Disney Dooney & Gift Card GIVEAWAY
TWO prizes...TWO winners! Contest ends 5/31/12. Good luck!
Disney Blogger Group Giveaway
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
What would you do with a $100 Disney Gift Card?
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Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Welcome to Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!
Link up, meet new friends, network with other bloggers, and have fun!
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February Review
Thank you for your faithful attendance at Magical Mouse Schoolhouse, where Disney IS school! We're thrilled to welcome so many newcomers and hope you have fun learning while you play!
We journeyed aboard Disney Cruise Line (DCL) this month. Here's a recap in case you missed anything:
This first thing we checked out for February was the 2012 DCL itinerary. Where do you wish to sail? DCL can probably take you there! If you choose a Caribbean destination, you'll likely enjoy a visit to Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, and sample some of these fabulous recipes on the Disney Dream. (One word: yum!)We had a little Q&A session with our dear friend Kim of 3D Travel Company, who gave us some great insight into cruising with DCL in general and highlighted some specifics about the Magic and the Wonder.
We took a look at the various conservation education efforts DCL offers, and we realized that Dreams are not just Fantasy aboard Disney Cruise Line. "If you keep on believing the dream that you wish will come true."
As usual, we featured regular monthly activities like our Earn Your E.A.R.S. incentive program. Registration for March will open in just a few days. We also hosted the weekly "Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!" It's a great place to meet new friends and connect with other bloggers. Midweek was reserved for Wordless Wednesday and Giveaway Wednesday. We also joined forces with friends for some extra freebies this month. And when we weren't aboard Magical Blogorail Yellow for a look at our top 5 good eats at Walt Disney World Resort, we featured some fellow Blogorailers at Magical Blogorail Fridays.Today's Takeaway:
Take some time to read or re-read our February features and march with us into a new month. Coming up: Disneyland Resort Paris, special Guest post from Manda of Manda's Disney Blog, Guest feature with Ken Stigen of Walt's Music, and lots of creative ways to think outside the textbook! Read more...
Magical Blogorail Fridays
Friday, February 24, 2012
Welcome to Magical Blogorail Fridays!
Magical Mouse Schoolhouse boards the Magical Blogorail Yellow Loop on the first Friday of each month. On the Fridays in between, we're bringing you a sampling of our fellow Blogorailers' sites.
Check out Donna's recent Wordless Wednesday pics of Disneyland's New Orleans Square:
And I love this one of Donna preparing for the Disneyland Tinker Bell Half Marathon. You go, girl!
The next Magical Blogorail Yellow Loop will run Friday, March 2. Check back then to find out where we'll be stopping!
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DREAMs are not just FANTASY on Disney Cruise Line
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Just over a year ago, the Disney Cruise Line fleet expanded with the launch of the Disney DREAM. I was honored to attend its christening celebration and cruise to Castaway Cay January 19-21, 2011, which occurred before the public set sail on the January 26th maiden voyage. Here’s a photo montage of the festivities and some DREAM features.
With 14 towering decks (two more than its sister ships), a ship length measuring 1,115 feet and width of 125 feet, the 130,000-ton DREAM is 40% larger than the MAGIC and the WONDER. It holds 5,007 beds (nearly 2,000 more than the MAGIC and WONDER) in its 1,250 staterooms to comfortably accommodate 4,000 passengers and its 1,458 Crew Members.
Dining, of course, is exquisite on the Disney DREAM. You can dine in a different location each evening, and your wait staff will follow you. Some choices include
Enchanted Garden—a whimsical, casual French garden environment that transforms from day to night.
Animator’s Palate—a signature Disney Cruise Line restaurant filled with character sketches, film strips, paint brush pillars and pencil columns.
Royal Palace—an elegant eatery that features fairy tale elements such as tiaras, glass slippers, roses and apples inspired by the classic Disney films Cinderella, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty.
Special kid zones entertain infants on up.
it’s a small world nursery—for little ones ages 3 months to toddlers aged 3, provides quality care for the littlest Guests.
Oceanears Club—for kids ages 4 to 10, features several different themed play areas, interactive dance floor and a craft room.
Edge—club for tweens ages 11 to 13, offers gaming wall, computer stations and a special porthole for viewing the AquaDuck—the world’s first at-sea water coaster!
Vibe—club for teens 14 to 17, features wall pods for video/audio/gaming, giant LCD screen and private pool deck.
Stage shows, movie screenings and spontaneous Character greetings make the journey even more magical. More than you could ever dream of awaits you and your family!
