Food Fun Family

Chippokes State Park: The Founders District

Lolli — Thu, 27 May 2021 12:32:07 +0000

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Founder’s District. All opinions are 100% mine.

Living on the East Coast for the last 25 years has been a fascinating journey for me. I grew up on the West Coast and learned about missions and the Gold Rush and the Oregon Trail in school. Early American history seemed so “foreign” to me that it might as well have taken place in another country.

It has been interesting to raise my own kids in a totally different part of the country, with new-to-me things to discover and explore. I have come to love this area – the DMV (DC-Maryland-Virginia) as locals like to call it – and the rich history that this land is home to.

Just this past year, I was thrilled to discover that I have ancestors who lived in Jamestown in the early days of American history.

Years ago, when my mom was visiting us in Maryland, we drove down to Virginia to visit Historic Jamestowne and the surrounding sites. Little did I know during that first visit to Jamestown Settlement that there was so much more to explore right in the same area. In fact, there are eight amazing destinations in The Founder’s District, each with something unique to learn and enjoy.

Jamestown Settlement
Colonial Parkway/Colonial National Historical Park
Historic Jamestowne
James County Marina
Chippokes State Park
Jamestown- Scotland Ferry
Hog Island Wildlife Management Area
Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

Today, though, I want to feature Chippokes State Park, which is at the top of my list for places I want to visit with my family.

Chippokes State Park is one of the oldest continuously operated plantations in the nation. Established in 1619 by English Captain William Powell, a Lieutenant Governor of Jamestown, this 1,400-acre farm located opposite Jamestown Island, has been the site of an active agricultural operation for nearly four centuries. Powell named the plantation after Choapoke, an Algonquian Indian Chief who was friendly to the English settlers in Jamestown.

Since moving to our farm in Maryland a year and a half ago, I’ve become even more fascinated with the type of farming that built our country. I also love being outdoors and exploring the beauties that this area has to offer.

At Chippokes State Park, families can take advantage of modern recreational activities (like an Olympic-sized swimming pool, hiking, biking and horseback trails, and gift shops) as well as enjoy a glimpse into life in the colonial days. The park has a campground and four overnight cabins that allow visitors to stay on the historic grounds.

So pack a picnic for a day trip or grab your tent and sleeping bags for a family weekend getaway and see all that Chippokes State Park and The Founders District has to offer.

There’s a New Queen in Town – Medieval Times’ New Storyline

Lolli — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 20:10:17 +0000

Over the years, I’ve had many opportunities to participate in fun family activities with my husband and kids, and I’ve noticed that there are some outings that are more popular than others. Medieval Times is one place that we’ve been to on several occasions but I can guarantee that my family will be excited and eager to go each time. This past week, I was invited to a media night (along with my daughter) to enjoy the new show, meet and chat with the Queen and Head Knight, and even tour the stables to meet the real stars of the show – the horses! Our meals and entertainment were covered, but all thoughts and opinions and photos are our own.

I must say – after seeing the “old” story line half a dozen times or so, I never got tired of the show. However, seeing a totally new story line this past week totally kept me on my toes! It was exciting and action-packed, and it felt like a natural progression to the show I’d seen so many times before. Don’t worry…I’m not going to spoil anything for you if you haven’t been to Medieval Times recently. Just know that the Queen is WONDERFUL (a true leader!) and there IS a twist at the end that is the perfect way to wrap up the knights’ competition.

About the New Show at Medieval Times

For the first time since 2012, Medieval Times has just unveiled a new storyline, featuring a Queen, at its castle located in Hanover, Maryland at Arundel Mills. The Maryland/DC castle is the 8th Medieval Times location in North America to roll out the new show. This new story line is a major break from Medieval Times’ 35-year tradition of casting a king in the show’s lead role. The queen is now in charge and sole ruler of the land, and inherited the throne after the passing of her father, the previous king. She is a firm but kind ruler, respected throughout the kingdom.

The decision to change the story line to feature a queen was based in part on guest feedback that they would like to see women having more significant roles in the show.

What else is new at Medieval Times?

We love Medieval Times for the hot, four-course feast (eaten with your hands!), jousting, swordplay, and the horses (of course!) – and those elements are still there in abundance. Some of the changes, in addition to the updated script are:

• More than 700 new costumes for all nine castles’ performers, including horses, all of which are custom-designed and handmade at a dedicated costume shop in-house.
• The new suits of armour, shields and helmets are custom-designed and handmade at a dedicated armoury in-house.

