What a great first year 2010 has been for Magical Mouse Schoolhouse! Thanks for joining us here where Disney IS school! We have put together a slideshow of your favorite posts. Take some time to visit them once more before you peek at what's to come.
How will we learn while we play in 2011? Well, let's start the year touring some of the Disney Parks Resort hotels. The new Hawaiian Aulani is coming along nicely and is scheduled to open in August. Carol Beth Scott and I have been invited aboard the Inaugural Disney Dream Cruise, which launches in January a week before the general public sets sail. When we return, we'll explore all the details of Disney Cruise Line.
We'll March into spring at Disneyland Resort and Disney's California Adventure Park, and before the temperature heats up too much we'll hit the Walt Disney World Resort water Parks. Then, we'll spend the summer abroad. Get your passports ready, because we're going to Paris, Tokyo, and Hong Kong!
Our international experience will continue throughout Epcot's World Showcase, and then we'll fall into Future World, wrapping up the year at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Magic Kingdom. Of course, Earn Your E.A.R.S. will finish up in May and will return for its second season in September.
Today's Takeaway:
Click through the 2010 highlights. If you like what you see here, please be sure to spread the word. We'd love to have an overflowing classroom at Magical Mouse Schoolhouse! Think outside the textbook with us and expand your home classroom.
P.S. Did anyone notice our new logo on the slideshow? Grab a new button for your sidebar today!
**This post is part of the Disney Blog Carnival. Be sure to drop by and check out more great Disney-related posts and articles.**
Who'd like to win the last GIVEAWAY gift of the year? For your chance to receive a Magical Mouse Schoolhouse T-shirt and 2010 Disneyland Resort magnet, frame, keychain gift pack, by 11:59 PM Wednesdsay night, email the correct answer to the below question to jodi(at)magicalmouseschoolhouse(dot)com.
For 51 years, Disneyland Resort has hosted the competing teams for which NCAA college football Bowl game?
One winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries. Thank you for playing and good luck!
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Congratulations to this week's winner, Shelley Bowles! Our next GIVEAWAY will be January 12, 2011.
December has been a magical month full of holiday celebrations.
We launched the month with the United States Marine Corps' Toys for Tots drive at Walt Disney World. This mission would “deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them into becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.” 7,200 families from Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties were showered with gifts for more than 20,000 children.
When the sleigh bells stopped ringing and we'd sipped all our cocoa, we remembered the compassionate heart of Disney's Good Deeds and their VoluntEARS. And we took a look at the impact we can make in our own communities when we give of our time and our resources to help those in need. In fact, that was the focus of December's Earn Your E.A.R.S. program, and many of our Takeaways also focused on charity and generosity.
Today's Takeaway:
Explore Magical Mouse Schoolhouse and catch up on what you may have missed. Tell a friend about us, and have fun learning while you play!
On Thursday, take a look back at 2010 and we'll peek into 2011!
Merry Christmas to everyone! I know not many will be online on this special holiday, but those of you who do stop by can celebrate here with us :) We are smiling at Magical Mouse Schoolhouse, because we were given a gift this week: We are the featured blog in this week's Smile with Me Saturday blog hop! Thank you so much, Kristina, for choosing to spotlight us on Christmas!
First off, smile with me :) You made it through another week and deserve a big smile. You've got the whole weekend ahead of you so make it a good one!
I asked Jodi a few questions about herself and her blog so you could get to know a little bit about her.
1) When did you first start blogging? Why?
I first started blogging in 2008 when I began freelance editing. Magical Mouse Schoolhouse launched about a year-and-a-half later when a friend noticed there were no blogs to let homeschoolers know how to incorporate Disney entertainment into lesson plans.
2) What's your favorite part about blog hopping?
My favorite part about blog hopping is discovering all the new and interesting ideas people are writing about. I have also made some wonderful new friends!
3) What's your favorite hobby?
