Wonderful trip with wonderful memories...and more on the way!

All good things must sadly come to an end, as all of us who have ever gone on a Walt Disney World vacation know.  My family and I are home from WDW and Chris is back in Canada, but we have Lots of pictures and stories to share! Besides being on a couple podcasts to share out stories (which will be listed on here when they come out) I also have a few stores I am going to write up, including the big story that we teased while we were still away.  There are also some amazing pictures that Chris took that I will post and I have lots of video that I will be working on also.  Lots and lots of stuff on the way...so look for it all coming very soon!

In other news, it is also about 17 days until I will be making my way to California for the D23 Expo! I still cannot believe that I am going! I will be working with Lou Mongello from wdwradio.com and getting lots of information from the Expo and from Disneyland, as it will be my first time out to the mother of all Disney parks.  Look for information on my trip coming soon and if you have any tips for me for going to California and Disneyland, I would so appreciate it, so comment below or send me an email!

And if all this is not enough to keep the brain turning, I also am waiting to hear from an interview I had two weeks ago for a dream teaching position!! I will not be hearing until some time next week, so please keep your fingers crossed for me! I will write a post either way as soon as I find out. Thank you all for being so supportive of me, you are amazing!!

unKNOWN Actors: Jeremy Irons

Jeremy Irons, Born September 19, 1948 in Isle of Wight, England, is a very serious actor, known for serious roles and having a deep and lovely accented voice.  This is an actor that you would not expect to have a Disney resume entry, but alas, he certainly does! He has a few actually, most of them being within the Disney theme parks!

Let us first talk about his one movie debut, which was in 1994.  Irons voiced one of the most evil villains in Disney history, Scar in The Lion King.  It was his portrayal of Scar that is also used in the Hollywood Studios show, Fantasmic!
His other well-known Disney contribution was heard in Epcot from 1994 to 2007 as the narrator for Spaceship Earth.  His narration is the longest used to date, being replaced after 13 years by Dame Judi Dench, who is currently used.

There are a couple more places in the parks where you used to hear Irons’ voice.  He gave a voice to H.G. Wells in the Tomorrowland attraction The Timekeeper, which was open from 1994 until 2006.  This attraction was also in Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland. 

In Disneyland Paris, he narrated the English version of the Studio Tram Tour: Behind the Magic.

Jeremy Irons is an actor with an awesome voice that can be heard around the world not only in movies but in several of the parks over the year.  We will have to see if Irons will be featured in any other Disney projects in his lifetime.

Do you have an actor you would like me to research? Let me know by commenting below or sending me an email at lady_aurora_yensid@hotmail.com.

Counting to the Magic: 0 Days!!!!!

That is right, as this is being posted on the site, my family and I are driving to Walt Disney World!! We are on our way!!! How far are we right now?? Check my twitter account; I am posting updates as often as possible to my site! Follow me at twitter.com/lady_aurora where I will have pictures throughout my trip!

I hope you have enjoyed my countdown and that you enjoy my twitter feed throughout the trip!

Disney or Bust!!!

Counting to the Magic: 1 Day!!!!!!

I Cant Believe it!!!! This time tomorrow the family and I will be driving down to Walt Disney World!!!! We are leaving in the middle of the night tonight, around midnight or a little after, whenever my Dad gets home from work.  He will sleep in the car, along with my sister and her boyfriend and my Mom and I will be starting the drive down.  We will be driving straight to Orlando where a hotel is waiting for us!

What am I looking forward to today?? HECK, what am I NOT looking forward to?! I'm going to Walt Disney World Tomorrow!!! The anticipation will just be growing the whole drive down! We will be listening to Disney music starting about half way through the trip (Don't want to drive my parents too crazy too early). It will be great to see the highway signs that say Walt Disney World on them. The biggest excitement will be when I am on property on Tuesday and we see the signs and buses and hotels....it is all going to be so magical!

As far as pictures or anything for this post....you will just have to wait til tomorrow!

Counting to the Magic: 2 Days

On previous family trips, my family has had this terrible habit of planning our last day in Epcot and our last event as seeing IllumiNations, which is my favorite fireworks show.  This combo of fireworks, music and the last day of vacation always prompts me to bawl my eyes out. Happily, this has been avoided on this trip as Chris and I are seeing it our first night!! I am sooo excited for this!!! I am just a few short days away from my absolute favorite fireworks show in all of Walt Disney World!!

Here are a couple pictures I took of this gorgeous show last year:

Counting to the Magic: 3 Days

3 Days to go....So Close, I can almost taste the Dole Whip Float!!!

Sadly, the food is one thing that I cannot share with you, my blog and twitter friends while I am on my trip. I can though send you updates and pictures to try to bring the experience to you! I also enjoy interacting during a popular twitter game called Spaceship Earth Roulette. Haunted Mansion Roulette is not as well known, but I do play this as well.  The rules for SSE and HM Roulette are this: I announce when we are going on the attraction and you place your "bets" on which room our car will stop in!  These two attractions are omnimovers, a type of car that is in constant motion to accommodate a steady pace and more visitors.  This steady movement is occasionally interrupted when someone who needs extra assistance getting on a car is getting on the ride. Because of the frequency of this at times, this game was invented to see when you would slow down or stop in the attraction. It is a fun way to get your friends online involved in your vacation!

