Image from Disney Parks Blog

I love to fly but I know most people don’t and I don’t blame them. Between crowded airplanes, delayed flights, mediocre in-flight food, and TSA, flying can be a real drag. But cheer up! Mickey Mouse is bringing the magic back to flying.

WestJet (an airline I had not heard of) has added a magical airplane to their fleet. It is called the “Magic Plane” and features Sorcerer Mickey on the tail. If I saw that as I was waiting to board I would be grinning like a fool. If I knew I was flying on the Magic Plane I would be uncontrollably giddy. The magic is not just on the outside, the inside of the plane is also decorated. It looks so cool!

I am not brand loyal when I fly. I pick an airline based on price and time of departure. But if I could guarantee that I was going to be on that plane I would definitely fly WestJet. I would love it if the food was good, too, but I’m not sure even Sorcerer Mickey is that powerful. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: If you are flying to Orlando and staying on property at Walt Disney World be sure you use the Magical Express. You will be whisked away to your resort and you won’t have to deal with your luggage. That’s what I call magic.

Jeff Galloway helps me get across the finish line!

Okay, so as you know, I have big plans when it comes to runDisney races. I plan to do the Princess 10K and half marathon at Walt Disney World and the Tinker Bell 10K and half marathon at Disneyland in the same year so I get a ton of medals (really cool medals, too.) These two races have always been in February and January but I didn’t mind. I thought it would be an adventure to run so many races so close together. However, I was planning on doing them in 2015 so I had time to raise money for the trips and train for the races. I should have known better. Disney is always changing and now runDisney has made a major change, too.

The Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend has moved to Mother’s Day weekend in 2015. WHAT!!! Okay, okay. I am calm. I mean, it is not the end of the world. It will be easier having one race in February and the other in May. It’s just that I was really looking forward to running a race at Disneyland in January. I ran the Disneyland Half Marathon on Labor Day weekend and it was hot! But I can also understand. The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is in January so perhaps they wanted to spread things out. Logical.

While I understand I am also slightly disappointed. I was ready for the challenge and now the challenge has been made easier. I should have known. I always say that change is normal with Disney. If you want to do or see something you had better plan to do it soon. I guess I should have planned my races in 2014. But you know what? I’ll find another running challenge and just enjoy my plethora of Disney races. (Great Wall of China, anyone?) Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: I encourage everyone to run a Disney race at least once. They are so much fun and they are flat so anyone can do it. They also have a lot of 5K and 10K races so you get all the fun of a Disney race without killing yourself. If you need some guidance click on runDisney and check out the training plans by Jeff Galloway. I am using his 5K plan to train for a virtual 5K I’m doing January 25. Maybe I’ll have my husband hold up Disney stuffed animals along the way so it will feel like a Disney run.

The current restaurant in the Morocco Pavilion, Restaurant Marrakesh, is a wonderful restaurant filled with great flavors, but it is table service and when you are in the restaurant you can’t see any of the pavilion. The new restaurant, Spice Road Table, will have lots of outdoor seating, perfect for enjoying the flavors of Morocco while you watch IllumiNations. I love that they are providing more seating for this wonderful show. I often skip it because I can’t find a good place to wait for and watch the display. I look forward to enjoying great food and a great evening extravaganza. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: A cool souvenir to buy in the Morocco Pavilion is a necklace that has your name written on the shell in Arabic. However, if you don’t want the necklace you can ask one of the Cast Members in the pavilion, who are all from Morocco, to write your name in Arabic in your autograph book. It is beautiful to see and a great free keepsake. Maybe while you are waiting you could ask them what their favorite Moroccan food is. Then you could try it at the Spice Road Table when it opens.

Image from Disney Parks Blog

Zebras are one of my favorite animals. I just love their stripes. So I was very excited to learn that a zebra has been born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World. If I ever stay at a Delux Resort I would stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. I would love to see wild animals outside my room window. For those who are staying there they can now check out a month old baby zebra grazing with her mom. No two zebras have the same stripe patterns so this lovely girl is one of a kind.

Did you know there are three types of zebra? This baby zebra is a Hartmann zebra. You can tell the difference between a Hartmann zebra and other zebras by their stripes. Hartmann zebra stripes do not go all the way around their bellies. (Look at the picture to see what I mean.) This birth is extra special because Hartmann zebras are vulnerable and there are not many breeding programs for this type of zebra. It is cool that Disney is having success.

If you would like to see more pictures of this cute zebra the Disney Parks Blog has a great post about her. I think I’ll wear stripes today to celebrate. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tips: If you can’t stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge consider eating a meal there. Both Jiko and Boma are fantastic. I love the flavors of Africa that are in every bite.

