Disney Blog Hop: Pirate Edition

Pirates are a pretty big deal around our house and as you can see, there's been lots of talk of pirates here on Babes In Disneyland this week. In honor of this week's pirate-themed Disney Blog Hop, I thought I would share with you the videos I've taken with Disney Junior's famous pirates Sharky and Bones.

Don't forget that I have not one but TWO Jake and the Never Land Pirates giveaways going on right now here on Babes In Disneyland.

Sharky and Bones Concert at Disney California Adventure Park + Never Land Pirate Band CD Giveaway

"Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns" Review and Exclusive Prize Pack Giveaway

Later today, I will be posting another Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD giveaway and tomorrow I will be posting a Treasure Buddies DVD giveaway!

Now on to the Disney Blog Hop!

The Disney Blog Hop is a great opportunity to network with other Disney bloggers and reach new readers. The blog hop is intended for all bloggers who blog about any aspect of Disney. Bloggers who do not blog exclusively about Disney should link to their Disney-tagged posts. 

•   Enter your blog below.

•   Check out the other blogs and follow them through Google Friend Connect, on Facebook, etc.  Just let 'em know you checked them out and like what they are doing.  We all like to know we have new readers.  I see you do it on other blogs, so make sure you let me know too!

•   Welcome new readers to your blog!  Each week we do something a little bit different.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WEEKLY THEME/POST TO PARTICIPATE. 

•   Also optional, please consider posting the Disney Blog Hop button on your blog or web site so that we can spread the word.  It would also be great if you wouldn't mind tweeting about the blog hop so that more Disney blogs with participate. The more bloggers who find out about the hop, the more new readers you'll have linking over to read all about you.  

**This week I've made the linky so that EVERYONE participating in the blog hop can place it on their blog. In essence everyone can cohost! If you are interested in cohosting next week, please send me a DM on Twitter.** 

Disney Blog Hop: Dinner Edition

It's blog hop time and these week's all about Disney dinner! I posted about my family's favorite Disneyland dinner: fried chicken at the Plaza Inn! Read all about this Disneyland guest favorite by clicking here!

***Are any Disney Blog Hoppers headed to the Disney Social Media Moms Conference in Walt Disney World? If so, leave a comment and let me know! I'll be there with my partners in crime, The Three Disneyland Moms, Suz and Marcy.***

Now on to the Disney Blog Hop!

The Disney Blog Hop is a great opportunity to network with other Disney bloggers and reach new readers. The blog hop is intended for all bloggers who blog about any aspect of Disney. Bloggers who do not blog exclusively about Disney should link to their Disney-tagged posts. 

•   Enter your blog below.

•   Check out the other blogs and follow them through Google Friend Connect, on Facebook, etc.  Just let 'em know you checked them out and like what they are doing.  We all like to know we have new readers.  I see you do it on other blogs, so make sure you let me know too!

•   Welcome new readers to your blog!  Each week we do something a little bit different.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WEEKLY THEME/POST TO PARTICIPATE.   Next week's theme is "PIRATES!" 

•   Also optional, please consider posting the Disney Blog Hop button on your blog or web site so that we can spread the word.  It would also be great if you wouldn't mind tweeting about the blog hop so that more Disney blogs with participate. The more bloggers who find out about the hop, the more new readers you'll have linking over to read all about you. 

Disney Blog Hop: Bucket List Edition!

There's no denying it. I've led an amazing Disney life. I was a tour guide, I've attended exclusives and premieres, experienced the amazing Disney archives and much, much more. I am honored and blessed to have had so many incredible experiences. All that being said, believe it or not, I do have a Disney bucket list.

1. Go on a Disney cruise in the Caribbean with my family.

2. Go to Aulani with my family.

3. Take my husband to Club 33.

4. Take my family to Walt Disney World. (I've gone without them...shame on me!)

5. Enjoy a date weekend at the Disneyland Resort with my husband...including number 3.

6. Take a trip to Disneyland Paris.

7. Get and frame an old Disneyland Tour Guide costume.

8. See one of my boys work at Disneyland.

9. Buy Walt Disney's home in Los Feliz.

10. Go back to work for Disney.

So that's my list! Can't wait to see what's on your list.

