El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, Half Dome, Tioga Pass, these are landmarks within a landmark; exclamation points in the wild, galloping beauty of Yosemite National Park.
Yet, marvel abounds everywhere in Yosemite, in both big ways and small. For the next few days, the park will have the focus of many of the world’s most enthusiastic nature and travel photographers.
Shutterbugs are gathering to photograph a slender, unpretentious fall of water known as Horsetail. For only two weeks in mid to late February, when the conditions are just right, the sun set makes the water glow orange like lava draining from a fissure in the granite.
This spectacle is so rare and so fleeting, for a long time it was barely known. A strict set of conditions needs to be met. If the season hasn’t produced enough rain or snow melt there won’t be sufficient water to feed the fall and the often stormy February sky has to be clear just as the sun is producing its lowest angle of light. At that angle, the light reflects off the granite behind the fall, to produce a liquid sunset.
Once the stage is set, for two brief minutes, the horsetail becomes a blazing fire-fall, and then it is extinguished again.
Renowned Yosemite photographer Ansel Adams immortalised the Horsetail, but in his ubiquitous medium of black and white. No fire-fall in his pictures. Come on Ansel!
The Horsetail was first captured in its full colour glory by acclaimed nature photographer Galen Rowell, in 1973. Since then, others have been trying to recreate the magic caught by his lens. The internet has enlarged the community of tripod toters massively in recent years.
To see Horsetail Fall turn to lava, you’ll need to be in Yosemite during the two week period ending February 24th. Rendezvous at the El Capitan picnic area before sunset. The paparazzi meet there and then vie for position. Alternatively, just look for the gaggle of tripods and you’ll know you’re on the right track.
You are looking for a vantage point from which you can see the eastern summit of El Cap. Spilling from the top of this massive rock, Horsetail Fall boasts the longest freefall of any of Yosemite’s waterfalls.
It pours over the side of El Capitan to strike the granite 1,500 feet below and then flows over for a further 500 foot drop.
“Horsetail is so uniquely situated that I don’t know of any other waterfall on earth that gets that kind of light,” say Michael Fraye, photo instructor with the park’s Ansel Adams Gallery.
Yosemite is a diva, and she’s used to glamorous photo shoots. The lava show at Horsetail Fall is just a little something extra she tosses in for those who are paying attention. Enjoy– Jen R, Staff Writer
Ah, the Disney Dream…how I long to be back on board.
A couple weeks ago we took a family vacation for a 3-night cruise aboard Disney’s newest cruise ship, the Disney Dream.
The first question I had asked of those who have sailed Disney before me, is “Is it really worth the extra money to make your cruise a Disney cruise?” My answer is a resounding “YES”. Disney has thought of every detail on this ship. The details never failed to astound me.
Before we even left home, part of the experience included (up to two) Enchanted Phone calls, where you could choose a Disney character to call your child to get them excited about their upcoming cruise. I opted not to utilize this, only because our schedule was a mess and I couldn’t be sure we would be home at the time of the call.
Everything was organized online with Disney. Port activities, Spa reservations, upscale adult dining at Remy or Palo – all could be reserved prior to ever leaving the comfort of home. We registered the kids for the Oceaneers Club and away we went.
As we boarded the ship, we were asked our family name and then were formally announced on the microphone, welcoming the family aboard “Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to welcome the Arneill Family” aboard. I think the kids were too in awe to even have noticed our names. Immediately a crew member took us aside to direct us to our stateroom, where our luggage awaited us.
Granted, I have only one past cruising experience to compare this to, but the differences were night and day. On one hand, I found the layout of the ship similar to my past experience, in that the lobby Atrium had the same feel as our first cruise – but with a distinct Disney flare. The staircase placement was beside the elevators, with access doors to the staterooms, but I imagine most ships have the same ‘basic’ layout, aside from dining area/shopping/activity placement.
Since we were cruising with two small children, we spent a little extra and booked a Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah, which boasted 299 sq. ft. It was furnished with one queen bed, a convertible single bed, an upper berth pull-down bed and a single wall pull-down bed. It could sleep a family of five! The space we had was comparable to a small hotel room, rather than the tight-quartered inside cabin I had experienced before. And then there was the verandah, with two chairs and a table and an awesome view of everything – all seen through a clear plexi-glass type rail so even the kids had a view!
There was ample storage space. We unpacked all of our suitcases and still had empty drawers. The drawers themselves caught my eye. They were slow-close, so they didn’t have to be slammed shut. All that was needed was a gentle push and it would close slowly on its own – very nice touch.
The bathrooms were my favorite part of the stateroom. Yes, I said bathrooms (plural). Disney has created 2 separate spaces, a sink and toilet, and a sink and shower/round tub. Both had ample storage for toiletries, etc. This allowed one person to use the ‘facilities’ while someone else was showering next door. The shower was heaven. Not only was the shower base/tub deep enough to bath the kids, but there is a seat off to the side, where you could sit and shave (for example). The shower itself had a handheld hose, with which you could hose down the kids. [By the way, that is my biggest pet-peeve about hotels – their tubs don’t make it easy to wash small kids]. In addition to the hose, there was also a shower ‘head’ mounted to the ceiling, where the water actually rained down on you. I loved it! I wanted to spend my whole time in there, standing under the rain….And for the record, the shampoo/conditioner and lotion provided by Disney was incredible too. I must not be the only one who thinks so, because they sell full-size products in the gift shop.
