This week's movie topic is all about Your Collection...

We would like a glimpse into your collection of movies. Even if you don't have a physical collection to share, you must have some stored on the DVR, downloaded onto the laptop or ones that you rent over and over and over. We'll show you ours if you show us yours! Don't be shy - share on your blog and link back here at The Bumbles.

I am taking a break from posting a review today, and am joining in a meme that I found at Momma D and Da Boyz. It's called Six Word Saturday and it's hosted at Show My Face.

Here's what you do:: Describe your life (or something) in just six words.

So here's mine:

I am a very proud mother.

To explain that, see the post I made on Monday, located here.

Visit more Six Word Saturday posts, or go all nuts and post your own and link up at:

Approximately five years ago, we decided to forgo our usual Disney themed vacation to an amusement park and add a twist to it.

We traded in Space Mountain for an ocean view cabin on the Disney Magic and anticipated our first cruise ever...Disney Style.
Three Cruises later, and a Transatlantic one booked for next year, and you could say we are hooked.

I'm not quite sure how I'll ever manage to keep this post under 1 billion words or photos, as the fun and indulgence on a Disney cruise over the course of what amounts for us to be 21 days, is huge!!

But I shall try.

The first cruise we went on Genius would turn 8 just the day after we would disembark, and we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary on. If you note that you are celebrating a special occasion on your reservations, they will pull out the stops for you!
The children's program on ship is incredible. From sunrise to waaaay past sunset, the activities offered are sure to delight (at least for Genius they do!). Karaoke, Pizza Parties, Video Games and making Flubber, those kinds of things are scheduled all day for the littles!
We originally questioned whether cruising would be for us. But you know, we kind of like being told when to show up at our dining room, and what time to catch a show. Less decision making to do, and let's face it, vacations are supposed to be stress free.
The waves on the first cruise we took, topped out pretty high. The dining room was half empty the first two nights as many people were sick. As we had come armed with Dramamine and Bonine, we did not have any problems, and actually really enjoyed having that rocking motion to put us to sleep. We did not experience that much motion on the last two cruises we were on....that was a little disappointing (lol!).

The beach at Disney's Private Island Castaway Cay is great. We had a lot of fun making sand structures on it, but it was really cold this past December and we decided to hop back on the ship, and jump in the hot tub! There is so much to do on their private island (weather permitting), parasailing, snorkeling, digging for bones....great fun!

Disney Cruise Line is probably one of the best cruise companies in the world (however, I'm being a bit biased here, I've never cruised any other!) The ship really feels like an old ocean liner (just like it looks), and the service is great.
So while you countdown with me (1 Year and 8 days....) to my transatlantic cruise aboard the Disney Magic, check out Reviews & Reflections as each Thursday you can participate in the meme Destination Disney. Read the full story

Africa -- I've actually been to the real deal. Western Africa that is. When I was 16 I took a trip with a mission team to Cameroon.

The first time we went to Disney's Animal Kingdom, I was curious on whether an onslaught of memories would come back to me while walking around. Africa is a big continent so I had my doubts.

I should have known though, Disney does not skimp. I highly doubt any of that section of the park was modeled directly after Cameroon, yet the sights and smells, and sounds were so accurate (at least to a memory that is going on 20 years!).

One thing I never got to do when I was in Africa was go on a safari. The Kilimanjaro Safari ride was my chance to do just that. Kept to a path (of course this is Disney after all), you get to go in a jeep type vehicle among the live animals and see them, about up close as your going to get. I always laugh about the first time we did this, Genius asked if the animals were real, when we said yes, she didn't believe us. She was spoon fed animatronics her whole life, that she thought we were pulling her leg! Here are a few pictures from the safari ride.

If you click on the above picture, you can see the type of vehicle that you take the safari in.

One day I hope to be able to stay at The Animal Kingdom Lodge and wake up to the sight of the giraffes grazing on The Savannah! Until then, why don't you join us at the Destination Disney Meme hosted weekly at Reviews & Reflections.

If you want excitement, this is the place to head!

I pretty much lay low during this ride, grab a treat and sit on a wall and wait for the rest of my party to finish their fun, lol!
Hubby and Genius LOVE riding the Rock N' Roller Coaster. You won't catch me on that. Anything that goes upside down is definitely not on my agenda for the day.
There is also the Twilight Zone's Tower of Terror ride, or as Genius so affectionately calls it the "No thanks, I'll take the stairs" ride. Now if I have remembered to take my Dramamine, this is a ride I'll go on, however this is the one no one else in my family wants to ride with me! Somehow dropping 13 stories again, and again, is less harrowing for me than going 60mph and coasting upside down...go figure.
We all enjoy resting our feet, while watching the Beauty and the Beast show though. As with all Disney productions this mini Broadway show is enchanting and no matter how many times you see it, it's just as charming as the first.
The highlight of Sunset Boulevard only happens a couple of nights a week now, and only at dusk, and that is the Fantasmic! show. Filled with lasers and fireworks, it is absolutely incredible. The best seats are available if you choose a dining package to go with it. It's something we try not to miss!