Now on to the Disney Blog Hop!

The Disney Blog Hop is a great opportunity to network with other Disney bloggers and reach new readers. The blog hop is intended for all bloggers who blog about any aspect of Disney. Bloggers who do not blog exclusively about Disney should link to their Disney-tagged posts. 

•   Enter your blog below.

•   Check out the other blogs and follow them through Google Friend Connect, on Facebook, etc.  Just let 'em know you checked them out and like what they are doing.  We all like to know we have new readers.  I see you do it on other blogs, so make sure you let me know too!

•   Welcome new readers to your blog!  Each week we do something a little bit different.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WEEKLY THEME/POST TO PARTICIPATE.   Next week's theme is "Favorite Disney Parks Dinner." If you don't blog specifically about Disney Parks, please consider writing something "dinner related."

•   Also optional, please consider posting the Disney Blog Hop button on your blog or web site so that we can spread the word.  It would also be great if you wouldn't mind tweeting about the blog hop so that more Disney blogs with participate. The more bloggers who find out about the hop, the more new readers you'll have linking over to read all about you.

Right now I am giving away a Disney Baby prize pack. Click here to enter to win!

Disney Blog Hop: Special Smiles with the Characters Edition

Welcome to the Disney Blog Hop! If this is the first your first Disney Blog Hop, welcome! If you are a returning blogger, I'm really glad you are back. Today's theme is "special smiles with the characters."

My favorite part of visiting Disney Parks are the looks on children's faces when they see the characters. There is nothing that melts my heart more than a child's squeal of delight at seeing their favorite on-screen pal live, in-person. Here are some of my favorites of my boys that have brought tears to my eyes.

Family shot at Mickey's House. Connor is in love with Mickey. Just prior to this lovely moment, Connor was in complete,
stage 4 meltdown mode...on the floor. I carried him into Mickey's set like a load of bricks. Connor's fit ended the very
instant he laid eyes on Mickey. My exhausted toddler started right back up the second we left. 2012

Connor meeting Mickey for the first time. 2010

Aidan with Suz's son, Ben. 2011

Now on to the Disney Blog Hop!

Brandon with Jake. 2011

The Disney Blog Hop is a great opportunity to network with other Disney bloggers and reach new readers. The blog hop is intended for all bloggers who blog about any aspect of Disney. Bloggers who do not blog exclusively about Disney should link to their Disney-tagged posts. 

•   Enter your blog below.

•   Check out the other blogs and follow them through Google Friend Connect, on Facebook, etc.  Just let 'em know you checked them out and like what they are doing.  We all like to know we have new readers.  I see you do it on other blogs, so make sure you let me know too!

Brandon with Peter Pan. 2011

•   Welcome new readers to your blog!  Each week we do something a little bit different.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WEEKLY THEME/POST TO PARTICIPATE.   Next week's theme is "Disney Bucket List." Write about the Disney things you dream about doing/experiencing.

•   Also optional, please consider posting the Disney Blog Hop button on your blog or web site so that we can spread the word.  It would also be great if you wouldn't mind tweeting about the blog hop so that more Disney blogs with participate. The more bloggers who find out about the hop, the more new readers you'll have linking over to read all about you.

Right now I am giving away a Disney Baby prize pack. Click here to enter to win!

Disney Blog Hop: Welcome 2012 Edition!

It's a new year and time to start the blog hop again! If you have never participated in a blog hop here's the details:

What is a blog hop?
A blog hop is popular in the mommy blog realm and Babes In Disneyland is the home of the very first blog hop uniting Disney bloggers and providing them for an outlet to network with one another. Simply enter your blog information into the linky below. It will populate a list of participants that you can check out. Feel free to follow their blogs, check out all of their Disney goodness, and leave some comments on their posts (or not).  It's that easy!  Following the bloggers through Google Friend Connect let's them know you were there and let's face it, we all like knowing we have fans.

