Disney Vacation Club 30th Anniversary

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Disney Vacation Club 30th AnniversaryThe Sullivan Family- Members Since 1997

Disney Vacation Club is turning THIRTY!! Happy Birthday DVC, to you and all your members and all the memories made along the way! I remember the time, I remember the day, I remember looking at hubby and thinking how Disney Vacation Club was like a dream come true for our family. Back then, in 1997, almost 25 years ago we were a family of three. We loved Disney! I loved it as a child. Hubby loved it as a child. Now there we were with our own child and the Disney love, the Disney Magic was being passed down to a new generation. From the moment we heard about DVC we knew we had to buy in. It was different than other timeshares. It was a way for us to visit Disney whenever we wanted and also have options to visit other places around the world! So, in 1997 we took the plunge and the perks and we became members and we have never (not even for a moment) ever regretted becoming part of the Disney Vacation Club Family. Flash forward THIRTY YEARS and here we all are. Somewhere along the way we have become a family of five and somewhere along the way we have shared a million happy, wonderful, magical times! We traveled with family and friends that are no longer here and yet they come to life when we visit our favorite place. We’ve also made friends along the way. Disney Vacation Club members know other Disney Vacation Club members and their children and their parents and they may see some of them year after year, or meet up at the pool, or the park, and even text to see when they are heading to the most magical place on earth, Walt Disney World. Walt Disney would be proud of all the DVC members there are today! I am proud that we are DVC members since 1997 with many years to come!

SO let’s get into what the Big Plans are to celebrate! Here’s a look at what’s in store for Disney Vacation Club Members as we begin the celebration officially this February!

To kick off our 30th Anniversary Celebration, join Disney Vacation Club for “We Go On,” a streaming, made-for-Members musical production that celebrates Membership Magic at home. Learn about new ways to enjoy your Membership in 2021 and enjoy uplifting entertainment, including inspirational musical performances by stage and screen star Keala Settle (“The Greatest Showman”) and the EPCOT fan-favorite Voices of Liberty. We have already watched it and LOVED it! You will, too!

The Disney Vacation Club 30th Anniversary Merchandise is coming and you will WANT it ALL!  You can celebrate 30 years in style with customizable Disney Vacation Club 30th Anniversary Merchandise – available now at shopdisney.com/membermarketplace. I absolutely LOVE the personalized tee that shows off your family name and year that you became a member! I remember at the parks when we would proudly wear our buttons and get stopped and asked by people about DVC! The answer was always the same, BUY IT!!

The Disney Vacation Club Member Lounge – Continues in 2021 and we are pretty excited! It’s a must do for our family. We always plan it out that we pop in to the DVC Member Lounge! It’s a great place to meet other members and honestly you can grab some of their favorite tips about resorts and rides and share some of your own! Disney Vacation Club Member Lounge, overlooking EPCOT in the park’s Imagination! pavilion, will remain open through 2021. Available for Members with paid admission to EPCOT, the lounge is open daily from noon to 7 p.m. Starting Jan. 31, the lounge will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This Member benefit offers a convenient and comfortable place to recharge while visiting the theme park. There’s lots of casual seating, complimentary beverages, device-charging stations, Wi-Fi, computer stations, a printer and mounted tablets pre-set to help you access many Disney websites. PS: There is COFFEE!! I know it may be hot outside when we visit but I can never resist a good cup of coffee! Thanks, Member Lounge!

Among all of the fun that Disney has in the works I think I am most excited about the Scenic-Selfie Scavenger Hunt that Debuts Feb. 16.  Members are invited to take part in a brand-new scavenger hunt across Walt Disney World Resort. In this interactive and informative selfie-collecting quest, Disney Vacation Club Members will discover thematic insights and Disney details that are woven into the storytelling of each of the parks.

Although the full-length 30th Anniversary Musical Streaming Event, “We Go On,” is only intended to be shared with Disney Vacation Club Members, we could not let our DISNEY friends miss out on this amazing performance, so we are pleased to share one available to all Disney fans! In this powerful musical moment, stage and screen star Keala Settle performs an emotional rendition of the Disney classic “it’s a small world.”

Images + Credits:

Keala Settle – Disney Vacation Club 30th Special, Mickey Mouse – Disney Vacation Club 30th Special

Disclosure: Diane Sullivan/3decades3kids is a Disney partner blog. Along with blogging about Disney Vacation Club our family has been DVC Members since 1997 and proud of it. To find out more about DisneyVacationClub click here to receive a complimentary DVD about becoming a member. All information provided by Disney Vacation Club media team. All opinions are that of Diane Sullivan and do not reflect the views of the parent company represented in this blog post. Contact Diane at Diane@3decades3kids.net or 3decades3kids@gmail.com, @3decades3kids and @DianeNYC on TikTok.

