ZipaDeeDooDad

Disney Parks Fanatics March Madness

2010-03-12T08:49:00.030-06:00

Want to share in March Madness with other Disney Parks fans? Now you can in the Disney Parks Fanatics group we created on ESPN.com just for the tourney.

Group Information

It’s free to play, and if you have a Disney Web ID, then you don’t need to re-register on ESPN.

Group Name:
Disney Parks Fanatics

http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/en/group?groupID=17670

Password:

waltsentme

To get in the game, simply complete your ESPN bracket by the first tip of the tournament. Keep the following in mind:

You can register at any time between now and the first tip of the tournament.
You can start making your selections on Sunday night, March 14.
The tourney starts on Thurs., March 18.

Points and Prizes
Points are awarded for each correct pick, with point values increasing as the tournaments progress. The prize? Primarily bragging rights, but I'll personally gift the winner his or her choice of an Audio Guide to Walt Disney World. If anyone else would like to contribute something to the winner, drop me a line!

Identify yourself!
Try to have your ESPN entry ID match your Twitter handle so we know who you are. Otherwise, post a comment below and let us know that you signed up, your name on the ESPN site, and your Twitter handle.

Then, Tweet it out so others know you're in on the action and that they're welcome to join in too!

And, oh yeah, GO MARQUETTE!

Disney Parks Blog Features the Dads of the Moms Panel

2010-03-04T10:27:00.000-06:00

I love this picture. I love this story. Visit the Disney Parks Blog to get insight from each dad on the Walt Disney World Moms Panel.

Note: I am not comfortable wearing pink, but I am open to wearing "salmon."

Bloc28 - First Art, Then Apparel

2010-02-16T07:19:00.011-06:00

Bloc28 is first and foremost an art project that brings artists together for their interpretations of the iconic Mouse. Their artwork is then skinned for a number of products (shirts, hats, guitars, bikes, jewelry, etc..)

Though I have a Bloc28 shirt, some guitar pics and keep my eyes out for anything else, the best way I've attached to the movement is by having beaucoup des hats. I thought it'd be fun to look at my collection as it relates first to the art and then to the apparel.

Les Schettko | Bloc28 Logo

Chuck Norris at Walt Disney World

2010-01-28T07:06:00.001-06:00

Jack Sparrow attends the Chuck Norris tutorial.

The 3:00 parade is exactly when Chuck Norris says it will be.

The 999 happy haunts have lost count of Chuck Norris' contributions.

When Chuck Norris blinks, it's equivalent to being closed for refurbishment.

Chuck Norris wins the Tomorrowland Speedway every time. Then he gets a victory lap.

Chuck Norris' two week Kilamanjaro Safari actually lasted two weeks.

Chuck Norris completed the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure in record timing. Without a Kimmunicator.

As you cross over from Adventureland into Frontierland, notice the subtle transition of Chuck Norris' boot to your face.

Instead of a one-hour return window listed on his FASTPASS, the return time listed on a FASTPASS issued to Chuck Norris reads as “imminent.”

The Hollywood Tower Hotel wasn’t hit by lightening. The Hollywood Tower Hotel hit Chuck Norris.

We wants the redhead. Chuck Norris got her.

Instead of using a fingertip for his biometric scan, Chuck Norris just stares down the machine.

On the Sum of All Thrills at Innoventions East, guests create their own ride experience by choosing a ride theme: a roller coaster, bobsled, jet plane or Chuck Norris.

Extra Magic Hours are determined by when Chuck Norris will be in particular park.

Chuck Norris whittled the Tree of Life in his sleep.

Park visitors on the Disney Dining Plan can now use a quick service credit for a Chuck Norris roundhouse.

Have some of your own?
Post a comment!

A Counter and an Activity? Wha?!

2010-01-24T21:47:00.000-06:00

I've got a lot of automated doodads specifically geared toward ticking down the days, minutes and seconds to upcoming events. The majority of which are focused on Walt Disney World.

That's all well and good for sustaining my excitement, but what about tuning in a five year-old?

