It's Time to "Get Up and Go" With the Cast of Disney's "Newsies"

Photo Credit Disney Theatrical Group

Last April, one of my family’s favorite parts of the Disney Social Media Mom’s Celebration was experiencing the Disney Magic of Healthy Living Program first hand. From the Disney TRYit Campaign to the Disney Magic of Healthy Living, Disney continues to be a leader in encouraging parents to inspire their own families to lead healthier lifestyles.  Through their engaging content, useful tools and unique experiences, the  Disney Magic of Healthy Living Program helps families by making nutritious eating and physical activity more appealing and more fun.  And now Disney has really taken the next step in introducing the latest component in making their movement program as easy as 5, 6, 7, 8. 

Photo Credit Disney "Newsies"

Now you too can “Get Up and Go,” a new initiative to promote a healthier lifestyle in kids through dance.  Disney Theatrical Productions’ new wellness and fitness program “Get Up and Go” promotes fun ways that kids can lead healthier lifestyles through dance, inspired by the Disney’s Broadway shows and award winning choreography. The program launched in December 2013 and is currently offered to schools participating in Disney Musicals in Schools, Disney Theatrical Group's outreach initiative that builds sustainable theatre programs in New York City schools.

Check out this video that features Newsies Tony Award®-winning choreographer, Christopher Gattelli, who will leads aspiring dancers, or just people that want to have fun through dance, through a step-by-step tutorial in learning choreography from the thrilling production number, “Seize the Day,” that kids can do together in their schools and at home with family and friends.

This exciting new program will expand nationally with the onset of the recently announced Newsies National Tour in the fall of 2014. Programs in select cities will be announced at a later date. The program will expand to include sessions from The Lion King and Aladdin in 2015.  In the meantime, check out this high stepping fun when it hit the streets of New York on "Good Morning America".

“Get Up and Go” is in support of Disney Magic of Healthy Living which partners with parents and inspires kids and families to lead healthier lifestyles. This initiative  pairs the fun of Disney’s stories and characters with a well-balanced portfolio of foods and healthier lifestyle choices. Disney’s nutrition guidelines, which were first introduced in 2006, were developed with the help of experts and align to federal standards. For more information, please visit: www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/mohl

 It may be geared toward children, but this mom of a houseful of dancers is not going to pass up an opportunity to learn those impressive Newsies moves.  What are you waiting for?  If you can move you can dance! Throw on your dance shoes, grab some newspaper and along with the complete dance tutorial Be sure catch Newsies at the Nederlander Theatre before it closes on August 24 or when the Newsies seize the day in a city near you.  In the meantime, be sure to “Get Up and Go”.

The Countdown is on to Disney Social Media Moms On The Road

In just one short week, people from all over the country will come together to be a part of one of the most educational and inspirational mornings ever as the Disney Social Media Moms On The Road series kicks off in Chicago and then heads to Philadelphia and finishing in Phoenix.  Started as a way to bring a one day version of the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration to more people, the On The Road series is an opportunity to come together with some of the most talented writers from across the country, interact and hear from speakers that will have a long lasting impact on you and be with others who share your love and passion for writing and social media.

  I have been so blessed to have been a part of both the Disney on the Road event when it came to San Francisco as well as the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration when it visited Disneyland this past April and this year in just a few short weeks I will be on my way to Disney On The Road Phoenix. The excitement and the anticipation for each of these events never goes away, if anything, it builds knowing some of what’s in store for all of the participants at this unbelievable morning.

Now in its third year, Disney Social Media Moms Celebration On- the-Road creates an energetic forum where Mom influencers and social media enthusiasts meet for a half day program filled with inspirational messages and educational content designed to support the goals and unique lifestyle demands of Moms. You can expect to hear what's new, what's next with Disney Parks, participate in interactive sessions and hear from a dynamic line-up of speakers

2014 Disney Social Media Mom Celebration “On-The-Road” Speakers Include:

Chicago, June 17-

Claire Cretors serves as president of Cornfields Inc., a leading, healthy-foods private label company and creator of the G.H. Cretors and Hi I'm Skinny retail brands. After joining the company in 2006, Claire became executive vice president in 2007 and president in January 2012.

Jonelle Krier, RN, BSN, MS is a mom, grandmother, OB nurse and inventor of Assessables® – a newborn bodysuit with an opening that leaves the umbilical cord stump exposed for natural air drying, today’s standard in cord care. Assessables® is pleased to be the winner of a 2012 Huggies MomInspired Grant.