But alas, we had to leave our room and check out the rest of the ship. We went to find lunch and discovered a massive buffet in Cabanas. They had everything from kid friendly counters with pizza, chicken fingers & fries, to hot roast beef carving and seafood. It was all self-serve, so you could pick and choose and try whatever tickled your fancy.
The main deck is where we found the pools. And in Disney fashion, they were shaped like Disney characters. Mickey’s Pool is a children’s pool shaped like Mickey Mouse and designed for young kids with a maximum depth of 2 ft. Mickey’s Pool has a twisty water slide for kids between the ages of 4 and 14. Unfortunately for us, they must be at least 3’ 2” tall (and no more than 5’ 4”, so no adults). This was a particular problem for us, because our youngest is the most adventurous and they wouldn’t allow her on the slide. She was VERY upset.
However, there is also Nemo’s Reef for children under 8. It is an awesome little (1,500 sq.ft.) splash pad area, specifically for little ones. And it did have its own little slide down the back of Mr. Ray (from Nemo, of course). The area is shaded from the sun, surrounded by a glass enclosure and featured a soft deck surface. It was very colourful, with many characters from Finding Nemo and tons of fun for both of our kids.
Donald’s Pool (maximum depth of 5 ft ) is designed for both parents and kids and has Donald Duck on its floor. This is where you find relaxing deck chairs for sunbathing (not that I ever found time for that!).
There is also an Adults Only pool (for guests over 18), but we didn’t get a chance to enjoy that solitude either. Quiet Cove is conveniently attached to the Cove Bar for cocktails and beverages and situated in an elegant and soothing environment (including romantic moonlit evenings). It offers a 4 ft deep plunge pool and a 6” deep sunbathing pool with built-in loungers. Nearby, you can soak in a hot tub while overlooking a view of the ocean.
Dining on the Dream features a dining room rotation, where each night your family is assigned to one of the 3 dining rooms. This way you get to enjoy all three varying atmospheres aboard. Your servers rotate with you, so you get to know them and have consistent service for your entire cruising experience.
The first night we dined at Enchanted Garden. It had a ‘Pixie Hollow’ type feel to me. It was full of vines and apparently inspired by the gardens of Versailles. It had really cool glass flower light fixtures that opened and closed like blooming flowers and the lighting changed in the ceiling from daylight to sunset and then to evening stars.
Our second night was the Royal Palace; a very formal-type dining experience. It was a quite ornate dining room serving French-inspired continental cuisine. It had marble floors, an elaborate chandelier and hand-painted portraits of many Disney princesses, which my daughter loved.
Despite the formality of the dining room that evening, our second night was also Pirate Night (Argh!). I was amazed at how many passengers actually came to dinner dressed as pirates! And I am not only speaking of the kids, although there were some really cute ones. There were entire families dressed to the hilt in pirate hats and swash-buckling boots!
Our third night was the Animator’s Palatte, which was in our opinion by far the best food and atmosphere. The scenery kept the kids engaged and the animation was outstanding. The décor was animated. I don’t know what else to say it. What you would have thought to be a picture on the wall, was something else entirely the next time you looked up.
The best feature is when all of these “screens” turn into a big fish tank. Not only do the Finding Nemo characters swim around (and you can actually follow them from window to window), but Crusher (the turtle dude) comes up to your table and talks to you. It is a truly interactive experience. He picks someone at the table to speak directly to, ask questions and provide spontaneous responses. VERY cool. There was always something to watch. And the food was great too!
The kids club on board was amazing. Unfortunately, we didn’t get much use from it, as our son only wanted to go if Mom and Dad could come too. But it was a very cool place. Completely Disney themed. Every room a different film (Andy’s Room from Toy Story, Pixie Hollow, etc.) Everything a child could ask for. And the parents too. Kids could stay and play to their content. They would even get fed if they stayed through meal-time.
But safety was the most impressive. The kids actually wore a gps tracker on their wrists, so staff could locate them as specifically as which room they were playing in. Parents were equipped with wave phones, so in case of emergency, staff could call or page us back to the Oceaneers Club.
I could go on. There is just too much to say. So many things for kids of different ages that we saw other families enjoying. One thing is clear. 3 days is NOT enough time to thoroughly enjoy this vessel!
Lastly, I have one more comment. Leave the kids at home! (just kidding) There really IS something for everyone of every age on board. This cruise could have just as easily been a romantic getaway for two. Although Disney is a child’s dream, the Disney Dream is NOT just for children. Whether parents or grandparents, or a getaway for two, this ship will be enjoyed! I can’t wait to go back again! Or perhaps, I may try the new Disney Fantasy in March 2012.
The Royal West Indies Resort is located on the south end of Providenciales Turks & Caicos in the Leeward area of the island.
Nestled between Club Med and the Grace Bay Club, this property features 8 Residence buildings with 15 suites each.
Last week our family traveled to Providenciales for a relaxing getaway and we chose the Royal West Indies as our destination for the 7 day vacation.
This was our third time to RWI. When we visited 3 years ago, it was our first time to TCI and we were impressed. We have stayed at many resorts in our time and we love the quaint feel on this property. During our numerous visits we have stayed in both the one-bedroom suite and also the studio suite for a quick couples getaway.
