Monday, December 30, 2013

New Post in Pixie's Faith! Keep Moving Forward

New post in Pixie's Faith!

Meet the Robinsons - Keep Moving Forward

Disney Thoughts for 2014

Disney Thoughts for 2014



As 2013 quickly comes ends I’m thinking of what I want to happen on my Pixie Pranks and Pixie’s Faith blogs in 2014!

I’m hoping to increase the views and need all of my Pixie Pals to share my blog. By increasing my views and becoming bigger I will have a better chance of strengthening and increasing the connections I have with the Disney Company for early access to things and press passes to events. By doing this I will be able to share even more firsthand news with you. I also need to increase my Twitter and Facebook followers as well, again this will help me get more access.

There are some special things I wish to cover for you in my blog in 2014.
·        I’m hoping to be able to afford to do some of the tours at Disneyland so I can share what the experience is like for those of you wishing to come and take the tours. I will most likely only be able to do 1 this year.
o   Tours I will to pick from
§  A Walk in Walt’s Footsteps
§  Cultivating the Magic
§  Holiday Time at Disneyland
·        I plan on continuing to stay connected with Disney Publishing and review new books related to Disney before they come out and get interviews with authors.
·        I will be purchasing some older books about Disney and reviewing them.
·        I am now volunteering at Walt Disney’s Carolwood Barn in Griffith Park and will share what happens there and who shows up. If you are local and follow me on twitter watch my twitter feed on the 3rd Sunday of every month for tweets about what is going on and who is at the Barn. I will respect the privacy of VIP guests that do not wish it to be known they are there and not tweet about them if I know that is their wish.
·        I hope to stay at one of the DLR Hotels for a few days during the year and report on the experience.
·        I plan on staying at a DLR Good Neighbor Hotel(s) once or twice and will report on them.
·        I’ll be doing more DVD release and new Disney movie release reviews. (Hoping to get Disney Home Entertainment to send me advance copies of DVD/Blu-Ray releases so I can review them ahead of time.)
·        I am going to be scheduling an interview with a Disney Animator that worked with Walt Disney and the Disney Studios for a long time. (Name will be announced when interview is scheduled.)
·        I will continue on sharing tips on doing Disney with Disabilities.
·        It is my plan to “interview” the Buena Vista Street Citizens at DCA. I’d love suggestions for questions for Officers Calvin & Clyde Blue, Molly and Millie the Messengers, Donna the Dog Lady and her dog Lady and Phiphi Farouk Francis the Photographer.
·        I’m hoping to do 2-3 question interviews with as many Face Characters in the park as I can.
·        I’m going to be asking about more free tours and special things to do such as riding in the Mark Twain Wheelhouse and the Carthay Circle Theater Tour at the Disneyland Resort. I will do as many of them as I can. I know there are many hidden treasures such as the ones I’ve mentioned and just want to check for more.
·        I will start looking for more Disney Legacy Award winning Cast Members and hope to interview them with a set of 2-3 questions whenever I see them.
·        I am going to ride and review every attraction at the Disneyland Resort at some point during this year. I’ll share the history of the attraction as well.
·        I will share any and all information I find out about Disney Movies, Disney Parks and the Disney Cruise.
·        I will share tips for Disney travel.

It is my desire to have more communication from YOU, my readers! Please let me know what you like and don’t like about my blogs. Let me know what YOU would like to hear about and what questions you want answered. You can communicate with me by responding to posts, email (PrankingPixe@Yahoo.com) or posting on the Pixie Pranks Facebook page.




Saturday, December 28, 2013

Friday, December 27, 2013

Hidden Mickey Adventures in Disney California Adventure - Games, Quest & Challenges

Hidden Mickey Adventures in Disney California Adventure Games Quests Challenges
By Nancy Temple Rodrigue



Do you go to the Disneyland Resort often? Do you enjoy the rides but wish to have something more to do at the parks? How about a Challenge!! Nancy Temple Rodrigue, author of the Hidden Mickey’s Adventures Novels has got some extra Disney fun!!