Philadelphia, June 19-

Amy Bradley spent 17 years working as a Celebrity Personal Assistant in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington DC. It was the kind of job that taught her how to get things done as quickly and efficiently as humanly possible. The she became a mom and that's when she learned what having a demanding job was REALLY like.  Since that time, Amy has parlayed her knack for getting things done quickly into a career as a "mompreneur" and is the force behind the Toydozer– a product that helps parents and kids clean up a messy, toy covered floor faster than ever.

Jen Groover has been tagged by SUCCESS Magazine as a “One-Woman Brand”, a “Creativity and Innovation Guru” and a leading “Serial Entrepreneur” by Entrepreneur Magazine and ranked #8 by SAP in the Top 51 Influencers of Human Potential. Jen Groover’s name has quickly become synonymous with innovation, entrepreneurship and evolution. She has gone from guest hosting television spots, to inking deals with some of the industry’s biggest heavyweights. Her success skyrocketed with the creation of the Butler Bag, the world’s first compartmentalized handbag, and has not stopped since.

Alicia Overby Mom, Wife, Sister, Entrepreneur, “Boss Lady” and Runner are just some of her many titles; Alicia Overby is the founder and creator of Baby Elephant Ears.   With a quick vision and determinations she did something very few people accomplish-she brought a product idea to market in less than 9 months. In late 2009 she launched her business Baby Elephant Ears with her husband Scott. Now entering year 5, Baby elephant Ears is worldwide in a dozen countries and sold at over 850 locations nationwide.

Debi Silber MS, RD, WHC, FDN The Mojo Coach®, President of Lifestyle Fitness, Inc. and founder of www.TheMojoCoach.com, is a health, weight loss, fitness, wellness, lifestyle and self improvement expert. She’s a speaker, spokesperson and author of 2 books recommended by Brian Tracy, Marshall Goldsmith, Jack Canfield and many more. Debi’s branded The Mojo Coach® because she’s led thousands of women to achieve their ultimate body, mind, image and lifestyle; inspiring them to “get their mojo back” and helping them transform into their personal and professional best

Phoenix, June 25-

Nadine Bubeck is a mom, wife, TV personality, host, speaker, blogger, and author. She has been an anchor, reporter, and producer at television stations in Phoenix, Arizona; San Diego, California; Yuma, Arizona; and San Francisco, California.and is the author of a first-of-a-kind book, Expecting Perfect: My Bumpy Journey to Mommyhood hosts an online mommy show, All Things Mama; runs a lifestyle website, Nadine On The Scene as well as being a style contributor for one of Arizona’s leading magazines.

Lisa Cash Hanson is the CEO & Mom Inventor behind Snuggwugg INC.Snuggwugg® is a 2012 Huggies Mom Inspired Grant Winner and

named by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the 10 Most Innovative Small Businesses. She blogs & vlogs at Mompreneur Mogul sharing tips on tech, social media, business and life. Author of Get Famous a mom blogging book and featured in Babble, Baby & Kids Magazine, Yahoo, CNBC, AOL, & Entrepreneur. Connect with Lisa on Twitter @Mompreneurmogul.

Tracey Clark   From photography to writing to teaching to collaborating, Tracey Clark has found a way to weave all of her passions together, both online and in real life. Author of Elevate the Everyday: A Photographic

Guide to Picturing Motherhood, co-author of Expressive Photography: A Shutter Sisters Guide to Shooting From the Heart, founder of Shutter Sisters and co-founder of Our Collective, Tracey loves nothing more than to share with others the insights and inspirations she’s gathered along her creative life’s journey. For more about Tracey visit her blog or follow her on Instagram @traceyclark.

Allyson Phillips is mom, an inventor, and a business owner. She is one of the first recipients of the Huggies MomInspired award. Allyson is inventor of Tilty Cup.   Tilty has won numerous awards and is recommended by pediatricians and parents worldwide. Tilty was featured in the Got Milk ad in May 2011. 
Allyson’s most recent business and product launch is Lids2Go.

Romy Taormina is Nausea Relief Chief/Co-Founder of Psi Health

Solutions, Inc., the maker of Psi Bands, a medical device for the relief of nausea. Award-winning Psi Bands are sold at more than 10,000 U.S. locations.  Romy offers tips to product-based entrepreneurs for getting and keeping their product on retail store shelves in her blog, “Both Sides of the Retail Table”.

Be sure to follow along for this most magical of mornings right here and follow all the happenings of the Disney on the Road series as it travels from Philadelphia to Chicago to Phoenix by checking out www.DisneySMMoms.com
or on Twitter at #DisneyOTR and of course #DisneySMMoms.  Believe in the possibilities….live your dreams!!

Who Knew Healthy Could Taste So Good! The Disney TRYit! Campaign

Two Thumbs Up for the Disney TRYit! Campaign!