I've been running solo with the kids this extended weekend while my wife celebrates ringing in a new decade of life with her twin sister in Los Angeles. With my five year-old's birthday and my wife's birthdays now in the past, the next milestone in his eyes IS our trip to Disney World. This provided us with an opportunity and an activity!

What You Need

The 50 ft. view: we're making a paper chain. Each chain link represents a day. Each morning, your kid tears off one of the links, and you have X amount of days left until your vacation. It's an easy way to visually countdown the days to an upcoming vacation with your kids.

The materials are quite simple. You need paper, a paper cutter and tape or a stapler.

Step 1
Do the math. Calculate how many strips you need to cut and plan accordingly. The last thing you want to do is count and recount the paper chain one link at a time.

Step 2
Cut the paper into long, equal strips. I like to cut 'em lengthwise so that each strip is about 1.25" wide by 11" tall.

Step 3
Interconnect the links. My son would coil each link and then I'd staple it. We did this 66 times, as our next trip is 66 days away. The collective paper chain became quite long.

Step 4
Spice it up. We drew some Mickey heads on the final link to signify the day of the big trip. For some reason, he felt that Valentine's Day should be represented as well, so we counted 20 some days down the line and drew in some hearts on it. (They intentionally didn't look as sharp as the Mickey heads.)

Step 5
Hang it up. We put ours upstairs in the playroom, right outside his bedroom. He wanted to preemptively pull a chain off before bedtime, but it allowed papa (moi) to provide a pearl of wisdom on patience.

What's a way you build excitement for an upcoming trip?
Post a comment and let us know!

Get to Know a Disney Dad: Mufasa

2010-01-19T14:36:00.000-06:00

Name and Claim to Fame
Mufasa from Disney's The Lion King

Qualifications
Father to Simba, mate to Sarabi, ruler of the Pride Lands

Guaranteed to Make Him Smile
Seeing his little cub presented to the Pride Lands and basking in the kingdom's cheers.

Signature Fatherly Moment
Mufasa is the poster child (er, dad / lion) for delivering tender, love and care while voicing disappointment when a disciplinary opportunity presents itself. Rather than sending Simba to his corner of the cave without antelope or water after he deliberately disobeys him by going to the elephant graveyard with Nala, Mufasa speaks from the heart. He shows disappointment, humility and love to his cub, giving voice to his own personal fears while illustrating the ramifications of his son's actions.

Mufasa: Simba, I'm very disappointed in you!
Simba: I know.

Mufasa: You could have been killed! You deliberately disobeyed me! And what's worse: you put Nala in danger!
Simba: I was just trying to be brave like you.

Mufasa: I'm only brave when I have to be! Simba, being brave doesn't mean you go looking for trouble!
Simba: But you're not scared of anything!

Mufasa: Well, I was today.
Simba: You were?

Mufasa: Yes. I thought I might lose you.
Simba: I guess even kings get scared, huh?

Achieving a Work/Life Balance
In addition to keeping his kingdom together in a delicate balance, Mufasa is ever mindful to prepare his heir with essential skills and life lessons along the way. Whether it's greeting the sunrise with his son as he explains the symbiotic relationship of the kingdom - or, putting on a pouncing clinic with the aid of Zazu, Mufasa finds a way to make his son feel like the most special cub in the entire kingdom.

Best Fatherly Advice
"Let me tell you something my father told me. Look at the stars. The great kings of the past are up there, watching over us. So whenever you feel alone, just remember that those kings will always be there to guide you. And so will I."

The Ultimate Disney Playlist for Shoveling Snow

2010-01-06T14:30:00.000-06:00

We've got a lot of snow in the forecast for tomorrow. A LOT! What better way to laugh in Mother Nature's face than to put together the ultimate Disney playlist for shoveling snow?

If you're really digging what you're reading, click on the links to go to the songs in iTunes.

The Playlist

1. Dig a Little Deeper (The Princess and The Frog)
It doesn't get any better than this. Hit play the moment the shovel hits your hand.

2. There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (Carousel of Progress)
Tomorrow's just a dream away... and hopefully there's less snow in the forecast.

3. Heigh-Ho (Snow White)
Hey, look at you! You're like a crazy dwarf, and you, dig, dig, dig, dig, dig, dig in a driveway the whole day though.

