Man dies after riding Expedition Everest

I know it's been a long while since I have posted, but with the holidays right around the corner, I'm super busy. A mousefest review will be up later tonight!! In the meantime let's discuss the latest happenings at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

It seems that a 44-year old man by the name of Jeffrey Reed passed away after riding Expedition Everest yesterday morning. He was unconscious and unresponsive after riding the attraction around 11:25am. A patron who is a registered nurse and a cast member performed CPR on the man until the paramedics arrived. He was without a pulse when paramedics had arrived and was proounced dead shortly after arriving at Celebration Hospital. There were no apparent signs of trauma. This is the first death on the Expedition Everest Attraction since it opened in April 2006. The ride will be closed until the attraction has been fully evaulated.

For more info, follow this link:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/orl-bk-disneyaccident12182007,0,7179266.story?track=rss

This is a shame. I love this attraction, but I'm just curious as to why we hear about so many Disney deaths lately. I'm thinking it's because of the internet. Disney knows the story will leak, so they just decide to release it. This is horrible. Why do you think we hear more and more about Disney tragedies? I'm sure they do happen quite often, unfortunately, but it seems we hear about them more often then ever. My thoughts and prayers go out to him and and his family.

Way to go, Helio!!

I have to give it up for Helio Castraneves. I think he did an amazing job this season on Dancing With The Stars. Half way through the season, I wouldn't have known he'd come this far. He has all the charisma that Marie had to offer and the skill Mel had to offer, he was a total package and I'm glad that he won.

Although, does anyone else find it odd that he called off his engagement the night he won? Was his fiance jealous of his relationship (or all of those kisses he shared with) Julianne? We all succomb to a little bit of gossip now and then, but this just caught me a little offguard. I didn't even know he was engaged to begin with, but I know if my fiance was smooching on someone as drooled over as Julianne, I would be jealous. Oh well not very important. What did you guys think of the finals? I thought it was wayyyy too long. Not suprised though..

I hope everyone is having a great week! 1 WEEK UNTIL MOUSEFEST!!

Since The Disney Company owns ABC Network...

Being an avid viewer of Dancing with The Stars.. I feel the need to take a moment and let the ABC Network know that they will lose a viewer if MARIE OSMOND WINS THIS COMPETITION.

I don't watch much TV, but for some reason I really enjoy watching washed up celebrities attempt to dance their way to the top in this energetic and exciting show. I have watched DWTS since the second season and I've always felt that talent as a dancer has been the essential key to winning this show. It seems that is not the case this season.

I'm sorry to rag on you Marie Osmond, but you have no right being in the finals. This is not a popularity contest, it's about TALENT. Her freestyle dance tonight was an absolute joke. I hope all of her doll collecting fans enjoyed it, because I thought I was watching a car crash. Granted, there has been a ton of drama on this season (that I could've done without, frankly, but we all know it makes for good television), I just am sick of the sob stories and the excuses every week. I'm sorry Marie, but you don't hold a candle to Mel & Maks or Helio & Julianne.


Now don't get me wrong, I know I'm coming off like a %$^#& right now. But this is my opinion and if you don't like it, then don't read my blog. I just get very competitive when I am challenged. This is a dancing competition and I want to see the best dancer win, not the most favored person on the cast. I really think that Jenny Garth gave her all on the show this season. She made a truly awesome journey from the shy and modest girl next door to a confident and sassy dancing queen. Watching her transform was so exciting. I'm sure Marie has gained a lot of dancing experience and has made wonderful memories, but she is just not good enough. I'm afraid to watch tomorrow, but I'll be tuning in. What do you guys think?? Let me know if you are a DWTS fan and who you want to win!! I'm rooting for Helio & Julianne!!!


Also... while I'm on a roll here, to the person who felt the need to leave a severely rude and immature review about The Magical Definition Podcast, my co-hosts and myself.... Thank you for listening ;) If you enjoy the show and have any creative criticism or feedback you'd like to share, please leave us a review on itunes!