• Over 200 team members and 20 horses trained and rehearsed new interactions and fight scenes for three months while still presenting the former show.
• For the first time, audiences will see a Queen riding horseback in the Castle.

• New music was composed by Dr. Daniel May, composer and jazz pianist who scored “Everest” and other films and who worked with Sting, The Moody Blues and others. He directed and recorded Medieval Times’ new show composition in Kiev with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. He directed the choir in Ukraine with lyrics written by poet and choir member, Solomia Gorokhivska, solo cellist, Gloria Caceres, and violinist, Maksym Grinchenko, concertmaster at the National Symphony of Ukraine.

Behind the Scenes at Medieval Times

I loved seeing the horses “backstage” after the show. They are so much bigger up close than I imagined they would be! We were reminded that these horses are work horses – not pets – and at over 1000 lbs each, they are not animals to play around with.

I loved the attitudes of all of the head knight and head horse trainer. They said that the horses didn’t volunteer for this job, so they try to make sure that the horses are treated very well. The horses get more “vacation” days than the people involved in the show – they get to spend a lot of time at the ranch about 15 minutes away from the castle.

Horses used in the Maryland/DC castle, as well as the eight other working castles in North America, are bred and raised on a 280 acre ranch in Texas. Did you know that all of the horses seen at Medieval Times are stallions? They start training at the castles at around three years old, and they practice and exercise every single day. They are athletes and would not be happy if they weren’t exercised regularly.

I can’t wait to go back to Medieval Times again! Have you been? What was your favorite part?

The Animation Research Library: Disney’s “Secret Weapon”

Lolli — Thu, 31 May 2018 13:31:44 +0000

Disney invited me earlier this month to Los Angeles as part of the #HanSoloEvent, #ABCTVEvent and #PeterPanBluray press event. Travel, accommodations, and prizes were covered, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Not many people, at least people who are not Disney employees, ever see the Animation Research Library (ARL) or the collections housed inside. It’s not open to the public, but it is available to Disney employees at any time. The fact that our group of 25 bloggers got a peek inside this amazing building is pretty incredible.

As we walked down the halls and stepped inside a few of the eleven vaults in the facility, it was easy to imagine hearing Alan Menken working on the music for the Little Mermaid on the piano down the hall (he really did!).

Fox Carny, the manager of research at the Animation Research Library, led our tour, and it was obvious how much he loves his job. He was excited to not only show us original artwork from Peter Pan, in honor of the 65th anniversary of the movie, but to introduce us to the work that goes on at the ARL daily.

The Animation Research Library (ARL) is the repository of all the original art work that was created at Walt Disney Animation Studios from the 1920s to present day. In the ARL building alone, they estimate that they have over sixty-five million pieces of art.

Walt Disney, an artist himself, wanted to keep all original art work so that people could learn from it. The collection was and still is meant to be accessed; the ARL is a living facility.

Fun Fact: Even though all Disney artwork is digitized now, artists and animators say nothing beats seeing and handling the original, physical items.

At the ARL, employees work daily to digitize and catalog all of the artwork from the very first animated features to today. You can scan a lot of images, but if you don’t have the cataloging information attached to it, then no one will be able to find it or access it. Interestingly, they do vert minimal restoration work at the ARL. Most pieces that need restoration are sent out to other facilities that specialize in restoration.

The Animation Research Library’s 11 vaults not only store paintings and animation cells, but they also house puppets and other “dimensional objects,” such as the models that animators use to get an idea of their characters angles and shapes from all perspectives.

The library used to be referred to as the “Morgue” and was located in the basement of the Ink and Paint facility at the Walt Disney Studios lot. The check out procedure at the Morgue was quite a bit looser than it is today at the ARL (now all of the pieces stay at the ARL, so employees must come to the library to study). This is an important step to preserve the original artwork. The ARL is a fully climate-controlled facility (62 degrees and 50% humidity), and access to the public is extremely limited.

Fun Fact: The original artists didn’t keep all of the animation cells. Several of the original cells from animated features were either destroyed or sold for $1.50 at Disneyland!

After seeing some of the artwork, we were able to see the process of capturing the digital images. As one who has had years of experience working in photography, I can appreciate the time and care it takes to take consistent and clear images.

Fun Fact: The majority of the pieces in the collection at the ARL are 17.5 inches wide 11.5 inches tall, so they can keep the lights and cameras in the same spot when taking photos to digitize the artwork. That not only saves time, but helps keep the digital images consistent.

On average, photographers at the ARL shoot about 1000 pieces of animation drawings a day (depending on the condition of the artwork). Story boards are photographed at a rate of about 400 pieces a day.