 

 

Disney+ and Pixar’s SOUL!

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Disney+ and Pixar’s SOUL Now Available!

If you know me, you know that I have been off the grid lately. The bad news is I have missed chatting with everyone as much as I used to BUT the GOOD news it that we are HOME! Our family is finally back home. So, what is the first thing you think we did after unboxing a neverending stack of bins? We took a break and had a Disney+ family movie night! Personally, I have been waiting for Disney+ and Pixar’s all-new animated film, SOUL since I first heard about it. How could I resist a movie set on the streets of NYC and featuring Pixar’s first Black main character, Joe Gardner!?! The movie also is starring the voices of Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Phylicia Rashad, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Angela Bassett, and many more. It did not disappoint at all and honestly was just what our family needed. If you are looking for a great movie night choice, SOUL is a perfect choice!

Wondering what the movie, SOUL is all about? What is it that makes you…YOU? Pixar Animation Studios’ all-new feature film “Soul” introduces Joe Gardner (voice of Jamie Foxx) – a middle-school band teacher who gets the chance of a lifetime to play at the best jazz club in town. But one small misstep takes him from the streets of New York City to The Great Before – a fantastical place where new souls get their personalities, quirks and interests before they go to Earth. Determined to return to his life, Joe teams up with a precocious soul, 22 (voice of Tina Fey), who has never understood the appeal of the human experience. As Joe desperately tries to show 22 what’s great about living, he may just discover the answers to some of life’s most important questions.

Directed by Academy Award® winner Pete Docter (“Inside Out,” “Up”), co-directed by Kemp Powers (“One Night in Miami”) and produced by Academy Award nominee Dana Murray, p.g.a. (Pixar short “Lou”).

Disney and Pixar’s “Soul” is available exclusively on Disney+ (where Disney+ is available)

ALSO, if you are a teacher or homeschooler you will definitely want to check out Young Minds Inspired for some amazing ideas and focused worksheets for your child/student aged Grade 3-5. As a former teacher I know I would have definitely enjoyed sharing the ideas with my class and with my own children when they were during the grade frame. You can access the site here: https://ymiclassroom.com/lesson-plans/pixarsoul/

 Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | #PixarSoul

Check out the awesome trailer of SOUL here!

Soul Activity Sheets.pdf

Disclosure: Diane Sullivan/3decades3kids is a Disney+ partner blog. All opinions are that of Diane and do not represent the views of the parent company represented within this post. Contact Diane for collabs across all social media at @3decades3kids and on TikTok as @DianeNYC In the meantime please go and watch SOUL on Disney+. I can’t wait to hear what you think about the movie!

Giveaway- Disney’s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

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Giveaway-MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL

On Bluray/Dvd/HDdigital January 14, 2020

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is a fantasy adventure that picks up several years after “Maleficent,” in which audiences learned of the events that hardened the heart of Disney’s most notorious villain and drove her to curse a baby Princess Aurora. The film continues to explore the complex relationship between the horned fairy and the soon to be Queen as they form new alliances and face new adversaries in their struggle to protect the moors and the magical creatures that reside within.
Find out more about the movie and order your copy here: https://movies.disney.com/maleficent-mistress-of-evil
GIVEAWAY: I’m thrilled, as always to partner with Disney Pictures. One lucky reader will win the Disney’s Maleficent Mistress of Evil bluray/dvd/hddigital hard copy. Please enter on the rafflecopter below. Good luck. Winner chosen January 14, 2020 at 11:59 pm. Winner will be emailed and have 48 hours to respond and claim the prize. ( 18+/USA only).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: Diane Sullivan/3decades3kids is a Disney Pictures partner blog. All opinions are that of Diane Sullivan and do not reflect the views of the partner company represented. Movie copies provided by Disney Pictures/ Disney’s Maleficent Mistress of Evil. Please contact me via 3decades3kids@gmail.com or @3decades3kids 

A Disney Must Do! Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party!

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A Disney Must Do! Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party!

Walt Disney World is always a great travel destination no matter the time of year, but if you love Halloween you will not want to miss visiting during the festive Fall season! Our family is big into Halloween so going to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party was always on our family’s Must Do List! Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is a ticketed event that takes place on special nights at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Although the party begins at 7pm, with your ticket you can enter Magic Kingdom at 4pm through specially marked entrances at the Magic Kingdom gates. If you are a Disney Vacation Club member you can enter at 2pm. If you are already in the park there is no need to leave and re-enter, you can check in an grab your party bracelet and goodie bag at various locations throughout the park. But, you may want to go back to the beginning of the park and walk the entrance trail themed with Photo Pass opps  and signage for the party! 