I hope you all have a great week and I will possibly be blogging tomorrow! See ya real soon!!


-Jackie O.

I've been Enchanted!

First off, I would just like to say that I hope everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving had a wonderful and safe Holiday. Those of you who may not, I hope you had a wonderful weekend. I had a very nice holiday and having 2 days off was like a breath of fresh air.






So... Aside from Holiday shopping and spending time with friends and family this weekend, I got to see Enchanted last night. I cannot say enough good things about this film. I went to see it with high hopes and I left pleased as pie.

So here is your warning: IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN ENCHANTED YET AND ARE NOT INTERESTED IN SPOILERS... SKIP THIS ENTRY!


First of all, the one thing that really implanted in my mind that this would be a great film was the casting. With seasoned actors like Susan Sarandon, Julie Andrews, Patrick Dempsey and Timothy Spall included in the cast, I knew this movie was going to be something special. Susan Sarandon as the wicked stepmother, Narissa, was a perfect fit. Everything about her went into the character, the voice, the facial expressions and her actions. Julie Andrews as the narrator was a wonderful compliment to the movie-going experience (not to mention, she's one of my idols!). Patrick Dempsey as the closed-minded New York attorney and father of one's character cannot help but succomb to Giselle's beauty and kindness.

On that note, this film was a door opener for the lovely and talented, Amy Adams. She was perfect as a Disney princess. Airy, naive and sweet, she did an excellent job as Giselle. I just hope this role doesn't typecast her because I'd like to see her in other roles. I hear she was really good in Junebug, so I'd like to see her expanding talents. She has a voice like an angel and the poise of the most perfect Disney princess. Her sidekick, the adorable, wisecracking Chipmunk, Pip, was a typical sidekick, but irresistibly cute and funny.

I also really like seeing this whole other side of James Marsden. I'm so used to seeing him in action films like X-Men and Disturbing Behavior. But this year he blew me away as Corny Collins in Hairspray. Who would've known he had such a great voice? Seems this is his year to shine. His role as the corny, yet dashing, Prince Edward was great was yet another perfect fit.


Some of my favorite parts of this film were the "That's How You Know" scene in Central Park, "The Working Song" scene, when Giselle goes to work with Robert (Patrick Dempsey's character), Prince Edwards screwy chase to find Giselle and of course, The Ball Scene. The costumes in the final scene were gorgeous.

What I really loved about this film was that though it ended how most of us women would've wanted it to, it wasn't what you would call a "perfect" fairy tale. It was a very cute and light movie, but going on Giselle's evolutionary journey from naive fairy tale princess to a real life individual woman was exciting and refreshing. Going on dates with Prince Edward rather then marrying him after laying her eyes on him was both enlightening and contrary. I found this film had a great twist on the fairy tale stories we all know and love.

I believe that this is a movie for anyone who has ever experienced fairy tales or Disney in their lives. It had many throwbacks to original Disney films including, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, among many others. Jodi Benson and Paige O'Hara who in the past have voiced famous Disney princesses such as Ariel and Belle, made cameos in this film, which was really cool! They really worked hard to make this film work and they did an amazing job. Having Alan Menken back at work on the fantastic music, it just added to the whole experience. Every element of this film worked for me. I loved the story, the music, the characters, the acting talents and the direction.

This movie gets two big thumbs up from me, so get out there and see it! It's great for the Holiday season. Go see it with your sweetheart, your family or your friends, you won't regret it.

Pics & the "What The Heck?" Moment of the Day

I just want to give a shout out to the e-lurkers... I love you guys!


Here are a couple pics from The Tower of Terror Run if you haven't seen them yet over on www.waltsgirls.com. I know the pics look cut off, but just go ahead and click the pics for better viewing.









And one last pic... Me and Minnie circa 1987!