Quality control can go through a few thousand pieces of art per day, looking for consistency in color, etc. It is very important to capture all four edges of the artwork.

Fun Fact: The transformation of Cinderella into her ball gown was one of Walt Disney’s favorite animated scenes of all time.

As Fox Carney gathered us around the big black table, he introduced us to the variety of types of artwork that go into making an animated feature.

Fox said, “These are actually original pieces of artwork from the production of “Peter Pan” which was released in 1953. We have selected a lot of different types of art for you to see because there are a lot of different processes in making an animated feature. You have the story process, you have the animation process, you have the back-ground painting, you have layouts and concept art…”

Model Sheets: “These are the pieces of artwork that would often be photographed and then printed on photo paper and given out to the crews of each individual character. When you have multiple people drawing the same character, how do you keep them consistent, how do you keep them on model? Thus, they would use the model sheet. You can look at the various poses and we need to keep this shape of the face this way or the body proportions this way.”

Concept and Story Art: “What is our film? What will it look like? What are the kind of moments that might happen in this film, so as you look at the concept art pieces, you get an idea that you have this whole series of artists who are trying to understand what it is that the film would look like and what may happen in the film.”

“But then you also have story artists and they create thousands and thousands of story sketches. Which they will pin up on boards and then they will pitch to Walt and the various directors and say this is what happens and this is what happens and this is what happens. What happens that causes the next action to happen, and causes the next action; so, what is our beginning, middle and end of this story? You have your concept artists and your story artist working roughly at the same time.”

Animation Drawings: “These are what the artists, the animators actually drawn out as what are their characters doing, once they have figured out their actions, they would have to draw all that. And then it would be these drawings that at this time, the inkers and painters would actually trace. The Inker would actually trace on a piece of acetate that would be on top of the drawing. And then they would take those once the inkers were done and they would go to the painters.”

Rough Drawings: “And then over here this is actually a rough drawing. Are any of you familiar with Mark Davis or any of the nine old men? Okay. Well, Mark Davis, was one of the amazing animators of that time. He was the supervisor animator for Tinkerbell and so what he would do he would do what we call a rough animation drawing. And so, he would roughly try to figure out the emotion and the action of the character. This wouldn’t quite translate well to how would an inker figure out which line to do, so the assistant animator would go off at the time and then do a fine line draw over so the inker would have nice, clean drawings.”

I wish I could show you more of what we saw during our time at the ARL. It was a wonderful window into years of inspired work from Disney animators.

Want more? Click HERE to see all of my Han Solo Event/Peter Pan Bluray coverage.

Walking In Walt’s Footsteps: Suite 3H and Walt Disney Studios Lot Scavenger Hunt

Lolli — Tue, 29 May 2018 14:32:45 +0000

Disney recently invited me to Los Angeles as part of the #HanSoloEvent, #ABCTVEvent and #PeterPanBluray press event. Travel, accommodations, and prizes were covered, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Amazon affiliate links are used in this post.

It’s pretty incredible that I’ve been privileged to have once-in-a-lifetime experiences more than once. Not many people have the chance to tour Suite 3H, the private offices of Walt Disney, yet earlier this month I was able to tour them for a second time.

It was just as magical during the second tour as it was the first time.

You can read my first post about Suite 3H here, but today I thought it would be fun to share a few fun facts that I learned during my latest visit.

Fun Facts About Suite 3H: Walt Disney’s Private Offices

Suite 3H was Walt Disney’s private office space from 1940 until his death in 1966.
Walt Disney’s office space was broken up three main parts: the Secretary’s Office (everyone entering the other offices had to pass by the secretary), Walt’s Formal Office (where he met with important guests or spent time listening to the Sherman Brothers compose at his piano), and Walt’s Working Office (and office that was “constantly in motion” and where he spent the majority of his time). Suite 3H also housed a private room for Walt which he often used to relax at the end of the day or play with his kids.

Walt Disneys Formal Office

The Disney Studios lot (where Suite 3H is located) was built in 1940 with the proceeds from the animated feature Sleeping Beauty.
Dave Smith documented Walt’s office space with photos and a meticulous inventory of every item between 1968 and 1969. When recreating the office space, they placed books back on the shelf in the same place and positioning as Walt left them. Even the number of paper clips on his desk was duplicated.
Walt’s secretary documented every activity and appointment every day – from when he arrived each morning, to who he ate lunch with and where, to when he went home each night. What an incredible log!