Reading. I love to read. That's one thing I enjoy about freelance editing: I get to read books before the public does! And, of course, blog hopping provides a lot of new material too.
4) Who's your role model?
That's a tough question! I'm going to have to name more than one person. My friend Carol Beth Scott is amazingly creative and has overcome huge obstacles to become a courageous, successful woman. My friend Brenna Stull sets high standards for me as to how to be a godly wife and mother. And I greatly admire my husband Richard Whisenhunt for his unflinching love and devotion to us, his family.
Now that you know a bit about the Smiley Hopper of the week... get to hopping!
How it Works
* Follow Me and the Smiley Hopper of the week! (Spots 1 & 2) Leave us a comment with your blog url so that we can follow you back * Grab the Smile With Me Saturday button then post on your blog to give your new followers a place to comment * Add your blog to the list- (NOT YOUR BLOG HOP or GIVEAWAYS PLEASE) These entries will be deleted. * Follow as many blogs as you would like, Make sure you leave them a comment so they know you stopped by . Then Follow Back everyone that follows you comments.
One of you lucky hoppers who enter the linky will get to be featured as next weeks #2 spot!!
You can link your blog every Saturday at 12am EST. Have fun!!
Today's Takeaway:
Enjoy this wonderful day! And, if you have a few moments to spend online, check out some of these great blogs and make some new friends...and SMILE!
The Walt Disney Company believes in being a good corporate citizen. That’s why their employees, aka Cast Members, give back in many ways throughout the year. Being generous of both time and resources is not just the right thing to do. It also benefits the community at large, Resort Guests, company employees, and business.
In order to meet the needs of and provide meaningful service to the community, in 1983 Disneyland Cast Members developed the Disneyland Community Action Team (DCAT). This dedicated group assisted many Orange County, California, non-profit organizations through a wide variety of projects such as being huggers at the Special Olympics, hosting a 5K and 10K Run through Disneyland (benefitting Orangewood Children's Home), and hosting a party at a nursing home during the holidays. From that effort, Disney VoluntEARS emerged and has become an international, company-wide, employee initiative. Last year alone, Disney VoluntEARS logged more than 495,000 hours of volunteer service! Since the program's inception 27 years ago, VoluntEARS in over 42 countries have donated more than 5,000,000 hours of service.
Per a corporate statement, in 2008, Disney donated more than $209 million in cash and in-kind support to various charities around the world. They continue to make wishes come true for children and families, as discussed in our recent posts, Toys for Tots and Disney’s Good Deeds. They have built playgrounds for Boys & Girls Clubs; organized book drives for elementary schools; prepared and served meals at local shelters; collected food, toys, and clothing and distributed to those in need; painted and landscaped homes of shut-in seniors; and much, much more.
Disney VoluntEARS build playground for Boys & Girls Club:
The Disney Parks Blog summed up Disneyland Cast Member VoluntEAR participation beautifully: T’were the months before Christmas and all through our house, Disneyland spread goodwill, compliments of the Mouse.
Packages were delivered to troops with care, bringing joy like St. Nicholas truly was there.
At CHOC patients were nestled all snug in their beds, Disney’s holiday party danced in their heads.
Five grand each to 10 students caused quite a clatter, college-bound seniors whose good deeds really matter.
VoluntEARS packed a half million meals for those in need, National Family Volunteer Day was a success indeed.
Cheering ill kids and seniors, Disney characters they came, and fans whistled and shouted and called them by name.
Now Mickey! Now Minnie! Now Donald and Goofy! On Pluto! On Tigger! On Woody and Dopey!
With food drop locations, cast donations came quick, the 2,200 pounds brought a smile to St. Nick.
Toys-for-Tots garnered almost 9,000 toys, bringing happiness to countless girls and boys.
Supporting the needy through toy and food drives, all said and done touched 25,000 lives.
The CHOC Walk at Disney raised $2 million this year, cause for Orange County families served there to cheer.
Cast volunteered at over 100 events, about 50,000 hours is the time that they lent.
