Dole Whip

This is a Disney parks staple that keeps you cool on those warm Florida days. While Dole Whip can be found in a few other places on property, there’s just something about enjoying a Dole Whip in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom. Find Dole Whip at Aloha Isle near the Magic Carpets of Aladdin. Don’t forget to check the menu for other Dole Whip flavors and limited-time treats!

Check out my Dole Whip recipes here.

Corn Dog Nuggets

Photo: @orlandowithcolette

Casey’s Corner is known for its corn dog nuggets. This Magic Kingdom favorite is located on Main Street U.S.A. near the hub grass. These mini corn dogs are a quick and easy meal for your Magic Kingdom day. Most guests prefer to take their corn dog nuggets to go and enjoy a view of Cinderella Castle in the Hub Grass! Pro Tip: Casey’s Corner is also a quick service location where you can mobile order in Magic Kingdom!

LeFou’s Brew

In New Fantasyland, you can step right into the scenes of some of your favorite Disney Princess films, like Beauty and the Beast. At Gaston’s Tavern, you can try LeFou’s Brew, a frozen apple juice drink with passion fruit-mango foam on top. There’s even a souvenir stein for those looking for the full Gaston’s Tavern experience! If Dole Whip isn’t your jam, this is a great option for cooling off on hot Florida days.

Check out my LeFou’s Brew recipe here!

Cheeseburger Spring Rolls

Photo: Mickey Blog

This snack is sought out by Disney fans of all ages on a Magic Kingdom day. This spring roll cart is usually parked right outside of Adventureland on your way from Crystal Palace and Main Street U.S.A. Here you’ll find Cheeseburger Spring Rolls and usually a second limited-time flavor! These are easy to eat on the go and something you’ll only find at Magic Kingdom on property, so keep an eye out for the cart on your next trip.

Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake

This delicious dessert can be found at Liberty Tree Tavern in Liberty Square. This restaurant offers an all-you-care-to-enjoy feast with pot roast, turkey, and all the home-cooked sides you could ever want. When your meal is done, you’ll dive into their famous dessert – the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake. This dessert features ice cream, caramel, chocolate, and toffee chips on top of a warm chocolate chip cookie cake. Since it’s all-you-care-to-enjoy, don’t be afraid to ask for seconds!

Check out my Liberty Tree Tavern review here.

There are so many eats and treats to explore around the Magic Kingdom, but these are some of Disney goer favorite must-eats. 

Still outfit planning for your Magic Kingdom day? You can’t go wrong with a Vacation Kingdom necklace from Spinning Carousel Co. This special design represents Magic Kingdom’s opening year, so it’s a perfect subtle touch to your OOTD. Use code “KAIT10” to save at checkout! Pro Tip: Check out the Leader of the Club earrings too — trust me.

Did one of your must-eats make my list?

The post Must Eats at Magic Kingdom appeared first on Kait Around The Kingdom.

When I started doing initial product research for my registry earlier this year, I learned about Newton Baby and their breathe-thru mattresses. We added their crib mattress to our registry, knowing we would have peace of mind when the time came for our daughter to sleep by herself in her room.

Since having our baby girl, Newton reached out to me and was kind enough to send me another must-have product from their collection — their bassinet and bedside sleeper! Since we already had their crib mattress, this piece was a perfect fit for our current nighttime routine. Considering a Newton Baby Bassinet & Bedside Sleeper? Here are a few of my favorite things about it and why I recommend adding it to your baby registry! 

This post contains affiliate links and if you purchase a product I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I’m only sharing products I’ve personally used myself whether I purchased them or were gifted them by Newton Baby.

Ultra Breathable

Newton mattresses are made with their patented Wovenaire® technology. This special 90% air, 10% food-grade material makes their products breathable, reducing the risk of suffocation and overheating for your little one. In fact, during independent testing by an accredited lab, it was determined that among the best-selling bassinets, only Newton does not pose a significant suffocation risk! As a new mom, this fact alone made sleeping through the night that much easier for me. The mesh sides of the bassinet also make it easy for me to quickly check on my daughter. (Did anyone else sleep with glasses on those first few weeks, or just me?)