Each week, the Disney Blog Hop has a theme. It is not mandatory to participate in the theme, but it's nice to do and fun to see what others come up with. This week's theme is "what you are looking forward to most in 2012." Next week's theme is "special smiles with the characters."

What kind of blogs should participate in the blog hop?

Although I love blogs of all types, this blog hop is for Disney-related blogs so that we can network with one another and provide Disney fans (bloggers and nonbloggers) a place to find our links in one convenient place. If you are a blogger who occasionally writes about Disney, just include a link to your Disney-tagged posts.

Spread the Magic!
You can help spread the word about the Disney Blog Hop by posting the Disney Blog Hop button on your blog for all to see.  You can also tweet about it and post about it on your blog.  The more Disney bloggers that communicate the better it is for all of us! I also ask that you please

Today theme is to talk about what you're looking forward to most this year when it comes to Disney of course. Here are my top 5 things in no particular order:

1. Cars Land opening because I know that no one throws a party like Disney and it's going to be a grand celebration that I cannot wait to share with my family.

2. Buena Vista Street unveiling because the REAL Buena Vista Street is less than a mile from my house and I drive it every day! Can't wait to see if they took anything from the "real deal" as inspiration.

Mickey's House circa 2006.

3. Pretty much every time we go to Disneyland, we wave to the characters in passing because the line's too long. This year, I'm determined to get as many character photos as possible because my boys are growing up way too fast and after a while, they won't even want to wave when we pass by them.

4. Brandon, my four-year-old, has never seen Fantasmic!. This is the year and I cannot wait!  I know he'll love it.

5. It's been tough to get back on track after the holidays, but this year I promise to continuing to bring you the very best coverage of all things Disney for families AND MORE! I love this blog and all of the amazing moms, dads and Disney fans I've met as a result. I guess as far as this list goes, I've saved the best for last!

Thanks for joining the Disney Blog Hop! Don't forget to check out some of the blogs on the list below. Be sure to show 'em some love by following them on Twitter, Facebook or Google Friend Connect. Check out some of their posts and leave 'em some comments! Stop by the Babes In Disneyland Facebook page and follow me on Twitter. I would love to get to know you better!

Disney Blog Hop: Just-Link-Up Edition!

Welcome to the Disney Blog Hop! This week, we won't have a theme--just a link up. If this is your first blog hop, here's all you need to know.

What is a blog hop?
Babes In Disneyland is proudly the home of the original Disney Blog Hop and takes place every Thursday. As a communications consultant and blogger, I am always looking for ways to help fellow social media junkies to increase their digital footprints and the blog hop is a great way to do so.

A blog hop is popular in the mommy blog realm. Simply put, sign up your blog below.  The linky will populate a list of participants.  You can go to as many of the other blogs as you like and follow their blog, check out all of their Disney goodness, and leave some comments on their posts (or not).  It's that easy!  Following the bloggers through Google Friend Connect, Twitter, or Facebook let's them know you were there and let's face it, we all like knowing we have fans.  (I would love it if you wouldn't mind following my blog.  If you do, please be sure to leave a comment so that I  am sure to stop by your blog to check you out too!)

A recent picture with my parents and kids in Frontierland.

Normally, we have a theme each week. The theme is completely optional. The most important theme is to link up and promote all of your hard work. Next week's theme is holiday family photos--past or present.

What kind of blogs should participate in the blog hop?

Although I love blogs of all types, this blog hop is for Disney-related blogs so that we can network with one another and provide Disney fans (bloggers and nonbloggers) a place to find our links in one convenient place.  If you blog about Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney animation, Disney history,...pretty much Disney anything, this is for you! If you occasionally blog about Disney topics, simply link up to your Disney-related topics.
 

Spread the Magic! 
Please help spread the word about the Disney Blog Hop by posting the Disney Blog Hop button on your blog for all to see.  (The button and its code are down to the right.)   You can also tweet about it and post about it on your blog.  The more Disney bloggers that communicate the better it is for all of us!

