Show-and-Tell #69: Dumbo

Yesterday, Emerson decided to take her new baby Dumbo to school for Show-and-Tell. She got this Dumbo on the last day of our Disney trip at Animal Kingdom.  Who wouldn't be able to resist this face and those ears and even the baby swaddle?  Too cute!!!  Even though Emerson hasn't seen the Dumbo movie, she fell in love.  It's also pretty special to both of us because one of the lullabies I sang to Emerson as a baby, and even sometimes now, was "Baby Mine" from the Dumbo movie.  It's one of my all-time favorite lullabies.  I included videos below so you could see just how great it is!!

Show-and-Tell #69

Dumbo

June 3, 2011

The Alison Krauss version of the song and my favorite version of the song!!

The Bette Midler version of the song with Dumbo footage.

Scenes from the original Dumbo movie and the original score of the song.

Disney 2011 - Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom

Friday, February 18th

Our last day at the parks was spent at Animal Kingdom. We had such a great time last year that we decided to revisit the park this year. We started our morning in Africa at the Kilimanjaro Safaris (exactly like last year) and only waited in line a few minutes.  We all enjoyed the bumpy ride and the sights of all the animals up close and personal.

After the safari we walked through the Pangani Forest Exploration. We were lucky to see the gorilla exhibit and get a glimpse of the new baby that had just recently been born.

We then took the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch.  We strolled through the Conservation Station and learned about all the animals, what they eat, how much they eat, how they are taken care of, and saw a veterinarian station for the safari animals.  Then it was off to Affection Section, Disney's own petting zoo, with rare but domesticated breeds from around the globe.  Of couse, we washed hands thoroughly when we left!!

After all the morning fun, it was time for lunch.  We washed and germx'd our hands again and then found a great spot in the shade to enjoy our packed lunch.  It was nice to sit down and rest a bit before heading into the Asia section of the park.  We stopped for a family picture in front of Mount Everest.  We then headed deep into Asia so Danny and Birdie could ride Expedition Everest...one of the best roller coasters, EVER!!!  After the boys rode Everest, we went to Dinoland USA and rode TriceraTop Spin.  We then had to make the tough call, wait around for an hour or so for the Nemo show to start or book it over to Camp Minnie/Mickey and try to get into the audience for The Lion King show.  We headed out for The Lion King and made it.  The Lion King is one of my all-time (all two times, that is!) favorite Disney shows.  I love this show and was so excited to see it again.

The Lion King

After The Lion King we headed to the character greeting section of Camp Minnie/Mickey.  Emerson really wanted to see Minnie Mouse.  After a short wait, she got her chance.  She wasn't interested in any of the other characters so she hopped back in the stroller and we headed back to Dinoland to catch the Nemo show.  About three minutes after being in the stroller, it got very quiet and when I looked down, Emerson was out.  Animal Kingdom was the same park she fell asleep in last year, but it was the Nemo show that put her to sleep last time.  We decided to let her nap and skip the Nemo show, so we headed back to Asia to use fast passes for Everest.  Since my mom was not interested in riding, she stayed with Emerson and Danny, Birdie, and I rode Everest two times in a row.  Again, one of the best roller coasters, EVER!!

After our thrill seeking, we wandered back to Discovery Island to find our spot for some parade watching.  We were all ready for a snack and some rest.  We let Emerson rest, but then about 5 minutes before the parade I woke her up to give her a snack.  We had some duck friends who weren't afraid of "quacking" for a snack.  Emerson obliged a few times and then we had to shoo them away.  We heard parade music and didn't want the ducks getting run over by a float.  Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade came through with lots of gusto; loud, fun music and dancing.  A few characters stopped to give Emerson hugs and kisses.  We really enjoyed the parade, but we were tired by the end of it and decided to call it a day.  Not before one last family picture and of course, Emerson's last daily surprise of the trip, a baby Dumbo.

Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Expeditions Parade

These past few months have been crazy, hectic, discombobulated, and we really haven't been much of a family with Danny traveling as much as he has been, so I'm SOOO happy we got to spend a week in February as a family enjoying Disney.  It was so nice of my parents to offer the trip and for us to help celebrate my mom's retirement!!  I think they had as much fun as we did, at least I hope they did!!!  We made great memories and I am sure Emerson will remember this forever and cherish the time she got to spend with her Mimi and Birdie.  I know this won't be our last trip to Disney, but I feel very fortunate for the times we have gotten to go.  Until our next trip.....

Disney 2011 - Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios

Wednesday, February 16th

We spent our third day in the parks (fourth day of vacation) at Hollywood Studios.  We opted against Hollywood Studios during last year's trip, so this was a first for everyone.  We had beautiful weather again and unlike the day before, no electrical problems.

The Iconic Sorcerer's Hat

There were several character greetings set-up in the Sorcerer's Hat area and the line for Minnie was minimal.  We quickly hopped in line to meet Emerson's favorite Mickey's Clubhouse character.