Better Sleep

Aside from the peace of mind that will help you sleep soundly, this bassinet is built for ultimate comfort, safety, and support for your little one up to 6 months old. Newton bassinets offer the largest-in-class sleep surface of 41.5″ x 22″ so you won’t have to worry about sizing up as your infant grows! After all, we all know if your baby’s not sleeping at night, you’re not sleeping at night. This bassinet is sturdy, but lightweight which makes moving it from room to room or traveling with it a breeze. Most importantly, Newton bassinets also feature an infant-access opening with eight adjustable heights for bedside sleeping and ease to soothe your little one in the middle of the night.

Washable

Between blowouts, accidents, and spit-up, knowing your baby’s essentials are completely washable is a must! Not only are Newton bassinet mattress covers washable, but the mattress core is completely washable as well. Your baby will enjoy cleaner, hypoallergenic sleep night after night and on those days when things get messy you know truly cleaning your bassinet is easier than ever.

Still not convinced a Newton Bassinet & Bedside Sleeper is the right fit? You can try 100 nights of sleep with your Newton products and if you’re not happy they cover FREE returns and shipping. With so much money invested in planning for your little one’s arrival, it’s nice to know that there’s an option to return with ease if a Newton bassinet is not a good fit for your baby!

We’re still well into the bassinet phase at the Killebrew house, but knowing we’ve got a completely breathable mattress for sleep in all of our daughter’s growth stages makes the idea of no longer sharing a room someday that much easier to imagine. If you’re ready to start shopping all things Newton Baby, don’t forget to use my code “KAIT35” to save $35 on your order of $175 or more! A few of my Newton must-haves are their Newton Bassinet & Bedside Sleeper, Original Newton Mattress, Waterproof Mattress Cover, and Breathable, Organic Cotton Sheets. Newton Baby recently added Cribs to their product lineup and even offers Dog Beds which means you’re guaranteed great sleep for the whole family! Shop Now and Save 20% with Sign Up at NewtonBaby.com!

Have you heard of Newton Baby?

The post Sleep Better with Newton Baby appeared first on Kait Around The Kingdom.

First of all, the crib! I had to go with the PBK x Rifle Paper Company bedding, of course. (Pro Tip: Make a Pottery Barn Kids baby registry so you can save 15% on bedding from here!) Shop the fitted sheet here. We decided to go with a white crib skirt to match the bed and furniture. The artwork is from Etsy  (Find the bunny print here, owl print here, and deer print here!)– we wanted to get three pieces that we felt would match the floral PBK x Rifle Paper Company bedding.

This little toy holder was once a magazine stand made by Nick’s Pop. We were lucky enough to add two custom “Pop Made” pieces in our daughter’s nursery and they are some of my favorite touches.

Our changing table is one of our most-used areas of the nursery! Instead of just purchasing a changing table, I found this piece of furniture locally on Facebook Marketplace and painted in white to match the room. I added the bow drawer pulls as an extra custom touch. (Mine are from Crate & Barrel, but here’s some similar ones on Amazon.) We also lined the drawers with some gold liner to give them new life! 

My changing table essentials? Keekaroo Changing Pad — trust me! We also love this Comfy Cubs Diaper Caddy. We decided not to go with a wipes warmer, but we have been so happy with this Ubbi Wipes Dispenser (ours is in the color Taupe). Another Ubbi favorite is our Diaper Pail — I went with pale blue, but there are so many great shades. What’s most important is that you won’t smell those diapers! We also use the Ubbi Diaper Pail Trash Bags, but one perk of this diaper pail is that you can use ANY 13 oz trash bag. Last but not least, we love our Foam Hand Sanitizer Dispenser and we keep it stocked with Babyganics Foam Hand Sanitzer. 

This dollhouse bookshelf was a passion project of mine for my daughter’s nursery! I found this one on Pottery Barn Kids, but couldn’t justify the price tag. I stalked Facebook Marketplace for weeks and eventually found a custom one for sale that I went ahead and added my own touches to. We even brought the empty bookshelf to my baby shower and filled it with my daughter’s books as I opened them at the party. It was so fun to finally place this special piece in her nursery. If you’re looking for Disney books to add to your baby’s registry, I have a whole list right here!

This very special sitting area is filled with decades of family memories from both sides of the family. The rocking chair was my mom’s from when she had her first baby — me! I repainted it white to match the rest of the fruity in my daughter’s nursery. A family friend redid the rocker cushions and created a special custom pillow from the PBK x Rifle Paper Company bedding. I also purchased the PBK x Rifle Paper Company muslin blanket for her nursery. I look forward to playing with her on this blanket in her room, but for now it rests of the back of the rocker!