Today’s Takeaway:
The DREAM’s little sister, the Disney FANTASY, will soon be joining the fleet too and will boast many of the same attractions that draw travelers aboard the DREAM. We’ll take a special look at the FANTASY when it sets sail next month. For now, though, you can cross the Atlantic Ocean on it virtually via the Disney Cruise Line Diaries (find the videos at DisneyCruiseLineNews Youtube channel). Track the ship on its journey to the States in these daily video journals via disneycruise.com.
Watch all the videos and let your imagination run. “Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492…” What a different voyage he took! Visit your local library and/or research Christopher Columbus online. Study his journals. Mark his first Atlantic crossing on a map. Consider how long the trip took and what the morale of his crew might have become by the time they reached the East Indies. Put yourself in Columbus’ place and write a daily journal from his perspective. If you’re feeling especially creative, turn that into a screenplay and have mom and dad make a Christopher Columbus video cruise journal.
SCHOOL SUBJECT: History
SKILL LEVEL: Middle Grades
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Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Welcome to Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!
Link up, meet new friends, network with other bloggers, and have fun!
Our Requests:
1. On GFC, Networked Blogs, Twitter or Facebook, please follow all three Hosts
and
and
2. Follow who you like and be sure to let them know that you are from "Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!"
3. You are not required to, but we'd greatly appreciate it if you could grab our button and write a post about this hop and/or display the button on your sidebar.
4. Every week we will pick someone to Guest Host the hop with us. If you would like to be considered for the Guest Host position, leave a comment under this post along with a valid way to contact you and please follow us on GFC.
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The Magic and Wonder of Disney Cruise Line
 |
| The Disney Magic |
MMS: The Disney Magic was the first ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. When did it first sail?
KD: The Disney Magic set sail on her maiden voyage on July 30, 1998.
MMS: The ship’s designers looked to the “Golden Age” of ocean liners, pulling inspiration from the elegance and splendor of early 20th century luxury ships. Can you describe the Magic’s décor? Does it seem reminiscent of ocean liners from that era?
KD: I have to say that Disney nailed it! Just one look at the Disney Magic and you are transported back to the golden age of yesteryear. From the twin funnels to the opulent décor found throughout the ship, Guests cannot help but feel like they have stepped back in history.
MMS: When Disney entered the cruise line industry, they wanted to set themselves apart from their counterparts. Do you think they achieved that goal with the launch of the Magic?
KD: With spacious staterooms, rotational dining, children’s programs that cannot be matched, Broadway style stage shows and Character experiences, I would say they accomplished their goal.
MMS: What aspects of the Disney Magic set the Disney experience apart from competitors?
KD: Aside from all the differences I just mentioned, Disney Cruise Line took one other area and ran away with it. Castaway Cay is Disney Cruise Line’s private island paradise. It is truly magnificent. You can enjoy a day at the beach that includes lunch and fun activities for the whole family. No need to worry if you are an adult looking for some peace and quiet. Castaway Cay has a spot for adults only called Serenity Bay and it is just that…serene.
MMS: This will date me, but growing up I watched a television show called The Love Boat. (It’s OK to laugh!) That show was set aboard a cruise ship, and while it was entertaining and I watched it every week, it made the whole cruising experience seem a bit dull. I know first-hand that a cruise on DCL is anything but boring! Can you tell us what travelers should expect aboard the Magic?
KD: We must be the same age! J I too grew up watching The Love Boat. I think that show is where my passion for cruising was sparked.
Guests should expect to have a wonderful vacation aboard any Disney Cruise ship. Disney Cruise Line has gone the extra mile to make sure that there is something for everyone no matter their age. You can do as little or as much as you want.
 |
| The Disney Wonder |
KD: They are very similar but not identical. The Disney Wonder set sail on August 15, 1999.
MMS: Is the Wonder as luxurious as the Magic? Is its décor similar?
KD: Yes, the Disney Wonder is as luxurious as the Disney Magic. The décor is art nouveau while the Magic décor is art deco. Both the ships are beautifully decorated. Di
sney Cruise Line never misses a beat when it comes to keeping up the theme throughout their ships.
MMS: What distinguishes a trip on the Wonder apart from one on the Magic? Is it a mere matter of destination and itinerary? (Are all the shows the same? Are the restaurants the same? Is the stateroom theming/décor the same?)