Image from Disney Parks Blog

I waited until Halloween was over before I started talking about Christmas. I am a big believer in keeping Christmas in December, but the Disney parks get the season started in November so I will follow their lead. After all lots of guests want to experience the Disney parks at Christmastime and they wouldn’t all fit in one month. So let the season begin.

Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom are doing something this year that has never be done before. The Jungle Cruise is getting a Christmas overlay. I think this is a fun idea. Even explorers celebrate Christmas. I look forward to seeing the decorations and I am really looking forward to hearing new puns. The number one reason I ride the Jungle Cruise is for the puns. Show me the back side of water and I crack up. Introduce me to Dr. Presume and I laugh until I cry. I hope these new Christmas puns are the worst ever. I may just die from laughter.

So let me be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas, and remember, don’t shoot the messenger. Happiness Squared.

Goofy Tip: As much as people wish Christmas would stop encroaching on the rest of the year if you plan to visit the Disney parks (especially Walt Disney World) during the Christmas season you should be making reservations and buying tickets now. The holiday season is one of the busiest times to visit the parks and if you want to see all the great events than start planning today. Or, put a note on your calendar next May or June to plan for Christmas 2014.

Image from www.amazon.com

Angela Lansbury was born today in 1925. I think most people today know her from Murder, She Wrote which is still in reruns, and as the voice of the teapot, Mrs. Potts, in Beauty and the Beast. (You know, she sang that song. Yes, that one.) But today I want to suggest two other great Angela Lansbury movies to watch in honor of her birthday. Of course there are dozens of others, but I feel that these two are special, and very different from each other.

My first suggestion is Bedknobs and Broomsticks. This Disney movie came out in 1971 and it is fantastic. It’s the story of three orphan English children who are moved from London to the countryside during WWII. They are forced to live with Angela Lansbury who is a witch-in-training and not interested in children. Through trial and mishap they end up saving the village from a Nazi invasion. The plot is enchanting and the music makes you want to dance. It has a bit of romance, a lot of adventure, and multiple magical rides on a bed. Rent and share it with your family. You will love it.

The next movie is Gaslight. This black and white suspense film came out in 1944. It is so good that the term gaslighting has become part of our language. If you don’t know what gaslighting means you really need to see this movie. Angela Lansbury does not play one of the main characters but her role as the maid is incredible. Let’s just say I wouldn’t want her to be my maid. According to Wikipedia this was the first movie she acted in and she was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Award. That’s how good she was. This thrilling film is about a woman who is slowly going insane. However, is she really insane or is someone causing her to think she is insane? This is an amazing film and a must see on Angela Lansbury’s birthday. I’ve never forgotten her acting in this film.

To celebrate Angela Lansbury’s birthday, after all she is 88, watch one of her many wonderful films. I have recommended two but she has done so many more. I hope I am as spry and well-remembered when I am 88. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: Since Angela Lansbury played Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast you could always have a spot of tea today. Or if you are lucky enough to be visiting the Magic Kingdom enjoy a meal at the Be Our Guest Restaurant. There you can try “the Grey Stuff”, a dessert I can’t wait to taste.

While I was there I tried Butterbeer, the signature drink from the stories. We waited in line for ten minutes or so and got a cup of amber frozen sweetness. It was very good, but I was glad I was sharing it with someone else. It was so sweet and so buttery that a little bit went a long way. Now that I have tasted Butterbeer I have no desire to try it again. But let it be said I thought Universal did a great job of bringing the world of Harry Potter to life, including Butterbeer.

While all this Harry Potter stuff in interesting this is a Disney blog, so why am I going on and on about Universal? Well, Butterbeer was so popular at Universal that Disney wanted their own signature drink. This was going to be a little difficult because Disney has lots of great drinks (you have to try Ramone’s Pear of Dice Soda) and they do not have a movie that emphasizes one drink like Harry Potter does with Butterbeer.

A new beverage was revealed when New Fantasyland opened at the Magic Kingdom. Lefou’s Brew is a fun apple drink inspired by Beauty and the Beast that is found at Gaston’s Tavern. Guests at Disneyland were not left out and a different signature drink was created for Fantasy Faire, the newest area of Fantasyland. It is called Boysen Apple Freeze and is found at Maurice’s Treats. Boysen rhymes with poison so it is obviously a Snow White reference. I couldn’t wait to try this new drink and see how it compared to Butterbeer.

So…which did I like better, Butterbeer, or Boysen Apple Freeze? It may seem like I have a bias, but anyone who know me knows that I love Harry Potter about as much as I love Disney (if Disney had made the Harry Potter movies I would have cried with joy). So with no bias, just my taste buds as my judge, I declare…Boysen Apple Freeze the winner. This drink was much lighter than Butterbeer and the combination of boysenberry, raspberry, and apple made the drink both tart and sweet. This is a drink that I will buy every time I visit Disneyland. When I go back to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (once they fix their crowd problems) I will try other drinks but not Butterbeer.

