Art of Animation Disney Resort

As you know, we had the time of our lives again at the outstanding Disney Social Media Moms Celebration  2012.   What I love about this "Conference" is that we are literally with our families at the "happiest place on earth" Disney World for the most fabulous social media conference.  It's the people, the place and the magical world that makes it all a dream. 

This year, we had the privilege to be invited to a fabulous evening at the  Disney Art of Animation Resort Preview – Opening Private Party for the Disney Art of Animation Resort with the Disney Social Media Moms Conference.  What a treat!  

This is the place for families!  Of course, Disney is all family and friends.  The Art of Animation Resort is perfect for larger families or groups.  

Art of Animation is the latest in their Family budget friendly Disney Resorts.  It is expansive and gorgeous.  Brand new!  In fact, you’ll see below the Nemo Section just opened!  You can tour and learn all about how animation evolved. This was fascinating.

Disney World alone is a dream trip no matter.  However,  here we go with the latest in Disney’s innovation for families.  This is their latest labor of love this brand new resort opened May 31st on the Disney property.  We got to tour the Finding Nemo Family suites at the brand new Disney Art of Animation before they even opened.  

We had the blast exploring at  the wonderful private, catered dinner.  We were seated by the pool right next to the Nemo area of the resort.  This  gave us a glimpse of this creative, colorful genius behind this awesome new animated character themed resort.  

The fresh seafood let us know we were living this dream right in Central Florida – the grilled shrimp kabobs were the highilight of the dinner party for me and Boulder Moutain Man, along with the best Mac ‘N Cheese and great kids fare, too. 

The desserts were as beautiful as they were delicious.    Confession, I took home a couple of these for a snack in the room.  No one makes Chocolate Rice Krispy Treats like Disney! 

We love the festive and casual atmoshpere of this resort.  There was all kind of entertainment -  see the kids loving all the balloons. :) 

Here is another bedroom at the Nemo Suite. :) Happy Camper, too! :) 

Now, let's check out these new family oriented suites are amazing.

They are very colorful, and extremely spacious.  We love that they sleep 6!  Welcome the large family!  And they know families need 2 baths!  Yes, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom suites are the standard! They have a kitchenette, and the Nemo dining room table converts into an extra bed. Here is the bed once it is ready for evening time. Hi Nemo and Friend! :) 

 

It sleeps up to a family of 6.  They really have thought of families for this resort.  Here is a glimpse of one of the (2) bathrooms in the Nemo Suites.  Too fun! 

The main pool at the Finding Nemo is the largest pool at the resort, with a fountain park for the little ones also.  In this centrally located pool area are some of the Nemo characters in larger than life colorful statues that we have come to love.

Each themed suite feature that theme of Disney’s Pixar Amimation films.  Each table that converts into a bed has the decor to go with the theme, along with the rest of the suite.  

There are four different theme areas at Art of Animation :

Finding Nemo Family Suites, Cars Familiy Suites, The Lion King Family Suites, and The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms.  See Boulder Mt. Man, my too fun husband, dialing away with all of us poolside. That's the way we roll! 

• Finding Nemo Family Suites—NOW OPEN—Book Now!  Here the Tigers are "Light Saber Dualing" by the Nemo Suites. 

• Cars Family Suites—Opening June 18, 2012—Book Now!
• The Lion King Family Suites—Opening August 10, 2012—Book Now!
• The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms—Opening September 15, 2012—Book Now!

There are two other small swimming areas as you can see in the overall map of the entire Animation Resort.   

At the amazing Animation Hall, there are a myriad of things to do, but the main bonus in this hall is the Landscape of Flavors where you can enjoy breakffast, lunch and dinner right there at the resort.  Just add the Disney Dining Plan, and you are set for your dream vacation in every possible way!

We look forward to returning as guests one day to the Art of Animation Resort, it will just be challenging to decide which section to visit first!  What would you chose?   You could attend a Conference or an Event here at Art of Animation. 

Warmly, Carolina Mama

*Disclosure:  Carolina Mama and Family were Guests of Disney at the Disney Social Media Moms Conference in April. We paid a Conference fee.  All opinions are all our own.  

A Disney Social Media Moms View and Life Thereafter

"When you cannot tell the difference between your work and your play, you've got it!" 

Peter Shankman, @ Disney Social Media Moms 2012 

The moment I heard this quote reminded me greatly how thankful and blessed I am for my life and all that God has done for me.  I LOVE my work and play!  And I often do not know which is which so according to Mr. Shankman, "I've got it."  

Seriously, I always wanted to be a Wife and Mom and Write!  So God knew and in His time, He has me right where He wants me.  So even though it is work and I often do not stop working or know the difference, I do know I am blessed and am thankful.  And I love it.  Here are our boys with me at Disney on "Take Your Sons To Work Day!"  I couldn't be happier. Neither could they! Right. 

Thank you Disney and Disney Social Media Moms for investing in Moms, Families and Bloggers like us.  It was a complete blessing and honor to work at Disney this past week. This week has been a week to remember.

Here we all are - We're a Dualing Family!  Star Wars 3D was a huge part of our Disney Trip!  We are at the new Art of Animation Resort that opens the Nemo Section on May 31st!  This is a fabulous and fun and gorgeous Family Value Resort!

Here is a glimpse of one of the Rooms with the ever-so-popular Murphy 

Bed that converts from a practical table to a Nemo Bed for Kids! :) 

Yes, they do think of Everything! 