Hidden Mickey Adventures Games Quests and Challenges has two versions. There is the Disneyland version (that I do not have yet) and a Disney California Adventure version.  These are fun to do as a group or in teams competing against each other. There are 3 types of things to do in the book.

There are questions things like, “What is the 2nd tip at Luigi’s Flying Tiers. For some of them you need to know a little park history. An example of this is “Wolfgang Puck use to own this.” There are also close up pictures of single letters on signs and you try to find as many of them as possible. You get points for each correct answer in a quest/contest. There are also word searches and crossword puzzles, good for doing while taking a break or standing in line! There are some junior level challenges for kids if they need some easier challenges.

These books make you look at the parks a little differently. Because they ask such specific questions you may be looking more closely at things you just glanced at before. If you don’t know the answer or can’t find something you can always ask a Cast Member. This is a great way to add some fun in a day at the park(s) when you have already gone many times. It is also a good way to learn about the park(s) history and fun details if you have never gone.

All the challenges in the books are designed to be handicapped accessible. There are some places that people with mobility issues can’t go and those are noted in the book. Each quest is marked with notations on handicapped accessibility and level of difficulty.

No matter if you are a first time visitor or an old hand that goes to the park(s) often there is lots of fun to be had in this book and the companion book, “Hidden Mickey Adventures in Disneyland”. Young or old there is some challenge that you can do and something new you may learn.


I’ve done some of the challenges and look forward to completing all of them in time. Looking forward to many fun adventures at Disney California Adventure with this book.










My Christmas book, “An Angel Remembers 25 Voices of Christmas” is available!!
This is a collection of 26 short Christmas stories that together bring the amazing events of Christ’s birth alive. It is my hope that this will help encourage families to spend 10-15 minutes a day together during the busy holiday season remembering the true reason for the season.
You can find it for ALL eReader formats and PDF at:

For your Nook the link is:

It is also available at the iTunes book store and many other ebook seller sites.
The only big site not carrying my book is Amazon.
You can download a Kindle version from Smashwords.com

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Frozen by Fear Pixie's Faith

Frozen by Fear in Pixie's Faith

Disney Parks with Visual Disabilities

Disney Parks with Visual Disabilities


Disney Parks are so visual how can you enjoy them with visual disabilities? Well, you can! Disney has assistance for those with many different kinds of disabilities, including visual disabilities.

For those with visual disabilities Disney Parks has a limited number of Braille Guide Books and Audio Description devices you can use. There are also large stationary Braille maps available at several locations in all parks. Both the Braille Guide book and Audio Description device are available at Guest Relations at any of the parks. They are free to use but there is a $25 refundable deposit. You must return the device or map book on the same day for a refund.

Braille Guidebooks are available for each theme park and include attraction, restaurant and store descriptions.

The Audio Description device will describe some attractions as you ride them. The Audio Description device also describes some outdoor locations as well.

Here is a list of the attractions at the Disneyland Resort that make use of the device:
Alice in Wonderland
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Captain EO
Disneyland Monorail
Disneyland Railroad
Enchanted Tiki Room
Fantasmic!
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Haunted Mansion
“It’s a Small World”
It’s Tough to be a Bug!
The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Monster’s Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!
Muppet*Vision 3D
Mr. Toads Wild Ride
Peter Pan’s Flight
Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
Pirates of the Caribbean
Snow White’s Scary Adventures
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Turtle Talk with Crush
World of Color

Trained service animals are always welcomed at Disney Parks. They must be kept on leash or in harness at all times. There are many locations where you can take your animal to relieve themselves. The service animal relief areas are marked on the map but any open “grassy” area is available for use as long as you clean up after them. Characters are more than happy to take pictures with service animals.