While it was not as big as the one-bedroom unit, the Studio suite still offered many of the amenities of home like a small kitchen (fridge, microwave and coffee maker), a 42″ flat screen television and laundry facilities. Also provided were dishes, silverware and beauty basics like soap, body wash and shampoo.
For family vacations the one-bedroom suite meets all of our needs while away. This well appointed 1000 sq. ft. condo is equipped with a bedroom, bathroom, laundry facilities, a generously sized full kitchen and a living room. We love that the suites are always clean, comfortable and nicely decorated. You could definitely live here.
RWI is the perfect resort for families because everything is close. The pool was just outside our doorway, the restaurant only a few steps past that and the beach only a minute walk from our room. In past years we have stayed at big resorts that have to offer transportation to get you from your room to the beach or restaurant and that can be too much when you have little ones. The Royal West Indies is nice because everything you need is almost within sight.
For meals we enjoyed the food at the Pelican restaurant. Set on one of the resort’s 2 pools, this open-aired restaurant offers service from 7:30 am to 10:00pm. Whether you want something casual or a formal night out the Pelican has everything from finger foods to Filet Mignon. For our first dinner we went formal, but then we returned the next night and ordered pizza and quesadillas at 9:00pm. Both were great and we were pleased that we could have such a selection so close.
For us, however, the beach is really what makes Turks and the Royal West Indies our favourite destination. Situated right on Grace Bay, this powder sand beach is post card worthy. We have traveled to over 20 Caribbean islands and Grace Bay is definitely, one of, if not our #1 favourite beach. The water is warm, calm and a colour of turquoise that is so pretty is almost doesn’t look real.
For vacationers who like to just lounge poolside there are 2 pools to chose from. The main pool in nestled in the vegetation and it features a waterfall and hot tub. Three of the residence buildings (5,7 & 8) overlook this pool and have balconies that open up just feet from the water’s edge.
The second pool, which sits directly in front of the restaurant, is bigger and has a toddler wading area.
For your comfort the RWI offers chairs, and umbrellas for all of their guests. They also have some watersports available like Hobie Cats, Kayaks and snorkelling gear. There are also pedal bicycles at the front entrance for use to go into town or wander around the island. They are, however, in need of upgrading because my husband borrowed one to go to the store and said it didn’t ride very well. This didn’t stop other vacationers from using them though. They are a hot commodity and are often all out.
Royal West Indies Resort suits travelers of all ages. It doesn’t have any special amenities that make it a family hotel. There aren’t any climbers or kid’s clubs, but we like it because of the practical suites and slow pace. Judging by the number of families visiting the resort we aren’t alone in our high opinion of this property.
If you are traveling to Turks and Caicos the Royal West Indies Resort is definitely worth a look.
Pros:
Clean, spacious rooms
right on the beach
Easy to get around
Cons:
Pool can be cold – which is weird since the weather is so beautiful
There aren’t any elevators
No room service for food delivery
No fitness facilities
No entertainment
With that being said this property doesn’t offer any of these ammenities because it is more of a condo property as opposed to a resort like many travelers are used to.
Whether you are headed to the beach, the park or grandma’s house phil&teds award winning baby bed has you covered.
The Nest is a spacious, travel bed that has been designed for babies from birth to 9 months. In a word, the design of this bed is genius. It sets up quickly, will tote all of your necessities and it features a hard plastic base with ventilation to keep your baby comfortable and well ventilated.
Plus, a breathable, sheer mesh cover zips onto the rim of the bassinet to protect your little one against the elements if you are out at the beach or on a camping trip. It is also black to help darken the space during nap time.
Out of the box the Nest is ready to go – literally! It even has handles for easy transport. When it’s time for naptime, just unzip the bottom half of the bag, unsnap the handles and pop the support wall supports into place and you are ready to go(30 seconds). The bed comes with a mattress that is covered in a soft cotton so a sheet isn’t necessary – just a blanket to cover your baby.
Because the carry bag is divided into 2 sections you don’t have to worry about your baby’s clothes and supplies getting in the way when you need to set the bed up. Once it’s up, you can store the carry bag under a bed and keep the Nest separate at the side of your bed.
The bed is easy to carry and the handles snap into the side to give it more stability.
I highly recommend the phil&teds Nest for parents who need something that will go anywhere, anytime. The storage area could easily hold enough of your baby’s goods to get you through a week long vacation.
phil&teds has definitely hit it out of the park with the Nest.
For more information please visit philandteds.com
SPECS:
Disney Cruises have come a long way since the Big Red Boat days and their newest liner, the Fantasy, promises to offers cruisers and Disney lovers an incredible experience at sea.
The 4,000-passenger ship is scheduled to float into New York Harbor on February 28th, 2012 and will spend four days docked at Pier 88 in midtown Manhattan, the Staten Island Advance has reported. Once the christening is complete, the Fantasy will set sail for Port Canaveral, where it will make it’s maiden voyage on March 31, offering seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean and the Bahamas.
While the Dream and Fantasy are very similar in structure, the décor and added features onboard the Fantasy have an ‘Art Nouveau’ theme with softer, more delicate lines and colors.
Little diners will love a new concept dinner show called “Animation Magic,” where guests draw an original character on their placemats and Disney “Imagineers” make a cartoon in which that character interacts with animated Disney celebrities. The original artist will also get a facsimile of the final product and a Disney Animation Artist certificate to take home with them.