So today at work, I was telling some co-workers about some Study Abroad programs being offered by the College of Business at my University for next summer. They are offering two separate trips, one to China and the other to Cambodia & Thailand. I think both of these would be blast. I was just mentioning a few details about the trips to my co-workers and I mentioned you get one free day in Hong Kong to do whatever you wish. Of course, I said that I would spend my free day at HK Disneyland, what Disney Nut wouldn't?? The response I got to this? "You mean to tell me, if you had a day to do anything in Hong Kong, you would go to Disneyland?" To which I replied, "Of course! One of my goals in life is to visit every Disney theme park around the world." The response back? "Well, then I guess if that is a goal of yours..." Which was then followed, by an eyeroll and a change of the subject. What the heck is that all about??

I'm a marketing major and not only would I love to go to HK Disneyland, but I would love to see the difference in management and the way the business functions over there. So, what's wrong with this being something that I'd want to do? I'm sure there are wonderful things to see in Hong Kong, but who's to say I'd never go back? I was just a little bothered at the response I was given to this discussion. To each's own, right? Ok, so maybe I shouldn't get so worked up over this, but I felt like she was criticizing me and I didn't like it.

What do you guys think? If you had one day in Hong Kong, would you go to Disneyland or would you do something else? Let's just say, that someday AFTER that you'd have the opportunity to go back. Maybe I'm just an enormous Disney Dweeb. So be it, I say!

Ashes to Ashes

Check out this article


It seems that last Friday at Disneyland California, Pirates of the Caribbean was closed down because a woman was caught on video by cast members dumping a suspicious powder into the attractions waters. Just what was this suspicious powder? The woman claims it was baby powder, but some people are suspecting it is something more like human ashes. If this is the case, this action is completely illegal.


Now, I don't know how many of you have heard about this, but I have known about this for a while. Am I the only weirdo that isn't bothered by this? I mean, yeah, it's a little creepy, but who wouldn't want to be laid to rest at the happiest place on earth? So, if park management knows that something like this is occuring, why not do something about it? Why not have an area where people could have their last respects paid at their favorite Disney park? Ok, so maybe that would freak out the general public, but I still don't think it's a horrible idea. Let's admit it, the parks have been around for a really long time and I'm sure this has been happening for just at long. People aren't going to just stop scattering ashes within the parks (whether or not they "really" are). Could you imagine if someone you knew asked you to do this? Not that anyone has ever asked me to, but, what would you say if someone told you that their last wish was to have their ashes scattered in the Haunted Mansion or in the waters of the Jungle Cruise? Would you say no? Would you want the same thing? Tough question, huh? Maybe Disney can buy up some land and make a Cemetary that doesn't feel so drab and morbid like most Cemetarys do. Just an idea.... lol

I guess this just isn't something that shocks me. People are crazy, they do crazy things and this would be one of them.. If that is someone's dying wish, so be it. I'm not going to let touching a rail with someones cremated ashes on it ruin my day. I'm sure everyone now thinks I'm crazy, but that's ok. It just further proves my point. What do you guys think? Do you agree? Do you think it's disgusting? Do you want your ashes spread around Disney World? After all, Jackie O. always wants to know, so spill it!

Hannah Montana Madness Continues!

Are you one of thousands who struggled to get Hannah Montana concert tickets for your little ones? If so, just be glad you didn’t have to partake in this radio bit started by a local Tampa morning show on 93.3FLZ. The MJ Morning Show has been hosting a competition called “Hannah Monstrosity” since last Thursday morning. What does the competition entail? 20 devoted individuals must hang on to a 12’ tall Hannah Montana statue that has been created by a company who produces Disney and Universal sculptures. Out of the 20 people clinging to the statue, 4 remain as of today. The winner will receive 4 tickets and backstage passes to the Tampa concert next week. The winner will also have the chance to meet Hannah Montana, herself (Miley Cyrus), along with The Jonas Brothers. The $5,000 cash prize is just an added bonus. For more information, live television quality footage and pictures galore, Visit www.mjmorningshow.com.