If this is your first time visiting my blog, I encourage you to stay for a while and check out all of my news and information about Disneyland and the Walt Disney Company. I also encourage you to stop by and enter my giveaways for the Prep & Landing DVD and tag*a*long.

Bring on the magic...it's Disney Blog Hop time!

It's time to bring on the holiday magic! Holiday time at the Disneyland Resort began this Monday, November 14. I spent the day with my family getting pictures taken by the incredible Jennifer Lenzen. This post features some of the pictures I took after our session ended.

If you are thinking about planning a holiday trip to the Disneyland Resort, check out these recent posts from my blog:

• Holiday treats at the Candy Palace
• Are your ready to plan your holiday visit? 
• Disneyland Holiday Q & A: When is Disneyland most crowded during the holiday season? 

Now on to the blog hop:

•   This blog hop is for ALL Disney-related blogs, whether you blog about the parks, animation, a specific character, Disney corporate, etc.  If you are a blogger who covers Disney, feel free to enter, but be sure to enter a URL that directly sends readers to your Disney-taged posts.  

•   Enter your blog below.

•   Check out the other blogs and follow them through Google Friend Connect, on Facebook, etc.  Just let 'em know you checked them out and like what they are doing.  We all like to know we have new readers.  I see you do it on other blogs, so make sure you let me know too!

•   Welcome new readers to your blog!  Each week we do something a little bit different.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WEEKLY THEME/POST TO PARTICIPATE.   We will be skipping the hop next week because of Thanksgiving. The following week's theme is "friendship."

•   Also optional, please consider posting the Disney Blog Hop button on your blog or web site so that we can spread the word.  It would also be great if you wouldn't mind tweeting about the blog hop so that more Disney blogs with participate.  The more bloggers who find out about the hop, the more new readers you'll have linking over to read all about you.

Want to win a Pixie Hollow Games poster? I'm giving one away now! Click here to enter to win! 

Disney Blog Hop: Food Edition

Welcome to the Disney Blog Hop! This week's blog hop is cohosted by Deb from Focused on the Magic. Please be certain to stop by her blog and show her some love today. If you are interested in cohosting a future hop, let me know!

If this is your first blog hop, welcome.  The Disney Blog Hop is your chance to promote your Disney blog or the Disney-related posts on your blog by submitting your link at the bottom of this post. Every week we blog about a specific topic. (Today's theme is food.)It is not necessary to write about the topic in order to participate. The important thing is to get the word out about your blog.

Today, I reached back and in my photo files and pulled out pictures of the gingerbread cookies my boys and I made on Christmas Eve 2009 using the gingerbread cookie mix sold at Disneyland--with the Mickey gingerbread man cookie cutter, of course.  The cookies were incredibly easy to make and lots of fun to decorate and eat.

In other Disney food news, the "Taste of Disney" has returned to Disney.com. Check out my post all about it!

Now on to the blog hop:

•   This blog hop is for ALL Disney-related blogs, whether you blog about the parks, animation, a specific character, Disney corporate, etc.  If you are a blogger who covers Disney, feel free to enter, but be sure to enter a URL that directly sends readers to your Disney-taged posts.  

•   Enter your blog below.

•   Check out the other blogs and follow them through Google Friend Connect, on Facebook, etc.  Just let 'em know you checked them out and like what they are doing.  We all like to know we have new readers.  I see you do it on other blogs, so make sure you let me know too!

•   Welcome new readers to your blog!  Each week we do something a little bit different.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WEEKLY THEME/POST TO PARTICIPATE.   Next week's theme is "Bring on the magic!" (as in holiday magic!).

•   Also optional, please consider posting the Disney Blog Hop button on your blog or web site so that we can spread the word.  It would also be great if you wouldn't mind tweeting about the blog hop so that more Disney blogs with participate.  The more bloggers who find out about the hop, the more new readers you'll have linking over to read all about you.

Want to win a Pixie Hollow Games poster? I'm giving one away now! Click here to enter to win! 

Disney Blog Hop: It's time to celebrate!