Nearly $12 million, Disney supported the community, providing residents with hope and opportunity.
As we celebrate 2010, one thing is clear, the joy and the magic we delivered all year.
And we heard Mickey say, before he drove out of sight “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.”
And, I have to agree with this 2002 Michael Eisner statement:
"Our VoluntEARS program builds upon a philosophy established by our founder, Walt Disney," said Disney Chairman and CEO Michael D. Eisner. "Walt believed in bringing the same sense of enthusiasm and innovation to the area of community involvement as he did to the realm of entertainment, and I am certain he would be proud of this program and all who participate."
Thank you to all VoluntEARS for everything you do!
Today’s Takeaway:
Follow the VoluntEARS’ example and give your time and resources to benefit someone in need. We are fast approaching a new year. Pull out your 2011 calendar and choose one day per month to do something to help someone. Plan it now and commit those dates. Maybe schedule them at the end of each month to allow your children the entire month to create a service project or save allowance money.
Here’s a suggested plan:
January – Shovel elderly neighbor’s driveway.
February – Deliver blankets, (new) socks, and jackets to a homeless shelter.
March – Donate new teddy bears to the fire station and/or police station to give to child victims.
April – Drop off gently used shoes and clothing to an orphanage.
May – Help clean and reorganize the shelves of a food pantry.
June – Take care of a shut-in’s landscape.
July – Send a thank-you note to a military serviceman.
August – Kids help mom organize and set up the home classroom for the new school year.
September – Pay for the guy behind you in line at McDonalds.
October – Anonymously send a Walmart gift card to an unemployed friend.
'Twas the GIVEAWAY before Christmas and all through the house, all the kiddos were dreaming 'bout sights of the Mouse!
We've got a great gift for one lucky winner this week! For your chance to win a Magical Mouse Schoolhouse t-shirt and a copy of Walt Disney World Resort Guide to the Magic for Kids, by Tim Foster, by 11:59PM Wednesday night, email jodi(at)magicalmouseschoolhouse(dot)com the correct answer to the following question:
Who played the voice of Tiny Tim in the 2009 film, Disney's A Christmas Carol?
Come on, now! Don't be a Scrooge ;) Click on the image to see more about the prize.
It's a guide book, journal, autograph book, sticker book and activity book all rolled into one! You'll find LOTS of colorful photos of every attraction in every park at Walt Disney World, as well as scavenger hunts, park maps, Hidden Mickeys, mystery photos, little known facts, secrets, and lots lots more!
One winner will be chosen at random from among all correct entries. Thank you & good luck!
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CONTEST CLOSED!
Congratulations to this week's winner, Deann Claude! The FINAL GIVEAWAY of 2010 will be next week, so be sure to try again!
From its early roots, the Walt Disney Company has had a compassionate heart. Take a few minutes to view this 1932 short, Mickey’s Good Deed, and you’ll receive a message of selfless generosity.
Mickey's Good Deed (1932):
In this wonderful tale, Mickey Mouse portrays a fellow down on his luck, playing Christmas carols on the street corner for change. To his and Pluto’s dismay, passersby do not give money at all, but nuts and bolts and useless junk. Soon Mickey’s instrument—his source of income—gets destroyed by a passing sleigh. When he sees a poverty-stricken house full of children with no presents, instead of pitying his own misfortune, Mickey sells his beloved pal, Pluto, to a wealthy man and uses all the money to purchase gifts for the kids. He delivers them incognito while they sleep, thus giving the children the gift of dreams come true. Mickey receives a surprise gift of his own when Pluto returns as the rich man’s child has tied the Christmas turkey to Pluto's tail!
Another early short starring Mickey and Pluto appeals to viewers’ concern for animals. Take note of the intro to this 1941 film, Lend a Paw.