Once inside the Magic Kingdom you will want to get your map for the party and make a plan! What’s important to you? Do you want to get to some rides that are different during the party like Pirates of the Caribbean (where live pirates will greet you along the way and inside, too), or Space Mountain where you ride completely in the DARK and Monster’s INC where you can find a themed Halloween show (a don’t miss) and of course the Mad Tea Party where the music and lights are transformed into Halloween themes.

Another thing you may want to check out is all the special characters and characters in their Halloween costumes! Our family loves to check out Winnie the Pooh and friends of the Hundred Acre Wood in their festive clothing. If you head over by Dumbo you can ride with practically no line as well as meeting Mickey, Minnie and friends in their Halloween costumes and dancing at the Disney Junior Dance Party with Fancy Nancy, Vampirina, and Doc McStuffins! There is so many choices!

Of course when it comes to Must Do’s I would say number one would be the Boo To You Parade! The parade runs twice a night and if you are like us, you probably will carve out time to watch it both times! The fireworks show follows the parade and they are definitely a magical pair. In addition you can check out the bigger than life Hocus Pocus show right on the main stage in front of the castle.

Don’t forget that everyone can come in costume! (no masks of course and you can’t be mistaken for a Disney character) Trick-Or-Treating is available throughout the park and it is for both adults and children, so bring your candy hunger and remember that you may be leaving with a heavy bag of treats. It’s up to you how much time you want to spend collecting. We were on the monorail with a family that had full bags! Check out my last post on Tips For Attending Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party here.

Now, if you were to ask me honestly WHAT the best part of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party was I could answer the parade, or the Trick-Or-Treating, or the special characters, or the fireworks, or Hocus Pocus, BUT honestly, it’s seeing the smile on my daughter’s face. It’s seeing the happiness of our family just enjoying the night. It’s just being surrounded with other people that are all enjoying themselves. This picture of Emm in the Magic Carpet Ride of Aladdin sums up the night, it sums up the magic that only Disney Parks can deliver. Thank you for the happy Disney! Thank you for letting our minds rest from reality for this special night and just enjoy and be happy and eat candy! To learn everything about Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and to get some tickets of your own click here. 

Disclosure: This blog post is written by Diane Sullivan. All opinions are hers and do not reflect the views of the parent company represented. Media Family Night invite was provided in order to facilitate this post. Contact me at Diane@3decades3kids.net or @3decades3kids across all social media networks. Thank you, Disney Parks.

Our Day Aboard Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Magic- Now Sailing From #DCLNewYork

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Our Day Aboard Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Magic- Now Sailing From NYC!disneymagicmickeymouseThe New York City shoreline just got a little more magical with the view of Disney Cruise Line’s gorgeous Disney Magic adorning the dock of Pier 88! Recently I had the chance to spend the day on board the Disney Magic. What a amazing day! Our morning began with a guided tour of the enormous ship that holds over two thousand guests. Passing by the grand entrance was breathtaking, especially decked out for Halloween with an interactive Jack-0-lantern tree. The buzz of guests exiting the ship gave me goose bumps at the thought of the pixie dusted memories their families just had the chance to create together. Children passing by with Captain Mickey and Elsa stuffies, little girls in Cinderella gowns and moms, dads and grandparents wearing their finest Disney ears. The sight of it all just warmed my heart.