It’s actually really neat to be able to stream the contest online. If it were me, I would just do it for the $5,000.00, but unfortunately I can’t take the time off of work. In fact, one guy was called back to work and had to withdraw from the contest. I listen to this morning show every day at work and I really thought this was a great bit. Especially knowing that people are desperate for these tickets. Anyone out there have a tough time getting the tickets or just don’t give a hoot about Hannah Montana?? Let me know!

EPCOT'S Food and Wine Festival

Despite my hectic work schedule, I was able to make it to the food and wine festival at EPCOT this weekend. Juice Newton was the featured musical act for the Eat to the Beat concert series. Although I am a huge music fan, I was not familiar with her, so we didn't stop to listen. Had I gone 2 days earlier, I would've been able to see Little Richard. I LOVE Little Richard! I suppose there is always next year.



I was able to sample what I thought to be quite a bit from the festival, though I was sharing portions with two other people. One or two small bites of each was fine by me.



Here is a rundown of the dishes we got to sample (In the order we sampled, we went counter-clockwise as always):

Dominican Republic

Mofongo - This was mashed yuca (which is a starch root similar to the potato) with pork cracklings served with grilled shrimp. This was one of the best things I tried all day. Great way to start off the day. I highly recommended this item.
Coconut Flan - If you've never had flan, it's basically a sweet, creamy, caramel flavored baked custard. Flan by itself is very good, but the coconut gave it a little extra something. This was another favorite of the day.

Peru

Cause de Cangrejo - This is a cold yellow potato and crab salad. Though the crab was pretty good, I didn't really enjoy this dish very much.
Arroz Con Pato - This is a duck dish with cilantro rice. It was actually pretty good. Not my favorite, but I liked the flavor pairing between the duck and cilantro. I don't recommend this if you don't like peas!
Tabernero Cabernet Sauvignon - This red wine was full bodied and very peppery. A little too strong for me since I prefer mild table wines, such as Chianti. If you like very tannin-stimulating full flavored cabs, give this your best shot.

Greece

We skipped Greece because we live in an area populated by many Greek people and Greek restaurants. It would be really hard to reproduce some of the amazing Greek cuisine we've had so close to home. Although, I had overheard many people saying that the food in this pavilion was very good.

Canada

Cheddar Cheese Soup - What would the food and wine festival be without having this?? Every year it is the same as before. Rich, hearty and full of flavor. If you are a fan of cheese or bacon, this is highly recommended. It was warm out, but not too warm for a cup of this soup!
Maple Custard with Almond Crumble - The almond crumble complemented the maple custard so well. I had this last year, but I don't remember it having the almond crumble on the top. Maybe I am losing my mind. It was very yummy. I love anything almond flavored, so this is right up my alley.

New Zealand

We weren't big fans of this booth last year, so we skipped it this year.

Great Beers of the World

Skipped as well. NOT that I am not a beer fan. We came back to this stand a later at night.

Iced Tea Fusion

Skipped

France

Escargot Persillade en Brioche - Everyone except me tried this dish. I just wasn't in the mood for snails I suppose. Not that I don't like it, I've tried it a few times before, I just didn't want any.
I hear the Pomegranate Kir is delicious!

Oklahoma -Three Sisters' Cafe

Seared Buffalo with Scalloped Wild Onions - We came back for this before we left for the night because it looked delicious. If you are a beef lover, this is for you. Cooked perfectly,melt in your mouth delicious!

Oklahoma - Rose Rock Diner

Native Peach Buckle - This was so tasty. It is kind of like a cake in a tart shell with fresh peaches and pecans. Very yummy, I highly recommend this!

Morocco, Australia, Japan, USA

Skipped x4. What can I say? We can eat, but we just couldn't eat it all. Oh wait I lied... We tried the grilled lamb chop with caramelized onions in Australia. It was good wonderfully and was very tasty!

Hops & Barley Market

New England Crab Cake with Barley-Lentil Salad - For me this is a signature F&W Festival dish. I had it last year, I had to have it this year. And what a better to wash it down, then with a Sam Adams Cherry Wheat beer? The lentil salad is light and refreshing with the hearty crab cake. This is highly recommended by me.