Lend a Paw (1941):
Did you see the recognition of the Tailwagger Association (now defunct) for its efforts in “lending a paw to man’s animal friends”? In this story, Pluto risks life and limb to rescue something afloat in an icy creek. He is disappointed to find a cold, soggy kitten in the sack. Miffed, he heads home, but the kitten follows him and, to Pluto’s disgust, finds favor with Mickey. Pluto is conflicted with advice from his devil and angel consciences, and finds going along with the mischievous suggestions gets him into trouble. When the kitten falls into the well, good wins out, the angel beats up the devil, and Pluto saves the kitty! He learns that “Kindness to animals, my friend, will be rewarded in the end.”
Today’s Takeaway:
Today, the Walt Disney Company continues to devote both funding and services to various organizations and people in need. We’ve previously discussed Walt Disney World Resort’s food donations to the Disney Harvest Food Program, as well as their VoluntEAR partnership with Toys for Tots, and soap recycling through Clean the World. The Resort also assists a very special organization that helps ill children and their families receive their wish to visit the Parks.
Give Kids the World (GKTW) was created by hotelier Henri Landwirth in 1986 to “provide memorable, magical, cost-free experiences to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.” He partnered with colleagues in the hospitality industry, including the Walt Disney World Resort (who donates all Park tickets, whose Cast Members VoluntEAR, whose Imagineers have designed parts of the facility, and whose Resorts host families when GKTW’s Village is overflowing) to bring these families to Florida, house them, feed them, and let them live out a dream.
There are many ways you can help too! If you live nearby or are planning a visit to Walt Disney World, please contact GKTW either via email at dream@gktw.org or by calling (800) 995-KIDS to see how you can donate your time to benefit an ill child and his or her family.
If you are not or will not be in the area, GKTW needs you too! Did you know that a simple $25 donation will cover unlimited ice cream service for one child and his or her family for their entire week-long stay? $50 provides a welcome basket; $75 enables the Gift-giving Fairy to deliver gifts to each child in the family every day of their stay; $100 brings Christmas (with Santa AND snow) to Florida every Thursday!
Fundraising, grants, memorials and tributes, and more options are available as well. Visit this page to learn how you can get involved, or contact Amanda Rayno at AmandaR@gktw.org or 407-396-1114 ext. 4252.
Our generous blog sponsor, 3D Travel Company, donates a portion of their profits to Give Kids the World, and anyone who books a Disney vacation through their agency has the opportunity to donate as well. The company is currently working to sponsor an ice cream social for program children and their families.
Oh! Here's one more idea! The Disneyschooling Orlando homeschool group recently spent time decorating one of the GKTW villas. A group member, Lori Webre, told me about a very specific year-round need: pillowcases!
These instructions were given to Lori by the volunteer at the Castle of Miracles. If you have questions, please call GKTW. These pillowcases are given to the children to place on an airline type pillow to take home with them.
Base Material: plain flannel
Pocket Material: cotton or flannel kids print. NO plaids, stripes, granny floral prints, upholstery material, plain fabric, seasonal prints, scary prints. Remember these are for kids on a Wish trip to DISNEY, Universal, and Sea World, etc. Basically, they WANT Character prints.
• Take 1 yard plain flannel and hem up both bottom and top about 1/4 inch.
• Take 1/3 yard kids print material and hem up top and bottom 1/4 inch.
• With good sides together, pin the 1 yard plain flannel fabric to the 1/3 yard print
material with hems together and sew at the rough side.
• Iron the combined piece, salvages together, at the halfway place and cut; then
again at the halfway place and cut. This should leave you with 4 separate pieces
of combined material.
• Lay the combined pieces flat, hems of plain material down, and print material
should be face down.
• Fold that print material down at the seam and pin (print material should be face up now).
• From seam, with a ruler or tape measure, measure down 15 inches and mark (with pin or whatever) on each side.
• With a stiff ruler, bring that piece up over the ruler and pin.
• Then, place stiff ruler at the seam of the combined material and fold down.
• Pin down each side and sew side seams-length of seam depending on width of pillow cover.