Welcome to the Disney Blog Hop! If this is your first blog, welcome! If you're a returning Disney blog hopper, I'm happy you're back. This week's theme is celebrations!

Back in August I did a post with all of the information on the ways families can celebrate birthdays at the Disneyland Resort--from freebies to splurges. If you are heading to Disneyland to celebrate a birthday, check out the post by clicking here! 

And for all of you waiting to hear back on round 3 of the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Moms' Panel, I hope we all have something to celebrate soon!!!

Now on to the blog hop:

•   This blog hop is for ALL Disney-related blogs, whether you blog about the parks, animation, a specific character, Disney corporate, etc.  If you are a blogger who covers Disney, feel free to enter, but be sure to enter a URL that directly sends readers to your Disney-taged posts.  

•   Enter your blog below.

•   Check out the other blogs and follow them through Google Friend Connect, on Facebook, etc.  Just let 'em know you checked them out and like what they are doing.  We all like to know we have new readers.  I see you do it on other blogs, so make sure you let me know too!

•   Welcome new readers to your blog!  Each week we do something a little bit different.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WEEKLY THEME/POST TO PARTICIPATE.   Next week's theme is "Disney food" and will be cohosted by Focused on the Magic. (She was unable to cohost this week as originally planned. Please stop by her blog and spread a bit of pixie dust.)

•   Also optional, please consider posting the Disney Blog Hop button on your blog or web site so that we can spread the word.  It would also be great if you wouldn't mind tweeting about the blog hop so that more Disney blogs with participate.  The more bloggers who find out about the hop, the more new readers you'll have linking over to read all about you.

The Disney Blog Hop: My Disney Halloween Pumpkin Creation

Welcome to the Disney Blog Hop! If this is your first blog, welcome! If you're a returning Disney blog hopper, I'm happy you're back. This week's theme is Halloween decorations!

Recently I posted this video about how you can bring of bit of Disneyland Halloween magic into your home. 

Dave was so convincing in this video that I printed out one of the templates and attempted to create a Disneyland-inspired pumpkin.  This is the craftiest thing I've done in about five years. Here's what I came up with:

Now on to the blog hop:

•   This blog hop is for ALL Disney-related blogs, whether you blog about the parks, animation, a specific character, Disney corporate, etc.  If you are a blogger who covers Disney, feel free to enter, but be sure to enter a URL that directly sends readers to your Disney-taged posts.  

•   Enter your blog below.

•   Check out the other blogs and follow them through Google Friend Connect, on Facebook, etc.  Just let 'em know you checked them out and like what they are doing.  We all like to know we have new readers.  I see you do it on other blogs, so make sure you let me know too!

•   Welcome new readers to your blog!  Each week we do something a little bit different.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WEEKLY THEME/POST TO PARTICIPATE.   Next week's theme is "celebrations" and will be cohosted by Focused on the Magic.

•   Also optional, please consider posting the Disney Blog Hop button on your blog or web site so that we can spread the word.  It would also be great if you wouldn't mind tweeting about the blog hop so that more Disney blogs with participate.  The more bloggers who find out about the hop, the more new readers you'll have linking over to read all about you.

The Disney Blog Hop: Shared Experiences

Welcome back to the Disney Blog Hop! I am so happy that you are here. Today's theme is "the shared experience." If you didn't post about the theme today, don't worry! The important thing is that you link up to the hop and get the word out about your amazing blog. If you don't write about Disney exclusively, please link up a Disney-specific post or your Disney-tagged posts.

This week for the hop, I wrote about my shared experiences as a Disneyland Tour Guide. Please stop by and read it.

Now on to the hop!

1. Link up your blog.

2. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Friend Connect and do the same for those whose blogs you read.

