Deb's Digest

The Magic, the Memories and You - Romance edition debuted at the Magic Kingdom on February 1, 2012 and runs through mid-April.

I watched the holiday version in December and it was just awesome. It was with that expectation I viewed the new romance segment. I was a tad disappointed when I saw it live but appreciated it so much more when I re-watched the video. (There is something to say about viewing a show and not juggling cameras.)

The minute and a half romance section begins mid way through the show with a change in music and lighting - Lady and the Tramp's silhouettes show on the castle's dark blue background.

One of the most dramatic sections is from the "I See the Light" segment of the movie Tangled. Rapunzel's parents are on the balcony and send up a lantern for their missing daughter. Soon, the sky is filled with lanterns and light.

Stained glass windows of Cinderella, Snow White and Belle also appear on the castle during the romance segment.

Thanks to Linda Eckwerth for the photos and Jack Spence for the video!

The latest exhibit to debut in Innoventions is called Habit Heroes - created to teach families how to live a healthy and active lifestyle. It is presented by Florida Blue and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. I experienced the new exhibit on February 3rd, the first day of soft openings.

Situated across from the Sum of All Thrills, the exhibit walls are filled with very colorful Marvel comics that help set the tone!

This interactive multi-media exhibit will keep you entertained as you learn to fight bad habits and become a Habit Hero.

As the story begins, we are at the entrance of a 100 year old gym, apartments above and periodically spot lights shine down below. ( I kinda felt like I was in a gangster sequence in the Great Movie Ride.)

Enter Will Power's gym, an abandoned fitness facility where there are photographs and trophies from 100 years ago.

A black and white movie sets the stage for how a band of dedicated heroes once fought to keep folks healthy. Unfortunately, those days are long gone; and the narrator pleadingly asks "Oh Habit Heroes where are you when we need you most?"

Suddenly we flash forward in time and meet our hosts Will Power and Callie Stenics. They want us to become the new Habit Heroes.

Our goal is to save a teenage boy who spends too much time behind the computer and on the couch and eats poorly and is out of shape.

A Cast Member gives everyone a colored wristband which signifies what team you are on in the next room - called "Control Freak".

Time to battle the "control freek" who controls the TV.

This was the one room that was very confusing. We had just been led to believe we were on a special colored team and yet inside the room, we all just stood trying to determine where to go/what to do. Each station had all the colored lights on. Suddenly, the TVs start falling from above via a huge screen. It was hard to see the TVs as you had to really look up and strain your neck. Not sure how little ones would do. Thinking I was on the "yellow team", I only used the yellow button. Soon a Cast Member came over to tell me I could use all the buttons. Someone else said we were to run to the station closest to where our TV color was falling. By the time I figured it out, it was time to move on to the next challenge. Either way, it it is soft opening and this part needs more explanation. We also felt as though in this room and the next, we should have gotten a score of how well (or not) we did.

Sweet Tooth and the Snacker! With Toy Story Mania Spring-Action shooters, it is our turn to blast away and destroy all the calories we can! My shooter had broccoli and carrot bulls eyes to use! This was fun, but again, we were almost too close to the screen and no score.

Our last challenge was entitled Lead Bottom. Our job was to exercise and get Lead Bottom to, well, shake his booty. This was a really fun segment and as I looked around, many people were moving and following the exercises! I could see some might not like this part, but on this day, it was fun to shake it up.

At the conclusion we see we have saved the couch potato teenager and all is well!

Habit Heroes is still in soft opening mode and there is some tweaking that does need to be done. I think once everything is ironed out, it will be a fun exhibit to experience. I plan to go back in a couple weeks and see if things have been "fine tuned".

Other observations and notes:

The areas are all very dark with low lighting.

Some cast members had their "roles" down pat, others need more training.

I liked how subtitles were part of every video.

Just let loose when you get to Lead Bottom - it's a lot of fun!

Leave a comment with your thoughts about the Habit Heroes Exhibit!

THANK YOU to everyone who attended the December to Remember meets and especially, those of you that took the time to write a "balloon" message for me. I was quite surprised at the Ducky event when Melanie and Deb Koma presented me with the basket of balloons. Balloons filled with well wishes and memorable thoughts from so many of you.

The basket has a special place in my office and I love dipping into it and selecting a "balloon of the day" to read.

A special thank you, also, to Karen Jellyrolls, for the Disney autograph book that so many of you wrote in as well.

Disney friends are indeed the best friends. Thank you.

Don't forget, we have all the December to Remember Photographs online at: http://www.barriebrewerphotography.com/Walt-Disney-World/Fan-Meets

I was recently in Animal Kingdom to walk some of the animal trails. One of my favorites is just outside of Africa and part of the Discovery Island Trails. Since the Saddle-billed stork viewing area is first, we will check out what's happening!

Little did I know what a treat I was in for special treat. A Cast Member came by and told me the storks are nesting - both the Saddle-billed and the Painted Stork.

No sooner had she left and 2 animal keepers came by and shared more information with me.

While the pair of Saddle-billed Storks have built a nest before, this is the biggest nest they have built and the first time the female has laid eggs, two as of now and could lay a third. The first egg was laid on 2/4 and the next one 2/7. The gestation period is about 30-35 days which means if the eggs are fertile, there will hopefully be a little baby or more in very early March. If this happens it will be the first baby Saddle-billed Storks at Animal Kingdom.

The photos may not show, but this nest is HUGE. The Cast Member said she had put a lot of nesting materials in the area yesterday and it was all gone today.

The female was on the nest and didn't move the whole time I was there. The male was very close by hanging out.

I did learn 2 ways to tell the difference between a male and female Saddle-Billed Stork. First, the males tend to be taller. But the main difference is their eye color. The females have yellow eyes and the males brown.

See if you can spot the differences next time you are walking the Discovery Island trails!

A bit further down the trail on the same side are the Painted Storks.

I had a harder time finding their nest. It is to the right side of the viewing area down near the water. This photo can help you find it. You'll have to look through the branches.

At times the storks would be standing on the nest looking at the eggs.

Other times one would sit on the eggs. Both groups were fascinating to watch.

Here's a viewing tip -- look for the colorful signs in each viewing area. You will learn what animal/bird you are viewing, where they live in the world and additional information. This is great for both kids and adults

What is your favorite part of the Discovery Island Trails?