KD: Each one has a stage show that is unique to that ship. The destinations are different with the Wonder visiting the Mexican Riviera at the moment and the Magic sailing to the Caribbean. Most dining locations are the same. However the grand and casual dining rooms are different on each ship. The Disney Wonder is home to Triton’s and Beach Blanket Buffet and the Disney Magic features Lumiere’s and Topsider’s Buffet.
MMS: Do you have a personal preference between the two ships?
KD: I would gladly sail on either ship! I know with Disney Cruise Line I will have a wonderful cruise experience no matter which ship I am on.
MMS: Can you describe “the perfect cruise” aboard either the Disney Magic or the Disney Wonder?
KD: ….relaxing atmosphere, great service, laughter, unique dining experiences, fabulous entertainment, a visit from a beloved Disney Character, throw in a private island paradise and I think you have “the perfect cruise.”
Thanks for joining us again today, Kim! I tell you, after reading your descriptions, I’m about ready book a DCL cruise myself!
Today’s Takeaway:
As Kim told us, the Magic's interior is fashioned in the art deco style, while the Wonder's is art nouveau. Art nouveau was popular from the early 1880s to around 1914. Art deco picked up when the first World War ended and carried into the 1930s. Art nouveau sprang out of the industrial revolution, utilizing technological advances and spilling over from the fine arts (painting, sculpture) into the applied arts (furniture, jewelry). To my untrained eye, certain pieces of art deco and art nouveau artwork appear similar in presentation. However, architecture from each movement is very distinctive.
Scour the web and visit your local library and/or art museums to learn more about both art movements. Discover what details distinguish one style from the other. Here are a few handy websites to get you started:
~Find a nice description about each style, along with photos of period pieces, at "Art Nouveau to Art Deco," by Richard Whitehouse.
~Find a listing of "great buildings" at art nouveau architecture. Be sure to click on the building names to view photos.
~Find out all about Art Deco Architecture 411 and view some "great buildings" images here.
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| Magic interior (left) / Wonder interior (right) |
The state of Illinois offers free pdf downloads to build your own model "main street." One of the buildings included is the Senior Citizens' Building in Elgin, which was build in the art deco style in 1930 as a Citidel for the Salvation Army. Download, print and build your own here!SCHOOL SUBJECT: Art and Architecture
SKILL LEVEL: High School - All levels can study the topic; I would suggest high schoolers to continue further research.
*Ship photos courtesy Disney Cruise Line, Wikipedia and About.com.
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Magical Blogorail Fridays
Friday, February 17, 2012
Welcome to Magical Blogorail Fridays!
Magical Mouse Schoolhouse boards the Magical Blogorail Yellow Loop on the first Friday of each month. On the Fridays in between, we're bringing you a sampling of our fellow Blogorailers' sites.
This week we're spotlighting P.T. from 400 Miles to Disneyland! P.T. is a full-time worker, mom, wife and Disneyland passholder who has a great passion for all things Disney. Her 400 Miles to Disneyland blog hosts printable monthly photo scavenger hunts and weekly reviews, tips, photos, mommy thoughts, and Disney news. You can find P.T. aboard Magical Blogorail Peach.Check out P.T.'s February scavenger hunt and join in the fun!
The next Magical Blogorail Yellow Loop will run Friday, March 2. Check back then to find out where we'll be stopping!
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Feast Aboard Disney Cruise Line
Thursday, February 16, 2012
A lot of folks celebrated Valentine’s Day this week with a romantic evening at their favorite restaurant. Well, Disney Cruise Line offers just as elegant experiences aboard each of their three (soon to be four) ocean liners. Here’s a sampling of the fare you may find on the Disney Dream, along with recipes to replicate at home.
Whet your appetite with Curried Carrot and Apple Soup from the Enchanted Garden
Serves 4
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon curry powder
1 cup diced carrots (about 4 medium carrots) plus 1 whole carrot, divided
1 medium onion, chopped
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and chopped
4 cups vegetable broth
Coarse salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Plain yogurt, fresh parsley, for garnish
- Heat the oil in a large, heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Add curry powder and cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add diced carrots, onions and apple, and stir until coated with the curry powder. Sauté for 5 minutes. Add broth, stirring to combine.
- Cover the pot. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until carrots and apples are very soft, about 20 to 25 minutes. Puree in a blender, or with a hand-held blender. Taste, and add salt and pepper, if desired.
- While soup is cooking, preheat oven to 400°F. Peel remaining whole carrot and cut into very thin curls. Roast for 3 to 5 minutes, or until ends are browned and crisp.