Like the Disney Dream, Fantasy also has an Enchanted Garden restaurant, a room that magically transforms from day to nighttime during the meal. During the ‘night’ the special “night-blooming” murano-glass chandeliers are designed to bloom each night.
Adults will not be left out on the Fantasy. The adult-only section called Europa, features a group of connected nightspots with varied themes. Parents looking for some time together can chose from an Italian cocktail bar called La Piazza, a French boudoir styled bar titled Ooh La La or O’Gills Pub, an Irish sports bar with wood, leather, brass and Kelly-green accents.
Disney has also added a new adult area on the top pool deck called “Satellite Falls.” This “concept pool,” has a satellite globe that is encircled by a 360-degree waterfall.
During the day kids can play in the “Aqualab”, a water-based version of “Whack-a-Mole.” There is also new family wading pool where the waterfall encapsulates fog – like something out of a movie.
Disney is famous for it’s incredible details and they will be apparent in every aspect of the Fantasy. They have even added a Bippity Boppity Boutique to give little princesses and pirates a fairy tale make-over while onboard.
Plus, the seven day itineraries will ensure that your family will be able to experience the Fantasy to it’s fullest!
{ZUMA & DISNEY}
At just 6-years-old my son is a techie who is always asking for the latest tech toys. For the last year he has been obsessed with my classic Polaroid camera and the cool photos it produced instantly. Because of it’s age the camera has become a little unpredictable. So for Christmas this year my parents gifted him a Fuji Instax Mini 7s Camera.
This cute white camera arrived almost ready to go. For some reason Fuji loads it with batteries, but doesn’t supply any photos not even a 5-pk. After I tracked some down at our local Black’s, we loaded them and we on our way. With a vacation on the horizon we decided to bring the fuji instax mini 7s with us so that he could bring some pics back to show his class.
Not really designed for kids, this camera is perfect for them. It is very easy to use and there are only 3 steps to taking a photo. To turn the camera on you simply pull the lens out. Next you set the scene or adjust the shooting mode to compensate(or not) for your environment and press the go button. Within seconds your image makes its appearance through the top of the camera. Watching it process was something that the kids and other onlookers loved. In under 5 minutes the kids could clearly see their shot and showed it off to anyone who would look.
The only downfall? The price of film. At $1 a shot it took us a bit to teach our son to not take pictures of his toes and only of important moments or interesting sights.
We also needed to remember to set the shooting mode. It defaults to indoor, which adds a flash so pictures taken in this mode outdoors are over exposed, resulting in little to no image.
Once set properly the final result is a nice picture that is more vibrant than the classic Polaroid from my childhood.
The other downfall is that, in this digital age, you have to adjust your brain to know that there will only be one photo of a captured moment. For this reason I was often standing behind my son taking a second photo with my digital SLR.
Fuji has 3 camera in their Instax Collection – two that take the mini instant film(Credit-Card Size – 5.4 x 8.6 cm); the mini 7s, mini 50s and the Instax 210 that takes a wide format 10.6 x 8.4 cm.
January in northern areas is just plain cold. But for those lucky enough to go on a tropical winter getaway, or those living in more southerly climates, January can still mean plenty of beach fun!
Stella Cove beautiful beachwear has your little ones covered with a wide selection of high-quality swimwear in gorgeous brightly colored prints!
For girls we love the fact that Stella Cove has simply styled one-piece suits in classic, square-tank, cross-back or halter style as well as simple halter styled bikinis where the prints can really ‘wow’! Our favorites for girls would have to be the Penny Lane or Pollen swimsuits and the Lady Marmalade classic bikini. The collection also includes several cotton cover-up dresses and fun, chunky sunglasses.
For little boys the Stella Cove collection includes fitted swim shorts and board shorts in equally awesome prints! We love the “funky farm”, “colorful parrots” Kravitz and “Koi fish” prints!
Let your little ones soak up the sun and surf in style! Check out Stella Cove beautiful beachwear for some fabulous swimsuits for boys, girls and mama too. – Belinda, Staff Writer
It was a scene of chaos and terror last night when the Costa Concordia ran aground and turned on it’s side off the coast of Tuscany, sending water pouring through a 160-foot gash in the hull.
Just 3 hours after leaving Civitavecchia, en route to its first port of call, Savona, the port captain’s office in the Tuscan port of Livorno, recieved word that the ship had “hit an obstacle, ripping a gash 160 feet across” in the side of the ship, and started taking on water. The ship’s captain then tried to steer the ship toward shallow waters, near Giglio’s small port, to make evacuation by lifeboat easier. The ship, however, started to list badly, which made lifeboat evacuations difficult.
While many of the ship’s passengers reached land by lifeboats, some complained the crew failed to give instructions on how to evacuate and once the emergency became clear, delayed lowering the lifeboats until the ship was listing too heavily for many of them to be released.
“It was so unorganized, our evacuation drill was scheduled for 5 p.m.,” said Melissa Goduti, 28, of Wallingford, Connecticut, who had set out on the cruise of the Mediterranean hours earlier. “We had joked ‘What if something had happened today?”‘
“Have you seen ‘Titanic?’ That’s exactly what it was,” said Valerie Ananias, 31, a schoolteacher from Los Angeles who was traveling with her sister and parents on the first of two cruises around the Mediterranean.