Our rocker’s special end table is another “Pop Made” piece from Nick’s Pop. We love being able to turn on her lamp, feed her bottles, and read to her in this special little nook.

Nick, Roux, and I are so excited for this next chapter of our lives as a family of four.

Our sweet baby girl made her arrival a few weeks early, but she’s still perfect in every way!

Since baby girl sleeps in our room these days, we aren’t using her nursery very much yet — but I can’t wait to see what memories we make together in this special room.

I tried to link everything from our Nursery in case you’re looking for some inspiration for you baby girl! I know I spent hours trying to find pieces to make our room complete, so hopefully this helps some mamas out there.

What theme did you go with for you first baby’s nursery?

The post Baby Killebrew Nursery Reveal appeared first on Kait Around The Kingdom.

1. A Different Voice?

If you’ve watched the iconic “This is What Dreams Are Made Of” performance at the end of the film, you’ve probably found yourself scratching your head at one detail. Whose voice is singing at the end of the song for that famous “DREEEEEAMMMS” shot? It’s not in your head, it’s a different voice — and the tie-in is actually pretty sweet. The voice you’re hearing at the end of the song is none other than Angie Jaree, who sings the theme song for the show Lizzie McGuire! 

2. First Disney Channel Series Turned Feature Film

While plenty of Disney Channel Series have inspired Disney Channel Original Movies, Lizzie McGuire was the first Disney Channel Series to see a movie make it to a theatrical release. Another future example? Hannah Montana would later follow in Lizzie’s footsteps with Hannah Montana: The Movie! (We’ve got a Sweet Niblets necklace too, y’all.)

3. A Hit At The Box Office

While making this film a theatrical release was a risky move for Disney, it paid off. In The Lizzie McGuire Movie’s opening weekend, it grossed more than $17 million coming in second place at the box office behind X2: X-Men United. It’s still one of Hilary Duff’s most successful films to date, grossing $55.5 million. Who else went to see Lizzie McGuire on the big screen back in 2003?

4. Hilary’s Sister Provided Isabella’s Singing Voice

That’s right — although Hilary Duff portrayed both Lizzie McGuire and her Italian doppelganger, Isabella, her sister Haylie Duff provided Isabella’s singing voice for the film. While you end up only hearing Lizzie sing, it was originally planned for both Isabella and Lizzie to perform. If you listen to the track carefully, though, you can still hear Haylie’s voice mixed in.

5. We Missed Out On A Sequel?

With the major success of The Lizzie McGuire Movie, it’s no surprise Disney was ready to jump into a sequel and keep the Lizzie McGuire franchise going! Unfortunately, this sequel would never come to be since the network and Hilary Duff couldn’t agree during contract negotiations. Is anyone else bummed we missed out on a NEW Lizzie McGuire series for Disney Plus only 5 years ago? We still can’t believe Disney fumbled on that one.

Outfit Repeater

We may be Outfit Repeaters, but Kate Sanders is an Outfit Rememberer — which is just as pathetic! If you’re a proud Outfit Repeater, you need our Outfit Repeater necklace. Inspired by one of our favorite Disney Channel style icons, this stainless steel necklace will become a new repeating staple in your totally cool wardrobe. We choose to believe Lizzie would’ve been rocking this necklace on her trip to Italy if we’d created it sooner!

Our Outfit Repeater necklace is one of three designs in our “You’re Watching” collection. There’s also an Oh Snap necklace and a Sweet Niblets necklace!

If you’re ready to shop, be sure to use code “SPINNING10” to save 10% at checkout.

Like the show it was inspired by, The Lizzie McGuire Movie shaped so many of us in the early 2000s. From adding Italy to our travel bucket lists to giving us the most iconic movie soundtrack of our childhood (you know you had to buy your own copy from Limited Too!), The Lizzie McGuire Movie was the perfect ending to a much-loved Disney Channel series. If you need a refresher, you can watch Lizzie McGuire and The Lizzie McGuire Movie on Disney Plus right now!

Is This One Of Your Favorite Disney Movies?

The post Five Facts About The Lizzie McGuire Movie appeared first on Kait Around The Kingdom.

When I began researching all things baby, diapers were no exception. I consulted with friends and family, new moms, blogs, reviews, and even TikTok! I knew I wanted a brand whose diapers would be soft, but also free from unnecessary harsh chemicals. I saw online friends who recently became mothers using the brand Coterie and decided to do my own research, and what I found changed everything for me!