3. Leave comments on posts you find interesting here or on other blogs! We all love knowing that someone's reading us.

4. Have fun and please consider linking to the blog hop and/or posting the blog hop button on your blog. The more people who know about the hop, the more traffic everyone gets! Be sure to promote your post and the hop on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Disney Blog Hop: A Focus on Magic

I've been writing about Disneyland for a long time now and in that time, I've helped countless readers plan their trips and make the most of their vacations. In the midst of the planning and the list making, there's something that we should never forget, and that's the magic. We talk about "the magic" but do we really think about those magic moments, how to create them, and how to create them for others?

Back when I was a tour guide in Disneyland's Guest Relations Department, I was able to create many magical moments for our guests--from helping a man propose to his girlfriend along side Mickey Mouse to sending a little girl a plush Dumbo in the mail to help heal her disappointment in that the Dumbo attraction was closed for refurbishment during her visit. I was fortunate to create countless, anonymous magic moments for strangers, but this week, I had the rare occasion to read about a magic moment I created for a friend of mine years after I wore plaid for the last time. 

I encourage you to take a moment and read this blog post from the blog "thecourseofalife." 

Now on to the Disney Blog Hop:

1.  Please link up  your blog homepage or your Disney-tagged posts on your blog.  You need not be a full-time Disney blogger to participate.

2.  Please check out the other bloggers participating in the hop.  We would all love it if you would comment on their posts and follow them via Twitter, Facebook, Google Friend Connect, etc.

3.  You don't have to participate in the blog hop theme to participate in the hop.  This week's theme is magic. Next week's theme is "the shared experience." Think about times you've met up with other Disney fans, team with another blogger to write a post, etc.

4. Please spread the word and post about the hop on Twitter, Facebook, etc.

5. Also consider mentioning the hop in your post today, link to it here at Babes In Disneyland and place the blog hop button on your blog!

Disney Blog Hop: Dreams Come True

It's Disney Blog Hop day! If this is your first blog hop, welcome! If you are returning to the hop, I'm really glad you're back.  

This week's theme is "dreams." Check out my post on my Disney dreams come true and how you are part of it!

Now on to the Disney Blog Hop:

1.  Please link up  your blog homepage or your Disney-tagged posts on your blog.  You need not be a full-time Disney blogger to participate.

2.  Please check out the other bloggers participating in the hop.  We would all love it if you would comment on their posts and follow them via Twitter, Facebook, Google Friend Connect, etc.

3.  You don't have to participate in the blog hop theme to participate in the hop.  This week's theme is dream(s). Next week's theme is "Disney Halloween costumes."

4. Please spread the word and post about the hop on Twitter, Facebook, etc.

5. Also consider mentioning the hop in your post today, link to it here at Babes In Disneyland and place the blog hop button on your blog!

Disney Blog Hop

Welcome to the Disney Blog Hop!  The first Disney blog hop on the web and the original place to link up your Disney-oriented blog so that other Disney bloggers and Disney fans can read about all of your Disney wisdom. If this is your first hop, welcome. If you have been here for a while, I'm really glad you're back. Each week, I feature a new theme (well...except for this week). We typically write about the theme, but it is by no means necessary to write about the theme to participate.

Last week, I goofed and wrote that this week's theme is "happiness," which was last week's theme.  Last week I posted pictures of happy moments at the Disneyland Resort.  This week, in light of Epcot's Food and Wine Festival, I am posting pictures of Disney Parks' foods that make me REALLY happy.  Click here to see pictures of some of my favorite foods!

Now on to the Disney Blog Hop:

1.  Please link up  your blog homepage or your Disney-tagged posts on your blog.  You need not be a full-time Disney blogger to participate.

2.  Please check out the other bloggers participating in the hop.  We would all love it if you would comment on their posts and follow them via Twitter, Facebook, Google Friend Connect, etc.

3.  You don't have to participate in the blog hop theme to participate in the hop.  This week's theme is back to school. Next week's theme is "dream(s)."

Get Happy with the Disney Blog Hop!

Hurray! It's Disney Blog Hop Day! This theme is happiness. There's plenty to be happy about when it comes to all things Disney. I could have posted pictures of my kids at Disneyland or happy scenes from movies, but this week, I thought I would take this week's theme of happiness and turn it on you, my readers. 