“We were crawling up a hallway, in the dark, with only the light from the life vest strobe flashing,” her mother, Georgia Ananias, 61 said. “We could hear plates and dishes crashing, people slamming against walls.”
Initially the crew reportedly told passengers that the ship was having technical problems, but the experienced cruisers grabbed their lifejackets and reported to their assigned muster stations ~ the emergency meeting point that each passenger is given if a problem arises.
At the life boat station, crew members directed passengers to go up a deck, but Alan Willits said he refused.
“I said ‘no this isn’t right.’ And I came out and I argued ‘When you get this boat stabilized, I’ll go up to the fifth floor then,” he said. Eventually, his lifeboat was lowered down.
Five helicopters, from the coast guard, navy and air force, were taking turns airlifting survivors still aboard and ferrying them to safely. A coast guard member was airlifted aboard the vessel to help people get aboard a small basket so they could be hoisted up to the helicopter, said Capt. Cosimo Nicastro, another Coast Guard official.
Once on land the passengers out numbered the town’s population of just 1,500. Mayor Sergio Ortelli issued an appeal for islanders “anyone with a roof” to open their homes to shelter the evacuees.
Now they will attempt to find their way home.
Our thoughts are with these families and our prayers are with those who have not yet been accounted for.
The ground is rumbling. Could it be the distant roar of engines? There are tremors and murmurings that Disneyland Resort in California is preparing to open Cars Land, at last.
The twelve-acre attraction, built to replicate Radiator Springs, has been hotly anticipated by young and old alike, but the wait will soon be over.
Opening this Summer, Cars Land will boast new rides and revamped attractions, dining options and retail space for souvenirs.
Old-school Disney fans are excited to take a spin on Luigi’s Flying Tires. This ride is a reimagining and vast improvement on TomorrowLand’s Flying Saucer, from the 1960s. I wasn’t around in the 60s, but apparently the Flying Saucer ride was a bit of a letdown. With today’s technology and new innovations, however, it should be smooth sailing as riders glide and spin across a cushion of air.
Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree will be loads of fun for little ones, as they are pulled around the junkyard, in a trailer towed by a rusty farm tractor, while familiar tunes from the movie soundtrack play.
Of course, the pièce de résistance of Cars Land will be the Radiator Springs Racers. In this attraction, the folks at Disney took the former Autopia ride and cranked it up to make it bigger and then cranked it up again to make it faster. This one attraction alone takes up half of the twelve acre facility. It should be incredible to experience.
I, for one, can’t wait! – Jen R, Staff Writer
*Post updated with current images after Cars Land opened.*
Disney has a lot of balls in the air and they’re about to fall into place in 2012. For anyone who likes to travel with, at or through Disney, this is going to be a big year.
They’re off to a good start this month with the opening of The Exotics Course featuring “supercars” by Ferrari, Lamborghini, Audi and Porsche. The one-mile circuit at Walt Disney World Resort will open around mid-January and will offer gear-heads the opportunity to take a spin behind the wheel of one of these impressive cars or be chauffeured by a pro. If you’re planning a visit this year, you can make reservations at www.exoticdriving.com
The Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is an interactive experience, opening soon. Guests become apprentice sorcerers, working under Merlin the Magician hunting out villains and flushing them from their hiding places. Using magic spell cards, players can bring the likes of Yzma, Kronk and their pals, to their knees. This experience will be included in the price of admission to the park.
Fantasyland, at Walt Disney World Resort, will start unveiling its new and expanded attractions in 2012. The much anticipated expansion will include new rides and experiences Under the Sea with The Little Mermaid and at the Beast’s Castle. Most of Fantasyland will open in 2013 and it should be complete in 2014. To read more about the new and improved Fantasyland, check out our previous post.
In spring of this year, Walt Disney World will open 512 Royal Guest Rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside. The rooms sleep up to four guests, on custom linens, befitting a prince or princess. The opulent decor will conjure reminiscences of favourite movies like Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and The Princess and the Frog.
In March Disney launches the newest ship in their fleet, the 4,000 passenger Disney Fantasy. The ship will set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida and carry passengers on a week-long voyage of the Caribbean. While on board, the Muppets will lead you around the ship in an interactive detective game. You can also take in the two Broadway calibre shows, put together just for Disney Fantasy passengers. The ship is decked out with all the bells and whistles. Its maiden voyage is set to begin March 31, 2012.
Disney Cruise Line will add new ports and itineraries in May of this year. Sailing from New York, Seattle and Galveston, Texas, passengers will now have new opportunities to experience New England, the east coast of Canada, Alaska and the western Caribbean. Check out our post on these new voyages.
Also opening in May, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. This resort offers 1,120 family suites with decor from The Lion King, Cars and Finding Nemo. There will also be 864 themed rooms in the Little Mermaid wings. Nemo will be the first wing to open, in May followed by Cars in July and The Lion King in September. The Little Mermaid wing should also be open by the end of the year. Disney’s 25th resort hotel will be located next to Disney’s Pop Century Resort.
So that’s some of what Disney has in store for us in 2012, and we’ll have more updates for you soon. – Jen R, Staff Writer
Shutterbugs are gathering to photograph a slender, unpretentious fall of water known as Horsetail. For only two weeks in mid to late February, when the conditions are just right, the sun set makes the water glow orange like lava draining from a fissure in the granite.