Poland

Skipped

Italy

Lasagna Al Forno - One of the best lasagnas I've ever tasted. The spinach pasta in this lasagna is a nice change from the usual semolina pasta. I don't usually eat lasagna that has meat in it, but this one was really good.
Cecchi Chianti Classico - I'm just beginning my excursion into the wide world of red wine and I prefer chiantis and merlots for the time being. This is a very nice everyday chianti.
Peroni Beer - Light with a full flavor. I would have to compare this to Stella Artois. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, I'm no expert, that's just what it reminded me of.

Germany

Skipped

Turkey

Pistachio Baklava - I hate to say I was disappointed with this item. I love baklava, but this just had nothing special to it.

South Africa

Durban Spiced Chicken on a Skewer - I must be the only person on the planet who isn't overly excited about this dish. Maybe because I got the fatty piece, who knows. The flavor was just odd and the item that accompanied the chicken was just icky.
Goats do Roam Red - This was a nice smooth red wine. Very different flavor then the reds I'm used to drinking, but I really liked this.

India

Skipped. Although, I heard the curried butternut squash soup was very good.

China, Ireland & Spain

Skipped

Mexico

Chilaquiles - Yet another one of the most delicious things we tried all day. Chicken, tortillas and a spicy tomatillo sauce. Definitely try this item. It is so good that I bought the recipe book and made it yesterday. It came out just as delicious as I remembered it

Argentina

Spicy Beef Empanada - If you like surprises, try this! It's like a gourmet hot pocket. The beef in this item is organic and very fresh.
Grilled Beef with Chimichurri Sauce - Just as good as it sounds. Try this!!
Dulce de Leche - Similar to flan, but creamier and without the burnt sugar taste. (Which is basically what caramel is) Loved it!

Chile, Champagne

Skipped both



So there you have it, yes we sampled a LOT, but mind you, we didn't have breakfast, lunch or dinner. We just noshed from 11:00am until 8:00pm. We shared everything and had a bite a piece, if that. The only thing we all had a whole portion of was the cheddar cheese soup. That is just NOT shareable. If you go or plan on going to the F&W Festival, be sure to pick up a copy of the recipe book. It is well worth it! I already made the chilequiles and it hasn't been a week since we went. It's a great investment, makes the memories seem to last and last and would even be a great gift for someone who didn't get the chance to go this year. Remember, the Festival runs through November 11th, so you still have time to get in on the fun! I'm sorry we couldn't do every country's booth, but it was just too much food! Not too mention we ended up indulging in dole whips at the Magic Kingdom after EPCOT closed. Take care everyone and talk to you soon!

What were some of your favorite/least favorite dishes? Disagree with my opinions on the items? Do you do any of the seminars or Party for the Senses? I'm dying to hear how they were, so let me know! I'd love to get all of your opinions as well.


-Jackie O.

(2 days until the ToT Marathon!)

Let's try this again....

Sorry about the pics guys. Try this link, I hope you enjoy. Any and all feedback would be appreciated!! New blog coming soon!!


http://www.flickr.com/photos/7884804@N07/sets/72157602439341408/

Argh...

I just wanted to let everyone know I was made aware of the trouble with the pictures in my last entry. Of course, the time I actually post some decent pictures, photbucket decides to start charging for photo hosting. By Friday evening, I should have this problem solved. Again, I apologize. Keep your eyes peeled for a new blog this weekend which may or may not have something to do with Disney. Have a great weekend, everyone!

-Jackie O.

The EPCOT Thing & Pictures

It's hard to believe it has almost been a week since The EPCOT Thing. If you haven't already listened to the podcast at http://www.magicaldefinition.com/, Today I'll be talking all about the wonderful weekend I had at WDW.