To see other people's strolls down Sunset Boulevard check out the Destination Disney Meme hosted at Reviews & Reflections. Read the full story

If you take a left at the hub at the end of Main Street USA, you'll quickly find yourself in the jungle oasis of Adventureland.

This is who you might find greeting you on a mini-golf course in Cozumel! He rolled out the "green" carpet for us anyway!See more Critters captured on Camera at Camera-Critters - this meme is active each weekend. You may even get your picture in the spotlight for a whole week! Read the full story

I have been enjoying the Friday Funny that my friend over at The View From My Beach Chair has been posting on her blog, and thought that I should spread some funny too!

It has long been Hubby's claim that I have a problem when I shop. There is no such thing as a quick trip to Target or Walgreens. I somehow get bogged down at every aisle and end cap.

It has long been my claim that it is a genetic disposition to those that have XX chromosomes though, and the following funny proves it.


Join the fun at Homesteaders Heart!
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Apparently I can't read. Today's Destination Disney is Hollywood Boulevard. If any of you read my feed, you'd see that I already posted NEXT WEEKS Destination Disney TODAY. DOH! The nice thing is next week, I will only have to post my linky :)

Hollywood Boulevard is akin to Main Street U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom, at the end of the boulevard is Mickey's Hat from The Sorcerer's Apprentice. This picture was taken in 2001. You can see the signage off the right, that's the board they use to notify you of wait times throughout the park.
The only "attraction" besides the parades that pass down here is The Great Movie Ride. Again, I am wondering why we don't have any photos of this? Destination Disney is making me aware of the photo opps I need to take, next time we visit!!

Because my husband doesn't listen is sometimes hard of hearing, we do have one picture that he took INSIDE The Great Movie Ride this past December (where Flash Photography is not allowed), before Genius thoroughly berated him, for taking a flash pictures. It's the animatronic of Sigourney Weaver from Alien. Sheesh, the only picture and it's of that!
Join us at Destination Disney each Thursday hosted by Heidi at Reviews & Reflections.
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If you venture across the bridge starting out from Discovery Island in Animal Kingdom you will come to Camp Minnie Mickey.

On the meet and greet trails you will find some of your favorite Disney characters to pose with. *By the way in case you get these two chipmunks confused, Dale is the one with the red nose.

Pocahontas has a show with her forest friends. There are a lot of neat birds, raccoons and other animals like that in this show.

But really the highlight of Camp Minnie Mickey is The Festival of the Lion King. A live production show that is in a tent like structure. If you want good seats you better come early, because it fills up fast!

Simba, Pumba, Timon the gang is all there, and they have a very talented group of performers who entertain you with singing, dancing and acrobatics. There is even a fire eater!



If you only have a few days to spend in Disney World, and are trying to decide what to do, if you make a trip to the Animal Kingdom, this show is a must see. If you would like to see other people's take on Camp Minnie Mickey visit Reviews & Reflections, where Heidi hosts Destination Disney each week. Read the full story

Do you like to send postcards to friends and family when you're on vacation? Maybe you don't do it though because it's such a hassle to drag around and address book and then have to write it out, get stamps etc.

My Tuesday Tip is: Buy your stamps before you leave home. Think of the people you want to send cards to, Grandpa and Grandma, neighbors, friends. Type out their address on labels. Then cut them in strips to the size of a small envelope. Put the stamps and labels in the envelope and keep them with your camera case, or in your purse. When you reach your destination and find just the postcards you want to send, you'll be all set to write them out and mail them. Now you just need to find a mailbox. The real trick is seeing if the post cards arrive home before you!

For more Tips from Jar check out Blogmommas. Read the full story

There are SOOOO many wonderful photo opportunities at Disney, that it took me a long time, and a few "tours" through our many pictures to decide, what my favorite one was. I finally decided though, my favorite opps are the ones that chronicle Genius's growth.

We have visited so many times, that we really don't take as many pictures any more as we used to. But when we do tend to take pictures we end up taking them in the same spots, which is really neat, because that way we can see the way Genius has grown and matured over the years.