• Turn product right side out. The finished pillow cover should be 15 inches long
and 9.5-10 inches wide.
Finished product, front.
Back of pillow case
Thank you, Lori, for sharing this information & your pictures!
Already been to Disneyland Park? Well, then, hop on over to California Adventure Park and complete your holiday experience!
New DCA main gate concept
Your first stop should be to pose with the candy cane-striped CALIFORNIA sign at the entry gate. Those photos will make great holiday cards, and they will also soon become collectors' items. The letters will be taken down on January 4 to make room for a new entry gate that resembles the one at Florida’s Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which is modeled after the legendary Pan-Pacific Auditorium. Disney Imagineers plan to save the iconic “CALIFORNIA” letters for possible future use.
You should definitely experience the holidays through a bug's eyes. At "a bug's land" meander through wondrous, oversized ornaments and get a sense of what it's like to be knee-high to a grasshopper. This favorite attraction is, of course, inspired by Disney·Pixar's A Bug's Life.
Celebrating the opening of Walt Disney Pictures TRON: Legacy is a high-energy street party called ElecTRONica. The movie, which opens in theaters on December 17, is a sequel to the 1982 film TRON starring Jeff Bridges, in which a hacker is literally abducted into the world of a computer and forced to play gladiator games. In TRON: Legacy, Jeff Bridges reprises his role as Kevin Flynn. In this feature, Kevin's 27-year-old son, Sam, looks into his father's disappearance and gets pulled into the same fierce gladiatorial games that have kept his father hostage for 20 years. Here's a clip of the Poreotics Dance Crew who will performing at ElecTRONica from December 20-30, 2010:
And you'll definitely want to make sure you see Santa before you leave! He can be found soaking up rays in Santa's Seaside Pavilion at Paradise Pier. Visit his gazebo to tell him your wish list and get a picture with the jolly man with the snow-white beard too!
Today's Takeaway:
While it does indeed snow at the California Parks, the mild temperatures melt that fluffy white stuff pretty quickly. I found this great recipe at a friend's blog, and I knew it would be the perfect project for today's post. Serve these at upcoming holiday parties and your guests are sure to giggle!
Here's what Megan used:
•1 package Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix
•10 large marshmallows (one for each cookie)
•Betty Crocker Cookie White Icing
•Wilton Decorating Icing Tubes in Black, Red, Orange, Green, Blue and Pink
Here's a summary of what Megan did:
•Prepare cookie mix according to directions. Squish golf ball sized chunks to about 1/4-1/2 inch thick and place on baking tray. Bake according to package directions.
•Spread white icing onto cooled cookies with back of a spoon, letting some dribble over the edge.
•Spray a microwave safe plate with cooking spray, and place marshmallows on the plate. Microwave for 30 seconds, stopping microwave as soon as marshmallows start to get puffy.
•Carefully transfer marshmallows to frosted cookies.
•Decorate with the Wilton frosting!
SCHOOL SUBJECT: Home Economics
SKILL LEVEL: High School (or younger with adult supervision)
For a chance to win a Magical Mouse Schoolhouse t-shirt and plush mini-Minnie doll, by 11:59PM Wednesday night, email jodi(at)magicalmouseschoolhouse(dot)com the correct answer to the following question:
Which of these "mountains" is the tallest in Florida?
A) Space Mountain
B) Expedition Everest
C) Big Thunder Mountain
One winner will be chosen at random from among all correct entries. Thank you & good luck! *********************************************************************************** CONTEST CLOSED! Congratulations to this week's winner, Heather Laurie! Weekly GIVEAWAYS will continue each Wednesday of December. Thanks for playing and please try again next week!
Disneyland Resort transforms into the Merriest Place on Earth during the Christmas holidays, where Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle sets the stage for unforgettable tannenbaum traditions. Its snow-capped steeples, glistening icicles, and shimmering lights excite Guests’ festive spirits.