Splash Mountain Roulette is a more simple game: As you climb the final hill, before the large drop, you hear Brer Fox threaten Brer Rabbit with some kind of death, right before Brer Rabbit convinces him to throw him into the briar patch.  There are four threats that Fox can say and you have to guess which one he will say on your ride.

Here are the choices for each game so that you can play along when I call the game on twitter! Don't follow me on twitter, give me a follow at twitter.com/lady_aurora for all my trip updates!

Spaceship Earth Roulette: Vortex (Climbing up), Cave Men, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Greeks, Rome Empire, Rome Burning, Jewish Scholars (Backup system and sleeping monk), Printing Press, Renaissance, Sistine Chapel, Civil War Paper Boy, Telegraph, Telephones, Movie Theater and Radio, Moon Landing, Large Computer room, Computer Garage guy, Globe Room, Descent (backwards)


Haunted Mansion Roulette: Picture Hallway, Library, Eyes on the Wall, Noisy Hallway and Coffin, Madame Leota's Room, Ballroom, Attic, Descending out of the Attic, Graveyard, Hitchhiking Ghosts

Splash Mountain Roulette: Cook Ya, Skin Ya, Roast Ya, Hang Ya

Counting to the Magic: 4 Days

"Por Favor Mantengase Alejado De Las Puertas"

Even if you do not speak Spanish, just hearing this saying puts a smile on your face because you know you are traveling on one of the best forms of transportation offered in Walt Disney World: The Monorail! It's sleek, smooth and probably my favorite way to travel in Walt Disney World! We are not on the monorail loop, but staying at Wilderness Lodge makes us close enough to it that we will be traveling on it at least a few times throughout the trip!

Here are a couple videos of Monorail rides: Both are from 2007 and both are taken from the cockpit of the monorail, a seat that is no longer allowed due to the unfortunate July 2009 crash that killed a cast member.  The first video is of the Express Monorail to Magic Kingdom and the second video is of the monorail from Epcot to the Transportation and Ticket Center.

Counting to the Magic: 5 Days

Don't get me wrong, Chris and I love each other very much, but when it comes to competitive games, it is on like Donkey Kong! We had an ongoing competition on both Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin and Toy Story Mania last year and you can bet that it will continue on this trip! Last year, Chris was able to beat me on Toy Story Mania and I kicked his butt on Buzz Lightyear, so we will have to see if that changes (aka, me kicking his butt on both!!) :)

Maybe I will try to help Chris out a little....here are a couple pages with some tips for each ride, give him a little hope ;)

Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin
Toy Story Mania

Counting to the Magic: 6 Days

I had said before that one of my favorite 3D shows is Muppetvision 3D, but that is tied with one that is in Magic Kingdom....Ok, maybe the Magic Kingdom thing gave it away, as there is only one 3D show in Magic Kingdom, Yes, it is PhilharMagic! It is such a fun show and I love the smells and things that pop out of you in the film, I always get a laugh and a smile out of it!

Here's a video of it for you to see, you can even see some of the 3D aspects in it!

Counting to the Magic: 7 Days

This time next week, we will be on our way, driving to Walt Disney World!!!! The excitement is going through the roof right now!!

In some parks, it may be weird for adults to get pictures with characters, but not in Disney!! It doesn't matter how old you are, you always love a picture with Mickey Mouse or another favorite character! I know Chris loves to get pictures with face characters because he enjoys the interaction! This will be something very fun to do throughout the trip!

Here are a couple pictures of Chris and I with some characters!

DDL News Post

News has come out about changes being made to the monorail system and to the parades in Magic Kingdom.  Read more about it in my Disney Driven Life article.

Counting to the Magic: 8 Days

When I go to WDW, at least my last two visits, I tweet.....A LOT!!!!! I love having my technology on my vacation, being able to connect with friends and share my experiences with others.  I recently got a brand new technology toy and I can't wait to use it in WDW, a new Sony Handycam!! My parents have this camera and have loved it, so they bought it for me as a graduation present! This video camera is so smooth, I loved the video it took in Florida last year and how easy the video was to download and edit!  I am looking forward to using this to capture our vacation in a whole new way!

Here is a video shot with a similar camera that my parent's got last year

Counting to the Magic: 9 Days

*DOES THE SINGLE DIGIT DANCE*

Yea, thats right, its single digit dance time and WOOO is the excitement building!!