4. Put on Your Sunday Clothes (Wall-e)
Or better yet, "Put on Your Shoveling Clothes." Out there, there's a world outside of Yonkers. Now if you could only just see the sidewalk, Barnaby.

5. If I Didn't Have You (Monsters, Inc., Disneymania Vol. 6 version)
One of my favorites, snow or not. Dance a little and feel appreciated. Big guy, you always come through.

6. That's How You Know (Enchanted, Disneymania Vol. 6 version)
You just spent an hour or two shoveling. That's how she knows you really, really, truly love her.

7. Just Keep Swimming (Finding Nemo the Musical)
Just keep shoveling, just keep shoveling. Life isn't all that grim... Look there's a shiny thing!

8. The Glory Days (The Incredibles)
Go ahead, feel like a superhero. For some of us, this might be as close as it gets to being heroic.

9. Real Gone (Cars)
Seriously. Get. Out. Of. Here. Snow.

10. One Step Closer (The Little Mermaid original Broadway Cast Recording)
And every little step
Every single step
Is one step closer
To finishing shoveling!

11. On My Way (Brother Bear)
Situate this one in the middle of the playlist, just when you need an inspiration to keep moving forward.

12. The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room (Disney Block Party version)
Being welcomed to a tropical hideaway is exactly what the doctor ordered. My favorite toe-tapping rendition for snow shoveling is the one that can be found on the Disney Block Party album.

13. Give a Little Whistle (Pinocchio)
"Take the straight and narrow path, and if you start to slide... Bust out the salt!"

14. I Thought I Lost You (Bolt)
Conjures circulation back to your fingertips.

15. Proud of Your Boy (from Disneymania Vol. 3)
A reflective song, but deservedly so.
I've wasted time
I've wasted me
So say I'm slow for my age
A late bloomer, Okay, I agree

16. Super Cali [Boiob Version] (Disneymania Vol. 4)

17. I'll Try (Return to Neverland, Disneymania Vol. 4 version)
"I mustn't let them down now."

18. True to Your Heart (Mulan, Disneymania Vol. 5 version)
This version of the song puts some muscle in your back and bounce in your step. "When things are getting crazy, and you don't know where to start..."

19. Something There (Beauty and The Beast)
Granted, the something that is there is SNOW, but this song also conjures up memories of the playful snowball scene from the animated classic.

20. Go the Distance (Hercules)

21. Everybody Has a Laughing Place (Song of the South)
Take a frown, turn it upside down and you'll find yours I know ho ho.

22. Chim Chim Cheree (Mary Poppins)
Sweep, shovel. It's all the same, right?

23. Out There (Hunchback of Notre Dame)
You're there.

24. Celebrate You (Disney Parks - download it for free!)
Shoveling. It's the time of your life, is it not?

25. He's a Pirate (Pirates of the Caribbean)
Play this one as your end credits. You earned it.

Have a Favorite?
Have a favorite Disney song that should be on the list? Leave a comment!

2010-01-04T09:10:00.001-06:00

It's official!
Check out the official press release http://ping.fm/ekp5H launching the 2010 Walt Disney World Moms panel!

Get to Know a Disney Dad: Marlin

2009-12-22T10:16:00.000-06:00

Name and Claim to Fame
Marlin, from Disney-Pixar's Finding Nemo & Finding Nemo the Musical at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Qualifications
Father to Nemo, widower, husband to Coral

Guaranteed to Make Him Smile
Marlin begins as a lighthearted, proud papa clown fish in both the film by Disney-Pixar and in the musical at Disney's Animal Kingdom. He lights up at his own idea of naming most of his and Coral's hatchlings "Marlin, Jr.", but acquiesces to Coral's idea of naming one "Nemo."

There's nothing more powerful than naming a child, and when all that Marlin holds dear is taken away from him in a blink of an eye by a shark, he clings on tightly to the only thing he has left: his sole remaining hatching, his son, and he names him Nemo. From that moment on, Marlin puts his whole heart into caring and protecting for the one little fish with the one little fin that's slightly smaller than the other. He calls it Nemo's lucky fin.