Like I said in my previous entry, I got to WDW last sunday and did my thing at The Magic Kingdom for a little while before checking into my hotel. Nathan, Linda and Tim picked me up around 6:00pm to head over to Raglan Road to start setting up for the Shandy Gathering. We had the whole music room to ourselves for the meet. The three of us grabbed a bite to eat before people started to arrive. I had a really yummy portobello mushroom sandwich. Soon after eating, people began to arrive. We met so many wonderful people. It didn't get too hectic luckily, so we had the chance to really chat with some of the listeners and friends of the show. I hope everyone had a wonderful time, I know I did. Afterwards, April, Jon, Tim, Kate and I went to The Adventurers Club. We had a great time (which isn't out of the ordinary).

Since Tim, Kate and I stayed at The Adventurers Club for quite some time, I only got about 4 hours of sleep until I had to get up the next morning for the Coffee Meet at the Boardwalk. Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the coffee meet. Mainly because I had to pack everything up and load it into my car that morning, so I met everyone at the back entrance of EPCOT. As soon as they dropped the rope, we made a mad dash to the Fountain of Nations. It was about 9:00am and it was already sweltering out. It might have felt that way because I was running around like a mad woman, I'm not quite sure. April, Jon and I went to get some coffee and breakfast. By the time we came back, the park was filling up. Shortly after we returned, the Ceremony began. What a tear jerker. It was an amazing site to see. Being able to see Marty Sklar in person was something I will never forget. Here is a man who embodies all that Walt Disney wanted and dreamed and he wasn't even 100' away from me. The ceremony was wonderful and was a great tribute to the park and Walt's vision.

After the ceremony, everyone went on their separate ways for a little while. April, Jon and I walked around the World Showcase and sampled some of the food and wine snacks. Around 12:00pm, we headed to Club Cool to prep for Beverlyfest. This was so exciting! I'm so glad Nathan kept those 25 shots down because I would've cried if he didn't. For those of you who don't already know, Beverlyfest was a battle between my co-host of MDP, Nathan and his friend Robert, to see who could get 25 shots of the digusting italian apertif, Beverly, down first. The janitors seemed to be anticipating the worst, but all was well in the end. Robert beat Nathan. Luckily, there were no "reversals" in this competition. For beverlyfest footage, click this link. Afterwards, a couple other individuals decided to take it upon themselves to partake in their own Beverlyfest. Why they wanted to do this, I will never know. Regardless, it was thoroughly entertaining.

After Beverlyfest, we all headed to Spaceship Earth for a guided tour of EPCOT's Past hosted by Jim Hill, Jeff Lange and the original Dreamfinder, Ron Schneider. After a brief interview with Ron, the tour began. We started under Spaceship Earth and ended at the American Pavilion. What an awesome tour of the park. I found out so many interesting facts about EPCOT. Though it was just a tad warm out, it was worth it to hear some of the things these guys knew. For instance, did you know right behind the Imagination Pavilion, you can see Figment's name written in cement? Or, that the cast that filmed Impressions de France can be seen in the film itself?

After the tour, some of us went on The American Adventure and some individuals went to do their own thing for a little while. Boy, do I wish I was following behind Tim at this point. He got an interview with Marty Sklar!! After The American Adventure, we headed to our dining destination, Rose & Crown. We all had another wonderful chance to mingle and chat during dinner. The only downfall to the meal? The sudden downpour following it! We were all very worried at this point that they wouldn't launch the 25th anniversary fireworks, but we kept on truckin'. We all collected inside one of England's giftshops and then headed over to the American Pavilion to get a spot for the fireworks. Despite another sudden downpour, the fireworks went on as scheduled. I have no words to describe these fireworks. They showed illuminations, of course, but immediately after, they had a 25th anniversary fireworks spectacular. I was amazed at how beautiful this show was. Talk about a dedication, this was one for the record books and I was so glad to be there. Despite the fact that I had to head home, staying late was well worth it!

I had a blast and I'm really looking forward to the NEXT MDP gathering on the evening of the Tower of Terror Run at the end of this month. Thanks again to everyone who contributed to this event and those of you who attended. You truly made our day that much more special! Until next time... Take care!