Coterie Diapers

Coterie Diapers are hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, and free of over 200 chemicals. They’re also super absorbent, keeping your baby’s skin three times drier than their competitors. While all of these factors were important to me, one thing that sold me was the convenience. Coterie Diapers offers an Auto-Renew option that ships out your order every 4, 5, or 6 weeks. Those who choose to go with a subscription get 10% off of their orders, too!

Your baby’s sized up or you need to add something extra? No worries, make changes on your account on their site! They even offer some commands to be made via text message, saving you time that should be spent doting over your little one. Coterie offers products for every stage. “The Diaper” for diapers, “The Pant” for those potty training, and “The Swimsuit” for water activities! Their water wipes are also 99% water and some of the largest wipes on the market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Kaitlyn Killebrew (@kaitkillebrew)

Ready to start shopping Coterie Diapers? Be sure to use my code “KILLEBREW20” to save 20% on your first order! With baby girl coming soon, I’m sure I’ll be sharing an update on how I like being a Coterie household. For now, I’ll enjoy the excitement of stocking my daughter’s dresser in her brand new nursery!

Have you heard of Coterie Diapers?

The post Coterie Diapers appeared first on Kait Around The Kingdom.

From the music to the characters, Mary Poppins has always been a special movie to me. In my house growing up this is one VHS tape we played on repeat. My mom shares birthday with this special movie’s anniversary year and it was one of Walt Disney’s last films he was a part of before his untimely death. I cover what makes this movie so special in an episode of my podcast, The Carousel Project — and spoiler alert — it’s a lot! I even shared a pretty special moment with Mary Poppins at Walt Disney World in my childhood. She was the one to tell me and my sister that my mom was expecting our baby brother Kevin!

When I began researching a Mary Poppins themed party, I found that most decor stuck to her classic colors — red, blue, yellow, and black. With a vision of pastels on my mind, I decided to pull inspiration from my own collection of vintage 1964 Mary Poppins merchandise! All of the books, games, and other keepsakes I’ve collected over the years featured more whimsical coloring with an emphasis on pinks and purples. 

With these keepsakes as a guide, my sweet hostesses and their party planning team went above and beyond to bring my favorite Disney movie to life on for my baby shower! One of my favorite areas that they created was the seating area where I’d open my presents. The pastel balloon arch with fun penguin balloons near my chair was definitely one of the biggest compliments for decor I received from my guests.

I also brought my daughter’s future dollhouse bookshelf from her nursery to fill with her books as I opened gifts. It was so fun to see the shelves fill with stories we can read together someday! I even made a special list of Disney Books for your Baby’s Library to make putting these special pages on your registry that much easier. I can’t recommend this concept enough because my guests were awesome about pulling books directly from my registry to avoid doubles!

When it came to cookies, I knew I wanted these to be the star of my shower. This was my guests’ favor and I wanted to bring the elements of the original Mary Poppins film to life, but with pastel coloring. My girl Michelle at Michelle’s Custom Cookies took my inspiration photos and color requests and created the Mary Poppins cookies of my dreams. I told her since our shower theme was “Practically Perfect in Every Way” I wanted a special tape measure cookie like the famous scene from the film, but with gold coloring instead of the bold yellow. I also requested umbrella and carousel elements, the penguins (if possible), and a gold spoonful of sugar cookie to tie in with one of our desserts at the event.

As you can see, she absolutely nailed these! I love how she added elements of black without it overpowering the overall pastel and white color scheme. If you’re in my area locally, I recommend Michelle’s Custom Cookies for you next event!

One fun touch we saw throughout our party planning was Spoonful of Sugar Cake Pops! We knew this would be a sweet way to tie in one of Mary Poppin’s most iconic musical numbers. Some of the extra details that I loved about these cake pops were the fun gold spoons we used and of course Mary Poppin’s hat on the tiered platter.

A special surprise that my hostesses had for me at the shower was Mary’s Mimosa Bar with a classic Disney Parks drink option, POG Juice! Anytime I’m at breakfast on Walt Disney World property, I’m ordering a POG juice so this thoughtful touch meant so much. My guests loved this juice choice as well — It was more popular than our special themed shower punch!

For the shower’s main punch we concocted a “Practically Perfect Punch” which could be garnished with pineapple or raspberries, which was a fun nod to Disneyland’s Jolly Holiday Cafe on Main Street. We even made some “Practically Imperfect Punch” featuring Tito’s, too.