Here are three pictures chronicling Genius growth. They were taken on Disney's Castaway Cay by "Mount Rustmore" (which is another reason why it is one of my favorite opps....we live in South Dakota....). The pictures were taken in April of 2004, January of 2007, and December of 2008.


Share your favorite Disney Photo Opps with us at Destination Disney hosted at Reviews by Heidi.
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I found a new meme at Blog Mommas called Tuesday's Tip Jar. Blogger's participate by leaving a helpful tip! I don't know about you but I can always use an extra tip or two!

My tip for the day has to do with cooking. When you have a recipe that calls for one pound of ground beef that needs to be cooked (like spaghetti sauce, or lasagna, hamburger helper etc.), buy two pounds right off the bat and brown it. Now put one pound in a container, and freeze it. The next time you make that recipe or a different one that calls for cooked ground beef, you just need to pull it out of the freezer to thaw, making the meal that much easier!

Do you have a tip you'd like to share - check out Tuesday's Tip Jar at Blog Mommas.
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I ran across this, at A Little Bit Nutty's Blog this morning, and thought I'd give it a whirl.

Here's what you do, Google Your Name with Needs; Here is what it says

Tammy needs:

Your Prayers and Good Wishes - Of course, I'll never turn down prayer for me, that's the first one, and boy is it true! Specifically, you can pray that I would not get angry so quickly, one of my worst habits.

a Baby - ummm......I don't think so......

Constant Care - I really didn't think I was that irresponsible

Clothes - Always!!!

Your Help - With the dishes, my dishwasher is broken, I'm waiting for some gift cards for Lowes to come in the mail so I can order a new one.

to Know - Yes I need to know a lot. Sometimes things that I shouldn't want to!!

Lol - that was fun -- how about you? If you do it, comment and link to your blog, I'd love to see what YOU need!
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I am a planner by nature - lists overtake my desk area and kitchen. I make sure I go over them once, twice and then again. Every detail, whether or not I have any control over it!

My vacation planning is really no different. Besides trips up to Canada to visit family (which I don't count!), our last 7 vacations all had to do with Disney, so I feel I am pretty versed in it!

One of our biggest planning strategies, is to take a vacation during off season. The prices for hotels are cheaper, and you can often get perks if you plan right through Disney. This past trip we took, was the only one where we have ever stayed on property. Usually we are too cheap to do that, but since we didn't want to rent a car, we explored the option. Since we were going during low season, and used a AAA discount we ended up getting the hotel for 20% off, we felt that was worth it. I found a lot of the dates and savings at MouseSavers.

We book far in advance -- as far out as we can. Usually you need to leave a deposit, but both with hotel rooms, and staterooms on the Disney Cruise Line, the earlier you book, the better the prices and selection. You can always cancel it if your plans change, usually at least 30 - 60 days out, with no penalty and your deposit back in full.

Breakfasts are usually cheaper than lunches or dinners, so even if you are staying in the park, eat a bigger breakfast, grab a snack at lunch, and then get counter service for supper if you want to save money. Surprisingly to us, the food at the hotel (we stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter), was less expensive than in the park, you did not have to tip because it is also cafeteria style, but the portions were huge, and it was tasty too. They offered all kinds of things, from Chicken Parmesan to Pot Roast.

After all the initial booking is done, until closer to the vacation date, there is not much to do but wait. Which is usually the most difficult of all! So this is how I do my waiting:

Put a wallpaper on my computer that is reminiscent of Disney (currently I have a picture of Castaway Cay their private island in the Bahamas)

Have a Disney postcard on my fridge.

Put a ticker on your blog, so each day you can see how much closer you're getting!

Visit the DisBoards for ideas and general chat about all things Disney.

Use the Disney toiletries I brought home from the ship and hotel room as sparingly as possible until it is all gone! (they are made by H20).

This year as I await our Transatlantic Cruise in 2010 on the Disney Magic - I will be playing along with the Destination Disney Meme.

What are your planning strategies? I'd love to hear them, post at Reviews By Heidi on the Destination Disney Meme. TTFN!
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This Destination Disney is all about being "Decked Out"

Heidi encouraged us to make the theme "our own" so this is my take on "Decked Out" Disney style.

A Decked Out Castle.

A Decked Out Pirate. (Elizabeth Swann's Chinese Pirate look)

A Decked Out Gingerbread House. (Complete with Hidden Mickey on the back roof).


How about two mice on the deck, does that count as "Decked Out"? lol maybe not

I'd love to see your pictures capturing the theme "Decked Out" come join us at Destination Disney hosted at Reviews by Heidi.
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