Family, travel, mom blog | Theme Park Mom (Leigh Caldwell)

American Idol Kris Allen and Mickey Mouse ride down Hollywood Boulevard in a celebrity motorcade at Disney's Hollywood Studios on May 29, 2009.

“I’m going to Disney World!” Kris Allen’s life has been a whirlwind of appearances since he spoke those words shortly after winning American Idol. The singer made good on his promise on Friday, May 29, when the Idol champ visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The day began with a celebrity motorcade down Hollywood Boulevard, winding up in front of the American Idol Experience, where Kris answered some questions from his fans. (more…)

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See that roll up there? See how some of those people are facing down toward the ground and some of them are facing up toward the sky? Yeah, that’s pretty intense. And that intensity is part of Manta. Sure, it’s got a softly lit aquarium in the queue line, where 300 rays glide peacefully around you, but this is still a roller coaster. And that’s what Theme Park Mom wants all you moms out there to know: This ride is serious.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t go. I just don’t want you to get on with the wrong impression. SeaWorld Orlando’s Manta begins with a 140 feet climb into the air before dropping you, practically head first, down 113 feet. And then comes the twists and turns of the pretzel roll. Make it through all that, and you have a pretty smooth ride from there on out. This part near the end, where the coaster seems to touch the water (it’s an illusion) is really fun, even if you were just screaming your head off: (more…)

The latest American Idol winner, Kris Allen, will appear at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this Friday, May 29.

Idol fans to cheer Kris on during a 10 a.m. motorcade through the park. It will start at the entrance to the park and wind its way back toward the hat and the American Idol Experience attraction.

If you’re planning to come, you should plan on a crowd. Not only is it American Idol day at the Studios, it’s also Star Wars Weekends, and there is an early Extra Magic Hour for resort guests. So, be there at rope drop to stake out a spot for the motorcade. (more…)

Pocket-sized cameras like the Flip are all the rage. I should know; I have one. And I do enjoy using it. BUT, the video and audio quality are about what you’d expect from a camera you can whip out of your pocket. Not all that great.

Enter the JVC Everio series of camcorders. These little babies can still be held in the palm of your hand, and they are easy to slip into your bag or purse when you head off on an adventure. But with better quality and sound.

The Everio series is flexible about memory, too. Prefer a camera with a hard drive? They’ve got one. Want a camera with memory cards? JVC makes that, too. I like the flexibility that the hybrid model offers — it comes with a memory card slot AND a hard drive. And you can choose a standard definition or high-def model. (more…)