Service animals may not accompany their owners on some attractions. This is for the animal’s safety as well as the safety of guests on the attraction. When a service animal can’t go with their partner they must be held by a person accompanying the owner/guest. Disney Cast Members may not hold the animal. At the Disneyland Resort there are portable kennels (cages) at major attractions that cannot accommodate the animal. If there is not one at the attraction you wish to ride ask and one will be brought. This is only for the use of the guest while on that particular attraction. This allows all the members of the party to ride together. At this time Disney does not have the portable kennels at Walt Disney World. At Walt Disney World you do a switch where one person rides while the other holds the animal. When the first person has ridden the attraction the second person will go on the attraction without further waiting. This works just like the Child Swap.

Here are links to the information on the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort websites:

Disneyland Resort
Services for Guests with Visual Disabilities:
Service Animals

Walt Disney World Resort
Services for Guests with Visual Disabilities:
This includes a link to a list of attractions that make use of the Audio Description Device throughout the Walt Disney World Resort
Service Animals

You can also call (407) 827-7935 for information including parade and show times and restaurant menu details at both the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World.






My Christmas book, “An Angel Remembers 25 Voices of Christmas” is available!!
This is a collection of 26 short Christmas stories that together bring the amazing events of Christ’s birth alive. It is my hope that this will help encourage families to spend 10-15 minutes a day together during the busy holiday season remembering the true reason for the season.
You can find it for ALL eReader formats and PDF at:

For your Nook the link is:

It is also available at the iTunes book store and many other ebook seller sites.
The only big site not carrying my book is Amazon.
You can download a Kindle version from Smashwords.com



Monday, December 23, 2013

Post in Pixie's Faith! Mary's Mother Thoughts

New post in Pixie's Faith!



Sharing a story from my book "An Angel Remembers 25 Voices of Christmas". Today I'm sharing what Mary's Mother may have thought.





My Christmas book, “An Angel Remembers 25 Voices of Christmas” is available!!
This is a collection of 26 short Christmas stories that together bring the amazing events of Christ’s birth alive. It is my hope that this will help encourage families to spend 10-15 minutes a day together during the busy holiday season remembering the true reason for the season.
You can find it for ALL eReader formats and PDF at:

For your Nook the link is:

It is also available at the iTunes book store and many other ebook seller sites.
The only big site not carrying my book is Amazon.
You can download a Kindle version from Smashwords.com

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Pixie's Faith review of Saving Mr. Banks is up!!

Check out my Pixie's Faith review of Saving Mr. Banks for a faith view of this movie.


http://pixiesfaith.blogspot.com/2013/12/saving-mr-banks-fathers-love-and-love.html

Saving Mr. Banks - Review

Saving Mr. Banks - Review



Yesterday I went to see “Saving Mr. Banks”. What an amazing story and a well done movie!! I will not spoil the movie for those that have not seen it.

“Saving Mr. Banks” is the a mix of the stories about how Walt Disney encouraged P. L. Travers to sign over the rights to Mary Poppins so  he could keep his promise to his girls to make the movie and the story of the childhood of Helen Lyndon Goff (P. L. Travers).

As the trailers show Pamela Travers was a feisty woman set and determined not to allow Walt Disney to make a movie about her beloved Mary Poppins. Her reasons to withhold the rights are as complex as the woman herself.

As the story progresses you hear why it was so important to Walt Disney to make this movie. As he said, “As a daddy I made a promise to my girls and a daddy never breaks his promise!” You also see why Mrs. Travers does not want to let go. Both consider the characters “family”. Walt does understand that Mrs. Travers considers Mary Poppins and the Banks family her family and is protective of them. He remembers Oswald being stolen and attempts of some to take Mickey Mouse from him. Both are determined in their goals.

Some think this movie shows Disney as a pushy, aggressive movie producer, determined on getting what he wants without concern about the feelings of those whose intellectual property he wants to use. Others think it is an unfair and unflattering portrayal of P. L. Travers. In truth I think as a dramatization of 50 year old events. Some parts are on totally factual while some are “retellings” that you have to consider are stretched for better storytelling.

