Thursday, August 16, 2018

5 Reasons to Visit Toy Story Land

Our family was excited to have the opportunity to see Toy Story Land at Walt Disney World on our July 2018 vacation.



Planning our Toy Story Land trip was great fun and coming up with a summer strategy was different than our usual spring and fall trips. We knew that it would be extremely hot during the middle of the day, so we structured our schedule with a Fast Pass or activity in the morning, then a mid-day lunch reservation usually back towards our hotel so we could take some time back at the pool or animal watching at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Then in the evenings, we would head back to the parks for more Fast Passes and fun.

The day we had on our schedule for Hollywood Studios turned out to be a bright and clear day, but also very HOT. So the mid-day break was welcomed! We took some time to go over and see the new Toy Story Land area, grab some lunch at Woody's Lunch Box, and then went back to the resort to rest for a bit. Then we headed back to the park in the evening to ride Slinky Dog Dash!

Toy Story Land was great fun for the family, and we came away with FIVE must see reasons to visit Toy Story Land on your next Disney vacation!

1. Slinky Dog Dash - This ride was such fun! Definitely a must ride on your vacation and would be my pick from the Tier 1 rides for Fast Passes. It has a good length, and is full of fun drops, turns, and "slinky bounces" towards the end.



2. Becoming a Toy! - Ever wanted what it was like to be toy size? Well Disney may not shrink you down, but now you can feel like one of the toys are you're walking around Toy Story Land. Even the restrooms were adorably themed!

3. Lunch at Woody's Toy Box - While I will admit, this is not my favorite quick service location on Walt Disney World property, Woody's Lunch Box had some great grab and go items for a quick snack or lunch. The "Totchos" were my favorite and will be my must order item on future trips!



4. Green Army Soldiers -  The Green Army Soldiers were always a fan favorite when visiting the Toy Story area at Hollywood Studios, and now that Toy Story Land is open they play an even bigger role in the fun!

5. Alien Swirling Saucers - This was a fun ride, that was reminiscent of the Tea Cups ride, but with a spin. No pun intended. The cars hop between tracks while you're riding, so that it adds an extra element to the ride. It was neat ride, and if you can't get Slinky Dog Dash, would be my second choice for a Fast Pass.

As a bonus, on the way out - check to see if they have the alien Toy Story Land cups in stock. They make a great commemorative souvenir to bring home with you!


Check out our YouTube channel to watch the whole playlist of videos from our July 2018 Walt Disney World vacation:






**This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are our own.

Thursday, May 31, 2018

Hatchimals Giveaway!

Thanks to Hatchimals for sending us this awesome box of Hatchimals to review on INToyReviews!



The girls had a great time checking out these Season 2 Hatchimals CollEGGtibles, and opening the large egg cartons to see what was inside! Hatchimals are cute surprise toys that come inside a crackable egg, that reveal a unique animal character inside!



You can watch the girls unboxing video here:




We want to share the fun with you and are hosting a giveaway here on Being Mommy with style for a Hatchimals CollEGGtible 5 pack and blind bag! Enter to win below! A winner will be selected at random on June 8, 2018.


Check out all of the fun animals the girls opened in their video above, and see if you have any twinsies!


Thanks for watching! 



** This is a sponsored giveaway from Hatchimals. All opinions are my own. 



Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Dan's Disney Dad Tips & Favorites!

Dan is back with his own Disney video mini series, and is sharing some of his favorite Disney dad tips and things to do inside Walt Disney World!

Check out his video of top tips for Disney Dads on YouTube:


And him talking about his favorites - for dining, resorts, park touring, and more:


Our next Walt Disney World trip is coming up this summer, and we're excited to be staying at ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE! An all-new resort for us to try! Our family is very into animals and Animal Kingdom, so I think it will be a great fit for us!

I'm also looking forward to seeing the new Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios on that trip!

Lots of summer Disney fun happening for our family! And we will be sharing it all on YouTube!


**This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are our own.

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Yahtzee with Buddies - Fun on the Go


Fun on the Go

Recently I was contacted by Scopely and BSM Media to check out the new Yahtzee with Buddies app! I downloaded it on to my iPhone 7s from the App Store and began to play right away! The app is fun and bright, and I love the various options of play available within the app.


I love games like this that give you the instant satisfaction of being able to complete a game quickly, but also have longer term events within the game - so it keeps you coming back.

How to Play


If you're unfamiliar with the traditional rules of Yahtzee, you roll 5 dice a series of up to 3 times - trying to get the best sets possible. You're rewarded for getting 3 of a kind, 4 of a kind, and the ultimate - 5 of a kind which is a YAHTZEE! There are also various combinations you can put together for extra points, a series of numbers on the die and a set of two with a set of three.

