Disney 2012: Magical Wishes & Dreams!

CEBU, Philippines - “A dream is a wish your heart makes when you're fast asleep; in dreams you will lose your heartaches and make all your wishes come true…” so goes the lyrics of Cinderella's song. In Magic Kingdom Park, one of four theme parks in Walt Disney World - Orlando (Florida), Cinderella's magnificent castle becomes real! Your heart skips a beat, no matter what age you are. You may even be able to chat and have a souvenir photo with Princess Cinderella; also Aurora, Belle, Ariel, Rapunzel and Snow White. The new princesses are different -- Mulan is Asian, Jasmine is Persian, Tiana of The Frog Prince is black, while red-haired Merida (in Disney's newest movie Brave) is Celtic, feisty and above par among her male counterparts. These princesses have evolved to become politically correct and reflective of today's female role model. They make the 2012 dream so true!

We spent a week in Disney-Orlando, staying in four rooms at Port Orleans Resort (within Disney World) as it is a resort that is the first drop-off of the buses from the theme parks. Bus schedule from hotel/resort to theme parks is every 20 minutes. There is also a ferryboat on the lake that runs through the complex, or the theme park monorail that stops at Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Transportation is free, convenient and handicap-friendly. Passengers in wheelchairs are given priority.

My son Allen browsed through the Disney website and got us a Family Package where our room keys included free meals and snacks for the duration of our hotel stay. (Except for Breakfast/Dinners/Lunches with the Princesses & Disney Characters) We saved a lot through this special offer.

We were in Orlando the first week of May and it was already very hot with still rising temperatures! Sun block lotion application was the first action of the day…and regular reapplication was done as we sizzled through the theme parks. (There has been a bushfire blocking the entrance to Downtown Disney during Memorial Day Weekend, May 25 - 27, the official start of summer in the U.S.) Be sure to wear comfortable footwear that will not pinch nor give you blisters after a day's use. Clothes must be loose and of natural fiber to absorb moisture well. Hats and shades are necessary gears.

Magic Kingdom Park takes you back to your childhood fairy tales and adventures where Cinderella holds sway along with Capt. Jack Sparrow and his pirates. “It’s a Small World” (watch out for the nipa hut!) and Dumbo are fun rides.

I love EPCOT because everything there educates the child's sensibilities about ecology conservation, outer space exploration and scientific possibilities, through fun rides and presentations. Then, one goes through different cultures - Europe, Asia, South America - from one building to the next, including a taste of their cuisines! Hence, we had dimsum/noodles dinner in the China building, trying to catch a glimpse of Mulan.

Hollywood Park has the exciting Star Backlot Tour and the submarine ride through Nemo's world. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror plunge is a popular ride. But topping the list is the best of all night shows -- Fantasmic, exactly at 8pm. Mickey Mouse the Magician spins his wand and a dragon spits fire on the surrounding waters, pirates shoot cannon balls almost across to the audience, then all the magical characters will make a surprisingly breathtaking appearance.

Finally, Animal Kingdom Park where they have successfully recreated an African savanna over 110 acres of flatlands, complete with giant termite hills and numerous exotic wildlife - wildebeests, rhinos, hippos, vultures, lions, crocodiles, monkeys, giraffes, etc. For the dinosaur lovers, like my grandson Noah, Dinoland is heaven! Festival of the Lion King is a must-watch, also Finding Nemo The Musical.

We ended our trip in Anaheim (California), where we stayed at the Hilton for another week. Our rooms overlooked Disneyland next door where we had an excellent view of the fireworks at night. As we had a reunion with some family members from San Francisco and Vancouver (Canada), we did Disney again. We caught the rides we missed in Orlando and I had the chance to munch on a humongous turkey leg (yummy!). I bought sweaters for my sons when it really got cold by dusk and there was the nightly lights and fireworks show to watch. We had time to spare to pack our things into balikbayan boxes to simplify somewhat our trip home with the four little ones: 5 year-old Meg, 3 year-old Noah, 2 & a half years old Sabrina and 2 years old Liz. (Traveling with four babies is another article!)

This summer, Disney has started The Magic, The Memories & You, a nightly projection show that transforms the façade of the Small World in Anaheim and the Cinderella Castle in Orlando into various forms - from sand castle into a verdant jungle; from sparkling jewels into a surfing Goofy. This is part of “Let the Memories Begin” which started in early 2011, using a collage of visitors' images in the nightly illumination show, taken from Photo Passes (DisneyPhotoPass.com) of the day. As you look up to your smile being projected on Cinderella's Castle amidst fireworks and a laser light display, life can indeed become magical and dreams do come true!