After hearing four of the Imagineers that worked with Walt Disney speak at the last D23 Expo about what Walt was like and their feelings about seeing early screenings of “Saving Mr. Banks” I believe it is a great look at Walt the man. It shows what drove him and what it was like to be around him. It was fun to hear one of the characters in the move quickly say, “Man is in the forest!” after hearing Walt’s cough as he neared the open door. From many accounts I’ve heard Walt would cough when approaching an open door to let people know he was coming and when he was known to be in a particular part of the building the warning, “Man is in the forest!” would go around letting people know he was there.

What I found interesting was what I took away from the movie. It was not anything to do with Disney or Travers. What I took away was a look at my own past and how it has shaped my own life and attitude. It makes me rethink my motivations and encourages me to let go of the past and keep moving forward.


If you are a Disney Fan I suggest you go see this movie. If you enjoy Mary Poppins and P. L. Travers I encourage you to check this movie out. I believe you will not be disappointed.















My Christmas book, “An Angel Remembers 25 Voices of Christmas” is available!!
This is a collection of 26 short Christmas stories that together bring the amazing events of Christ’s birth alive. It is my hope that this will help encourage families to spend 10-15 minutes a day together during the busy holiday season remembering the true reason for the season.
You can find it for ALL eReader formats and PDF at:

For your Nook the link is:

It is also available at the iTunes book store and many other ebook seller sites.
The only big site not carrying my book is Amazon.
You can download a Kindle version from Smashwords.com


Thursday, December 19, 2013

World of Color Winter Dreams Updated!!

World of Color Winter Dreams Updated!



World of Color – Winter Dreams holiday show has a fantastic virtual choir opening. Over 1,472 people submitted videos to be added into the choir segment of the show. Only a couple of hundred were to be used at first. A little over a week ago Disney chose to add over 300 more videos into the show! What an exciting Early Christmas gift for those chosen!

The song that the “Virtual Honor Choir” sang is “Glow”, written and directed by Eric Whitacre. The way it worked was each person chose what part they could sing best, soprano, alto, tenor or bass. They watched and listened to their part and learned it. Once confident they knew the part they would record themselves singing it. I know I made several videos before I felt I had one worthy to submit.

Once you had several videos you felt were somewhat worthy you would stop and look at each closely. Did your voice crack? Did you have the background correct? Did it record well? Once you had looked at them all and chose the best you clicked submit and waited.

Now my video was not selected. I have friends who submitted and some were chosen at the beginning and some were added in the second round. Either way accepted in the 1st or 2nd round it is exciting! It was fun picked or not and we all feel part of the show.

Here is my video of the updated World of Color Winter Dreams holiday show:








My Christmas book, “An Angel Remembers 25 Voices of Christmas” is available!!
This is a collection of 26 short Christmas stories that together bring the amazing events of Christ’s birth alive. It is my hope that this will help encourage families to spend 10-15 minutes a day together during the busy holiday season remembering the true reason for the season.
You can find it for ALL eReader formats and PDF at:

For your Nook the link is:

It is also available at the iTunes book store and many other ebook seller sites.
The only big site not carrying my book is Amazon.
You can download a Kindle version from Smashwords.com


Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Disneyland A Christmas Fantasy Parade

Disneyland A Christmas Fantasy Parade



For me no holiday is complete without seeing Disneyland’s A Christmas Fantasy Parade. It is a joyful, playful look at the holidays and what makes them special.

Each year there are slight changes. The order of the segments changes slightly. Sometimes outfits change. For a year or so Duffy was on the first float with the music box ballerina. Duffy is now with Mrs. Claus.

A Christmas Fantasy Parade and Believe Fireworks are open for all guests at Disneyland. They are not Pay to Play “Party” special events as the Christmas parade and fireworks are at Walt Disney World. I personally am hoping that they do not change this. There have been rumors over the last few years that Disney was thinking of making these special events.

