LEGO Star Wars Episode 1 Comes to LEGOLand Discovery Center!

*I recieved complimentary passes to check out this new exhibit from LEGOLand Discover Center but all opinions are, as always, my own.*

Its no secret that my boys love LEGO. Any chance they get they dig into them and their creativity astounds me. They even like playing the LEGO video games. Stands to reason then that LEGOLand Discovery Center here in Atlanta is one of their places to visit. If we ask where they want to go on any given weekend, they generally always say there or the pool. Simple pleasures.

Of course something else they are crazy about is all things Star Wars. So, of course when we heard that LDC has a new Star Wars Episode 1 MiniLand display, they were crazy excited to check it out. This weekend we took a trip down to Lenox and did just that. 

The display was made up of three very detailed scenes like only LEGO can achieve. There was an interactive part of each display and we went from one to the other for a good long while before we moved on to the next area. The level of detail was just crazy cool!

Now for the details!

The Low Down:

Allow at least 2 - 3 hours for your visit, although you are welcome to stay as long as you like. The last admission to the attraction is 2 hours before closing. Last entrance to the admissions is 5 p.m. Sunday-Friday and 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Tickets start at $15/ each and are available on the website or at the front gate.

When:

LEGOLand Discovery Center is open:

Monday-Friday: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

May the force be with you!

Georgia Renaissance Festival Returns for its 30th Year!

If you have been in the state of Georgia for long, you've heard of the Georgia Renaissance Festival (RenFest). If you're smart, you've been! I have always loved attending RenFest but I'll admit to not having been since D was little. Which, of course, means this live theater lover is looking forward to joining them for their 30th anniversary this season more than ever!

The Low Down:

Every weekend and Memorial Day, April 18 thru June 7, 2015 The 30th Annual Georgia Renaissance Festival is a family-friendly event, and a different kind of theme park. Inside this 32-acre recreation of a 16th Century English Village you'll find hundreds of costumed characters, the Queen and her Court, endless circus-style entertainment on 10 stages, shopping in over 130 artisan shoppes, food fit for Royalty, games and rides for kids of all ages, and the spectacular Jousting Knights on horseback. Patrons are invited to wear costumes and join in the fun too.

When:

Every weekend (Saturday and Sunday) and Memorial Day, April 18 thru June 7, 2015. The fair is open from 10:30am until 6:00. Rain or Shine!

My Favorite Part:

The jousting is a don't miss but the food is really where its at for me! Come hungry and bring a fat wallet.

Discounts:

Get $4 off Adult and $3 off Child (6-12) tickets by using promo code "castle" when purchasing discount tickets on the secure website at www.garenfest.com. Tickets good any day of the 2015 Season (Weekends and Memorial Day Apr 18-June 7). Online discount only. Not good with any other offers.

Turbo! In Theaters Now!

Feeling the need for speed? Today is the day that that the fastest snail in the world races into theaters and in the hearts of children (and the child like) all over!

Turbo is a snail who dreams of being the greatest racer in the world. His obsession with speed has made him an oddity and outsider in the slow and cautious snail community. Turbo desperately wishes he could escape the slow-paced life he’s living, and he gets that chance after a freak accident leaves him with the power of incredible speed. The newly turbo-charged Turbo embarks on an extraordinary journey to achieve the impossible: racing against the best that the Indianapolis 500 has to offer. Joining Turbo is his dedicated pit crew of racing snails – a ragtag group of trash-talking adrenaline junkies tricked out with shells that look like mini-street racing cars. Turbo is the ultimate underdog who achieves the impossible by refusing to let his limitations get in the way of his dreams.

My family's take:

We had a chance to check out Turbo before it theaters this week and the boys are in love! They were glued to the screen watching Turbo transform from a regular garden snail to a world class racing snail in 96 minutes. We all had a good time and laughing out loud in our seat at the fun along the way. Perfect family entertainment!

The official skinny:

TURBO (20^th Century Fox)
Release:              Wednesday, July 17^th
Rating:                  PG
Run Time:           96 Minutes
Cast:                      Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Michael Pena, Luis Guzmán, Bill Hader, Richard Jenkins, Ken Jeong, Michelle Rodriguez, Maya Rudolph, Snoop Dogg, and Samuel L. Jackson

Turbo is in theaters now, so be sure to take the family to check it out and see what all the buzz is about! To save time, pick up your tickets on Fandango!