Walt Disney’s secretary’s office

Walt’s favorite song was “Feed the Birds” from Mary Poppins.
Walt loved both collecting and making miniatures. You’ll find lots of fascinating collectibles throughout his office. He started collecting miniatures to replace his previous hobby of playing polo (his wife made him stop).
Actor Ed Wynn was considered by Walt to be his lucky charm, so he kept a picture of him in his working office.

Walt Disney’s working office

When Walt travelled, he would carry cans of food in his bags. His personal kitchen in his working office (which was created for him by General Electric) has some of his favorite canned foods (liked canned chili con carne and Spam!)

Another favorite tidbit that I had forgotten about after my first tour was that artist Norman Rockwell drew sketches of Walt Disney’s two daughters as a gift to Walt. Those sketches are hanging to each side of Walt’s desk in his formal office.

Our Peter Pan Scavenger Hunt on Walt Disney Studios Lot

Our skills, knowledge, endurance…and hand-standing ability were tested on the Walt Disney Studios lot as we embarked on a Peter Pan-themed scavenger hunt to celebrate the 65th anniversary of PETER PAN (available on Digital 5/29 and Blu-ray 6/5).

We were split into random teams of five (I was on Team Hook) and sent on a mission to find hidden clues, solve puzzles, recreate photos, find Peter Pan’s shadow, and more.

We started out with a map of the studio lot and a single clue. We had to decipher the clue and figure out our next destination, all while avoiding the other four groups as much as possible – we got points for catching the other teams off guard and jumping on their shadows (let’s just say that the shadow-jumping got pretty intense!).

We worked our way through 11 clues and destinations, collecting photos, Peter Pan-themed props (we chose the hooks, of course!) and pixie dust along the way. We answered trivia, put together a puzzle, played games, and more.

Our group had a blast together. We worked amazingly well with one another and had a wonderfully positive attitude. Our hour together was one of the highlights of my trip!

Yes, thats ME doing the hand stand! Anything in the name of more points for our team!

Of course, no Peter Pan scavenger hunt would be complete without a treasure at the end! And this treasure was pretty incredible. Each member of the winning team won an Apple TV!

It took a while for Disney staff to count up the points earned by each group, and Team Hook was shocked when they announced US AS THE WINNERS!

Deric McCabe from A Wrinkle In Time just happened to be in the room when we were announced as the winners, so he jumped in the photo with us. So. Much. Fun!

Want more? Click HERE to see all of my Han Solo Event/Peter Pan Bluray coverage.

SOLO: A Star Wars Story World Premiere {My #HanSoloEvent Red Carpet and After-Party Experience}

Lolli — Mon, 14 May 2018 15:51:12 +0000

I was invited, along with 24 other bloggers, on an expense-paid trip to Los Angeles by Disney to attend the #HanSoloEvent and #ABCTVEvent in exchange for coverage on my blog. No other compensation was provided. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Talk about a magical night. I’ve been to a dozen or so red carpet premieres, and I have to say that THIS red carpet was my favorite so far. This was the first time that bloggers have been invited to attend a Star Wars movie red carpet, so it was a new and magical experience for all 25 of us.

HOLLYWOOD, CA – MAY 10: Cast and crew of “Solo: A Star Wars Story” attend the world premiere of ?Solo: A Star Wars Story? in Hollywood on May 10, 2018. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Alan Horn; George Lucas; Clint Howard; Jonathan Kasdan; John Powell; John Williams; Joonas Suotamo; Ron Howard; Woody Harrelson; Emilia Clarke; Thandie Newton; Phoebe Waller-Bridge; Alden Ehrenreich; Donald Glover; Paul Bettany; Jon Favreau; Kathleen Kennedy; Simon Emanuel; Jason McGatlin; Alan Bergman

There was an energy present from the moment we stepped onto the red carpet until the moment we left the after-party around midnight on Thursday night that was unlike any other I’ve felt. The thing that stood out to me throughout the night was that everyone – from the everyday people like me to the stars of the movie – felt a sense of excitement and honor in being involved in a Star Wars movie.

Chewbacca poses with Alden Enrenreich at the world premiere of Solo: A Star Wars Story in Hollywood on May 10, 2018..(Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages).

The Solo Red Carpet Experience

Stormtroopers ‘selfie’ at the world premiere of Solo: A Star Wars Story in Hollywood on May 10, 2018..(Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages).

When you’re greeted by a life-sized replica of the Millennium Falcon on Hollywood Blvd, you know it’s going to be a good walk down the red carpet. We’re always advised to keep moving along, but I have to admit that it’s tough to not stop and stare when Ron Howard or George Lucas walk by just feet away.