Congratulations to Disney for winning the battle of the drinks. They won in another way, too. You can get a souvenir cup with either drink, but Disney’s cups are way cooler. You get to choose between a princess goblet or a Beast beer stein. I chose the goblet and love using it at home. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: If you are looking for breakfast at Disneyland bypass the crowds at Main Street U.S.A. and head over to Fantasy Faire. Boysen Apple Freeze makes a great breakfast drink.  At the same cart you can buy a twist. I tried the cheesy garlic twist and it was excellent. It is a good size (you can see me holding one above), enough for a light meal and plenty big enough to share with a friend for a snack. They also had strawberry and chocolate. I can’t wait to try them all.

There are ten Disney parks around the world right now and I definitely plan to visit all of them and check off that list. But I just learned that the first Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opened at Disneyland on September 2, 1979. I love this attraction at both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom and I wondered how many other Big Thunder attractions I could ride.

It turns out four parks have Big Thunder Mountain Railroad attractions. Besides Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom they are at Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland. Yay! I have a new list. I want to ride all four versions and have my picture taken by the sign outside each of them.

Do you have fun lists that you are trying to complete? Are any of them Disney related? Along with visiting every Disney park and ride on every Big Thunder Mountain Railroad I want to run every RunDisney race at least once. Who knew that lists could be so fun? Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: As you make your lists remember that the parks change all the time so your lists will probably change, too. If you truly want to finish a list than don’t dawdle. It might be easier to be flexible. Remember that changes in the parks means you get to have new goals and even more fun.

Image from Disney Parks Blog

Last week I did a post about the first Masai giraffe born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This little fella needed a name so the Disney Parks Blog let its fans vote for one. And the results are in. Okay, so my first choice didn’t win, but that’s okay because my second choice did win. The next time you ride on Kilimanjaro Safaris you can say hello to Mosi, which means first. I guess that is a fitting name.  Welcome to the tower, Mosi! (A tower is a group of giraffes…who knew?!) Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: The next time you ride on Kilimanjaro Safaris you might be wearing a MagicBand and using your smart phone to make your FastPass+ reservation. These are two of the options in MyMagic+.  This new program promises to be awesome and confusing. Touringplans.com completed a test weekend with the MyMagic+ and explained how it works. Even if you don’t read this post now bookmark it so you’ll know about the changes the next time you hit the parks. And knowing is half the battle.

I hope that just because you consider yourself an adult that you still like animals. I think animals are liked by just about everyone. That being said Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a great way to see some animals that you probably don’t see every day, and even better you can see them up close and personal. When you stop and watch many of these animals you will learn things that make them more remarkable than they already are. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is not a large park, nor does it have a ton of rides. This makes it a park that you can relax in. Take time to wander the winding paths without feeling pressured. Surprises are found to those who keep their eyes open.

Many of the attractions are great for adults with only a few exceptions. I explain both below.

5 fun activities that adults can enjoy at Disney’s Animal Kingdom:

1) Watch the Festival of the Lion King. Walt Disney World has tons of great shows, but this one might be the best. The singing is amazing, the acrobatics are thrilling, and costumes are stunning. This show is a must-see and a great reason to visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It is moving into a new theatre that was designs specifically for this show. I can’t wait to see it again once it has moved.

2) Stay out of Dinoland. I love dinosaurs but I stay out of Dinoland. I know what the idea was behind Dinoland, but it is just a big playground for kids filled with carnival rides and doesn’t have a lot of appeal, even for adults who love dinosaurs. The kids love this area though, and it is a great way for them to blow off steam. However, I recommend that adults stay away.

3) Stroll through The Maharajah Jungle Trek and The Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. Taking  a ride on the Kilimanjaro Safaris is fun and you’ll see a lot of animals off in the distance, but if you want to get up close to hippos and tigers and gorillas then you need to walk. These two trails, one in Africa and one in Asia, are the best way to see some remarkable animals. The theming is so good that you’ll think you’ve left Florida and entered a new continent.

4) Enjoy a meal at Tusker House or Yak and Yeti. There are not a lot of grown-up choices for food at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Many of the restaurants are counter service with typical park fare. For a more interesting meal try out the Tusker House in Africa or Yak and Yeti in Asia. There you can get food filled with all the flavors of the land you are visiting.

So, Hakuna Matata! Disney’s Animal Kingdom is sure to delight even the most grown up grown-up. This park was designed to be immersive so keep your eyes open and these lands will enchant you with their story. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: Some of the best restaurants not in the parks, but at the resorts. One way to enjoy an adult experience at the parks is to wander around the resorts and enjoy a fine meal there. I especially like the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The architecture is interesting and there are animals like giraffes roaming around outside. While there enjoy dinner at Jiko – the Cooking Place. You will have a meal that is unforgettable.