-Jackie O.

*EDIT* Look for a more recent post with the link to the flickr album!

An enormous Thank You!!

Hi Everyone! I'm back from The EPCOT Thing and all I have to say is... WOW!

I had an absolutely amazing weekend and I just want to thank everyone who was able (and willing, lol) to attend. I feel so incredibly lucky to have met so many wonderful people. The conversations, the faces and the memories, I couldn't have had a better time celebrating EPCOT's 25th. Honestly, thank you all so very much for joining Tim, Nathan and I. Thank you all so very much for your support, it means so very much to me. It was a weekend I will not soon forget and I hope to see you all very soon!

A blog all about my weekend will be released this coming sunday along with a new episode of The Magical Definition Podcast. In the meantime, I just HAVE to talk about The New Haunted Mansion. So, this is a warning, if you have NOT been on the new version and do NOT want to be spoiled... STOP READING NOW...








When I got to Walt Disney World on Sunday afternoon, I had the chance to roam the parks on my own. I immediately headed over to The Haunted Mansion. The wait time was 25 minutes and it was pushing 95 degrees outside. I was so nervous that my favorite attraction just wouldn't be the same. The line wasn't as bad as I'd anticipated. My anticipation began to build as I headed through those big, gloomy doors into the stretching room. I was spellbound and I wasn't even halfway through the attraction yet. The new sounds in the room stretching and the "Ghost Hosts" voice echoing all around the room gave me chills. The fresh coat of wallpaper was an added bonus. Of course, I was in just the right spots to race through the line before the masses.

This new version has so many wonderful changes and upgrades, I can't begin to name them all. The first hallway with the pictures while in the doom buggies isn't quite the same, but the changes here are very cool. They added some windows to the left of the pictures and there are new pictures on the right hand side. When the lightning flashes in the windows, the pictures change to new creepier images! (Oooh Ahhh!) Also, the suit of armor right next to the endless hallway now moves. As a kid, I'd convinced myself it already did this, but I really like this new addition. One spot in the attraction that is brand new is the stair labyrinth (which you would know was actually meant to be a part of the revamped Journey Into Imagination ride if you were at The Epcot Thing park tour, hehe!). This used to be the old staircase and giant spider scene. The new scene is definitely a thrill for the eyes because there is so much to look at. The floating Madame Leota in the seance scene is very cool and the new bride scene at the end gave me "hot and cold running chills!" I was ACTUALLY creeped out. I have never been afraid of this attraction and riding it by myself and witnessing the new bride was definitely took my breath away. She is now on the opposite side and is very life like. Her audio track is so eery, but I love it. I really wanted to go on the ride over and over again. I suppose I could've, but the line was now up to 40 minutes and the heat was lingering. I figured checking into my hotel room for a nap was a good trade off.


I cannot wait to tell you all about The EPCOT Thing 2007. In the meantime, head over to www.themagicinpixels.com, www.magicalmountain.net and www.explorethemagic.com for pictures, stories and more of this event. A big thank you also to the sponsors of the event, as well as our tour guides Jeff Lange, Ron Schneider and Jim Hill.

I simply cannot wait until we can all get together for another awesome event at the parks. Until then, Take care!


-Jackie O.

It's here!!

I suppose I should be packing a bag, but I'm watching "Knocked Up" on dvd instead. I'm so excited about this weekend. I may be in the parks by myself for a bit on sunday, but I think it will be nice. I'm hoping to get on The Haunted Mansion before it gets really crowded. I will be taking tons of pictures, so keep your eyes peeled for a new blog as soon as I get back! Take care everyone and I hope to see some of you there!!


-Jackie O.

Hannah Montana MANIA!!