A view down Main Street, U.S.A., spies a majestic tree aglow with more than 70,000 glimmering lights and donned with over 2,000 ornaments. Multiple times a day (check daily schedules), Mickey and his friends celebrate holiday dreams in A Christmas Fantasy Parade. Mr. and Mrs. Claus take center stage—or center float—for a holly jolly journey of fun-filled holiday scenes. Goofy and his son Max decorate a full-scale gingerbread house, and Mickey and Minnie skate on an icy pond while Geppetto and Pinocchio help build toys for Santa.
Costumed Characters in holiday apparel appear at photo spots throughout the Park, but if you’re looking for the Jolly Old Elf himself, Santa Claus meets and greets Guests at Santa's Reindeer Round-up in Frontierland. In fact, Santa and the missus invite everyone to the Holiday Ho-Ho-Ho Hoedown.
Several attractions are spruced up for the season. Haunted Mansion has been given a Christmas makeover based on Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Don’t miss ginger-dread houses and the Oogie Boogie Man! Mickey’s Toontown residents have fes-Tooned their homes. See how Goofy, Mickey, and Minnie have decorated. And, of course, one of Disneyland’s most beloved attractions, it's a small world holiday, inspires a sense of peace and hope with an enchanting voyage showcasing unique holiday festivities and traditions around the globe.
*Today's photos are courtesy of our very special Guest, Peg Rose! Thank you, Peg!
Today's Takeaway:
Enjoy a special Disneyland holiday greeting from my family to yours!
Create one to send to your friends and family too by clicking the "Create a Holiday Card" button above.
SCHOOL SUBJECT: Good Citizenship (I don't know! Classify it as you wish!)
SKILL LEVEL: All
The Parks are not the only places to find a holly, jolly atmosphere. Downtown Disney celebrates year-round! Holiday merchandise is available 365 days a year at Disney’s Days of Christmas, but from November 19th through January 3rd, the rest of Downtown Disney is adorned with decorations galore. (Either that, or all the sparkly fairies in the world winter at Walt Disney World Resort!)
At Downtown Disney Marketplace stands a giant Christmas tree. Its boughs hang heavy with classic children’s toys. Surrounding shops sit aglow in the twinkle and shimmer of its bright, colorful lights. Foliage of another design decorates the West Side, where a wreath 25 feet in diameter beckons Guests to the Cirque du Soleil building.
Yuletide cheer fills the air when school choirs and bands perform at the dock stage. Live caroling, and Latin, Jazz or Pop performances of timeless holiday songs beat away the bahs and humbugs. There are also street performers, Toy Soldier Stiltwalkers, and DJ dance parties to keep spirits high.
Complete your visit with fine dining or gourmet sweets, but don’t forget to grab a pic with Old St. Nick at Santa’s Chalet. Santa will be at downtown Disney Marketplace through Christmas Eve, December 24, from 12:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Starting December 25, and continuing until January 3, 2011, Santa Goofy will be at Santa's Chalet from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Today’s Takeaway:
Email a letter to Santa! The younger kids love this activity, because not only do they get to send off their wish lists, but they also get a letter back!
Go to EmailSanta.com and follow the simple instructions. You'll first enter the child's name, then it will redirect to a prefabricated letter where kids can fill in the blanks. This is a great opportunity to familiarize them (if they're not already familiar) with how electronic mail works. Although this is a safe site, I recommend using a parent's email address for the return message.
Of course, it is fun to ask for new toys and such, but take this time to express to your children the importance of giving to others. Next week we will be taking a look at some more ways Disney gives back to the community. Encourage your kids to follow Disney’s example. It’s alright to ask for a special gift, but be sure to encourage your kids to ask for a special gift for someone else in need as well. There's a special comment section at the end of Santa's letter with just enough space for such thoughtfulness.
"EmailSanta.com is a fast, fun & free family-safe website!"