So without further ado here is my video of this years A Christmas Fantasy Parade:


















My Christmas book, “An Angel Remembers 25 Voices of Christmas” is available!!
This is a collection of 26 short Christmas stories that together bring the amazing events of Christ’s birth alive. It is my hope that this will help encourage families to spend 10-15 minutes a day together during the busy holiday season remembering the true reason for the season.
You can find it for ALL eReader formats and PDF at:

For your Nook the link is:

It is also available at the iTunes book store and many other ebook seller sites.
The only big site not carrying my book is Amazon.
You can download a Kindle version from Smashwords.com



Faith and the Magic Kingdom review on Pixie's Faith

I have posted a review of Faith and the Magic Kingdom on my Pixie's Faith blog



Tuesday, December 17, 2013

New post in Pixie's Faith

I've posted one of my Christmas Stories from my book "An Angel Remembers 25 Voices of Christmas" on my Pixie's Faith blog.

http://pixiesfaith.blogspot.com/2013/12/an-angel-remembers-nahems-lullaby.html

Carthay circle Theater/Restaurant

Carthay Circle Theater/Restaurant
  


At the end of Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure is the Carthay Circle and the Carthay Circle Restaurant. The building is a miniature of the old Carthay Circle Theater where Walt Disney held the premier of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937.

If you arrive at the park early in the morning and head on down to the Carthay Circle before the doors are open you may be lucky enough to join in on a tour of this iconic building. You need to be there before 10 a.m. to get in. If you are really interested in doing the tour I highly suggest calling the day before and making sure what time it will be held that day. This tour is free!


The tour starts at the lobby where you are introduced to the building and the story behind its importance to local and Disney history. Once the introductions are complete they will take you into the lounge/bar when your tour guide will tell you about building. The attention to detail is amazing. The carpets of the old, now gone theater were recreated as were the lights and style of furniture. Your guide will point out pictures and tell you who is in them and why they are important to the history of Disney.






 Once done in the downstairs lounge area you will go up stairs to the restaurant. You will be shown items of interest as you go up the stairs and enter the hall to the restaurant itself. Once in the restaurant each room will be described. There is the “preshow” main dining area. This is area is open so you can see who is at the tables. Restaurants of the 1930’s often had open areas where you could see who was there as a way to show that they were successful. If this actor or actress is seen there then it must be good!




One special room is the “show room” it is like being “at the movie”. This is a room you can reserve. The minimum check total to rent this room is $750 and the room seats 12. One of the most interesting facts about this room is the base of the table. The base of the table is a limestone reproduction of the wishing well from Snow White! The ceiling has a painting that shows scenes from the movie.









The last room is the Hollywood room. It is the “after show” room that looks like you have come for drinks after a show. (You can eat your meal there.) It is a place to be seen and see people in old time Hollywood. On the walls are pictures of various people receiving Oscars for Disney Movies.

There is much more to learn while on the tour of the Carthay, the tour takes about 25 minutes and you learn about the old Carthay Circle Theater, Los Angeles, Walt Disney, the Disney Studio, the development of Mickey Mouse and the restaurant.

Here is a video of our tour:










My Christmas book, “An Angel Remembers 25 Voices of Christmas” is available!!
This is a collection of 26 short Christmas stories that together bring the amazing events of Christ’s birth alive. It is my hope that this will help encourage families to spend 10-15 minutes a day together during the busy holiday season remembering the true reason for the season.
You can find it for ALL eReader formats and PDF at:

For your Nook the link is:

It is also available at the iTunes book store and many other ebook seller sites.
The only big site not carrying my book is Amazon.
You can download a Kindle version from Smashwords.com



Monday, December 16, 2013

Christmas at Walt's Barn

Christmas at Walt’s Barn
 
Walt's Barn was decorated for Christmas!
Let me start off with by saying once again what Walt’s Barn is. Walt Disney had a backyard small scale railroad on his Holmby Hills, Ca estate. He built a small barn as a workshop in a meadow in the backyard to work on his trains. After Lillian Disney’s death the home was sold and Diane Disney Miller asked the new owner if she could dismantle the barn and have it. The new owner said yes and the barn was dismantled and moved it to the Los Angeles Live Steamer Museum in Griffith Park, Ca near Travel Town and the Merry-Go-Round that Walt took Diane and Sharon to ride on years before.