I will admit it. I watched some of the Hannah Montana marathon last weekend. I gotta say, it's a cute show. Her teeth bother me, but that's just me being critical. Can you believe this girl is selling out concert tours in 10 minutes?? Insanity! I mean, the show is cute, but what is it about this girl that has children and parents alike going crazy? I just don't know. I guess maybe at this point, she is a better role model for young girls then most, but her songs are just horrible. Then again, I am a 23 year old. What am I saying? This coming from a girl who was once obsessed with N'sync. Alright, so I guess the songs are catchy. I have to give it to her. Who would've known that someday Billy Ray Cyrus' little girl would be a huge star? I sure didn't.



I am getting SO pumped for The EPCOT Thing!!! Check out this link for a really cool picture courtesy of Jeff Lange. I love the old EPCOT symbols and I'm so glad to see they are back! If you would like to come, please head over to www.magicalmountain.net and go to The EPCOT Thing page and RSVP! We are going to have a great time! 7 days and counting!!



Hmm.. anything else interesting to discuss right now? Not really, except for the fact that I have 9 chapters to study this weekend for school. Major bummer. I guess having one boring weekend will have to be my breakeven for a month of nonstop fun! October is always my busiest month. Not sure if it's because I love Halloween or I just love October in general. Either way, I'm going to make sure to have a blast.

I really must be getting back to studying, but if you are bored... google Flight of The Conchords. If you haven't already heard of them, you need to. They are my new favorite duo.

Take care everyone!!!


-Jackie O.

FINALLY a blog I can depend on!

After some incredibly unnecessary drama with a certain blog hosting website that will remain nameless for the moment, I finally found a blog that I am comfortable with. If only things were more simple, right?

Things are going as expected for now. Aside from my fractured ankle keeping me somewhat immobile, I figure this gives me some time to get caught up with things online. The things I should be doing but haven't had time to. Aside from school and work, things are alright. I hope everyone is doing well.

Can you guys believe it's almost October?? This year has really flew by. Seems that way every year, things go faster and faster. It's scary! And as of today, there are only 16 more days until The Epcot Thing '07, so head over to www.magicalmountain.net for tons of information about the event and be sure to RSVP! Tim, Nathan, the crew and I would love to see you!


So let me get onto the meat of this blog. Can anyone guess what I'm going to rant about today?? Well, in case you are clueless... I figured I'd spend some time discussing the recent Vanessa Hudgens drama. Can you believe this girl? I mean, I know as teens we all make our mistakes, I know I did. But this is one of those mistakes you'd think she'd really be sure to avoid. This is one of those things you'd imagine her publicist or manager would've warned her about. Heck, how could she have not seen how many other young female celebrities making this mistake and avoided this one at all costs? If you ask me, she ruined any chance she had at becoming a huge star. I just wouldn't have been willing to take a picture like that knowing how big something like High School Musical was and how huge the sequel was going to be. My curiosity is perked at the thought of who could've leaked the picture. It's just a shame. She had everything going for her. I suppose she isnt the only one who messed up like this, but she was really heading for the peak of her career.

I spoke with a few of my coworkers who have children who are HSM fans and they all seem to be very let down. For them, it seems her squeaky clean image has been forever tarnished and I don't blame them. I just worry that younger generations see celebs making these mistakes more frequently and at younger ages, and they think it is "ok", when it really isn't. I guess that is just part of the on-going over sexualization of our world, but I digress.

My point is that her mistake isn't just something she should be able to say "Oops, I'm sorry" about and everyone is suddenly over it. Not that I'm going to dwell on this issue forever, but it's a mistake and it should be dealt with rather than praised. Obviously, this is a subject that bothers me, but I know I'm not the only one. I suppose we will just have to see what happens to her career and the fate of HSM. Best of luck V-Hudge! What are your thoughts?

Anyhoo, this weekend is the Haunted Mansion preview at WDW and I wish I could've gone to see it. If anyone gets the chance, please share your thoughts! I cant wait to see it.

Be sure to head over to www.waltsgirls.com to check out episode one of me and my best friend, April's new podcast. The only all female Disney podcast. We hope you enjoy it and any and all feedback is welcome.


See ya real soon!
-Jackie O.

www.waltsgirls.com
www.magicalmountain.net
www.themagicinpixels.com
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