Nothing makes clown fish Marlin smile wider than being together with his son and looking out for him with the best of fatherly intentions.

Signature Fatherly Moment
Marlin's over protectiveness was an influence in Nemo venturing out and getting captured by dentist P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney. After being reunited with his son, Marlin shows incredible learning and growth as a father by not bringing in the reigns, but rather letting go. As Dory is caught in a fishermen's net, Nemo holds the solution to helping her break free. Marlin's fatherly instincts shift from protectiveness to confidence in his son.

From the musical:
Marlin: Nemo, you get back here.
Nemo: I know what to do. We have to save Dory.
Marlin: I have to think of you.
Nemo: I know I can do this. Dad, I have a plan.
Marlin: You think that you can do these but... I know you can!

Achieving a Work/Life Balance
Marlin could very well be a stay-at-home dad. If not, he has one heck of a generous and understanding employer, considering the immediacy of his need to take time off and length of time for which to do so while searching the big blue world for his son. Whatever the case may be, Marlin has his priorities in the right place as he turns on a dime and puts his family first.

Best Fatherly Advice
"We go out, then back in. And then we go out, and then back in. And one more time - out and then back in. And sometimes, if you want to do it four times..."

Get to Know a Disney Dad: James

2009-12-17T10:03:00.000-06:00

Name and Location

James, from Disney's The Princess and the Frog

Qualifications

Father to Tiana, husband to Eudora.

Guaranteed to Make Him Smile
Seeing his daughter at the end of a long, exhausting day and lighting up instantaneously.

Signature Fatherly Moment
Sharing stories, aspirations and values with his wife and daughter while getting Tiana tucked in for the night.

Achieving a Work/Life Balance
Works long hours to make ends meet, carves out time for Tiana's nightly bedtime ritual, places importance on eating meals as a family and encourages community throughout the neighborhood.

Best Fatherly Advice
"That old star can take you only part of the way. You have to help it out with hard work of your own."

Park Music at Christmastime

2009-12-11T15:20:00.000-06:00

The 2010 Walt Disney World Moms Panel training was the first time I experienced the parks at Christmastime. And we didn't just dabble in a few aspects of the seasonal spirit. We. Did. Everything, which included Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, the Candlelight Processional with Anika Noni Rose, an Illuminations dessert party with the holiday finale; and, perhaps my personal favorite, the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue in a deck-the-halls Pioneer Hall at Fort Wilderness.

With the parks decked out in holiday decorations, it's only appropriate that the area music follows its queue (queue, get it?!) Eh. And while some of the music isn't distinctly Disney 100 percent of the time, there's no denying that it triumphs over any other arrangement of the yuletide classics thanks to the way it is applied and complimentary to an area or attraction.

How to Get It

MouseWorld Radio
Right now, MouseWorld Radio has a stream dedicated to holiday programming. It rocks, and can be accessed via Shoutcast or the MWR iPhone app.

Disney Tunes Radio Network
Holiday park music is part of the year-round rotation in the streams available through the Disney Tunes Radio Network. If you find you especially need to hear a certain holiday song from the parks, say, Holiday Wishes, you can request it to be played on the "Mickey" stream. You can also browse around the other streams to see what else is on while you're waiting.

Magical Mouse Radio
During select times and days, Magical Mouse Radio plays hours of park music in row. Check its forum page for the most up-to-date information.

Pandora
If you listen to Pandora internet via your iPhone, Droid or online, there is a station called Disney Holiday. It usually starts up with a Disney holiday song from a film or animated short, then plays a few traditional songs, then a Disney song, then a couple... you get it.

Have a different go-to source for your audio?
Post a comment so we can all benefit from beaucoup de music!

A Dream is a Wish with Antibodies

2009-11-21T14:33:00.000-06:00

I've been on cloud nine since I found out I made the 2010 Walt Disney World Moms Panel. Life was unbelievingly good before it happened, and now, I seem to have reached an even greater level of insurmountable happiness on a daily basis, from sunup to sundown (although I've been having trouble with that whole "sleeping" thing as the excitement doesn't exactly subside at night!)