The Christmas Tree in the Barn
December’s Barn day was December 15th. This month was planned to be filled with activities. Santa and Mindy Johnson were scheduled to be there to meet and greet the visitors to the barn. Then with the passing of Diane Disney Miller a condolence book was to be set out for any and all to sign. Nobody at the barn expected what happened!

Santa collected toys for Toys for Tots!
Here is Mindy Johnson singing her book.
From the moment the barn opened it was busy and exciting! Mindy was scheduled to be there from 1-3 to sign copies of her new book, “Tinker Bell: An Evolution” but she was there at 11 when the barn opened! Along with Mindy Alice Davis (Disney Imagineering Legend) came and shortly after Katheryn Beaumont (Voice of both Alice and Wendy) followed. Then came Ginni Mack (Face model of Tinker Bell)! Soon came Disney Animator Floyd Norman and his wife! Floyd just came to get Mindy’s autograph and ended up signing some himself! Floyd had designed a Christmas gift for the volunteers and ended up signing them for the us! Tony Anselmo (Disney Animator and voice of Donald Duck) was there just to visit! It seems they are all friends and when one decided to come they called each other and WOW!!!!

Here we are with Alice Davis and Ginni Mack

Kathryn Beaumont and Tony Anslemo spent time chatting.




Joanna Miller chatted with Alice and Ginni


Animator Floyd Norman

Floyd Norman's gift to the Carolwood Volunteers.
The visitor that touched the hearts of the volunteers and made us proud to be there spending the day trying to remind people of Walt Disney the man and train enthusiast was Joanna Miller, daughter of Diane Disney Miller, granddaughter of Walt Disney.
 
This was Joanna's reaction to being told how much the Disney family legacy means to people!
It is more than just the parks and movies that touch lives.
Joanna was there to see her granddad’s barn. She was there to see what legacy her mother had saved and shared with the public so generously. Joanna did not want people to know she was there so the volunteers never mentioned to other guests she was there and gave her space to look around and interact on her terms. Joanna in turn appreciated that and returned the kindness with gracious thanks and photos with us. Joanna was touched as she understood on a deeper level the impact her grandfather, mother and other family members have had on people’s lives.
 
The Carolwood Barn Volunteers with Joanna Miller,
This assemblage of Disney Luminaries does not often happen at the Carolwood Barn. There are often several around but not this number at one time. We could tell each of them enjoyed their time at the barn as their presence was enjoyed by all the guests and volunteers. Unlike other Disney events the luminaries (except Joanna who is still grieving losing her mother and rightfully deserved and requested the space) were more than happy to sign autographs when asked. No charge, no problems! Each and every one was gracious and appreciative of the fans who are interested in them. Every one of them was happy to answer a question or two.




George Bruns 2001 Disney Legend Award is on display at Walt's Barn.

If you are ever in the Southern California area on the 3rd Sunday of the month and have the day free I suggest stopping in at Walt’s Barn. The barn is open from 11 am – 3 pm. There is no charge but donations are gratefully accepted. This is the only free Disney display around!

The approximate physical address is
5202 Zoo Drive
Los Angeles, Ca 90027

You can find out more information about the Carolwood Barn at their website:

You can find them on Facebook at:












My Christmas book, “An Angel Remembers 25 Voices of Christmas” is available!!
This is a collection of 26 short Christmas stories that together bring the amazing events of Christ’s birth alive. It is my hope that this will help encourage families to spend 10-15 minutes a day together during the busy holiday season remembering the true reason for the season.
You can find it for ALL eReader formats and PDF at:

For your Nook the link is:

It is also available at the iTunes book store and many other ebook seller sites.
The only big site not carrying my book is Amazon.
You can download a Kindle version from Smashwords.com