As a way to make my readers HAPPY, just last night I posted not one, but two DVD giveaways!

Click here to enter to win a Phineas and Ferb: The Movie DVD set.

Click here to enter to win a Jake and the Never Land Pirates DVD set.

Did you really think I could post about Disney happiness and not put up a picture?  Below are three of the happiest moments I've ever had at the Disneyland Resort (I know I've posted some of these before but they make me REALLY happy):

The first time Connor met Mickey...and loved it.

Brandon getting to hold Peter Pan's REAL knife.

The time they turned off all of the music on Main Street so that I could shoot the close to one of our Three Disneyland Moms videos.

Now on to the Disney Blog Hop.

1.  Please link up  your blog homepage or your Disney-tagged posts on your blog.  You need not be a full-time Disney blogger to participate.

2.  Please check out the other bloggers participating in the hop.  We would all love it if you would comment on their posts and follow them via Twitter, Facebook, Google Friend Connect, etc.

3.  You don't have to participate in the blog hop theme to participate in the hop.  This week's theme is back to school. Next week's theme is "happiness."

Disney Blog Hop: Back to School Edition

About a month ago, my boys started back to school. Although I had a lot of fun with them over the summer, I will admit it was kind of nice to get back to a more regular schedule. And now that the kids are back in school and many of my fellow bloggers and Disney fans are applying for the Walt Disney World / Disneyland Moms' Panel, I thought I would repost links to my posts on writing Disney style. 

• Click here for my post with commonly used attraction names and other phrases used in Disney theme parks.
• Click here for my vocabulary lesson on Disney terminology.

Now on to the hop.

1.  Please link up  your blog homepage or your Disney-tagged posts on your blog.  You need not be a full-time Disney blogger to participate.

2.  Please check out the other bloggers participating in the hop.  We would all love it if you would comment on their posts and follow them via Twitter, Facebook, Google Friend Connect, etc.

3.  You don't have to participate in the blog hop theme to participate in the hop.  This week's theme is back to school. Next week's theme is "happiness."

Disney Blog Hop Reminder: Don't forget to link up this week!

Hey all! The Disney Blog Hop has been faltering in the last month or so.  Now that school is back in session and the craziness of the summer is behind us, I'm hoping to get the blog hop hoppin' again.  Don't forget to stop by and link up this Thursday.  And remember: you don't have to participate in the theme to join the hop.

This week's theme is "Back to School." Run with it!  For back to school, you can share pictures of your kids going back on their first day, how you use Disney in your homeschooling, or "school" us with your dazzling Disney information.  

To warm you up for the Back to School Disney Blog Hop, check out this post below that I wrote for Aidan's first day of Kindergarten last year on my dearly departed personal blog. 

From Never Land to Kindergarten

Last week my oldest son started kindergarten.  As a former teacher, I have been through the first day of school lots of times, but experiencing the beginning of the school year with my own child has been surreal.  My beautiful baby is now in school.  I can barely wrap my brain around that fact.  It seems like just last month he was learning to walk in our front yard and last Monday I walked him to school.

The morning was filled with nervous anticipation.  All five of us made the two block quest to our local elementary school.  We were like a parade led by my excited little boy.  He sang "You Can Fly" from Peter Pan the entire way to school.  It was precious and tore at my heart at the same time.  How ironic that my son was singing the song that contained the very instructions Wendy, Michael, and John needed to go to a place where they would never have to grow up as he was about to mark a very defining milestone of maturity in his life.  As we walked, I gripped his hand tighter and tighter, wishing and hoping to stop time.  I wanted to fly away with him to a place where he wouldn't grow up and would be my baby forever and ever.

Alas, we arrived at the school.  No magic pixie dusk ever took us away.  Instead, he joined the other 30 children in his class for one last good bye to Mommy and Daddy and a first hello to his new big boy world.  I hid my tears behind my big, dark sunglasses and then looked down at my other two boys wondering how I could get pixie dust in time to go to Never Land with them before they started kindergarten.

Disney Blog Hop: What inspires you?