This spectacle is so rare and so fleeting, for a long time it was barely known. A strict set of conditions needs to be met. If the season hasn’t produced enough rain or snow melt there won’t be sufficient water to feed the fall and the often stormy February sky has to be clear just as the sun is producing its lowest angle of light. At that angle, the light reflects off the granite behind the fall, to produce a liquid sunset.
Once the stage is set, for two brief minutes, the horsetail becomes a blazing fire-fall, and then it is extinguished again.
Renowned Yosemite photographer Ansel Adams immortalised the Horsetail, but in his ubiquitous medium of black and white. No fire-fall in his pictures. Come on Ansel!
The Horsetail was first captured in its full colour glory by acclaimed nature photographer Galen Rowell, in 1973. Since then, others have been trying to recreate the magic caught by his lens. The internet has enlarged the community of tripod toters massively in recent years.
To see Horsetail Fall turn to lava, you’ll need to be in Yosemite during the two week period ending February 24th. Rendezvous at the El Capitan picnic area before sunset. The paparazzi meet there and then vie for position. Alternatively, just look for the gaggle of tripods and you’ll know you’re on the right track.
You are looking for a vantage point from which you can see the eastern summit of El Cap. Spilling from the top of this massive rock, Horsetail Fall boasts the longest freefall of any of Yosemite’s waterfalls.
It pours over the side of El Capitan to strike the granite 1,500 feet below and then flows over for a further 500 foot drop.
“Horsetail is so uniquely situated that I don’t know of any other waterfall on earth that gets that kind of light,” say Michael Fraye, photo instructor with the park’s Ansel Adams Gallery.
Yosemite is a diva, and she’s used to glamorous photo shoots. The lava show at Horsetail Fall is just a little something extra she tosses in for those who are paying attention. Enjoy– Jen R, Staff Writer 
The first question I had asked of those who have sailed Disney before me, is “Is it really worth the extra money to make your cruise a Disney cruise?” My answer is a resounding “YES”. Disney has thought of every detail on this ship. The details never failed to astound me.
Before we even left home, part of the experience included (up to two) Enchanted Phone calls, where you could choose a Disney character to call your child to get them excited about their upcoming cruise. I opted not to utilize this, only because our schedule was a mess and I couldn’t be sure we would be home at the time of the call.
Everything was organized online with Disney. Port activities, Spa reservations, upscale adult dining at Remy or Palo – all could be reserved prior to ever leaving the comfort of home. We registered the kids for the Oceaneers Club and away we went.
As we boarded the ship, we were asked our family name and then were formally announced on the microphone, welcoming the family aboard “Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to welcome the Arneill Family” aboard. I think the kids were too in awe to even have noticed our names. Immediately a crew member took us aside to direct us to our stateroom, where our luggage awaited us.
Granted, I have only one past cruising experience to compare this to, but the differences were night and day. On one hand, I found the layout of the ship similar to my past experience, in that the lobby Atrium had the same feel as our first cruise – but with a distinct Disney flare. The staircase placement was beside the elevators, with access doors to the staterooms, but I imagine most ships have the same ‘basic’ layout, aside from dining area/shopping/activity placement.
Since we were cruising with two small children, we spent a little extra and booked a Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah, which boasted 299 sq. ft. It was furnished with one queen bed, a convertible single bed, an upper berth pull-down bed and a single wall pull-down bed. It could sleep a family of five! The space we had was comparable to a small hotel room, rather than the tight-quartered inside cabin I had experienced before. And then there was the verandah, with two chairs and a table and an awesome view of everything – all seen through a clear plexi-glass type rail so even the kids had a view!
There was ample storage space. We unpacked all of our suitcases and still had empty drawers. The drawers themselves caught my eye. They were slow-close, so they didn’t have to be slammed shut. All that was needed was a gentle push and it would close slowly on its own – very nice touch.
The bathrooms were my favorite part of the stateroom. Yes, I said bathrooms (plural). Disney has created 2 separate spaces, a sink and toilet, and a sink and shower/round tub. Both had ample storage for toiletries, etc. This allowed one person to use the ‘facilities’ while someone else was showering next door. The shower was heaven. Not only was the shower base/tub deep enough to bath the kids, but there is a seat off to the side, where you could sit and shave (for example). The shower itself had a handheld hose, with which you could hose down the kids. [By the way, that is my biggest pet-peeve about hotels – their tubs don’t make it easy to wash small kids]. In addition to the hose, there was also a shower ‘head’ mounted to the ceiling, where the water actually rained down on you. I loved it! I wanted to spend my whole time in there, standing under the rain….And for the record, the shampoo/conditioner and lotion provided by Disney was incredible too. I must not be the only one who thinks so, because they sell full-size products in the gift shop.
But alas, we had to leave our room and check out the rest of the ship. We went to find lunch and discovered a massive buffet in Cabanas. They had everything from kid friendly counters with pizza, chicken fingers & fries, to hot roast beef carving and seafood. It was all self-serve, so you could pick and choose and try whatever tickled your fancy.
The main deck is where we found the pools. And in Disney fashion, they were shaped like Disney characters. Mickey’s Pool is a children’s pool shaped like Mickey Mouse and designed for young kids with a maximum depth of 2 ft. Mickey’s Pool has a twisty water slide for kids between the ages of 4 and 14. Unfortunately for us, they must be at least 3’ 2” tall (and no more than 5’ 4”, so no adults). This was a particular problem for us, because our youngest is the most adventurous and they wouldn’t allow her on the slide. She was VERY upset.