After meeting Minnie, we took a stroll through Walt Disney: One Man's Dream, a museum devoted to Walt Disney's life and vision for his parks.  Then it was time for Voyage of the Little Mermaid, a 15-minute live indoor show that puts you underwater with Ariel and re-creates the classic Disney movie.  We had a character lunch scheduled, but had some time to kill before the lunch.  According to the daily Hollywood Studios schedule, we had just enough time to take in the Live Beauty and the Beast show, a stage production of the movie replicated in 25 minutes.  Emerson loved seeing Belle and Beast live and in-person.

Beauty and the Beast

I took a quick picture of the Hollywood Tower of Terror from the entrance to the Beauty and the Beast show.  No one in our group was brave enough to take the 13-story drop.

After the show and our amazement of the Hollywood Tower, we made our way over to the Hollywood and Vine restaurant for our Disney Junior Play n' Dine character meal.  Emerson couldn't wait to eat lunch and play with Handy Manny, Special Agent Oso, and June and Leo from Little Einsteins.  There was a lunch buffet filled with delicious treats and every 15-20 minutes, all the characters gathered at the front of the room for singing and dancing from some of Disney's greatest hits from Imagination Movers, Handy Manny and Little Einsteins.  The food was great and the characters spent a lot of time with each child.  I would recommend this character meal to anyone....we had a blast!!!

Disney Junior Play 'n Dine at Hollywood and Vine

June from Little Einsteins

The first "dance party" notice who's leading the group...she decided she was going to be part of the show!!

Special Agent OSO

Handy Manny, Emerson's favorite!!  I think she has a crush on him!!

Leo from Little Einsteins

The second "dance party" and someone's still at the front.  Emerson loved June and wanted to be right next to her the whole time!!

After lunch, we walked off all the good food and ventured back towards the Sorcerer's Hat and decided to see the American Idol Experience before the afternoon parade.  The American Idol Experience is a 30-minute show that puts you in the audience of a taping for American Idol with three contestants who are also Hollywood Studios visitors.  Early in the day, they try-out and if they make the cut, they perform for an audience and compete against two other performers (who also tried out).  The audience votes to pick the winner.  All the winners from the day then perform in the last showtime of the day to be picked as the daily winner.  It's a really cool show and you do feel like you are right there in the action.  After Idol, we rode The Great Movie Ride.  This ride takes you through a series of classic movies and puts you in the middle of all the action like you're part of the movie.  Classics like The Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, Mary Poppins, Raiders of the Lost Arc, Alien, and so many more.  This was a great ride, except for the Alien part that scared Emerson a little.  After our movie going experience, we headed to the parade route and took our spot.  Since Emerson didn't eat much for lunch (due to excitement), I gave her a snack and let her have a rest.  Danny and my dad ran over to ride the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster complete with Aerosmith music blaring in their ears.  They made it back just in time for the parade.  

The American Idol Experience

Waiting for the parade to begin.

Some shots of the Sorcerer's Hat...

Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun Parade

After the parade, we headed into the Pixar and Studio sections of Hollywood Studios.  We strolled down the Streets of America which was impressive and amazing how much it felt like you were on a city street of New York or San Francisco (depending which direction you looked).  We also rode the Studio Backlot Tour, which is a tour that showcases the art of making movies and special effects.  When the rode the infamous and always crowded 4D Toy Story Mania ride.  I fell in love with this ride; you are basically in a huge video game competing against your ride partner for points.  It was so much fun!!!  

The Streets of America

The Studio Backlot Tour

The Backlot Tour takes you into a mini-movie set called Catastrophe Canyon where an earthquake rocks the tram and also causes the truck on the set to catch on fire.  Then a flash flood comes streaming at the tram.  It was all very real and put you right in the middle of the action.  

Waiting for Toy Story Mania

We were getting tired and it was getting late in the afternoon so we decided to head out for the day.  My Mom and Dad wanted to see the movie about Walt Disney that we weren't able to see earlier.  While they went in to watch the 10 minute video, Danny and I took Emerson to pick out her surprise for the day.  When we got to the area where we could do some shopping, there were a few character greetings and we got side tracked.  

More Handy Manny....(I'm telling you, it's her first crush!!)

June and Quincy

Leo and Annie

While we were standing in line for the greetings, another mom told us about the "secret" character greetings taking place in the Magic of Disney Animation building.  My parents were still watching the movie, so Danny and I headed into the building for some more photo opps.  Just as we were getting ready to go in the door, Emerson declared, "Hey Mommy, that's Salem from new school."  Sure enough, when I turned around, Salem was standing right there.  We had no idea her family was going to be in Disney World the same time as us; it was such a shock to see them.  Salem and Emerson became fast friends at school, so it was nice to see a familiar face.  We let them run around and play for 15 minutes or so while we caught up with her parents and traded Disney stories and secrets.  Such a small world (pun intended)!!!

Then we were off to character greetings for the rest of our time at Hollywood Studios.  I've never seen so many characters in one place.  We didn't even get pictures with all of them, but Emerson got to see her favorites and play some great animation games.  

Goofy

 Mickey, as the Sorcerer

Animation Games

Lots-O-Huggin' Bear from Toy Story

Minnie and Pluto

What a great day we had at Hollywood Studios.  The perfect ending to a great day, walking through the studio arches!!  I can't wait until we can come back!!