Last night we were invited to the premiere of Disney’s first-ever celebration of La Navidad: ¡Viva Navidad!

Located in Paradise Gardens at Disney California Adventure Park, Disney’s ¡Viva Navidad! is a Latin-themed holiday street party that’s toda una fiesta con verdadero sabor navideño! From the music that includes Mexican mariachi and samba, to the folkloric dance, colorful pageantry and just overall festive environment that Disney got just right. Of course, the fun is led by The Three Caballeros with a very special appearance by Mickey and Minnie!

I can’t even explain to you how happy I felt when I saw it the first time. I felt I was definitely witnessing a beautiful homage to part of our Latin culture that exemplifies nuestro amor por la vida y las tradiciones. My daughter felt completely identified and was singing out loud to the tunes of “Feliz Navidad” and wouldn’t stop dancing. She even recognized that her Mexican doll looked like the dancers!

Here are two Instagram videos I shot with a sneak peek into the ¡Viva Navidad! street party that’s going on now until January 6 with around six daily performances. In a few days I will bring you an interview with one of the Latina’s behind the creation of  ¡Viva Navidad!, as well as video of the complete street party.

Oh, and there’s also lots of Mexican street food and desserts to enjoy at the Paradise Gardens, to the tunes of Latin bands. How about a Mickey concha?

We know we love a movie when we wish we could have been in the middle of all the action.  The wildly popular Transformers movie captivated many of our little ones, and of course us too for that reason. Surely the creators of the ride were thinking about our kids’ wild imaginations when they made Transformers The Ride-3D.

Stepping into the new transformers 3D ride is like stepping into the best action packed scene of a Transformers movie itself. From the moment you are standing in line the experience has begun. You become a N.E.S.T. recruit and cast members dressed up as  N.E.S.T. security usher you to move the line along until you meet Autobot Evac, a transport robot assigned to protect you and guide you to safety through an intense robot battle scene.

It’s amazing to see how far technology has come. Spanglishbaby was invited to experience Transformers The Ride-3D. I felt like I was in the middle of the action. From the wind in my face when Autobot Evac flew at level with skyscrapers to heat of fire when an explosion occurred, I was there. The amazing 3D animation had me flinching to dodge the robots that came my way. It is truly and immersive ride experience. Again! Again! Was the phrase I heard over and over again from the kids leaving the ride.

In short, Transformers The Ride-3D is tons of fun for our imaginative and robot loving niños! And of course we are not just going to tease you with our review of the ride. Check out the giveaway below!

The Giveaway!

We are giving one lucky winner the chance to visit Universal Studios Hollywood and ride the new Transformers The Ride-3D!! You must live in the Los Angeles area to enter  or be able to come on your own (tickets only, no travel, meals or accommodations). There will be one winner who will take two tickets to enter the park. Tickets will be picked up at will-call at your earliest convenience.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

That’s really the first word that came out of my mouth when we stepped foot into Cars Land, the brand new experience at Disney California Adventure that opened yesterday.

There is so much I want to tell you about this Cars Land, like how it’s been five years in the making and how perfectly Disney and Pixar managed to recreate Radiator Springs and make you feel like you really stepped into the movie.

I’m actually writing this from the media room at Disney California Adventure because I’m here as an invited member of the media which has been congregated here since yesterday to witness and report on this historical, magical-moment-in-the-making event. I’m going to spend the day taking pictures and experiencing everything Cars Land and the newly reopened Disney California Adventure have to offer, and will come back to share all this with you. Or you can follow me on Twitter or Instagram and catch it all live!

But, for now, I just had to take a video of my favorite new attraction so far: Racers in Cars Land. It’s a mix between a car race and a roller coaster. You board a 6-passenger cars which takes you through the very roads and canyons Sally and Lightning took during that memorable first ride together, including the Wheel Well! The outdoor sights and views are breathtaking and you will be in awe at how real the canyon walls look!

Then you’ll drive right into Radiator Springs and meet the rest of the crew where you will be set up for an exciting, fun, thrilling, screaming, awesome ride! Check out the video and ride with me!!

What do you think? Is this right up your alley? It was right up mine!

If I had to choose only one time of the year to visit the Disneyland Resorts, it would be during the Holidays. Both of the parks (Disneyland and California Adventure), the hotels and even Downtown Disney just exude even more magic and completely embody the merry spirit of the holidays.

Not only are the streets, the building facades and the characters trimmed with the best holiday decor and costumes, but also many of our favorite rides and shows–like “It’s a small world” and “Haunted Mansion” are customized to include music and stories to fit the season.