It's fun to play and easy to pick up on the rhythm of the game.


You can download the app for FREE at this link: http://bit.ly/BeingMommyYahtzee

Join the Fun

In my video review on YouTube, I share how the app works and how easy it is to play:



You can download the app for FREE and see how fun it is for yourself! Available for iOS and Android. Download HERE

Also, while you're on there - make sure to find me... AmiableRooster3741. (Apparently. I didn't think about changing my name before I was just in TOO deep! Ha!) And you can play ME in Yahtzee with Buddies!

See ya there!



** This is a sponsored post by Scopely for Yahtzee with Buddies. I was compensated to try this app. All opinions are my own.



Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Playfoam Pals - Toy Surprises with Educational Value

We've previously used Educational Insights Playfoam to build holiday decorations and a habitat for Moana figures. Now they've made a new toy surprise that combines the fun of Playfoam - with the surprise of a blind bag!

Playfoam Pals are small packages of playfoam with a surprise animal hidden inside. There are 12 different varieties to collect in all! Check out use opening some of the Playfoam Pals up in this video:



They are available at major retailers throughout the country, and also available on Amazon.com. Playfoam Pals are available in pink, purple, yellow, blue, orange, or green. The units are sold in individual units from retailers, or sold as packages of 2, 6, or 12 on Amazon.



There are lots of different uses for Playfoam. Here are some of our previous videos where we've made fun things out of PlayFoam! As you can see, it makes for great sensory play!





We're had a fun time building our imagination with Playfoam and love that they've combined the idea of a blind bag in with their product. That adds a fun twist to the original concept. It's great sensory fun and a wonderful addition to sensory bins with tons of uses!



** Items shown in this review were received complimentary. All opinions are my own.

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Avengers Infinity War Hits Theaters April 27th!

My husband and I finally got around to watching Thor: Ragnarok last night. (I know, I know! We are so far behind... we had been busy with work & traveling...and had missed seeing it in theaters - but thank you Disney SMMC for the Movies Anywhere voucher to watch the movie at home because it was an AWESOME movie!) We loved the humor mixed throughout the movie and seeing Hulk and Thor team up was a great preview of the awesomeness that will be... Avengers: Infinity War.

Photo Courtesy: Marvel Studios


Avengers: Infinity War teams up pretty much the most well-known Marvel cast of super heroes... 68 of them to be exact. They will teaming up to prevent Thanos, a Titan Warlord with a thirst to be the supreme ruler of everything... in the universe - from getting a set of Infinity stones that would allow him to do just that.

Already in the previews, you see that Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, Spiderman, Black Panther, Black Widow, and Thor will have plenty of screen time throughout the film based on the trailers... that is unless one of them gets killed within the first 5 minutes of the movie and Marvel was tricky and used most of their screen time prior to that for the trailer!

You can watch the Avengers: Infinity War trailer on YouTube now:


I'm excited that I already know I will be THERE at opening night for the show on April 27th, as the office that I do social media for "out in the world" is renting out two theaters for our clients to see the show - and I of course will need to be there, ahem, help - with the event. So for once, getting to see the show on opening night!

Photo Courtesy: Marvel Studios
I've always enjoyed the Marvel series of movies,  even though I have never read any of the comic books in the past. The story lines are easy for me to follow and connect the characters from movie to movie, even with maybe not knowing the entire backstory quite as well as my husband. (Who DID read a ton of comic books as a kid!) The stories are engaging, enduring, and leave me wanting to see more. 

Now, to see Black Panther in the theater before Avengers: Infinity War - because Avengers: Infinity War arrives in theaters on April 27. 2018 and Black Panther comes out on DVD in May 2018. This will be great to make sure we are fully set up on the storyline prior to seeing all of the characters come together.

I can't wait to see what this latest take on the Marvel universe dishes up for fans!



** Some items referred to in this article were received complimentary. All opinions are my own.

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Disney's Christopher Robin Reminds Us of Who We Were Meant to Be

During the first general conference session at Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018, we were given the treat of being the first group of people to see the newly released teaser trailer for the new movie, Disney's Christopher Robin. The movie features some of our favorite childhood character pals - but in a way we've never quite seen them before... Winnie the Pooh and friends are brought to life in this live action film that features a star-studded cast and enduring story.

Photo Courtesy: Walt Disney Studios


Christopher Robin is all grown up and he's lost the whimsical nature he had as a child. As an adult, he has a family, responsibilities, and is tasked with trimming down the employees at a company still reeling from the effects of the Great Depression.