Here's the thing: the rest of my family has been battling colds for going on two weeks now, and I haven't had so much as a sniffle. Don't get me wrong - they're not trying to make me sick! Quite the opposite. My wife and two guys have been incredibly supportive, and it's been a blast sharing the happiness of making the Moms Panel with them.

It does still leave me with the question of why they've had colds and I have not. Granted, their exposure to other kids is greater than mine, but it does still leave a window open for the theoretical:

Has my extra "oomph" of happiness from the Moms Panel been a means of repelling the common cold (and Lord knows what else that's been wafting my way?!)

I Need a Reference
Science has never been a strong suit of mine. Same goes for math. Hence, some source was needed to let me know if my head - filled with pixie dust - was indeed a potent means of staying healthy.

According to WebMD, it sure is.

In the article "5 Natural Ways to Help Your Health,"enjoying life is listed as one of the five natural ways to say healthy, joining the ranks of exercise, weight, routine check-ups and not smoking.

Rather than paraphrase, here's the meat of the happiness section:

Enjoying life and maintaining a circle of supportive friends is a big part of good health. Indeed, having friendships may be second only to not smoking for preventing heart attacks. People with extensive social networks, according to research at the Uniformed Services University, are less likely to have calcification in their arteries, a sign of heart disease risk.

One way to increase your happiness is to foster cheerful friends. “Happiness turns out to spread through social networks,” says James D. Fowler, PhD, an associate professor of political science at the University of California, San Diego. His research, which tracked the spread of happiness among friends and even friends of friends, found that a person is 15% more likely to be happy if a close contact is happy.

Not a Thesis, But a Conclusion Nonetheless
Like any good research paper, let's finish with a blatant conclusion by breaking down how my happiness from joining the Moms Panel has repelled sickness thus far:

"Enjoying life" = this one's a given.

"Circle of Supportive Friends" = holly crap! My family is endlessly supportive. Add that to all the moms and dads I have connected with on the Moms Panel, and it's been overwhelmingly amazing!! I am so incredibly humbled by their kind words and being in their company. It's such a blessing to learn more about each other in preparation for our upcoming Dec. 4 training trip.

"Extensive social network" = my Twitter followers and Facebook friends have multiplied ten fold!

"The spread of happiness" = the collective joy of my family and the Moms Panel group is unparalleled. I'm so excited to continue bonding with the group. Not only will our happiness grow as our panel becomes more interconnected with each other, but our collective talents will also allow us to help countless others grab hold of Disney magic, happiness and a vacation of a lifetime! Sounds like the perfect prescription to me!

A Whole New World in the Queue

2009-11-20T13:40:00.000-06:00

A cry for help crossed my radar, asking for ways to keep young kids entertained while waiting in a queue at Walt Disney World. I took a crack at it in 140 characters or less and determined to later devote more time to the topic.

This is me coming to fruition (and it only scratches the surface!)

Games and Activities

Trivia cards. If you’re as intense as me, you have a formidable stack of Disney board games at home. For example, we have two (2) – yep, two – Disney versions of Trivial Pursuit. We also have Disney Scene It, The Wonderful World of Disney Trivia 2… the list goes on.

If you look closely, you’ll see that all of these games I listed have something in common: stacks of trivia cards. Grab a handful and bring them in your diaper bag, camera bag, man purse or what have you, and bust them out whenever you need a diversion. It passes the time so well that you’ll even forget about the absence of the game board, let alone keeping score.

A-to-Z Scavenger hunt. This is a classic take on the game you play in the car – you know, the one where you look for signs, billboards or vehicles and work your way through the alphabet? For our Disneyfied version, the same principles apply, but in this case, we’re looking for characters and other key story elements found in and around the queue. Start with “A,” then work your way down to “Z.” For example, if waiting in the queue for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, the “A” could be “astro,” the “B” could be “blasters” and the “Z” could be “Zurg.” You can collaborate and build a list as a team or you can compete with one another to see who can get to “Z” first.

I Spy. You can make this one as easy or sophisticated as you’d like. In the queue for the Haunted Mansion, for example, you could either say, “I spy something grey,” or, “I spy something with moving eyes,” both indicating the tombstone of Madame Leota.