I spent as much time as I could soaking it all in, and while I was excited to take my seat in the Dolby Theater to see the movie, I enjoyed the ambiance on the red carpet so much that I didn’t want it to end.

For a Star Wars red carpet, I built my look around a LuLaRoe Sarah from the Elegant Collection. The black background and gold sequins seemed to be the perfect look for a Star Wars movie. I wore a simple black LuLaRoe Nicole underneath and accessorized with gold jewelry, a gold handbag, and sparkly gold shoes (which surprisingly didn’t hurt my feet at all!). I felt very comfortable on the red carpet and in the theater (apparently I was one of the only people who didn’t freeze throughout the movie!).

A Star Wars After-Party

After the movie ended, we walked above the Dolby Theater to attend the after-party with the cast and other Hollywood elite.

Talk about a star-studded party! Everywhere we looked, there were celebrities. Lucky for me, I was hanging out with my adorable and super-friendly partner-in-crime, Elayna from ThePositiveMom.com, who makes friends everywhere she goes. Let’s just say that Elayna is a great co-pilot when you’re making your way through a crowded room full of Hollywood stars.

I do believe that my picture with the one and only Mark Hamill (aka THE Luke Skywalker) is my most liked and commented-on photo ever! I have to admit, it’s pretty epic and one that I will cherish forever.

Me with Mark Hamill

Me with Woody Harrelson

Me with Joonas Suotamo (“Chewbacca”)

Peter Mayhew (the original Chewbacca) and Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca)

Not only was the after-party loaded with celebrities, but it was full of amazing food, fun music, costumes from the movie, and exciting photo opps. I could have used another hour at the party (there were many people I wasn’t able to meet) but we were all pretty exhausted after a busy day and long night. I was happy to get back to the hotel and get some sleep…dreaming about taking a ride on the Millennium Falcon and hanging out with Han Solo.

https://foodfunfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_6591.mp4

About Solo: A Star Wars Story

Board the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” an all-new adventure with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo befriends his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and meets the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes.

The film stars Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Joonas Suotamo, and Paul Bettany.

Ron Howard directs “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” and Kathleen Kennedy, Allison Shearmur and Simon Emanuel are the producers. Lawrence Kasdan, Jason McGatlin, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller serve as executive producers. Jonathan Kasdan & Lawrence Kasdan wrote the screenplay.

SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY opens in theaters everywhere on May 25! Tickets are available to purchase now – and I recommend getting your hands on some tickets ASAP. This is a movie you don’t want to miss!

Website: https://www.starwars.com/films/solo

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starwarsmovies

Follow our exclusive coverage (with review and interviews coming) by checking out hashtag #HanSoloEvent

I’m Walking the Red Carpet for the SOLO: A Star Wars Story Premiere! #HanSoloEvent

Lolli — Sat, 05 May 2018 03:00:24 +0000

It has been an entire YEAR since I’ve been able to make an exciting announcement like this. I’m thrilled to be heading to Los Angeles next week for another amazing blogger press event. And what BETTER day to announce a Star Wars event than May the 4th, Star Wars Day?!

Travel, accommodations, and activities are covered by Disney. All thoughts and experiences are my own.

Check out what we have in store for our trip…

Solo: A Star Wars Story

I’ll be joining 24 other hand-selected Bloggers in Los Angeles from May 9 through May 12 to walk the red carpet at the SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY premiere. This is the FIRST TIME that bloggers have ever been invited to attend a Star Wars red carpet premiere! We will also be attending the press junket where we will interview talent from the film, which is always one of my favorite parts of a trip. I love getting to know the people behind the movies. I can’t wait to hear who we get to interview (as of the time of this posting, it was still a mystery!). The suspense is killing me!

SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY opens in theatres everywhere on May 25th!

ABOUT The Movie

Board the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY, an all-new adventure with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo befriends his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and meets the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes. The film stars Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Paul Bettany.

65 Years of Peter Pan

Can you believe that Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up, is 65?? We’re going to be celebrating the 65th anniversary of PETER PAN and the in-home release of the Walt Disney Signature Collection Edition of the film (available on Digital 5/29 and Blu-ray 6/5) by exploring the place it was made! We will take a tour of Walt Disney’s office and then follow a pirate map as they send us in groups on a scavenger hunt on the Disney Lot. I hear rumor that there is TREASURE at the end of this pirate’s map.

Expect some FUN pictures from that activity!