One thing that I regretted about my last couple trips is that we didn't get to spend much time in the resort pool.  Chris and I went for a swim once or twice, but I know he loves to swim and we could have done it more often.  So one of my goals is to get more swimming time in the pools.  The Wilderness Lodge has an amazing pool plus, since we are staying in the Villas, we get access to a quiet pool as well! 

Here are a couple pictures of the awesome WL main pool:

Counting to the Magic: 10 Days

I am not a typical thrill rider and do not ride coasters at other amusement parks, but for some reason, I can handle and even enjoy the roller coasters and thrill rides in Walt Disney World.  This is why I am excited to "scale" the Disney Mountain Range.  Of course, these would be Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain in Magic Kingdom and Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom. 

This commercial is for Disneyland, but I thought it was so cool the way it highlighted the three mountains in Magic Kingdom!



This one is a commercial for Expedition Everest and just watching it gets me so pumped to ride it!!

Counting to the Magic: 11 Days

As I am sure you have noticed throughout these almost 40 days that I like to walk around and enjoy the atmosphere of everywhere in Walt Disney World.  Downtown Disney is no exception! There are two evenings where we will be wandering around Downtown Disney and I am excited for the shopping and to see what is going on in what was once Pleasure Island!

Haven't heard much about the new "Waterfront District" yet? Check out the article on it from the Disney Parks Blog: DPB Article

DDL News Post

It was announced yesterday that there are shifts in the Disney Company that involve Meg Crofton and that many fans are not excited about.  To find out more, check out the news article at the Disney Driven Life.

Counting to the Magic: 12 Days

On my last two trips, I have missed seeing this guy and I am going to search him out this time around! Yes, I am talking about the lovable trash can and mayor of Tomorrowland, Push!

Here are a couple great videos of Push, he has some great interactions with families and this first video proves it!



This is his video from when he was running for mayor!

This Week's It Came From Disney!

In case you haven't been following my blog over the last 40 or so days, I am going to Walt Disney World in 2 weeks!!  To prep for this, I have been searching the Disney Store website, anticipating what I want to buy and stumbled upon the most awesome Mickey Ears cap EVER!!! To see what I'm talking about, just read my lasted Disney Dispatch article!

Counting to the Magic: 13 Days

The seats are cold, the smell is weird and sometimes just bad, but you still know you love them!!

Yes!! Disney Buses!!! Every time you first get on property and you see your first bus, you know that you smile, knowing that is what is taking you to see the magic you are dying to see!! Today, that is what I am looking forward to, that first sight of a Disney bus! It's only 13 days away!!

Counting to the Magic: 14 Days

First off, a very happy 4th of July to all of my American readers and a Happy Birthday to America!

Not only is today the 4th of July, its also the 2 week mark until my WDW vacation!! To celebrate this and this American holiday, what I am excited for today are the parades! Jammin' Jungle Parade and Main Street Electrical Parade are two of my favorites! Which parade is your favorite?

Here are a few pictures from these parades:

Counting to the Magic: 15 Days

When I was down last June, Chris and I missed the opening of Captain EO by mere weeks and when I went in August, my family had no desire to see the show with me.  This is a show I am excited to see this time around, if for no other reason to say that I have seen this classic.

Want to see it for yourself? Here is the youtube versions of this attraction, though not in 3D of course:

Counting to the Magic: 16 Days

Going with the family and Chris is something that I am really excited for, especially because there will now be 4 of us to get pictures with on thrill rides! Chris, my sister, her boyfriend and myself will all be going on Expedition Everest and Splash Mountain and all of those great thrill rides and I am so looking forward to getting the pictures at the end of those rides with all of us in them!

From Chris' and my trip in June of last year, here are a few photos from attractions we were on together for the first time:

My first ride on the Tower of Terror

My First Ride on Splash Mountain with our friends Ray and his son Josh in front of us...I was SOAKED

Chris and my ride on the new Space Mountain

Counting to the Magic: 17 Days

Who out there has ever been to 'Ohana at the Polynesian? I was going to ask you raise your hand, but I'm not going to see them anyway, must be the teacher in me.  Anyway, I went for the first time last June and WOW is it amazing!!!!! Not only was the food and atmosphere awesome but there was soooo much food!! My suggestion: do not eat for about a day before going here so you have a huge appetite! The bring you bread and salad, followed by wings and pot stickers as an appetizer, then noodles and vegetables and, as if that wasn't enough, they bring out the main course, four skewers fulled with beef, shrimp, chicken and pork and they just pile as much as you want on your plate! After all of this, there is still a dessert to bring out! Its just incredible and it all tastes soooooo good!!!!

Want to explore 'Ohana for yourself? Here's the full Menu and if you aren't going to make it to WDW any time soon, here are a couple recpies to have an 'Ohana meal at home: Honey Coriander Wing Sauce, Stir Fried Noodles, and Pineapple bread! Here are a few pictures too:

Chris loves his Lapu Lapu

A view from our seats