Also, I know that is not to be taken for granted.  If you are not living and loving what you're doing - you can change it.  Lisa Druxman, of Stroller Strides is a Wife and Mom and Business Owner.  She candidly shared her experiences of not being where she wanted to be in life.  How she had a period of "I Can't!" She decided to change it to her Can!  And look she can. 

Her number one tip was to Write out Your Goals!  Daily. And take Quiet Time Daily. Review the Goals and Review them Weekly and Monthly.  See your progress and you will get to your goals. 

Believe me, I remember the nights of staying up ever so late to learn HTML because I was a Mom and Blogger and not an HTML girl.  But I learned it.  And it has been essential to my blogging continuing successfully in the early days - even when I didn't know it.  Now, relax new Bloggers, things are much simpler and there is a button for everything so that will not be your particular challenge. 

Dream Big. Follow Your Dreams.  Each written out Goal at a time. And see the progress. Soon you will be working and playing and not seeing the difference. 

Then, "You've Got it!" 

What are your Goals?  Please share as your are comfortable.  I will share, yesterday, I did something that scared me.  Something I could have put off, but I did it and I already am so glad I did. What are you waiting for, what can you do today to reach your Goals? 

Warmly,   Carolina Mama


*FTC Disclosure: I was invited to the Disney Social Media Moms Conference. I paid a fee to participate. All opinions are my own.

Rayovac and Disney Vacation Giveaway

You know by now Walt Disney has me smitten - even after all these years!

Our love was kindled indeed in February at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2010!

Of course, I love it so much I am angling every opportunity for a repeat soon and often! :) And because I love my readers so much I want to bring you great opportunities hot off the press also!

Really! Your own chance to WIN a trip to Walt Disney World or Disneyland! Your heard me.

"Unlock your imagination and celebrate the chance to win a celebration vacation for four to "Disney World®" or "Disneyland®" by entering the Magic Wand Sweepstakes."

Check out the Video and Enter here by Rayvac Powers Your Vacation-Magic Wand Sweepstakes!

This is so awesome! That is another thing I love about Disney - they "get" families! They get doing good things for families!

Enter the Rayovac Powers Your Vacation Sweepstakes from now until 11:59 p.m. (CT) on July 31, 2010 at www.rayovac.com/disneyvacation (eligibility to enter the sweepstakes subject to the official rules found on the website).

Rayovac Powers Your Vacation Sweepstakes is going to be one awesome win for one fortunate family! Enter now.

Rayovac


If that was not enough, come join the Twitter Party: hosted by Rayovac and Mom Select:

Date: Wednesday, May 19th
Time: 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. CST
Location: #rayovac
Follow: @Rayovac_Battery, @MomTalkRadio, @CirclePRMary

Good luck!

Warmly,

Media Moms

We're Media Moms!

Media Moms & Family
Pictured here, One Mom's World and Carolina Mama Families at Disney Social Media Moms!

Words, words, words! I love them! I've written all of my life which lead to my college major focus on Creative Writing. As a writer, blogging was a natural outlet for me from the very beginning - circa Summer 2006.

The only thing that wasn't a natural for me was the publicity of it all. I've always written and I have always been social so you would think doing so publicly would be a natural portal. It is one to be reckoned with indeed. My love of the written word, and my passion for moms and particularly moms at home, in the trenches of raising children, kept me writing and reaching out.

Now that "publicity" is hailed as Social Media! And our time has come. It's an exciting thing. However, I have to laugh and it makes me blush when people sort of bow and ask me how they to can write a blog or connect online, when they used to consider us stogy artist types. In the early days, there was comfort in the autonomy of it all.

Like most things in life - things change and so I keep it in perspective when folks now seem to listen up. Maybe they just heard the "Disney" in my "Disney Social Media Moms Celebration Conference." That's okay. They're hearing and so are corporations - hearing us loud and clear.

Especially when the New York Times notices:

"And reaching mothers online and through the social media means “reaching them in ways that are way more engaging than direct advertising,” Ms. Henson says.

That is where the mommy bloggers come in, she adds, because they are “credible as authentic voices” and also “have followers who will be talking and Tweeting” about Land O’Moms. Read More Here.

These were the moms at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. It was a real treat to meet Audrey McClelland, another boy mom, at the conference and get to catch up. We talked all things boy-mom, blogging, Fashion, and Disney!

And Jennifer James, North Carolina's own, of MomBloggersClub is a Brand Ambassador as well. She helped host the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration.

Yes, I am happy to help, out-loud even. So much so that my pro bona workshop to help my friends and acquaintances with businesses that need that combination of writing and connecting 'publicly' - it's filling up! I see that as a good thing.

So let me know do you need social media help? Are you another Mom? A Corporation? What mystifies you about this whole mommy-blogging social media thing? Taking questions! And workshop numbers while they last.

Even the Tigers are listening and hearing - while at Disney for Valentine's Day - it was so adorable to receive the Valentine 2010 that read, "Mommy, ... And Thanks for being a Media Mom!" :)


Warmly,

Disney Social Media Moms, First Stop Charleston, South Carolina

We are on our way to Disney - Disney Social Media Moms Celebration!!

Our first stop is Charleston, South Carolina to see our precious nephew/cousin! The TIgers are having a blast and think we're heading back home to North Carolina tomorrow!



Stay tuned for when they discover we're in Georgia? Florida? I suspect they will tell us we've made a wrong turn? Or how much longer is this really to North Carolina?! We plan to capture the whole thing. I can't wait either because I am sure it will be a surprise to us too just how this all comes to light.

One thing - they will see my little sign - "You're Going to DISNEY!" :) Thanks for following along. And we'll see many of you very soon at Disney!

Warmly,