We will also visit the Animation Research Library where we will see original drawings from the film.

A Wrinkle In Time

In anticipation of the in-home release of A Wrinkle In Time (available on Digital 5/29 and Blu-ray 6/5), we will be some of the first people to see special behind the scenes bonus features from the A WRINKLE IN TIME. We also get to have a special Q&A with Deric McCabe (“Charles Wallace Murry”)!

55 Years of General Hospital

And, last but not least, we will also get a peek behind the scenes of ABC’s iconic and Emmy Award-winning daytime drama, “General Hospital,” in its 55th anniversary year! Our experience will highlight the upcoming Nurses Ball episodes, set to air the week of May 16-21. The Nurses Ball charity gala and talent show began on “General Hospital” in 1994 to help raise awareness for HIV and AIDS.

More details to come! I can’t wait to get away to California in just a few days, spend some time with some of my favorite people, and dive deep into some amazing movies. Stay tuned in the coming weeks as I share my experiences, lots of inside information, and fun photos with you right here.

Be sure to follow along with our official event hashtags on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

#HanSoloEvent
#PeterPanBluray
#WrinkleInTimeBluray
#ABCTVEvent
#GeneralHospital

Like STAR WARS on Facebook

Follow STAR WARS on Twitter: @starwars

Follow STAR WARS on Instagram

Visit the official SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY site

SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY opens in theatres everywhere on May 25th!

And before you leave, be sure to check out these FREE PRINTABLE coloring pages and activity sheets inspired by Solo: A Star Wars Story!

The Great Pumpkin Fest at Kings Dominion

Lolli — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 16:14:28 +0000

This post is sponsored by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand, and I have been compensated for my participation. All opinions are my own.

This past Saturday, three of my kids and I spent the day at Kings Dominion for the Great Pumpkin Fest. We had a BLAST! Talk about getting us in the Halloween spirit (although the weather felt a whole lot like middle of the summer!). There is something for everyone and EVERY age at Kings Dominion during the month of October!

Weekends starting September 23, and then September 30 to October 29 between 12:00pm and 5:00pm, the Great Pumpkin Fest is open! The Great Pumpkin Fest is a fun activity for the whole family and includes Halloween-themed live shows, Sally’s Pumpkin Painting Patch (decorate and take home a small pumpkin!), Franklin’s Scarecrow Hollow (a kid-friendly maze), Pig Pen’s People Washer (play and splash around in a “pool” of suds!), a petting zoo (adorable animals!!), and so much more! Your favorite rides are open during the day, as well as the entire Planet Snoopy kids’ area.

For more information about the Great Pumpkin Fest, please click here: https://www.kingsdominion.com/things-to-do/the-great-pumpkin-fest

We spent the daylight hours riding a few of our favorite rides and enjoying the Halloween festivities. The kid-friendly activities at Planet Snoopy wound down around 5:00pm, and then the park started the transformation to “HAUNT.”

Although my kids weren’t interested in getting scared, we were all impressed with the length that Kings Dominion went to to decorate for Halloween! We stayed about 90 minutes past sunset, so we were able to experience plenty of the spooky part. We especially enjoyed the after-dark shows, like the The Grave Walkers (a family-friendly wandering band with fun dancers) and the flaming torch juggler.

Be Scare-Proof with the No-Boo Necklace!

My 18-year-old was nervous about being scared by costumed monsters while walking around the park, so she purchased one of the No-Boo glowing necklaces and wore it proudly all day. The no-boo necklace worked like a charm once the sun went down and the monsters came out! Don’t worry about your little ones if you plan to stay in Planet Snoopy. Everything in the kids’ area is fun and kid-friendly and not scary at all.

Free Pre-K Pass!

Don’t forget about the free Pre-K pass – you don’t want to miss out on this offer! This special pass grants free admission to 3-5 year olds for the rest of the 2017 season and all of 2018! More info can be found here: https://www.kingsdominion.com/tickets-passes/pre-k-pass

Love to be SCARED?

For adults and teens, Kings Dominion goes ALL OUT for their Halloween HAUNT. From costumed “monsters” wandering the park to fog machines to spooky shows, mazes, haunted houses, and rides converted to Halloween themes, there is something for every level of Halloween fan!

Here’s a little of what you can expect: Start your night of fright at the Overlord’s Resurrection, where monsters will be unleashed into the park and out of your worst nightmares. Guests who are brave enough can enjoy eight mazes, five scare zones plus several live shows. If that isn’t enough fun, get your thrill fix on more than 20 rides, including Intimidator 305, as fog and darkness blanket the park.