Other tools to have up your sleeves (all available with Disney themes if you look!) Color Wonder activity books; sticker books and snacks!

Learn the Attraction’s Back Story; Discover Hidden Gems

Many queues at Walt Disney World have such rich back stories and hidden gems. Often dialogue and discussion surrounding these elements is enough to get you through the longest of standbys.

Don’t know where to start? Try these:

Imagineering Field Guides by Alex Smith. Get the big picture and minute details from the Imagineers who designed the attractions themselves.

Hidden Mickeys by Steve Barrett. Uncover over 800 images of Mickey Mouse blended into design elements throughout Walt Disney World, categorized by park and land to make it easy to pull out in any queue.

Walt Disney World Trivia Books by Lou Mongelo. These books are down-right informative and essential for those pining for Walt Disney World details. They also lend themselves well for Q&A games. Be sure to check out the audio guides too.

The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World by Susan Veness. Features more than 600 tidbits about the parks and attractions.

Avoid Waits

Want to virtually eliminate your wait in queues or reduce waits as much as humanly possible? Len Testa has made the science of touring into an art form in The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World.

Inevitably, use FASTpass wisely. (Another post, another time!) When FASTpass is not an option, and depending on the attraction, consider having one person in your group hold your place in line.

Let’s Hear from You
What are your favorite go-to ideas in queue lines to keep kids busy? Post a comment!

Contemporary Top 10

2009-11-13T14:16:00.000-06:00

This has been a week of dreams coming true. First and foremost, making the Disney Moms Panel! And then what? What’s that? We’re staying where?! At the Contemporary?! Sweet!

I’m beginning to wonder if my guardian angel is related to the Blue Fairy.

Earlier today, I got the call to set up my travel and accommodations for our Moms Panel training in three weeks. Needless to say, I was thrilled to learn we’d be staying at the Contemporary. It got me thinking about all the things I’ve wanted to experience at the resort.

So let’s break it down into a top 10 of things that excite me the most about staying at the Contemporary.

1. Originality.
The Contemporary was one of the original resorts that opened when the Magic Kingdom did in 1971.

2. Harmony.
While the themes of the Magic Kingdom resorts are good on their own, they are magnificent when viewed from lands within the Magic Kingdom. When viewed from Tomorrowland , the modern design of the Contemporary is in perfect harmony with the vision of the future that could have been. Similar harmony is achieved in Adventureland with the Polynesian and from Mainstreet with the Victorian-styled Grand Floridian.

3. Monorail.
Never have I slept anywhere that had a transportation service running through it. Sure, at Marquette, it sounded like there were busses, fire trucks and Harleys barreling through the halls, but they weren’t really there (right?) It’s hard to believe that the time I land a bed in a place with a mode of transportation running through it, it’s virtually silent and won’t rouse me from my sleep!

4. The View.

The castle. It’s right there! So is Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon.

5. Mosaic.
The mosaic in the atrium was crafted by Disney Legend, Mary Blair, who played a key role in the design of it’s a small world. All told, the mosaic has over 18,000 hand-painted tiles and is nearly 100 feet tall. Take a good look at the five legged goat in the mosaic, which many will say represents that we’re only human and we all make mistakes.

6. Hidden Mickeys.
There are a handful of Hidden Mickeys at the Contemporary worth seeking out, especially the one you can see from looking out a window at the top of the world in the California Grill. Look down and check out the ground in front of the resort.

7. Fireworks & Pageants.
We’ve got Wishes over the castle, the Electric Water Pageant on Bay Lake, and me doing a funny little happy dance through it all.

8. Food.
I’m not sure where we’re eating throughout the training trip, but there’s a certain comfort that comes with knowing that Chef Mickey’s and the California Grill are within shouting distance.

9. COFFEE!

Kona Island at the Poly is just a monorail away!

10. My New Family.
I can’t wait to meet you, Disney Moms & Dads!

Listening While You Work

2009-11-12T11:49:00.000-06:00

Let’s continue with the theme of building excitement for upcoming trips to Walt Disney World and ways to stay connected to the magic at home.