Disney's Christopher Robin stars Ewan McGregor as Christopher Robin himself, Hayley Atwell as his wife Evelyn, and Bronte Carmichael as his daughter, Madeline. All of the beloved stuffed characters are played by voice actors and appear in the movie as both stuffed versions of themselves, and with a bit of magic (also known as CGI) that allows them to come to life and interact with all of the rest of the characters on the screen.

Audiences will notice that the voice of Winnie the Pooh sounds very familiar, as Pooh is being voiced by Jim Cummings, who has voiced the character for Disney since 1988.

Photo Courtesy: Walt Disney Studios

Seeing the trailer for Disney's Christopher Robin at Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018 was truly a treat, and I'm looking forward to seeing it in its entirety with my girls. They already know and love the Winnie the Pooh cast of characters from both the ride at Walt Disney World, and watching animated videos of Pooh and his pals, so I'm interested to see their reaction to the live action version.

You can watch the teaser trailer now on YouTube:


Disney's Christopher Robin reminds us of who we thought we were going to be when we grew up. A reminder that just because life is full of responsibilities as an adult, we all still have that child and their dreams inside of us. I'm interested to see where Christopher Robin's journey takes him and how he addresses returning to his adult responsibilities at the end of the story.

In the general session of Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018 at Walt Disney World, Kristin Burr, producer of Disney's Christopher Robin, spoke to our group about the production of the movie and how it touched her heart as a "grown up kid".  As she spoke with care about bringing these beloved characters "back to life" for a new generation of Pooh fans, you could immediately tell - Winnie the Pooh was in good hands.

This is a film that I am looking forward to seeing in the theater and expecting will have incredible cinematic shots of both the Hundred Acre Woods (which was actually filmed in two particular forest locations near the real Hundred Acre Woods in England) and city scenes with London of old. I'm also very intrigued to see the stuffed character's personalities come to life on the big screen like we have never seen them before...

Most of all though, I am looking forward to watching Disney's Christopher Robin and hopefully being reminded of what that little girl inside wanted to be when she grew up. Winnie the Pooh has some of the best life lessons of all time, and perhaps it is just what an overworked adult, rushing around to meet all of the demands of a busy life needs... to be reminded of who they were always meant to be, by spending some time in the Hundred Acre Woods.

Me as a baby... with my first pair of Mickey ears! :)

At my first birthday!(With a Pooh cake!) Fun fact... my room was decorated in Winnie the Pooh when I was a baby! 
Disney's Christopher Robin releases in theaters nationwide on August 3, 2018.



** Disclosure: We attended Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018 and receive complimentary experiences as a part of the experience. All opinions are my own.

Monday, March 5, 2018

A Wrinkle in Time takes you on an Imaginative Journey


One of the joys of attending Disney Social Media Moms Celebration are the added bonuses of the event, pre-screenings and sneak peeks being one of those!



A Wrinkle in Time is Disney's newest movie, based on the 1962 book of the same name. We were unable to do any filming or pictures while getting a sneak preview of the movie of course, but luckily Disney has been kind enough to share the images below of the movie that officially releases in theaters on March 9th!

  


The film will feature Oprah Winfrey as Mrs. Which, Reese Witherspoon as Mrs. Whatsit, and Mindy Kaling as Mrs. Who. They guide the main character, Meg Murry being played by Storm Reid, across the dimensions of time and universe to find her father who disappeared. The story takes twists and turns, and Meg ultimately has to find her strength to become the hero that all of humanity needs.

 


It is an enduring story that hasn't lost its luster of appeal after all of these years and the big imaginative qualities translate well onto the big screen. We screened just a few minutes of the film, I lost track of time while being immersed in it, but I believe we saw 8-10 minutes out of the middle of the film, and the film takes you on an absolutely vividly imaginative journey.

The three guides in the film, Mrs. Which, Mrs. WhatsIt, and Mrs Who, are all strong female characters and actresses, however when you are watching the film you become so interested in the character they are playing you forget "who" they are. I especially loved seeing Mindy Kaling in the film, as I've loved her comedic works and I am interested to see how her big personality translates into the movie.

Photo Courtesy: Walt Disney Studios


The main character, Meg, is played by Storm Reid and she is amazing in her role. Although Meg is incredibly smart, she's a bit immature and unfocused, the character comes into her own with the help of the guides and is able to step into a role that is bigger than she ever knew she was capable of.

Photo Courtesy: Walt Disney Studios

A Wrinkle in Time comes to theaters on March 9th, and I'm looking forward to seeing the film in its entirety!

Make sure to check out my YouTube channel for all of the day in the life videos from the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration trips and I will continue sharing news and updates here as well!



** I received complimentary items and experiences while attending Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. All opinions are my own.

