of these rides can get super long – but the wait for Flight of Passage can be double (or more!) the wait for Na’vi River Journey. When you visit Pandora, I highly recommend taking the time to do both, as they are both incredible in their own way.
The Shopping
One of my favorite things to do at Walt Disney World is shop. You might even say I have a bit of an addiction when it comes to Disney Collectibles. So naturally I was really excited to check out Windtraders, the new store at Pandora that is full of exotic merchandise and souvenirs that celebrate the culture of Pandora. I was amazed from the moment I walked in to the store. There was so much to look at! From Na’vi cultural artifacts and animal toys to science kits and Alpha Centauri Expeditions (ACE) apparel, you’ll find something exciting for every member of the family here. They even have baby Banshees that you can adopt from the Rookery.
My daughters had a lot of fun making their own necklaces (for a REALLY good price too if you ask me!) and picking out one stuffed animal each. My oldest opted for a Na’vi baby, while my youngest chose a Prolemuris plush. They have been carrying them around with them everywhere since we got them. We were all really happy to take a few pieces of Pandora home with us.
The Ambiance
Trust me when I say take the time to look around as you walk through Pandora. I get it, you will want to rush to that ride that you don’t have the FastPass+ for – but look around. All of the little details will totally amaze you. The first thing you will see is the floating rocks. It is easy to be in awe of these as they are very well crafted. There are also lots of flora and fauna to check out – pretty much everywhere you look. You can tell that a lot of work was put in to making everything perfect. Pandora even has a certain smell to it. It truly is like you have stepped on to another planet.
A few months ago my family was introduced to Kuu Kuu Harajuku – and we all instantly fell in love. This show is so much fun for my daughters, and it is something I enjoy watching with them. This show currently airs on Nick Jr. and was created by singer Gwen Stefani – and it is pretty amazing. The newest DVD, Super Kawaii, contains 12 (yes 12!!) episodes from season one PLUS new interviews with the voice cast. We received an advance copy, but it hits stores on September 26th.
About Kuu Kuu Harajuku
The animated series Kuu Kuu Harajuku follows the fun-filled adventures of the band HJ5 – Love, Angel, Music, Baby and G – through their super cute world of music, fashion and style. Grammy® Award-winning musician Stefani wanted to create an animated series for girls that encourages and celebrates creative self-expression, imagination, and individuality. The show’s setting is inspired by the exuberant street fashion and creative youth culture of the Harajuku district but it takes place in a magical fantasy world like nothing you’ve ever seen before.
Join Love, Angel, Music, Baby and G — five totally talented members of the super cool band HJ5 – as they return with 12 more hard-rocking tales! With help from their loveably incompetent manager Rudie, HJ5 travels all over the globe to put on shows for their fans! That is, of course, if they can actually get through the crazy adventures keeping them from their gigs! But together, HJ5 will do what it takes to perform … and maybe even save the day!
Fashion Dolls
Also launching is a new KUU KUU HARAJUKU fashion doll and small doll line from Mattel that infuses popular Japanese harajuku fashion, and allows girls to customize and create their own fashions with interchangeable outfits and accessories. The line includes product based on singer G, plus Love, Angel, Music and Baby. Each best pal adds her unique personality to her fashion, band and fun.
Episodes
The Kawaiifier / Super Kawaii Sunday
Delectabubbles / Kablooey Chewie
Water Baby / Music Zoo
The Dotted Line / Life Is But A Dream
Oh, G / Greenhouse
Control + Alt + Dimension / Angel Hair
Bonus Feature: Interviews with Voice Cast
Enter to win one of three copies of Kuu Kuu Harajuku: Super Kawaii using the Gleam form below. Be sure to check out my other giveaways while you are here and GOOD LUCK!
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