A few months ago before the world changed forever, we had the opportunity to celebrate DreamWorks Trolls World Tour and join the band. It was SO much fun to jam like one of our favorite movies. If it has to do with Trolls you can count me in! I wanted to share the fun with you. If you have a chance to see the movie On Demand or on bluray, available June 23, it’s definitely worth the watch!
DreamWorks Trolls World Tour click here
If you know me, you know that I am literally obsessed with Google Maps! I post on there all the time and have been recognized by them for my accomplishments more than once. Currently, I am ready to hit FIFTEEN MILLION picture views and I am SO excited about that! A few months ago (pre-Covid days) a big celebration took place in NYC! Friends of Google Maps were invited to celebrate Google Maps turning fifteen years old! Funny because I cannot even remember life without Google Maps. It seems like it has been around forever. 
Being a Google Local Guide means helping people who visit an area you are super familiar with on the map. I am in the top 1 % of Google Local Guides for NYC and pretty darn proud of that accomplishment. Even though it’s COVID19 times, the Local Guides still do not stop posting. We are constantly updating the maps on Google and inputting what is now closed permanently or temporarily. 
Another thing Local Guides do is review places to visit, touristy places, accommodations, dining destinations and stores. Actually, anything can be added and reviewed on Google Maps. It’s a great resource for people who want to check out a destination before they visit or during their visit. You can get a street view that shows you exactly what it would be like to stand right on the street in the area you are looking to visit. 
That day in NYC there was quite a set up. Google Maps had a queue leading up to the newly updated Google Maps icon introduced for the 15th Birthday! While waiting in the line we were treated to delicious brownies from a local NYC vendor, given official Google Map icon pins and entertained by live music and dance. The entire experience was complimentary. Thanks Google Maps! But the best part was when we finally made our way up to the front. Inside the Google Maps icon was an interactive screen where you could take a little quiz to reveal some travel tips. At the end you were handed a sealed envelope with some type of surprise inside! Though the grapevine we heard there were prizes that included a day at the SPA, Big screen TV, lattes, coffees, delicious fresh baked treats and more. We took home five prizes that were all coffees and fresh bakery treats for a local bakery. We headed to pick them up after the event and enjoyed them. Yum!
Well, I hope that you enjoyed hearing about our day out with Google Maps! It’s a fun to celebrate Google Maps 15th Birthday! Happy Birthday, Google Maps! We heart you! You can check out Local Guide Diane Sullivan Google Maps here.
Disclosure: Diane Sullivan is in the Top 1% NYC Google Maps Local Guide. We love to travel and NYC. Contact me at @3decades3kids or 3decades3kids@gmail.com
In early March our family headed down to Walt Disney World to celebrate Opening Day of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway! Since then life has really been flipped upside down with everyone going through quarantine together and just doing what we have to do day by day. Recently Disney Parks announced that the parks would be reopening beginning July 11 with new COVID19 precautions in place to keep us all as safe as possible. Personally, our family cannot wait to get back to the parks. We have missed Disney SO much and tried to keep positive with the shut down and keep Disney in our lives through pics, stories and memories of trips from the past.
I’m sure everyone has their own ideas on when they will be heading to Disney and what works for their family. When you do make your plans be sure to grab a Disney Fast Pass for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. You will not be disappointed. We absolutely loved the ride and cannot wait to ride it again…and again! First of all, I love how there are no restrictions for age or height on this ride. You can ride it with your youngest child as well as the grandparents!
Without getting into details about the ride, let me be the first to say that I loved The Great Movie Ride! I was obsessed with it. I went on it every single time I visited Disney and it was my favorite place to just relax in a cool place while enjoying the magic of Disney. In my heart I did not think that ANY new ride replacement would live up to an old favorite. I will be the first to admit that I was wrong. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is just magical. I still do not know HOW some of that ride magic was created, especially at the beginning of the ride before boarding the railway cars. That’s one reason I can’t wait to go back and ride it again. This ride has everything that a true Mickey and Minnie fan will love!
The ride features Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Donald and Daisy Duck! When Disney says it’s a one of a kind ride they are not kidding. It’s just a different experience than anything else found in the parks. The ride is really hard to explain, but you will just have to trust me when I say you will LOVE this ride! It’s different, and it’s perfect! Bravo Disney! When Mickey and Minnie start out by taking a sweet little drive on their way to a picnic things begin to spin out of control. If you are in the mood for smiles and laughs and pure Disney, this ride is just for you! Nothing can stop us now….
Check out more about Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway by clicking here.
Disclosure: Diane Sullivan/3decades3kids is a Disney Parks media partner. Complimentary park tickets were provided in order to facilitate this post. All opinions are that of Diane Sullivan and do not reflect the opinions of the parent company represented. Contact Diane at 3decades3kids@gmail.com or across all social media at @3decades3kids.
It seems like this year has been just crazy! As a blogger it has been really different for our family. Since we spend so much time at theme parks and traveling it has been so odd to just stay home. Actually, I think this Coronavirus quarantine has kept our family home longer than ever before. So, you can imagine just how excited we were to find out that Six Flags Great Adventure was planning on opening! Great Adventure is our definite go to theme park that is within driving distance from home. Six Flags Great Adventure Safari adventure as a drive-through experience is NOW OPEN!! This announcement follows New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s executive order permitting drive-through events implementing social distancing guidelines. Six Flags Great Adventure’s Safari operated as a self-drive-through experience from 1974 through 2012. Since 2013, Great Adventure has offered guided truck tours of the Safari. Returning to a standalone, drive-through format enables guests to enjoy the Safari’s 1,200 exotic animals from the privacy and safety of their own vehicles, while allowing for proper social distancing. The theme park is currently finalizing new safety procedures to protect guests, team members, and animals.
Honestly, the Drive Through Safari is something that I have told my children countless stories about since it was how we did it back when I was a kid visiting Six Flags. I have SO MANY fond memories of the animals coming close to the car and seeing so many types of animals as we drove through. I am SO excited that I will be able to share that experience with my own family! We absolutely LOVE the safari at Six Flags and cannot wait to visit and drive through! See you soon giraffes! We have MISSED YOU so much!!
To prevent overcrowding, the Safari experience will require advance registration using Six Flags’ new online reservation system. Once the opening date is confirmed, the reservation system will be activated to allow Members, Season Pass Holders, and single-day ticket holders to make reservations at www.sixflags.com/reserve. All tickets must be purchased online and in advance. Sales will not be available at the gate, and guests without advance reservations will not be allowed to enter.
Per state, local, and federal guidelines regarding COVID-19, the theme park and waterpark will remain closed until further notice.
About Six Flags Entertainment Corporation
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world’s largest regional theme park company and the largest operator of waterparks in North America, with 26 parks across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. For 58 years, Six Flags has entertained millions of families with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling water parks, and unique attractions. For more information, visit www.sixflags.com.
Disclosure: Diane Sullivan/ 3decades3kids is a Six Flags Great Adventure partner blog. All opinions are that of Diane Sullivan and do not reflect the views of the parent company represented in this blog post. Please reach out to Diane at 3decades3kids@gmail.com or across all social media at @3decadeskids.
