#DisneyMagicMoments: Join Us for Day of Disney Magic to Celebrate #Halfway2Halloween
by Thomas Smith, Editorial Content Director, Disney Parks
Having recently reached the halfway point to Halloween, we’ve decided to celebrate the milestone with a surprise daylong #Halfway2Halloween takeover featuring The Dapper Dans, bewitchingly wondrous recipes, DIY projects and other not-so-scary offerings for everyone to enjoy at home!
Our day of spook-tacular #DisneyMagicMoments begins tomorrow, May 15! Here’s a peek at what’s to come.
#DisneyMagicMoments: Adventures at Home – South Africa
by Jonathan Frontado, Public Relations Director, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney and Disney Vacation Club
We continue bringing you the magic of Adventures by Disney with our “Adventures at Home” series, featuring customized at-home itineraries inspired by some of our most popular destinations.
Today’s adventure is inspired by our South Africa itinerary. Gather your crew, put on your best photo-safari gear and get ready to virtually experience the wildlife, cultures and flavors of the African continent.
1. Gear up!
Wondering what to wear for this expedition? Odds are that your closet has great options to get your family ready for adventure. You could try the relaxed elegance of safari chic, the untamed stylings of animal prints or the lively look of cultural-inspired fashions.
2. Get in the spirit of Africa!
The Disney library has a great collection of titles that bring to life the sights and sounds of Africa. We created a Playlist with a little bit of everything: vintage, animated, live action, full feature or documentary. All available on Disney+.
True-Life Adventures: The African Lion (1955)
The Lion King (1994)
The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride (1998)
The Lion King 1½ (2004)
Disney Nature: African Cats (2011)
The Lion King (2019)
Disney Nature: Elephant (2020)
3. Adventures by Disney – Draw it! South Africa Edition
The Adventure by Disney guides are entertaining royalty, you can always count on them to keep everyone in the family engaged. For today’s virtual adventure, we have a game that will put your artistic abilities to the test: Adventures by Disney – Draw it! Africa Edition.
Just get the family together, print this game guide and get ready to have a wild time!
4. Dinner on the savanna!
I bet you’ll be as hungry as a lion after a game of Adventures by Disney – Draw It! Our friends at Disney Family shared a Spicy Durban-Style Chicken recipe to bring African-inspired flavors right into your home. This curry-style recipe is a great introduction to South African Indian cuisine.
5. What’s for dessert?
Gather the herd, head to the kitchen and get ready to put your best paw forward as you prepare these delicious Lion Paw Print Cookies, courtesy of Disney Family.
Stay tuned to Disney Parks Blog for even more #DisneyMagicMoments and experience the magic of Disney wherever you may be.
#DisneyMagicMoments: Journey to the ‘Top of the World’ with Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
by Jeremy Schoolfield, Managing Editor, Walt Disney World Resort Public Relations
Looming over Disney’s Animal Kingdom stands a massive, snow-capped mountain that beckons adventurers and thrill-seekers brave enough to attempt a journey to the “top of the world.” Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain is an iconic attraction at Walt Disney World Resort, and today we’re inviting you to take a virtual ride on this fantastic and foreboding coaster in our newest “Ride & Learn” video.
You’ll find Everest in the Asia section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. At the base of the mountain is the office for Himalayan Escapes, the travel company that brings curious tourists to the mountain’s peak aboard a special train. As you make your way toward the train, you see the results of past excursions and begin to understand what awaits you – most notably rumors of a ferocious beast lurking somewhere in the mountain …
It’s at this point we join our virtual ride, where you’ll learn more about Expedition Everest and how it was created. I love that this particular trip takes place at night – my preferred time of day to experience this amazing attraction. So gather your courage, hold on tight and conquer this mountain once and for all … and be sure to keep a close eye out for more #DisneyMagicMoments like this one in the future!
Usually when I’m taking photos around Disneyland park, I keep my lens focused “inside the berm,” as we say around here, which means everything that’s inside the wooden berm that surrounds the park. On occasion, though, our guest experiences – particularly the taller ones – give a glimpse beyond the berm, yet they still blend seamlessly with the natural wonders around us here in Southern California.
In February 2019, after a heavy rain at Disneyland Resort and snowstorm in the San Gabriel Mountains (about 50 miles from here), I thought it might be neat to see what Matterhorn Bobsleds looks like against the San Gabriels. I determined that my best chance to get the picture was from a Pixar Pal-A-Round gondola all the way over at Disney California Adventure park.
A 400mm lens compressed the distance between the attraction and San Gabriels nicely. My focus point was Matterhorn Bobsleds, so while this picture shows a world beyond the berm, it’s still grounded in Walt Disney’s Fantasyland. If you didn’t know better, you may not even realize this is a photo of Disneyland! This is just one of many #DisneyMagicMoments I’ve had in my career photographing The Happiest Place on Earth.
Ready to take your picture-taking skills to the next level? Head over to the Disney Youth Programs Kahoot! page to learn photography concepts used by Disney photographers!
by Nikki Moreno, Public Affairs Director, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
If you’ve ever visited Aulani Resort, you may have had the chance to learn the Aulani Hula from one of our friendly Cast Members. And we’ve already seen how this beautiful and simple dance can help bring our Cast Members, guests and Disney Vacation Club Members together during this time. We received such a great response to our Cast Aulani Hula video, and we’d love to continue the connection that the Aulani Hula is creating among all of us.
For those who haven’t had a chance to learn the Aulani Hula – you’re in for a treat! Check out this entertaining instructional video and join in the fun with your ‘ohana!