Welcome to the Disney Blog Hop!  Today, we are writing about inspiration.  Keeping up with a blog is not easy.  Between family and work obligations, there's barely enough time in the day to do much else.  My readers and fellow blogger, however, keep me going.  I am inspired by everyone who reads my blog and reports back to me on their great Disneyland experiences.  I love the conversation and comments on the Facebook page and keeping up with everyone on Twitter.

And then there are my fellow Disney bloggers.  Through blogging I have met some really amazing people.  Their dedication to writing about Disney with integrity inspires me to be a better blogger and keep up with my posts. 

To all of you who give me that boost of pixie dust, thank you!  You make my blog great!

Now on to the hop!  Enter your information below and link to your Disney-tagged posts if you don't exclusively blog about Disney.  You don't have to participate in the weekly theme to participate!

This week, you can cohost by adding the blog hop linky to your blog!!!

Disney Blog Hop: The I almost forgot edition!

I am packing for a weekend of Disney overload at the D23 Expo!  As I was sitting here finishing up last minute emails and charging my Flip camera, I realized I almost forgot about the Disney Blog Hop!!!

If you will be at the D23 Expo this weekend, send me a Tweet (@dlandmom) or leave me a message on my Facebook fan page.  I hope to meet up with Babes In Disneyland readers.

Stay tuned next week for all of my coverage from the Expo--including interviews with Sharky and Bones from the Never Land Pirate Band and David Arquette, the voice of Skully from Jake and the Never Land Pirates.

Enjoy the hop!

Disney Blog Hop Spotlight!

This week's theme here at Babes In Disneyland is "Shine a Spotlight."  I'll be honest with you, I had really grand plans for this week, but life got in the way of blogging.  I am happy to say that I have been able to spotlight to guest posts that I think are absolutely amazing.

• This week's Wordless Wednesday post features pictures by the lovely and wonderful, Jennifer Lenzen.  Jenn and I were tour guides together at Disneyland and she is a professional photographer in Southern California.  If you missed her pictures, please check out the post.
• I am also honored to have posted an amazing post by the wonderful DVC Mom, Kristen on frequently asked questions about Disney Vacation Club.  This piece truly features EVERYTHING you could ever want to know about Disney's answer to timeshares. Click here to read everything you will ever need to know about Disney Vacation Club!

When it comes down to it, if I am going to shine a spotlight on anyone this week, I must shine a light on the one person who has always supported my blog, book, and crazy Disney obsession: my husband, Will.  It's been especially crazy at home because he has been away shooting a new television show for more than a week.  My husband is the hardest working, funniest (and sarcastic) person I have ever met.  He is creative and smart and truly supportive of all of my crazy whims.

Will has never, ever written anything for my blog.  He rarely poses for pictures for the blog.  (He's always the photographer since I'm the worst!)  He's has been an elusive background player in the Babes In Disneyland blog-o-sphere...until now.  My husband has written a funny post that Disney fans will love and reluctant spouses of Disney fans will love even more.  When he sat down one night and said he would write a post for my blog, I was shocked when 20 minutes later it was in my inbox.  I'm telling you...it's gold.  Please stop by and read it...and share it with your friends and family who don't get your crazy Disney obsession.  (Don't forget to leave a comment!)


Now on to the blog hop!

1.  Enter your blog information below.  The hop in intended for ALL Disney blogs and blogs who write about Disney from time to time.  If you do not write about Disney every day, please link up with your Disney-tagged posts or your Three Disneyland Moms' Pledge post.

2.  Check out the other blogs on the list (including mine!).  Please like the blogs on Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, etc.  Also consider leaving some comments on the posts.  Everyone like "fans."

3.  Welcome new fans to your blog by posting about today's theme.  (This is always optional.)  Please note that you can find out the themes in advance by going to my Facebook page and clicking on the "Discussions" tab.

4.  Please post the blog hop button (in my sidebar) somewhere on your blog and site to spread the word.  If you would also consider tweeting about the blog hop, that would be great!  Getting the word out helps everyone!