Sunday, March 4, 2018

New Disney Star Wars Hotel Immerses You in the Story

2019 is a year of big changes happening around Walt Disney World, and we are counting down the days until the arrival of Star Wars Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Photo Courtesy: Disney Parks

Galaxy's Edge will represent a remote trading port at the edge of the galaxy that brings together many familiar Star Wars faces. This all new area will completely transform the theme park, in my opinion - and draw visitors from around the world. Disney has spent a lot of time thinking through the details and we have some serious Star Wars fans in our family that are anxiously awaiting this part of Disney's Hollywood Studios to be complete!



The new land will feature fan favorites, like the Millennium Falcon and on one of the attractions guests will actually have the opportunity to "pilot" the ship! Another attraction takes place on a Star Destroyer inside a hanger. The new land will also have new merchandise stores and food options as well.

Photo Courtesy: Disney Parks

One of the most unique things about the new area at Disney's Hollywood Studios, is the integration of a Disney Resort right into the theme park atmosphere. Guests will have the option to stay in a Star Wars themed resort that completely immerses you in the experience and seamlessly flows into Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Guests can dress up the part of being a member of the community and can earn points for "good deeds" done around the theme park.

Photo Courtesy: Disney Parks

This interactive experience will be one of a kind, and I'm really looking forward to the timing of this experience because Isabella is a huge Star War fan and she will be in the 9 year old age range at this time, which I think will be the perfect age to take part in an immersive experience!

The rooms will even have "windows" that look out into space!

Photo Courtesy: Disney Parks

We will continue to await more specific information on developments at Disney's Hollywood Studios, but we were able to get a glimpse at the construction as we drove along roads that run near the back of the new Star Wars Land, and it looks like they are making great progress towards getting it completed quickly.



** Disclosure: We attended Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018 and receive complimentary experiences as a part of the experience. All opinions are my own.

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Toy Story Land Arrives at Disney's Hollywood Studios in June 2018!

Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018 was jam packed with lots of great Disney news, one such item being - more details about the new Toy Story Land coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios this summer!

Photo Courtesy: Disney Parks

Our family loves the whimsical characters of the Pixar film, Toy Story, and we're looking forward to seeing the larger than life attractions! Toy Story Midway Mania ride has been a popular ride for a number of years at Disney's Hollywood Studios, and the new Toy Story Land will be an extension of this popular attraction.

We love spending some time playing with our favorite toys when we're at Walt Disney World!



One of the most talked about new additions, is the Slinky Dog Dash. A family roller coaster that will have a minimum height requirement to ride of 38". From the preview video of the ride released by Disney, it appears to be a smooth ride that is quite long and traverses through a majority of the new Toy Story Land.

Photo Courtesy: Disney Parks

Another new ride in the land will be the Alien Swirling Saucers ride, that will have a height requirement of 32" to be able to ride. This is a spinning ride where the guests can try to out spin "The Claw".

Photo Courtesy: Disney Parks

There will also be a new restaurant, Woody's Lunch Box, which will be a quick service level restaurant serving up crowd favorites and old-fashioned soda floats.

Photo Courtesy: Disney Parks


Toy Story Land officially opens at Disney's Hollywood Studios on June 30, 2018! Our family will be planning a trip to go see the new land and we're looking forward to seeing all of the "toy-rific" details around the park!



** Disclosure: We attended Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018 and receive complimentary experiences as a part of the experience. All opinions are my own.





Friday, March 2, 2018

Rose Gold Ears Giveaway

We are back from Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018, and I cannot wait to share our trip and all kinds of information from our sessions with you! While we were there, the coveted rose gold ears came back in stock! I was excited to see rose gold ears at pretty much every turn!


They were at Animal Kingdom! EPCOT! Downtown Disney! We couldn't believe it!

I brought back a pair of ears for YOU! To use as a part of a giveaway!


Super easy to enter, use the Rafflecopter form below to enter to win!



I will select a random winner on March 16, 2018! Thanks for watching the Disney vlogs and I hope you enjoy watching our experience as much as I will enjoy sharing it with you!



** This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Disney Cruise Packing List

It's almost time for our next Disney cruise and we are so excited to be aboard the Disney Dream once again!



Our family is sailing in February on the Disney Dream for Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2018. This will be our third cruise and every single time is a learning experience, but I feel a bit more prepared knowing what to expect. We will be taking part in a "Fish Extender" exchange this time, and I'll have posts coming up on that in the future. I had a custom fish extender bag made for our hook to put outside our door, and we will reuse our door magnets from previous cruises.

In addition to all of those extra items, I have a list of Cruise Essentials that I'm planning on bringing on our trip and thought I would share!

My Cruise Packing List!


You can download the PDF HERE.

I'll be sharing these items in an upcoming video as well, along with our usual packing and planning videos!


** This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.