disneymagicdeck10disneymagictopOur first stop was the Oceaneer Youth Club, a club designed for children ages 3-12, where they can stay and play for as little or long as they would like while their parents take advantage of time alone or at one of the finer dining experiences on the ship. With saying that, if I were I a child I but you would never get me out of the place! It was truly amazing with a bigger than life version of Toy Story Andy’s room complete with his bed on the top and a slide down through Slink! There was also a dance and game floor, Pixie Hollow, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  My favorite part of the room was the The Marvel Avengers Academy where you can virtually suit up into the top-secret command post of S.H.I.E.L.D. and prepare to complete your battle. You will even get an official card upon completion!  You can also find the weaponry of some of your favorite Avengers including Thor’s hammer, Captain America’s shield and Iron Man’s armor. There are even computer games and arts and crafts. During our visit there was a surprise visit by Captain America himself! This completely put me in the mood for the upcoming Marvel Day at Sea coming in 2017! My kids were super jealous but I did make them proud by fighting like the superhero they trained me to be! Let’s not forget, I was a boymom for sixteen years before my little princess arrived!disneymagic1disneymagiccapAs we toured decks 9 and 11 I could just envision the families splashing in the pools, dancing to the music that played non stop and just cherishing the precious moments only a Disney cruise could deliver. We were shown many pool areas, some for families and also adult only. Disney cruise is not just for children, it’s also great for adults with many adult options in every venue. One example is the Mixology Class at Keys we were treated to, where we were able to test out our bar-tending skills. We learned tips and tricks to making a perfect cocktail, mojito, and even a layered triple shot! Wooza! Did I mention you can sample of fully enjoy each of the five drinks you create firsthand. This is something I highly recommend if you do cruise with Disney! disneymagicmixologydisneymagiccheersOur group was treated to an amazing treat! Playing now on the Disney Magic is one of my favorite stories, Tangled! With original music from the incredible Alen Menken. The audience was outfitted with overflowing buckets of hot popped popcorn and drinks of choice and it was not long before this musical feast began. The live show does not exactly follow the Disney movie, Tangled but does take its own life in this original version. We loved it and judging by the thunderous applause coming from the onlookers I would have to say that this show would definitely be on the top of my list if I were heading to the Disney Magic again. Tangled The Musical is a must do!

Of course before the show started we did have privi to some top secret information!! In 2017 for the first time ever Disney cruises will host Marvel Day at Sea! We were treated to a sneak peek mini show with superheroes Captain America, Spider-Man entering via webbing and Thor with hammer in hand! If that was a preview, I can’t even begin to imagine how amazing the real thing is going to be.    There will many Marvel themed activities for both children and adults during the event. There will even be Marvel themed food and drinks. A Marvel movie marathon will take place leading up to the latest blockbuster that premieres in November 2017. Marvel characters will be on hand for photo memories and an up close to the characters experience. There will also be a Marvel themed dance party and FX fireworks that will include heroes and villains. Count me in!disneymagictangledsigndisneymagicpopcornLunch was served at the Animator’s Palate, one of the many restaurants to choose from on board of the Disney Magic. There is something so amazing about this restaurant that captivated both adults and children during our time spent there. After being seated the waited directed each one of us at the table to our placemat. He gave us some directions to draw a character using the marker provided. No one really knew what to expect but we all spent the next few minutes creating a rendition of ourselves. My character had glasses and of course a Mickey Tee! We handed in the placemat and continued onto our delicious appetizer dish which consisted of a sampling of a few different mini appetizers. disneymagicapp

disneymagicshrimp

disneymagicdessert1

My entrée choice was penne with garlic shrimp, which was absolutely incredible. As we chatted and dined the many screened that surrounded the dining area kept us entertained with clips and songs from Beauty and the Beast, Lady and the Tramp and more. Suddenly everyone noticed that the characters we had created before the dining began were actually coming to life on the screens. Each of the  screens highlighted the guests seats in their immediate area. Everyone loved the experience watching themselves march across the screen, dance and interact with Mickey Mouse and his friends. It was such a treat. Speaking of treats, the dessert sampler was mouthwatering. Bravo, Animator’s Palate staff, you are top rate!You can check out our fun day aboard the Disney Magic sailing from NYC Pier 88.

disneymagicme disneymagicmeanimated

So if you family or your friends or just you (because going alone may be the best decision ever), are looking for a magical experience on the high seas look no farther than right in our own backyard on 12th Ave, Pier 88! The Disney Cruise- Disney Magic is waiting for you, it’s waiting for your family. Memories will be made that will last forever. As you sail away from the hustle of NYC you will be leaving your stress on the street and trading it for an unplugged (if you choose) experience where you can spend time with the kids, friends, family or alone. On that note, there are some SPA experiences that will drift you into paradise…..Why did I have to disembark?? My heart was filled with happiness as I exited the Disney Magic listening to the families being welcomed one by one onto the ship. I could not help but think of the magic that was about to take place for those lucky people……

There is nothing in the world that can compare to a magical Disney experience. Check out more about Disney Cruise Line Here. disneymagicdianeDisclosure: Diane Sullivan/ 3decades3kids is a Disney Partner Blog and Disney Social Media Mom. All opinions are that of Diane Sullivan and do not reflect the opinion of the parent company represented. A media invitation was extended for a day visit on the Disney Cruise- Disney Magic while in port. No compensation was provided for this post. We love Disney and always enjoy sharing information with our readers that provide a first hand account of our experience.