Sing like a star INSIDE the movie theater - Beauty and The Beast Sing Along Event October 2nd

Disney's official promo for the event.

Sing at the top of your lungs without getting thrown out of the movie

The Frugal Socialite is losing her touch. I thought I was in good with Disney reps, but low and behold,
I was out of the loop on Disney’s newest event that hit theaters across the nation today.

A lot of my time is spent occupying and entertaining my toddler. My 3 year old leaves school inquiring about our next stop. “Mommy, are we going to the playground, Chuck E. Cheese, Pump It Up or a restaurant?” If none of those get a “yes”, the next question is whether so-and-so – insert name of his handful of playmates -- is coming to play with him.

Around 4:30 I took a break from work emailing to check out Fandango.com, thinking I’d take him to see Alpha and Omega, another kiddie movie. But wait, Beauty and The Beast “Sing Along Event” only playing two days? Okay, great. I keep reading. It’s tonight. Okay, I’m now sweating. At 6:30 pm? I look at the gray sky, I call the weather line (202 936 1212, a number I’ve been relying on since high school), hear that tonight is a rain-out, and get busy closing out my workday.

So, was all the rush to make the 6:30 show worth it? YES, YES, YES.

Kids can FINALLY talk during the movie. Adults can act like they’re there to chaperone the children. I spotted several grownups without kiddies tonight, who seemed to know all the words to the songs. Don’t laugh…Disneyworld Parks do a bang up wedding business and minors don’t get married! LOL!

The show is worth it, YES, YES, YES! So “Be My Guest, Be my guest, put my service to the test” (lyrics from one of the movie’s signature songs) and grab a ticket to the final showing this Saturday, October 2nd. The Beauty and The Beast Sing Along Event will play simultaneously in all theaters at 12 pm/noon.

This is an HD remake of Disney’s original Beauty and the Beast, the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards in 1992. The movie won six nominations in four different categories, with the music taking home the Oscars for Best Original Score and Original Song, for "Beauty and the Beast" – click to hear Celine Dion and Peobo Bryson’s version.

Jordin Sparks, of American Idol origin, intros the movie, taking viewers behind the scenes of her video shoot for her remake of Beauty and The Beast songs. Jordin also gives a lesson on how to interact with the movie. Her video singing "Beauty and The Beast" - http://youtu.be/pps4p9wtWW8

Playing October 2nd at noon with tickets available online at Fathom Events website:

http://www.fathomevents.com/Upcoming/Locations/20003/09/29/2010/Premiere/event/beautyandthebeast.aspx.

The new 3 disc Beauty and the Beauty DVD with Blue Ray hits stores on October 5th.

Disney brings Dining to D.C. - Mickey hosts a private dinner in the Nation's Capitol

The Frugal Socialite has been invited to be Disney’s special guest at “Dinner with Disney”
next Thursday, September 16th at Old Ebbitt Grill. Mickey’s bringing some of Disney Parks’ diverse cuisine to D.C!

It’s a private event, for Disney’s Mom Bloggers only, BUT, I’ll bring back goodies for my readers and great opportunities to get up close with Mickey. Can’t wait to see Disney reps, Laura Spencer and Leanne Jakubowski again, and to finally meet Maria Bailey, of BSM Media, who has invited me to so many events, but we’ve never connected.

Laura Spencer, of Disney, with the park's signature blue drink.

Laura Spencer, Darcie, Sherelle, aka FunkiDivaGirl, my fellow mom bloggers, posing with me at Disney last year. 

Now, Mickey and Minnie are classy hosts, so when you’re on their turf, it’s way more than hamburgers and hotdogs. Chefs like Kat Kora and Emeril have restaurants at Disney. Signature juice and alcoholic drinks are illuminated in blue. Lobster, filet mignon, hydroponically grown lettuces, desserts with Madagascar vanilla and more are common place choices at eateries ranging from the AAA 5 Diamond-rated Victoria and Albert’s to kiosks full of Mickey-shaped ice cream bars!

The mom bloggers and at Cat Kora's restaurant at Disney's Boardwalk.

Walt Disney World features amazing dining with more than 200 restaurants on 40-square miles. Right now, you can include food with your vacation for FREE with the free Disney Dining Plan promotion, and after next week, The Frugal Socialite may have some more awesome eating opportunities to share.

Five Star dining at Todd English's Blue Zoo at Dolphin Swan Hotel right next to Epcot.

Brenda McWilliams, of Disney, my son and the chef at Epcot's Pub Restaurant in Great Britain.

Disney by land and Disney by sea, it’s great way to vacation for all ages. There’s a new Disney ship coming this year, the Frugal Socialite help get your bon voyage going….



Keep your Mickey ears tuned,

Lucinda

One of many great banquet meals I ate during Disney's Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey in 2009 and 2010.

Travel with baby but leave some gear behind...Choose good hotels!

Why lug toddler gear? Many hotels have it covered!




Moms, don't get discouraged about travelling because the baby's stuff is an extra suitcase and a half. When planning a trip consider the hotel. Even if it's a quick overnight in your own city, make it easy! My 2 year old has been on over 40 trips in his lifetime due to my career. I take him and hubby along as much as I can. I KNOW about hauling gear from 2 months of age to now.



These are some of the hotels that have made home-away-from-home a breeze. Check with each individually, but in general they've stocked: bedrails, bottle warmers, microwaves or access to them, baby toiletries, extra Lysol or hand sanitizer, certified babysitters, pack-n-plays, extra sheets for playtime and more---



The Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. (check with all InterContinental Hotels)

All Disney resort hotels within Disneyworld

The Swan and Dolphin Hotel in Orlando at Disney (www.starwoodhotels.com)

Great Wolf Lodge (I was at Williamsburg, VA, but check their whole national chain)

The Millenium Hotels in New York City

The Hyatt Hotel and Resort in Cambridge,MD (www.hyatthotels.com)



Many more, but these stood out for their quality and willingness to make baby and family happy!

Time to re-vamp and blog, blog, blog

Social Media for the Socialite has taken on a new meaning in the last few months.  Not only am I a freelance journalist, I'm now labelled a "Blogger", or even sexier, Social Media Maven (SMM).  And there's no ropes or cuffs involved in this SMM!

Now I have to live up to it! 

Here I am, surrounded by some SMMs in Disney, as I prepare to get my Social Media on...