SCHOOL SUBJECT: Language Arts
SKILL LEVEL: Elementary
It's GIVEAWAY Wednesday...on Monday! Are you ready? OK, for a chance to win a Magical Mouse Schoolhouse t-shirt and a plush mini bean Pluto doll, by midnight Wednesday night, email jodi(at)magicalmouseschoolhouse(dot)com the correct answer to the following question:
TRUE or FALSE? "Rafiki" means "friend."
One winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries.
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Congratulations to Marion Wilkinson! GIVEAWAYS continue each Wednesday throughout December, so please try again next week. Thanks for playing! By the way, the question is TRUE. Rafiki means friend in Swahili.
Yuletide festivity abounds at Walt Disney World’s Epcot. Several times a day at the Fountain Stage, D’Vine Voices performs JOYFUL! A Gospel Celebration of the Season, an “uplifting choral performance that blends Gospel with the sounds of R&B, jazz and urban-inspired music.” Even the fountain dances in time to the spirited tunes.
The World Showcase Pavilions host an international Christmas experience. Stroll along and listen to storytellers’ lore and legends of this joyous season during Holidays Around the World and discover how children all over the globe celebrate this time of year. As darkness descends upon the Park, The Lights of Winter guide Guests from Future World to the World Showcase with dazzling synchronized displays that twinkle to holiday music.
Father Christmas shares tales about two holiday traditions that began in the United Kingdom: decorating with boughs of holly and sending Christmas cards.
Father Christmas also visits France, but here he is known as Père Noël. Sample his favorite French treat, the Buche de Noël dessert cake decorated to look like a Yule log.
In Italy it is the good Christmas witch La Befana who delivers treats to bene i bambini.
Santa and Mrs. Claus meet and greet nice little boys and girls at the The American Adventure, and are eager to hear their wishlists.
Celebrations like Ramadan, Chinese New Year, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah are showcased around the promenade as well.
Marlee Matlin
A beautiful holiday tradition takes place nightly at the America Gardens Theater, the Candlelight Processional. This renowned event retells the story of Christmas and features celebrity narrators, a mass choir and a 50-piece live orchestra. Actress Isabella Rossellini opened the celebration on November 26, 2010. A star-studded lineup is scheduled throughout the month of December, which includes such personalities as Jodi Benson, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Marlee Matlin, among others. (See below for tentative schedule.) Performances are included with Epcot admission; however, Guests are advised to arrive early to ensure a seat. Dinner packages are available and include reservations at select Epcot restaurants, a special spot for fireworks viewing and guaranteed seating for the performance.
The evening is capped with a special message of good will as the spectacular IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth fireworks, laser and water show lights up the sky. The thrilling display draws each evening to a close with a special musical finale set to the song “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”
Nov. 26-28: Isabella Rossellini
Nov. 29-Dec. 1: TBD
Dec. 2-4: Corbin Bernsen
Dec. 5-6: Susan Lucci
Dec. 7-9: Jodi Benson
Dec. 10-11: Whoopi Goldberg
Dec. 12-15: Steven Curtis Chapman
Dec. 16-18: Thomas Gibson
Dec. 19-21: Trace Adkins
Dec. 22-23: Brad Garrett
Dec. 24-27: Edward James Olmos
Dec. 28-30: Marlee Matlin/Jack Jason
Today’s Takeaway:
Send and receive postcards from around the world through Postcrossing.com, The Postcard Crossing Project. It’s simple! If you send a postcard, you will receive at least one back from a random Postcrosser somewhere in the world.
The Postcrossing project was started by Paulo Magalhães from Portugal as a side project while he was a student. He enjoyed getting mail, postcards in particular, and developed the website in his spare time as an online support to this hobby. Friends helped develop and launch the program in 2005. The program grew and quickly gained media recognition. This past August, Paulo and friends celebrated the 5 millionth postcardsent! The project has contributed to or participated in causes such as the Sichuan Earthquake (raising donations), LupusCrossing, museum exhibitions, school projects and more!