However, there is also Nemo’s Reef for children under 8. It is an awesome little (1,500 sq.ft.) splash pad area, specifically for little ones. And it did have its own little slide down the back of Mr. Ray (from Nemo, of course). The area is shaded from the sun, surrounded by a glass enclosure and featured a soft deck surface. It was very colourful, with many characters from Finding Nemo and tons of fun for both of our kids.
Donald’s Pool (maximum depth of 5 ft ) is designed for both parents and kids and has Donald Duck on its floor. This is where you find relaxing deck chairs for sunbathing (not that I ever found time for that!).
There is also an Adults Only pool (for guests over 18), but we didn’t get a chance to enjoy that solitude either. Quiet Cove is conveniently attached to the Cove Bar for cocktails and beverages and situated in an elegant and soothing environment (including romantic moonlit evenings). It offers a 4 ft deep plunge pool and a 6” deep sunbathing pool with built-in loungers. Nearby, you can soak in a hot tub while overlooking a view of the ocean.
Dining on the Dream features a dining room rotation, where each night your family is assigned to one of the 3 dining rooms. This way you get to enjoy all three varying atmospheres aboard. Your servers rotate with you, so you get to know them and have consistent service for your entire cruising experience.
The first night we dined at Enchanted Garden. It had a ‘Pixie Hollow’ type feel to me. It was full of vines and apparently inspired by the gardens of Versailles. It had really cool glass flower light fixtures that opened and closed like blooming flowers and the lighting changed in the ceiling from daylight to sunset and then to evening stars.
Our second night was the Royal Palace; a very formal-type dining experience. It was a quite ornate dining room serving French-inspired continental cuisine. It had marble floors, an elaborate chandelier and hand-painted portraits of many Disney princesses, which my daughter loved.
Despite the formality of the dining room that evening, our second night was also Pirate Night (Argh!). I was amazed at how many passengers actually came to dinner dressed as pirates! And I am not only speaking of the kids, although there were some really cute ones. There were entire families dressed to the hilt in pirate hats and swash-buckling boots!
Our third night was the Animator’s Palatte, which was in our opinion by far the best food and atmosphere. The scenery kept the kids engaged and the animation was outstanding. The décor was animated. I don’t know what else to say it. What you would have thought to be a picture on the wall, was something else entirely the next time you looked up.
The best feature is when all of these “screens” turn into a big fish tank. Not only do the Finding Nemo characters swim around (and you can actually follow them from window to window), but Crusher (the turtle dude) comes up to your table and talks to you. It is a truly interactive experience. He picks someone at the table to speak directly to, ask questions and provide spontaneous responses. VERY cool. There was always something to watch. And the food was great too!
The kids club on board was amazing. Unfortunately, we didn’t get much use from it, as our son only wanted to go if Mom and Dad could come too. But it was a very cool place. Completely Disney themed. Every room a different film (Andy’s Room from Toy Story, Pixie Hollow, etc.) Everything a child could ask for. And the parents too. Kids could stay and play to their content. They would even get fed if they stayed through meal-time.
But safety was the most impressive. The kids actually wore a gps tracker on their wrists, so staff could locate them as specifically as which room they were playing in. Parents were equipped with wave phones, so in case of emergency, staff could call or page us back to the Oceaneers Club.
I could go on. There is just too much to say. So many things for kids of different ages that we saw other families enjoying. One thing is clear. 3 days is NOT enough time to thoroughly enjoy this vessel!
Lastly, I have one more comment. Leave the kids at home! (just kidding) There really IS something for everyone of every age on board. This cruise could have just as easily been a romantic getaway for two. Although Disney is a child’s dream, the Disney Dream is NOT just for children. Whether parents or grandparents, or a getaway for two, this ship will be enjoyed! I can’t wait to go back again! Or perhaps, I may try the new Disney Fantasy in March 2012. 
The Royal West Indies Resort is located on the south end of Providenciales Turks & Caicos in the Leeward area of the island.
Nestled between Club Med and the Grace Bay Club, this property features 8 Residence buildings with 15 suites each.
Last week our family traveled to Providenciales for a relaxing getaway and we chose the Royal West Indies as our destination for the 7 day vacation.
This was our third time to RWI. When we visited 3 years ago, it was our first time to TCI and we were impressed. We have stayed at many resorts in our time and we love the quaint feel on this property. During our numerous visits we have stayed in both the one-bedroom suite and also the studio suite for a quick couples getaway.
While it was not as big as the one-bedroom unit, the Studio suite still offered many of the amenities of home like a small kitchen (fridge, microwave and coffee maker), a 42″ flat screen television and laundry facilities. Also provided were dishes, silverware and beauty basics like soap, body wash and shampoo.
For us, however, the beach is really what makes Turks and the Royal West Indies our favourite destination. Situated right on Grace Bay, this powder sand beach is post card worthy. We have traveled to over 20 Caribbean islands and Grace Bay is definitely, one of, if not our #1 favourite beach. The water is warm, calm and a colour of turquoise that is so pretty is almost doesn’t look real.