*I was invited to check out Turbo a few days early in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own! 

Review: Disney On Ice: Rockin' Ever After

You may remember that last year the boys and I were lucky enough to go and check out the Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream show when it came through Atlanta and it most certainly didn't disappoint. So, of course when we got the chance to head back ITP and see Disney's newest ice skating spectacular, I jumped at the chance and it was just as amazing as it was last year!

When arrived at the arena and took our seats, we immediately noticed that the "stage" seemed smaller than it was last year. Of course we were in different seats so it could have just been the angle but either way, it didn't matter. It is truly amazing to watch this show on any kind of stage but the fact that these actors are doing it on ice skates makes it even more surreal. Its a caliber of talent that is completely unmatched in my book.

This year we got to see a lot more of the characters that I remember from my childhood. There was Ariel and Sebastian telling the story of the Little Mermaid. Which was gorgeous to watch with the most colorful costumes and scenery it was probably as fun to put on as it was to watch.

Of course then there was Tangled and Brave which are the two newest but they most certainly were the young ones favorites. My K is obsessed with Tangled right now and he had a blast singing and bopping along with all of his favorite songs. Brave, which took hold of my heart this spring, was short and sweet but the songs and action had us all on the edge of our seats in excitement.

Last but not least was the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast. One of my all time favorite movies. I'll admit, I wondered how they were going to pull off the whole beast thing but they did! It was a seamless and captivating performance that gave you the feeling of being right there in the movie. Perfect.

All in all, this years show seemed to be a little shorter and less extravagant all the way around but it most certainly didn't lack any entertainment. We had a blast and I know that anyone with kids would too. If you are in the Atlanta area and are looking for show times and tickets, check out Disney's site for all the info. Even if you aren't reading this from Atlanta, you can get the information about the show coming closest to your hometown and snap up some seats before they sell out!

*I was given a set of tickets in exchange for this review but all opinions are my own and are completely honest. It really is that awesome.

Disney - Pixar "Brave" Hits Theaters Today! (Review)

You've been hearing about Disney's newest big summer movie for awhile now, right? That means you are either bursting with excitement on checking it out with (or without) your little ones as soon as you can get some tickets in your hot little hands. I know I have been itching to see it since the first trailer came out and have been following it like a hawk ever since. I am not usually one to seek out and follow kids movies but something about Brave caught my attention and held me in. I was lucky and got to experience Brave early. Its okay, be jealous. No really, be jealous because Disney's newest is just.. amazing.

The story of Merida is nothing like any other animated film I have ever seen. This is not your typcial, musical damsel in distress type thing. “Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida, a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). It takes the princess type movie to a whole new level. The story of Merida and her fight to take charge of her fate by defying an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane) through any means possible. Merida inadvertently unleashes chaos, forcing her to discover the meaning of true bravery before it’s too late. It left me inspired and feeling oddly confident about some of the challenges I am facing. Strong and bullheaded but all in all, she has a good heart. Brave is about finding the balance between the two of them and making them work for you, not against you.

I took my mother to the preview and let me tell you, there wasn't a tissue between us by the time the movie came to an end. We laughed and cried pretty much the entire time. It was a perfect mother daughter film but it is also action packed enough that even the most discerning man in your life is sure to have a grand time. Lets just say it struck a chord with us. The strongwilled, tom boy daughter and the prim and proper, tradition hawk mother? Yeah, familiar to say the least. Plus, having spent some time in Scotland, we got a lot of the hidden jokes that pop up and the animation makes for a stunning rendering of the beautiful Scottish countryside. 


I'll admit though, some of the scenes are quite intense. While there isn't any gorey type violence, Merida and her mother get into some dark, villain type trouble. Think Maleficent kind of scary. Dark and evil that has been somewhat missing from the last few big Disney films. I am not sure that D would like it and I know that it would scare K. Just something to keep in mind if your younger ones are sensitive or prone to being scared. 


All in all, I have to say, this movie certainly did not disappoint. Start to finish it was a rollicking, powerfully good time. Safe to say it has made onto my favorite kids movies after having only seen it once. Which is huge. Its the kind of movie that I can see watching over and over again, catching something different every time. Its rich. Rich in detail, rich in plot, rich in soul. Perfect. 

Ready to pick up some tickets? Get them while they're hot!