“A dream is a wish your heart makes when you're fast asleep; in dreams you will lose your heartaches and make all your wishes come true…” so goes the lyrics of Cinderella's song. In Magic Kingdom Park, one of four theme parks in Walt Disney World - Orlando (Florida), Cinderella's magnificent castle becomes real! Your heart skips a beat, no matter what age you are. You may even be able to chat and have a souvenir photo with Princess Cinderella; also Aurora, Belle, Ariel, Rapunzel and Snow White. The new princesses are different -- Mulan is Asian, Jasmine is Persian, Tiana of The Frog Prince is black, while red-haired Merida (in Disney's newest movie Brave) is Celtic, feisty and above par among her male counterparts. These princesses have evolved to become politically correct and reflective of today's female role model. They make the 2012 dream so true!

We spent a week in Disney-Orlando, staying in four rooms at Port Orleans Resort (within Disney World) as it is a resort that is the first drop-off of the buses from the theme parks. Bus schedule from hotel/resort to theme parks is every 20 minutes. There is also a ferryboat on the lake that runs through the complex, or the theme park monorail that stops at Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Transportation is free, convenient and handicap-friendly. Passengers in wheelchairs are given priority.

My son Allen browsed through the Disney website and got us a Family Package where our room keys included free meals and snacks for the duration of our hotel stay. (Except for Breakfast/Dinners/Lunches with the Princesses & Disney Characters) We saved a lot through this special offer.

We were in Orlando the first week of May and it was already very hot with still rising temperatures! Sun block lotion application was the first action of the day…and regular reapplication was done as we sizzled through the theme parks. (There has been a bushfire blocking the entrance to Downtown Disney during Memorial Day Weekend, May 25 - 27, the official start of summer in the U.S.) Be sure to wear comfortable footwear that will not pinch nor give you blisters after a day's use. Clothes must be loose and of natural fiber to absorb moisture well. Hats and shades are necessary gears.

Magic Kingdom Park takes you back to your childhood fairy tales and adventures where Cinderella holds sway along with Capt. Jack Sparrow and his pirates. “It’s a Small World” (watch out for the nipa hut!) and Dumbo are fun rides.

I love EPCOT because everything there educates the child's sensibilities about ecology conservation, outer space exploration and scientific possibilities, through fun rides and presentations. Then, one goes through different cultures - Europe, Asia, South America - from one building to the next, including a taste of their cuisines! Hence, we had dimsum/noodles dinner in the China building, trying to catch a glimpse of Mulan.

Hollywood Park has the exciting Star Backlot Tour and the submarine ride through Nemo's world. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror plunge is a popular ride. But topping the list is the best of all night shows -- Fantasmic, exactly at 8pm. Mickey Mouse the Magician spins his wand and a dragon spits fire on the surrounding waters, pirates shoot cannon balls almost across to the audience, then all the magical characters will make a surprisingly breathtaking appearance.

Finally, Animal Kingdom Park where they have successfully recreated an African savanna over 110 acres of flatlands, complete with giant termite hills and numerous exotic wildlife - wildebeests, rhinos, hippos, vultures, lions, crocodiles, monkeys, giraffes, etc. For the dinosaur lovers, like my grandson Noah, Dinoland is heaven! Festival of the Lion King is a must-watch, also Finding Nemo The Musical.

We ended our trip in Anaheim (California), where we stayed at the Hilton for another week. Our rooms overlooked Disneyland next door where we had an excellent view of the fireworks at night. As we had a reunion with some family members from San Francisco and Vancouver (Canada), we did Disney again. We caught the rides we missed in Orlando and I had the chance to munch on a humongous turkey leg (yummy!). I bought sweaters for my sons when it really got cold by dusk and there was the nightly lights and fireworks show to watch. We had time to spare to pack our things into balikbayan boxes to simplify somewhat our trip home with the four little ones: 5 year-old Meg, 3 year-old Noah, 2 & a half years old Sabrina and 2 years old Liz. (Traveling with four babies is another article!)

This summer, Disney has started The Magic, The Memories & You, a nightly projection show that transforms the façade of the Small World in Anaheim and the Cinderella Castle in Orlando into various forms - from sand castle into a verdant jungle; from sparkling jewels into a surfing Goofy. This is part of “Let the Memories Begin” which started in early 2011, using a collage of visitors' images in the nightly illumination show, taken from Photo Passes (DisneyPhotoPass.com) of the day. As you look up to your smile being projected on Cinderella's Castle amidst fireworks and a laser light display, life can indeed become magical and dreams do come true!