The Nest is a spacious, travel bed that has been designed for babies from birth to 9 months. In a word, the design of this bed is genius. It sets up quickly, will tote all of your necessities and it features a hard plastic base with ventilation to keep your baby comfortable and well ventilated.
Plus, a breathable, sheer mesh cover zips onto the rim of the bassinet to protect your little one against the elements if you are out at the beach or on a camping trip. It is also black to help darken the space during nap time.
Out of the box the Nest is ready to go – literally! It even has handles for easy transport. When it’s time for naptime, just unzip the bottom half of the bag, unsnap the handles and pop the support wall supports into place and you are ready to go(30 seconds). The bed comes with a mattress that is covered in a soft cotton so a sheet isn’t necessary – just a blanket to cover your baby.
Because the carry bag is divided into 2 sections you don’t have to worry about your baby’s clothes and supplies getting in the way when you need to set the bed up. Once it’s up, you can store the carry bag under a bed and keep the Nest separate at the side of your bed.
The bed is easy to carry and the handles snap into the side to give it more stability.
I highly recommend the phil&teds Nest for parents who need something that will go anywhere, anytime. The storage area could easily hold enough of your baby’s goods to get you through a week long vacation.
phil&teds has definitely hit it out of the park with the Nest.
The 4,000-passenger ship is scheduled to float into New York Harbor on February 28th, 2012 and will spend four days docked at Pier 88 in midtown Manhattan, the Staten Island Advance has reported. Once the christening is complete, the Fantasy will set sail for Port Canaveral, where it will make it’s maiden voyage on March 31, offering seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean and the Bahamas.
Plus, the seven day itineraries will ensure that your family will be able to experience the Fantasy to it’s fullest!
{ZUMA & DISNEY} 
The only downfall? The price of film. At $1 a shot it took us a bit to teach our son to not take pictures of his toes and only of important moments or interesting sights.
We also needed to remember to set the shooting mode. It defaults to indoor, which adds a flash so pictures taken in this mode outdoors are over exposed, resulting in little to no image.
Once set properly the final result is a nice picture that is more vibrant than the classic Polaroid from my childhood.
The other downfall is that, in this digital age, you have to adjust your brain to know that there will only be one photo of a captured moment. For this reason I was often standing behind my son taking a second photo with my digital SLR.
Fuji has 3 camera in their Instax Collection – two that take the mini instant film(Credit-Card Size – 5.4 x 8.6 cm); the mini 7s, mini 50s and the Instax 210 that takes a wide format 10.6 x 8.4 cm.
Stella Cove beautiful beachwear has your little ones covered with a wide selection of high-quality swimwear in gorgeous brightly colored prints!
For girls we love the fact that Stella Cove has simply styled one-piece suits in classic, square-tank, cross-back or halter style as well as simple halter styled bikinis where the prints can really ‘wow’! Our favorites for girls would have to be the Penny Lane or Pollen swimsuits and the Lady Marmalade classic bikini. The collection also includes several cotton cover-up dresses and fun, chunky sunglasses.
For little boys the Stella Cove collection includes fitted swim shorts and board shorts in equally awesome prints! We love the “funky farm”, “colorful parrots” Kravitz and “Koi fish” prints!
Let your little ones soak up the sun and surf in style! Check out Stella Cove beautiful beachwear for some fabulous swimsuits for boys, girls and mama too. – Belinda, Staff Writer
Just 3 hours after leaving Civitavecchia, en route to its first port of call, Savona, the port captain’s office in the Tuscan port of Livorno, recieved word that the ship had “hit an obstacle, ripping a gash 160 feet across” in the side of the ship, and started taking on water. The ship’s captain then tried to steer the ship toward shallow waters, near Giglio’s small port, to make evacuation by lifeboat easier. The ship, however, started to list badly, which made lifeboat evacuations difficult.
While many of the ship’s passengers reached land by lifeboats, some complained the crew failed to give instructions on how to evacuate and once the emergency became clear, delayed lowering the lifeboats until the ship was listing too heavily for many of them to be released.
In spring of this year, Walt Disney World will open 512 Royal Guest Rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside. The rooms sleep up to four guests, on custom linens, befitting a prince or princess. The opulent decor will conjure reminiscences of favourite movies like Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and The Princess and the Frog.
In March Disney launches the newest ship in their fleet, the 4,000 passenger Disney Fantasy. The ship will set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida and carry passengers on a week-long voyage of the Caribbean. While on board, the Muppets will lead you around the ship in an interactive detective game. You can also take in the two Broadway calibre shows, put together just for Disney Fantasy passengers. The ship is decked out with all the bells and whistles. Its maiden voyage is set to begin March 31, 2012.
Disney Cruise Line will add new ports and itineraries in May of this year. Sailing from New York, Seattle and Galveston, Texas, passengers will now have new opportunities to experience New England, the east coast of Canada, Alaska and the western Caribbean. Check out our post on these new voyages.
Also opening in May, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. This resort offers 1,120 family suites with decor from The Lion King, Cars and Finding Nemo. There will also be 864 themed rooms in the Little Mermaid wings. Nemo will be the first wing to open, in May followed by Cars in July and The Lion King in September. The Little Mermaid wing should also be open by the end of the year. Disney’s 25th resort hotel will be located next to Disney’s Pop Century Resort.
So that’s some of what Disney has in store for us in 2012, and we’ll have more updates for you soon. – Jen R, Staff Writer