My cake was from our local grocery bakery and featured a pastel carousel topper. I loved the simplicity of this cake because it tied the other sweets together perfectly. (Also, there wasn’t a bite left!)

I created both of my baby shower games on Canva along with the party invitations and food label cards! Once I got the inspiration for the party in place it was easy to build on it for little elements like this.

I have a number of vintage Mary Poppins books in my collection, but Josie gave me one more that is truly priceless now. We used a large vintage Mary Poppins book as my guest book for the shower and once the day was over it was fun to look through the illustrations and see what messages were left for my baby girl.

Last but certainly not least was Jane & Michael’s Candy Bar! My party planning team went all out stocking this table with sweets for guests to grab while I opened my presents. They even included cute candy bags for people to take with them on their way out.

No Mary Poppins candy bar would be complete without toppins, right? They truly thought of everything when it came to the party details! Some of my other favorite candies featured were the pink and white rock candy sticks, assortment of Sour Patch Kids, pastel M&Ms, and Airheads.

If you’re planning a Mary Poppins themed baby shower or party, I hope these details helped bring your concept to life! I even created a list with some of the elements we used for my baby shower to make shopping even easier.

This special day was truly a dream come true for me. When the idea of a Mary Poppins themed baby shower came to mind, I never could’ve imagined what beautiful details my girls would bring to life for me. The shower theme may have been “Practically Perfect in Every Way” but my baby shower was absolutely perfect in every way!

Would you host a Mary Poppins themed party?

The post A Practically Perfect Baby Shower appeared first on Kait Around The Kingdom.

Source: Peyton’s Places

Have you ever wondered how that famous “I’m Going To Disney World!” campaign got its start? This week on ESPN+’s Peyton’s Places, Peyton Manning breaks down the history of this iconic slogan with the Super Bowl MVP that started it all — Phil Simms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Kaitlyn Killebrew (@kaitkillebrew)

I covered the history of this Super Bowl tradition in my On This Day in Disney History series back in 2022, but I loved seeing it highlighted as a topic in Season 4 of Peyton’s Places this week. It’s been almost forty years since this post-Super Bowl commercial tradition began, and I know many have wondered where it all began.

“I’m Going To Disney World”

Source: Empire Sports Media

So how did this phenomenon begin? A few weeks before Super Bowl XXI, Disney CEO Michael Eisner and his wife Jane had dinner with Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager — the first two people to fly around the world without stopping. Eisner asked them what they’re planning to do next after completing this major accomplishment and Rutan joking replied, “I’m going to Disneyland!”

Jane Eisner thought that sounded like a great slogan, and the idea was born. With the Walt Disney Company producing the halftime show for Super Bowl XXI, there was already an in to put this plan in motion. Disney reached out to both Super Bowl teams’ quarterbacks during the week of Super Bowl XXI to secure that they would in fact say “I’m Going To Disney World!” in their post-game interviews for the commerical.

On February 25, 1987, the New York Giants defeated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI, meaning Super Bowl MVP Phil Simms would be the first to exclaim he’s “Going To Disney World!” 36 years later, this tradition continues with the Super Bowl MVP sharing their plans to either visit Disney World or Disneyland after winning the game. 

Peyton’s Places Goes to Disney World

Source: Peyton’s Places

As a lifelong Disney fanatic, I loved seeing Peyton Manning and Phil Simms experience Walt Disney World in this episode! You see, since Phil Simms never actually got his Super Bowl parade at Disney World and Peyton Manning never got his “I’m Going To Disney World!” commerical, Manning felt the two deserved their chance to make it happen all these years later. 

The two venture to Orlando, Florida, bright and early before the park is open for the day. By saying the magic slogan (you know where this is going!) they are granted access to the Magic Kingdom with just a tap of their Super Bowl rings.

Source: Peyton’s Places

Peyton Manning and Phil Simms go over how Simms had the opportunity to say this post-Super Bowl slogan, Super Bowl XXI, and more. We see footage of Simms repeating the line over and over again to ensure that the cameras got the perfect shot for the commerical spot. He even said both “I’m Going to Disney World” and “I’m Going To Disneyland” to cover all of his bases.

Source: Peyton’s Places

On Peyton’s Places, Phil Simms remembers that the day after Super Bowl XXI once the commerical debuted that’s all anyone was asking him about! They wanted to know how he got that commerical, no mentions of his Super Bowl victory.