It’s a modern pen-pal program with a twist and it’s very simple! Here’s the short version of how it works:
1. Request an address* from the website.
2. Mail the postcard to the address.
3. Wait to receive a postcard.
4. Register the received postcard in the system.
Once your postcard is registered, you are eligible to send another one.
*Postcrossing states their database is secure and is not sold or distributed to anyone else. You may read their privacy policy here before participating in the program. I would advise registering parents and/or students age 18 or older only.
SCHOOL SUBJECT: Social Studies
SKILL LEVEL: All (Parental supervision required.)
On November 15, 2010, the United States Marine Corps went on special assignment: launch the annual Walt Disney World Resort Toys for Tots drive! This mission will “deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them into becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.”
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program collects new, unwrapped toys during October, November, and December of each year in effort to make sure underprivileged children are not forgotten at Christmas. The idea began in 1947, when the wife of Major Bill Hendricks, USCR, handcrafted a doll and asked Bill to donate it to an organization which would provide it to a needy child at Christmas. The problem was no agency existed, so Mrs. Hendricks told her husband he should start one. He did. That first year, Major Hendricks and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to deserving children! The Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it into a nationwide campaign. Over the ensuing 62 years, Marines have distributed more than 400 million toys to more than 188 million needy children.
Each year, Walt Disney World Cast Member VoluntEARS donate thousands of hours of service and tens of thousands of toys to Toys for Tots. Donations of toys, board games, sports equipment, crafts, stuffed animals (like the 1,200 Duffy the Disney Bears on this “Cuddliest Christmas Tree”), etc., for children of all ages will be accepted through December 10, then will be distributed to thousands of families throughout Central Florida in Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties.
No doubt, the United States Marine Corps, in partnership with Walt Disney World Cast Member VoluntEARS and friends like you, will accomplish their objective “to help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation’s most valuable resources – our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.”
Today’s Takeaway:
Local U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program campaigns are conducted annually in approximately 500 communities covering all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Here’s how it works: “Local toy collection campaigns begin in October and last until mid to late December. Toy distribution also takes place mid to late December. Members of the community drop new, unwrapped toys in collection boxes positioned in local businesses. Coordinators pick up these toys and store them in central warehouses where the toys are sorted by age and gender. At Christmas, Coordinators, with the assistance of local social welfare agencies, church groups, and other local community agencies, distribute the toys to the less fortunate children of the community.”
Make a donation to Toys for Tots and/or volunteer your time and talent to assist with collection and distribution. Click this link to find a campaign office in your area.
Also, the Disney Store is running a promotion right now on the mini bean bag plush toys: buy one at regular price and get a second of equal or lesser value free. With each of these purchases, the Walt Disney Company will donate one small plush toy to the Toys for Tots program. You may choose to donate your purchases as well! Visit your local Disney Store for details.
SCHOOL SUBJECT: Humanities/Philanthropy/Sociology
SKILL LEVEL: All
Our goal here at the Magical Mouse Schoolhouse is to reveal the educational opportunities available from Walt Disney entertainment and to encourage you to stretch the boundaries of your home classroom. We hope you will embrace the teachable moments that take the guise of Disney movies, Disney theme parks, Disney story books, Disney art, and more!
We are Disney-devoted veteran homeschoolers dedicated to informing the homeschooling community of the educational value of Walt Disney entertainment.
Jodi Whisenhunt, feature writer and owner of Magical Mouse Schoolhouse, is an award-winning freelance writer and editor with a passion for perfecting the written word. She and her husband, Richard, have participated in The Ultimate Field Trip four times, with an extra trip thrown into the mix, and have been homeschooling their children since 2000. Jodi, along with Carol Beth Scott, also sailed aboard the Disney Dream Christening Cruise in January of 2011.
Carol Beth Scott, owner of 3D Travel Company, an Earmarked Agency, and founder of The Ultimate Field Trip, is the inspiration behind this venture and the underwriter for Magical Mouse Schoolhouse. She has provided several of the creative takeaways. Carol Beth and her husband, David, have been homeschooling their children since 2004.
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