Test your limits and experience fear beyond your worst nightmares with 5 all-new Skeleton Key rooms exclusive with Fright Lane. You’ll face extra terror as you unlock exclusive chambers and complete sinister tasks in order to escape.

Connect with Kings Dominion:

Kings Dominion official website
Click here for park hours & directions: https://www.kingsdominion.com/hours-directions
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kingsdominionva
Instagram: @kingsdominionva
Twitter: @kingsdominionva

Kings Dominion BBQ and Brew Fest 2017

Lolli — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 21:20:19 +0000

My family and I were thrilled to receive an invite to BBQ and Brew Fest at Kings Dominion this past weekend. We couldn’t wait to return for our second year in a row (although this was BBQ and Brew Fest’s 3rd season at the park). The post was sponsored by Cedar Fair in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand, but all thoughts, excitement, and photos are my own.

We decided to make this year’s BBQ and Brew Fest at Kings Dominion a fun family weekend getaway and stayed in the Richmond area Friday and Saturday so we could have a full day – opening to closing – at the park. We couldn’t have asked for better weather for a day at Kings Dominion, especially for August!

What is BBQ and Brew Fest?

BBQ and Brew Fest, in it’s 3rd season, runs Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 8pm between August 5 and August 20. Park-goers can enjoy mouthwatering BBQ from all over the region and relax or dance along with live entertainment (whichever strikes your fancy!). For those of you who are 21+ and enjoy a good craft beer, you can quench your thirst with the best local craft beers in Virginia. Since I’m not a beer drinker myself, I just enjoyed as much of the BBQ as possible!

Memphis Dry Rub Ribs

Memphis-style Mac & Cheese

North Carolina Pulled Chicken Wontons

Shish Kabob Beef from Georgia

How it Works

Visit BBQ booths around Candy Apple Grove to taste sample size BBQ dishes from Texas, Georgia, Memphis, North Carolina, Virginia, and St. Louis. Each sample size portion costs 2-4 Taste Tokens. Tokens can be purchased at the Festival Information Center. The “sample” sizes were very generous, and we all got plenty to eat!

BBQ and Brew Fest Menu 2017

We all spread out and visited several BBQ regions. I think my favorite item was the tater tots with pulled duck and creamy gouda cheese. How delicious does that sound?! It was as tasty as it sounds and looks!

Tater tots with pulled duck and creamy gouda cheese

Live Entertainment

There is live music and entertainment every day of the festival between 12-2pm and 4-6pm – perfect for the lunch and dinner crowds! There are places to sit and enjoy the music while you sip on a cold drink and nibble on some tasty BBQ.

Enjoy a Day at Kings Dominion

Of course, we enjoyed the rest of the day at Kings Dominion riding as many rides as possible and taking a relaxing break or two at a show, too! Check out this summer’s shows at https://www.kingsdominion.com/play/shows-and-entertainment. We loved Jump: The Ultimate Dog Show (which runs through September 4 in the Peanuts Showplace) and Origins: A Cirque Experience (which runs through September 4 in the Kings Dominion Theater in Old Virginia).

Origins: A Cirque Experience at Kings Dominion

Jump: The Ultimate Dog Show at Kings Dominion

There’s so much to do at Kings Dominion – from family-friendly rides to thrill rides to water rides to shows! We did a little bit of everything last weekend!

Caricature Drawings at Kings Dominion

Cooling off on the Shenandoah Lumber Company Log Ride

Hurry over to Kings Dominion for the remainder of BBQ and Brew Fest 2017. You’ll love it!

Connect with BBQ and Brew Fest

Learn More about BBQ and Brew Fest: https://www.kingsdominion.com/play/events/bbq-and-brew
Park website: https://www.kingsdominion.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kingsdominionva
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingsdominionva/
Twitter: @KingsDominionVA

The Walt Disney Archives: A Fascinating Look Into the History of the Walt Disney Company

Lolli — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 15:41:35 +0000

I had the opportunity to visit the Walt Disney Archives during my latest Disney press event for the recent theatrical release of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. All travel, accommodations and activities were covered by Disney, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Walt Disney Archives were created in 1970 to collect, preserve, and research the rich and unique history of the Walt Disney Company. The Archives are fascinating collection of Walt Disney memorabilia – from some of the first Disneyland souvenirs, admission tickets, and badges, to movie props and costumes, to sketches, designs and plans. I could spend hours looking at the individual pieces in the collection, each with a story behind it.