After reliving Super Bowl XXI, Peyton Manning wants Phil Simms to bring one of his Super Bowl plays to life once again at Walt Disney World. Since they need a third player, Goofy is called in. The three do the famous flea flicker play in Magic Kingdom!

Source: Disney Parks Blog

To end the episode, Manning and Simms explore the Magic Kingdom before it opens to guests. They experienced Tron Lightcycle / Run, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Country Bear Jamboree, Mad Tea Party, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and more. They even stopped for some turkey legs and Phil Simms pulled the sword out of the stone in Fantasyland! 

Parade Time

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Both Phil Simms and Peyton Manning get their “I’m Going To Disney World” moments they previously missed, starting with Simms’ parade. Manning, Simms, and Mickey parade through the Magic Kingdom and the episode finishes with Peyton Manning’s “I’m Going To Disney World” commerical!

Source: Peyton’s Places

My husband and I have watched Peyton’s Places on ESPN+ since the series launched, so seeing this new episode featuring one of my favorite moments in Disney History was such a treat. A special thanks to Ohama Productions for allowing me to view the episode early!

If you’re a fan of football, Disney, and history, I highly recommend checking out the latest episode of Peyton’s Places on ESPN+. 

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Did you know the history behind this Super Bowl campaign?

The post Peyton’s Places Goes To Disney World appeared first on Kait Around The Kingdom.

1. The Original Script Was Much Darker

Hocus Pocus was initially conceived as a much darker film. Did you know the original script had a much more sinister tone? As time went on the story evolved into something more comedic and family-friendly, which is the film we know and love today! The working title of the film was originally “Disney’s Halloween House,” but was ultimately changed to the more whimsical title, Hocus Pocus.

2. Bette Midler Wasn’t the First Choice For Winifred

It’s hard to imagine anyone else as the iconic role of Winifred Sanderson today, but it’s true — Bette Midler wasn’t the original choice for the role. Initially the part was offered to Cloris Leachman, who turned it down. It’s safe to say things still worked out with Midler as Winifred, though! She made the role her own and was hands on in developing Winifred’s distinctive look with the film’s costume designer, Mary E Vogt.

3. Sarah Jessica Parker’s Witchy Connection

Sarah Jessica Parker may be known for her role as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, but she also played Sanderson sister by the same name — Sarah Sanderson. In fact, the role was written specifically for her! In a 2010 episode of Who Do You Think You Are? Sarah Jessica Parker learned that one of her ancestors was accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. 

4. Kathy Najimy’s Unusual Flying Method

The third Sanderson sister, Mary Sanderson, was portrayed by Kathy Najimy who was the first choice for this role! The filmmakers were impressed with her comedic talent and felt she was perfect for Mary’s quirky humor. In fact, she leaned into the character’s quirkiness by riding her vacuum cleaner side-saddle — which just added to the humor of Mary.

5. Hocus Pocus Filming Locations Are Really in Salem

Hocus Pocus takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, so it’s only fitting that many of the film’s locations are actually in Salem, Massechusetts — not just some Hollywood set! Allison’s home, Max’s school, Max’s home, the Halloween party venue, and more can all be found around Salem. 

6. The Iconic “I Put A Spell on You” Scene Was Improvised

The song “I Put a Spell on You,” performed by Bette Midler in the film, is one of the most memorable scenes. The song was originally recorded by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins in 1956, but Midler’s rendition brought a new level of theatricality to the classic track. In fact, the number was largely improvised! While there was a basic outline within the film’s script, Bette Midler added her own flair to it that made it the iconic number it is today.

7. The Movie Flopped in the Box Office

While Hocus Pocus is a must-watch fall film today, it was originally a box office flop when it released. Since it hit theaters on July 16, 1993, Hocus Pocus had to compete with summer blockbusters. Once Hocus Pocus started airing on television and was released to home video it started to build its popularity with audiences all over!

8. A Notable Cameo

The film features a cameo by actor and director Garry Marshall, who plays the character of the “Devil” at the Halloween party. His over-the-top portrayal adds to the film’s humor and festive atmosphere. In case you missed it, Garry Marshall brought us iconic films like Pretty Woman and The Princess Diaries!

9. The Black Flame Candle is Real — Sort Of

The mystical Black Flame Candle that resurrects the Sanderson sisters is a key plot point in Hocus Pocus. While the candle itself isn’t real, it was inspired by an actual historical belief that black candles could summon spirits or be used in magical rituals. We actually created a special necklace inspired by this special candle, you can shop it here!