It’s easy to do with theme park audio. At the parks, you’re surrounded with carefully planned audio. It’s part of telling the story, and it spans from music played on Mainstreet, at the foothills of Everest and in queues like Soarin’ to the leading lady in parades and fireworks.

Can you imagine a soundless Spectromagic or Wishes or Fantasmic without orchestration and character vocalization? Didn’t think so.

We could go on and on about how audio is one of the most essential parts of accentuating the Walt Disney World experience. The heart of the matter is this: it’s a lot easier to keep the magic alive by listening - not whistling - while you work, whether it be at home or in an office.

Streaming Audio – at Work & at Home

I toggle between 18 different Walt Disney World theme park audio feeds during the daytime.

At home, I stream theme park audio almost exclusively from the Disney Tunes Radio Network (for whatever reason, this one doesn't work at work.) The quality of its streaming audio is amazing: 128 kbps.

Visit http://www.dtuneslive.com/ to get started.

The Disney Tunes Radio Network (DTunes) has six – yes six! – streams to choose from (the last four listed are my favorites.)

1. Mickey: entire collection of Disney music and takes requests.

2. Minnie: movie soundtracks.
3. Donald: music from the theme parks and hotels.
4. Daisy: background area music from the parks and hotels.
5. Goofy: parade and firework music.
6. Pluto: attraction audio.

Listening from an iPhone / iPod Touch
DTunes and MouseWorld Radio have free apps in the app store. FStream is another good free app that lets you browse available streams and key in your own favorite stations. In addition to the app, FStream also has a good desktop client for Macs.

You can listen to any stream on DTunes by navigating to the page via Safari on your iPhone/iPod Touch. Just click the iTunes icon on a stream’s page and it will play the stream in a QuickTime window. Better yet, you can then minimize the Safari window and open another app and the music won’t stop playing!

Listening from a PC

I like the Webradio widget, available via Yahoo Widgets. Here are the URLs of my favorite Disney theme park audio stations to plug into it. (Note: the DTunes streams aren’t listed below since I can’t listen and damage check it at work.)

DisRadio: http://www.live365.com/play/dreamsunlimited?tag=terra
Fastpass Radio: http://www.live365.com/play/magnapurpleboy?tag=terra
Intercot: http://www.live365.com/play/intercot?tag=terra
Mouse Radio: http://www.live365.com/play/mistermouse?tag=terra
MouseJunkies: http://www.live365.com/play/bburke99?tag=terra
MouseWorld Radio 1: http://www.live365.com/play/torg0?tag=terra
MouseWorld Radio 2: http://www.live365.com/play/cardinalsplayers?tag=terra
Music From the Mouse: http://www.live365.com/play/gcoxua?tag=terra
Subsonic: http://bgm-high.subsonicradio.com:8000/listen.pls
WDW Theme Park Audio: http://www.live365.com/play/johnsts069?tag=terra

Advance the Countdown!

2009-11-11T15:47:00.001-06:00

I have a countdown tool on my computer desktop that counts down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until my next Disney trip. As of 8:00 a.m. on Tues., Nov. 10, it showed 140 days and two hours until our Easter 2010 trip. At 10:41 a.m., that all changed. That's when I got the call letting me know that I made the 2010 Walt Disney World Mom's Panel.

With all the excitement, I forgot to adjust my countdown clock until the next day. Today, I'm happy to report that it now shows a little more than 22 days away until my next trip. I can't wait for Dec. 4 to come and meet all of the amazing moms and dads that make up the Mom's Panel!I've seen a number of countdown counters and tools online. Some are png images that refresh automatically. Others are widgets and gadgets.

My favorite is freeware from PhanTim3. While the developers are no longer supporting the tool, the program and all its skins are still available. I have created custom skins for my previous three trips. Take a look at PhanTim3 and become familiar with it. Then feel free to borrow the skins I created (below) for your own counter. Enjoy!

Making Sense of It
This next part will make no sense until you go through with downloading PhanTim3. First, follow the install instructions. Once it's all set and you're ready to start customizing, adjust the Custom.txt file in each of the skin's folders to read as follows:
Calibri
9
0 0 0
110 80
150 80
191 80
224 80