An original animator’s desk from the 1930s

I could have spent weeks – no years! – looking through the shelves and shelves full of books written about or inspired by everything Disney – some of which I recognized from my own childhood. I was amazed but not entirely surprised to learn that what we saw in the Archives was just a small representation of the collection of Disney-inspired books, for children and adults!

Although the Pirates of the Caribbean items were already packed up to get ready for D23, we learned some interesting facts about the ride, including the fact that Pirates was the last ride that Walt Disney himself personally over-saw before his death, though he was sadly never able to ride the completed attraction. I think the most interesting piece of Pirates trivia that we learned was the fact that Pirates of the Caribbean was originally planned and designed to be a Wax Museum! In fact, one of the reasons that you start the ride by going down a series of waterfalls is that they needed to utilize the space under the building to accommodate the ride.

Walt Disney thought that a boat ride using animatronics instead of stiff wax figures would be much more engaging. He was right! Even 50 years later, the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland is one of the most beloved and sought-after rides in the park. I know I never leave Disneyland without riding it!

Among the exciting drawings and memorabilia in the Archives was one of Walt Disney’s Oscars – one he won for the 1958 film White Wilderness(you can watch it on Disney Movies Anywhere or rent it on Amazon! – affiliate link). Our guide uncovered the Oscar and was talking to us about it when all of the sudden I found it in my hands. I happened to be standing right next to him when he said that we could each take a turn holding the award and pose for a picture with it. I was totally caught off guard and wish that I could have captured the look my face when he handed it to me or when I walked across the room holding it. If you’ve never held an Oscar before, they are MUCH heavier than you would ever imagine. The physical weight of the award was a small example of the symbolic weight I felt for what I was holding in my hands – an actual award presented to Walt Disney himself!

I’m holding Walt Disney’s Oscar!!

What a fascinating experience it was to spend time surrounded by so much history – history of a man and a company that has inspired so many people!

Walt Disney’s Offices: Suite 3H

Lolli — Tue, 23 May 2017 15:30:48 +0000

What an experience it was to tour Walt Disney’s personal offices! This tour was part of my recent trip to Los Angeles with Disney. All travel and accommodations were covered by Disney, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Photos are courtesy of Disney.

I remember touring the Walt Disney Studio lot a few years ago and looking up at the window where Walt Disney’s office used to be. Just seeing the outside window, despite the fact that we couldn’t go up to the office at the time, was cool. So much happened in that office while Walt was alive. So much magic.

I had no idea several years ago that I would have the chance to walk through Walt Disney’s offices, but I’m so glad that I did.

About Suite 3H:

Suite 3H housed Walt Disney’s offices from 1940 until his death in 1966. Those offices were the creative center of the Walt Disney Company – it’s hard to imagine the amount of creative magic that happened within those walls between 1940 and 1966!

In 2015, Walt Disney Archives restored the entire space to reflect what Walt’s offices were like in the late 1960s. Luckily, many photos were taken of the inside of Walt’s office before his death, so the Walt Disney Archives team was able to recreate the look and feel of Walt’s office so accurately that people who were there when Walt was alive and have recently visited the restored space are shocked at how authentic it feels.

It really is like walking back into a time machine.

One of the things that impressed me the most about the recreation of the office space is that Walt’s personal possessions were gathered and placed back into the office. The items you see in the office are not replicas or copies – they are the actual items that once belonged to Walt Disney.

Suite 3H consists of four main parts: the Secretary’s office, the Formal office, the Working office, and the Private room and gallery space.

Secretary’s Office:

The secretary was the “gatekeeper” of Walt’s personal offices and schedule; everyone had to pass by the secretary’s office to gain access to Walt. Apparently, it was nearly impossible to get into Walt’s office without an appointment.

Formal Office:

Walt’s formal office space was directly off of the secretary’s office. This was where Walt would meet with important guests. The formal office was where Walt had a grand piano, and composers and songwriters like the Sherman Brothers could often be found playing a newly-composed tune on the piano.

Working Office:

Walt spent most of his working time here (from about 8:30 am until around 7:00 pm most nights). People were in and out constantly – producers, directors, writers, artists, etc. – and the working office was always in motion.

Private room and gallery space

Walt used the last space in his suite as his private quarters, complete with a bedroom and bathroom. Even though the room was designed to be used as a mini apartment or place to crash overnight after working late. Interestingly, Walt rarely used it as such. He used it most often to relax at the end of the day.

When the Disney Archives crew redesigned the suite, they opted to turn the private room into a rotating gallery space.

What would you be most excited to see in Walt Disney’s offices?