10. The Sisters’ Costumes

The Sanderson sisters’ costumes were designed to reflect their individual personalities. Winifred’s elaborate gown, resembling a classically “medieval” sorceress. Sarah’s flowing and flirtatious outfit was ethereal and light to mimic her playful personality. Mary’s more rustic attire were all crafted from home-spun fabrics to reflect her cautious nature.

11. Thackery Binx Was Played By Two Actors

The character of Thackery Binx, the boy-turned-cat, was actually portrayed by two actors! Sean Murray played the human version, while Jason Marsden provided the voice of Binx as a cat. James Marsden’s voice was ultimately dubbed over Murray’s to maintatin consistency throughout the film.

12. The Sanderson Sisters Reunited for A Disney Halloween Special

In 2020, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy virtually reunited for a Halloween special called In Search of the Sanderson Sisters. The event was a fundraiser for Bette Midler’s New York Restoration Project and gave fans a much-needed dose of nostalgia during such a trying time.

13. The Story Continues

Just 2 years later in 2022, a sequel to the original Halloween film was released, Hocus Pocus 2. All three original Sanderson sisters made a return for the film while introducing a new generation of witches and continuing the magic and mischief of the original film. 

Black Flame Candle

We are so thrilled to be celebrating 30 years of the Sanderson sisters that we released a special Black Flame Candle necklace inspired by it. This conjuring candle with a flame as black as night was used to call back three bewitching sisters from their cold grave. Lit by a virgin on Halloween night, he changed the course of events for his small town, Salem, Massachusetts, forever. This eerie entity is a must-have for any Hocus Pocus fan. This piece is part of our Eerie Entities collection, available on our site right now.

Whether you’re revisiting the Sanderson sisters or watching Hocus Pocus for the first time, these facts add a layer of appreciation to the film’s enchanting legacy. Happy Halloween, and may your holiday be as spellbinding as the magic of Hocus Pocus!

Which Sanderson Sister is Your Favorite?

The post 13 Bewitching Facts About Hocus Pocus appeared first on Kait Around The Kingdom.

The post 13 Festive Facts About Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas appeared first on Kait Around The Kingdom.