- Top each bowl of soup with yogurt, roasted carrot curls and fresh parsley. Serve warm
Dine finely on Baked Salmon Royal from the Royal Palace
Serves 4
Truffled Cauliflower Puree
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 shallot, chopped
1 pound cauliflower, cored and cut into small florets
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
1 tablespoon white truffle oil
Sautéed Swiss Chard
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 small onion
2 cloves garlic
1 1/2 pounds Swiss chard (about 1 large bunch), cut into strips
1/2 cup dry white wine (such as Chardonnay)
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground white pepper
Baked Salmon
1 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
1/3 pound smoked salmon, very finely chopped
1/3 cup prepared horseradish
1/3 cup plus 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
4 (6-ounce) filets salmon
Beurre Blanc
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, divided
1 shallot, finely diced
1 celery stalk, sliced
1/2 leek, cleaned and sliced
1/2 cup dry white wine (such as Chardonnay)
1/2 cup fish stock
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground white pepper
Freshly chopped chives, optional
For the truffled cauliflower puree:
- Heat butter in a large stockpot over medium heat. Sauté shallot until translucent, then add cauliflower florets, cream, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Cover pot and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer, covered, until the cauliflower is soft, about 10 minutes. Add salt and white pepper; stir in truffle oil.
- Transfer mixture to a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
For the sautéed Swiss chard:
- Heat oil in a large skillet. Add onion and garlic, and sauté until fragrant. Add the Swiss chard and sauté until slightly wilted, about 4 minutes.
- Add the wine, salt and pepper; simmer until wine is reduced and Swiss chard is tender-crisp, about 5 minutes.
For the baked salmon:
- Preheat oven to 280°F.
- Combine panko, smoked salmon, horseradish, 1/3 cup olive oil, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Stir until breadcrumbs absorb oil and mixture is combined.
- Heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear salmon on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Cool to room temperature. Evenly distribute panko mixture among the tops of the salmon filets.
- Bake salmon for 15 to 20 minutes, or until crust is golden and salmon is just cooked through.
For the beurre blanc:
- Cut butter into tablespoons. Reserve 2 tablespoons; set remaining butter aside.
- Heat the reserved 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Sauté the shallot, celery and leek for 2 minutes. Add the wine and fish stock. Simmer until reduced by 2/3, about 10 minutes. Add heavy cream and simmer until mixture is reduced by 1/3.
- Turn heat to low. Whisk remaining butter into wine mixture, one piece at a time, allowing each piece to melt fully before adding the next one. Season with salt and white pepper.
- Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Keep warm until ready to serve.
To serve:
Spoon truffled cauliflower puree onto the center of a plate and top with sautéed Swiss shard. Place a piece of salmon over the Swiss chard, then drizzle with beurre blanc. Garnish with fresh chives, if desired.
And complete the meal with Chocolate Soufflé from Palo
Serves 6
3 tablespoons butter, plus more for greasing the soufflé cups
6 tablespoons sugar, plus more for dusting the soufflé cups
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons Dutch-processed cocoa
2 ounces (2/3 cup) semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, melted
4 eggs, separated
Vanilla Sauce (recipe follows)
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Set a full kettle of water on to boil.
- Butter six 4-ounce soufflé cups and coat with sugar; set aside.
- Bring the milk to a boil in a small saucepan, meanwhile; melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cocoa to the butter and beat with a whisk to a smooth, paste-like consistency. Reduce heat and cook for 1 minute.
- Slowly add the hot milk, whisking until smooth, then blend in melted chocolate. Let cool for 5 minutes, then stir in egg yolks.
- Beat egg whites in a separate bowl until frothy. Slowly add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until stiff, glossy peaks form. Stir a heaping spoonful of egg whites into the chocolate, then fold in the remaining whites just until combined.
- Pour the batter into prepared soufflé cups. Place cups in a large baking dish and add enough boiling water to reach halfway the sides of the soufflé cups.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Serve immediately, with warm vanilla sauce.
Vanilla Sauce
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1/4 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
3 tablespoons sugar
2 small egg yolks
- Bring cream and vanilla bean to a low boil in saucepan over medium heat.
- Combine sugar and egg yolks.
- Add 2 spoonfuls of boiling cream to egg mixture and stir well, then pour back into the remaining cream and continue to cook over low heat, stirring constantly for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly.
Today’s Takeaway:
Choose one or all of the recipes above and serve to your family at mealtime tonight.
SCHOOL SUBJECT: Home Economics
SKILL LEVEL: Middle Grades, High School
All recipes and photos courtesy Disney Cruise Line News.
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