Anyone that knows me, and even those that may not know me, knows that the words “Healthy Eating” and “Gayle” are usually not two things associated together. As much as I hate to admit it, I live completely and totally on, well, not the healthiest of diets. All that has changed thanks to the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration held a few short weeks ago at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California and the Disney TRYit! campaign.  

Truth be told, I had no idea that eating right and eating healthy could taste this good! Thanks to the magic of the Happiest Place on Earth and the TRYit! Campaign, all of the attendees and our families were treated each day to a wide variety of healthy and mouth-watering food.

 Each day from the opening night dinner for ourselves and our families at Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree to the closing breakfast on Sunday morning in Cars Land, the magical people at Disney went out of their way to show all of us just how easy it is to eat meals that are both delicious and nutritious. Through the Magic of Healthy Living and their new TRYit! Campaign, the good folks at Disney are looking out for each of us by encouraging families to try a variety of new foods and fun moves in an effort to teach everyone that living a healthier lifestyle is easily obtainable.  Throughout  the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, we found ourselves with incredible food choices that would satisfy even the pickiest of eaters, yes even me, and it wasn’t just the grown ups filling up their plates with salads, main entrees and scrumptious desserts  (even the s’mores were healthy) –kids were going back for seconds and thirds as well.   

 Not only did the magical people at Disney have us eating healthier, but they had us up and out of our seats and moving, whether it was to the band playing at the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree to the DJ spinning for us in Toontown on Saturday Night to our very own Disney Fun Run on Sunday morning, it was all about learning a better way of  living.

One of the ways Disney has already implemented their healthy eating initiative into the Parks and into our lives is with their Mickey Check seal of approval. What is the Mickey Check?  The Mickey Check is a tool that makes it easier to identify nutritious choices in stores, online, and while on vacation at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. The Mickey Check can be found on select kids’ meals and fruit carts throughout Walt Disney World® and Disneyland® Resorts, on various Disney-licensed food products sold at grocery stores across the country, and on qualifying recipes at Disney.com/tryit and Spoonful.com. To receive the Mickey Check, foods must meet Disney Nutrition Guidelines developed by health experts and align to federal dietary guideline recommendations.  Now all families can keep a healthier lifestyle and still enjoy all the fabulous food you’ve come to know and expect when visiting any of the Disney Parks. 

You don’t have to be at the Disney 
Social Media Moms Celebration to eat healthy at the Disney Parks.  Trying a variety of new foods and fun moves is part of living healthy. That’s the message of Disney’s TRYit! Campaign. From inspirational messages on-air and online to a special TRYathlon event and road tour, kids and families are being encouraged to take action to be their best.

The TRYit! Campaign is not just for inside the Disney Parks. Any Disney fan already has seen this plan come into our own homes though the Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior and Radio Disney in the form of storytelling and short-form programming. In August, a TRYathlon TV Special on Disney XD and Disney Channel will bring together real kids and Disney talent to demonstrate how good for you can be fun too! Kids will compete in a one-of-a-kind TRYathlon that tests their skills, fosters teamwork, and allows them to discover new ways to challenge themselves.

The TV special will kick off a road tour – hosted by Radio Disney – to bring the TRYit! Campaign to 10 cities across the U.S. Go to www.Disney.com/TRYit to find inspiration to be your best or to stay up to date on local events, contests, and other ways to participate in TRYit!

So let’s review-great food, delicious and nutritional selections that are easy to make and bring about a healthier and happier you-sign me up!  For more information of the Magic of Healthy Living or the Disney TRYit! Campaign, or for great recipes and suggestions on how easy it is to implement these quick and simple changes into your own family’s day to day life, be sure to check out http://citizenship.disney.com/try-it  or go to Spoonful.com for a wide variety of activities and recipes and ideas the whole family will love.  If I can do it-anyone can!

Disclaimer: I was invited to the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration at Disneyland and have offered a special discounted rate that was offered to all attendees and their families. In addition, I have received products to help make my experience even more magical.  I will be sharing the unique things I learn throughout the Celebration however these are my own personal thoughts and opinions, not those of the Walt Disney Company.

Gayle is a lifelong educator by day and avid blogger by night and is the owner and cofounder of the Disney Gals, one of the most popular Disney blogs around! Proud mommy to 5, Grammy to 4 she is blessed to share her life with amazing family and friends who encourage her to chase her dreams no matter where they may lead.  When not in the classroom, she can be found following her son as he dances his way through life, or working with young performers in free nationally recognized after school children’s theater program that she founded 13 years ago. On any given day you will find Gayle skipping her way through life with a giggle and a smile knowing that today is meant to be lived and enjoyed. To learn more about Gayle, click here.