25 FACTS ABOUT THE PARENT TRAP

1. The twins were named after Director Nancy Meyers and Producer Charles Shyer’s two real-life daughters. That’s right, the names weren’t random! They were a nod to the couple’s two children.
2. Both daughters make cameos in The Parent Trap. Annie hands Elizabeth the first aid kit at the Stafford Hotel by the pool and Hallie plays a camper (named Lindsay for Lindsay Lohan) at Camp Walden.
3. Lindsay Lohan got her ears pierced for the movie. While Annie gets her ears pierced by her 11 year old twin in the film, Lindsay went to a professional for her ear piercing!
4. Lindsay Lohan worked with body doubles for twin scenes. Can you imagine having to film every single scene twice? This was Linday Lohan’s reality while playing both twins! While there were several body doubles on set, Erin Mackey is known as Lohan’s main body double for the film. This helped Lindsay to meet the eye line with “herself” in post production!
5. Lindsay Lohan’s mom and siblings were extras in The Parent Trap. The most notable of the Lohan extras is her brother, Michael Lohan Jr., who played the boy who accidentally ended up at Camp Walden. You can also spot Lindsay’s mom and siblings in the background at Heathrow Airport when Martin picks up Annie after camp.
6. Hallie met Queen Elizabeth II in a deleted scene. You don’t want to sleep on the bonus features for the Parent Trap on Disney+, y’all. Not only can you find the deleted scene where Hallie as Annie meets Queen Elizabeth outside of Buckingham Palace, but there are other behind the scenes extras like a segment explaining how Lindsay filmed both roles as Hallie and Annie for the film. 
7. Natasha Richardson has some family connections in the film. Her character Elizabeth James’ house is on the same street her father (director Tony Richardson) lived on. The many references to Meredith Blake as “Cruella De Vil” are a nod to her sister Joely Richardson who played Anita in the live action 101 Dalmatians movie in 1996!
8. The character Chessy is named after a friend of the director. The name inspiration didn’t stop with the twins for The Parent Trap. Director Nancy Meyers named the Parker family’s nanny after a decorator friend by the same name.
9. Joanna Barnes is in both Parent Trap films. Barnes was the evil girlfriend, Vicky Robinson, in the 1961 version of The Parent Trap. She would make a cameo in the 1998 version of the film as Meredith Blake’s mother, also named Vicky!
10. Both Parent Trap films have the same run time. The 1961 version and the 1998 version are both two hours and nine minutes.
11. “Where Dreams Have No End” is a real wine. While the wine is real, it would’ve been impossible for it to be served at the wedding of Nick Parker and Elizabeth James in 1986. The wine was produced the following year in 1987. Nick Parker didn’t snag every bottle, either. You can still buy this wine today!
12. “Let’s Get Together” is another nod to the 1961 film. As Hallie is waiting for an elevator at the Stafford Hotel, she’s singing “Let’s Get Together,” a song famously from the original Parent Trap film. The hotel name itself is also a callback. The Stafford Hotel is named for a boy who talks to Susan at a dance in the original film.
13. Chessy has another twin connection. Three years after The Parent Trap was filmed, Lisa Ann Walter would have identical twin boys born on October 11 – Hallie & Annie’s birthday!
14. “Actually” is said a lot in the film. The word appears 23 times throughout The Parent Trap, including the film’s final line: “We actually did it!”
15. The Parent Trap was Lindsay Lohan’s feature film debut. You’ll notice in the credits it says “Introducing Lindsay Lohan.” She also pretended to be sick at age 11 to attend her audition for the film!
16. Annie and Martin’s famous handshake features 18 moves. It took the duo two or three hours to create the signature handshake for the film.
17. A nod to The Beatles. When Elizabeth and Hallie (as Annie) cross the street on their way to the dress shop, you’ll noticed the screen stops. They were recreating The Beatles album, Abbey Road. Down to the placement of the cars and the crosswalk itself, no detail was spared!
18. Hayley Mills was asked to make a cameo in the remake. Mills was the star of the original Parent Trap film. She had to decline the cameo opportunity due to a schedule conflict while touring with “The King and I.”
19. Both Parent Trap films feature Nabisco products. While the 1998 version of the film is known for Oreos and peanut butter, the 1961 version featured Fig Newtons.
20. The wedding dresses weren’t design by Elizabeth James. All of the dresses in Elizabeth James’ shop were designed by Vera Wang.
21. The scene where Chessy finds out she’s talking to Annie instead of Hallie took a lot of takes. The emotional scene was shot over a number of days and took 73 takes to get it just right.
22. Camp Walden is based on a real camp. Camp Walden is inspired by a real camp by the same name in Denmark, Maine. Although Camp Walden is a real place, the scenes from the film were actually shot in Crestline, California at Camp Seely.
23. Hallie’s plush Cuppy inspired a Disney Store-exclusive toy. It wouldn’t have been the late 90’s Disney Store without Disney Mini Bean Bag Plushes, and there was even one for Cuppy! Find it on Ebay here.
24. The film features two very special love songs. The Parent Trap opens with “L-O-V-E” performed by Nat King Cole. During this part of the film, were shown scenes from Nick Parker and Elizabeth James’ wedding. At the end of the film, “This Will Be” performed by Nat King Cole’s daughter, Natalie Cole, is playing. The family is all together for snapshots from Nick Parker and Elizabeth James’ second wedding for this portion of the film.
25. There’s an extended ending. In the now cut scene, the twins are talking about where they will live as a family of four. Hallie says to Annie, “You guys are going to love living in California.” Annie replies, “California? You guys are going to love living in London.” Hallie say, “London?” Then Sammy barks at a poodle next door while Chessy and Martin kiss.
26. A quarter of a century later we’re still obsessed with this classic Disney film so we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to bring a piece to life inspired by it.

PARKER JAMES LOCKET

We can’t be the only ones who wished we had our own heart-shaped locket with our first initial on it, right? The Parker James is a stainless steel, gold locket personalized with your own first initial. On the front, the font is inspired by the one from Nick Parker’s company logo, Parker Knoll. On the back, you’ll find nod to the film in “Summer ’98” in honor of this special anniversary. The locket features a chain with loops at 16, 17, 18, and 19 inches, making it perfect for stacking with other baubles. Grab yours before it’s gone! You can use code “SPINNING10” to save at checkout too.

Did you know all 25 Parent Trap Facts?

The post 25 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About The Parent Trap appeared first on Kait Around The Kingdom.