Image courtesy of Disneyland Resorts

“It’s a Small World” (pictured above) is  gets a total facelift from the exterior and the interior. Outside it shines with hundreds thousands of colored lightbulbs outlining its facade. Also nightly on the façade is “The Magic, The Memories and You!” show with its new holiday sequence. Once you enter, you truly step into a wonderland featuring Disney’s interpretation of the holidays around the world. The boat goes along the different continents while the never-ending classic songs”It’s a small world” and “Jingle Bells” are sung in many languages.

In Fantasyland, you will find the traditional snowdrifts and icicles adorning Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle. Truly beautiful when seen at night.

The Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle presentation unfolds throughout the evening in three acts, each of them featuring a touch of winter snow on Main Street, U.S.A. The finale of the show includes the legendary “Believe … in Holiday Magic” fireworks show, which takes you on a journey of sights and sounds of the season and ends with a touching rendition of “White Christmas,” along with a climactic snowfall swirling down on Main Street, U.S.A., “it’s a small world” Mall and New Orleans Square.

“A Christmas Fantasy” parade has become a holiday tradition in Disneyland. Guests enjoy watching as Disney characters celebrate the magic of the season, wrapping gifts, baking  holiday treats and preparing for the arrival of Santa Claus, who shouts a jolly greeting to spectators along the parade route.  Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse even take to the ice for some skating fun.

Photo by AngryJulieMonday

I was amazed to find out Disneyland decorators trim nearly 700 Christmas trees in the resort for the holidays – at the parks, hotels and Downtown Disney. The one pictured above is the most photographed one in the resort as it is the one that greets you once you enter Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland. Just check out and admire the detail which goes into it.

In fact, the Disneyland Resort Enhancement team works year round just to create this holiday spirit. Here´s a brief and interesting glimpse of how it all comes together behind-the-scenes:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1302Ph-i4M&feature=player_embedded#!

My daughter has no idea how lucky she is to live a mere 30 minutes away from Disneyland and get the chance to experience so many special moments there. However, no matter how many times we go, the touch of magic is always there. The Holiday celebrations just bring it up a notch.

Disclosure: My family and I were invited to spend a day at the Disneyland Resort. All opinions are my own.

You didn’t think my family and I would head out to an all-expenses paid trip to Universal Orlando and Island’s of Adventure and not get something out of it for you? No way!

The amazing people over at Universal Orlando Resort want TWO SpanglishBaby friends to each win a
a package of two-day, two-park tickets for four people. Each package of four is valued at $539.96 USD and the winners will have until June 11, 2012 to use the tickets, or forfeit prize.

We are truly excited to host this giveaway since I experienced a beautiful new stage in my girl´s life and saw her blossom after spending a week visiting Universal Orlando and Island´s of Adventure. We would love to pass it forward and have your kids experience the thrills and magic of these theme parks that bring both movies and books to life.

Experiences like these are better lived than told about. The closest we can get to showing you how amazing this place is for a family with kids of all ages is this video that my husband put together for us.  In the video below you will catch just a glimpse of how much fun a preschool-age kid can have at both the theme parks and the on-site hotels.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUFMsI37FG0

Song featured on the video is “Holiday” from Vampire Weekend. Get it here.

Special thank you to the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel for treating us with special care and attention. Staying at one of the three Universal on-site hotels is truly the way to go. You will feel miles away from everything, but will be just a boat ride away from the theme parks and Universal´s CityWalk. Not only that, but you get the added perk of being able to use your room key as an Express Pass to most rides and also early admittance to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Butterbeer for breakfast?).  Just watch this video from Jennyonthespot.com and you´ll be convinced of the awesome-ness of this place!

The Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winners:  Amy Saucer and Iliana Blair! Have fun in Universal Orlando!!

Thanks to Universal Orlando Resort TWO of you will each win a package of two-day, two-park tickets for four people. Each package of four is valued at $539.96 USD and the winners will have until June 11, 2012 to use the tickets, or forfeit prize. Note that transportation, accomodations, meals, etc are not included in this prize. Tickets only.

To enter visit the Universal Orlando Resort website here and tell us which of the attractions you want to visit the most and why.

That’s all you have to do to enter this giveaway. If you want to up your chances at winning, then this is how you can get additional entries (only after you’ve completed the step above):

**Please leave a separate comment for each so we can count them and avoid mistakes.

1. Subscribe to receive blog updates and subscriber-only content via email and leave us an extra comment letting us know you did so or that you’re already a subscriber. Make sure to leave the comment using the same email you subscribed with.

2. Follow us on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway including a link to the post and @SpanglishBaby and @UORNews. Copy the link to the tweet in an additional comment on the giveaway’s post.

3. Like SpanglishBaby on Facebook and join a thriving community of parents.

This giveaway ends Thursday, June 9 at midnight PST and is open to everyone over 18 years of age.  Check out the Giveaway Rules.

Disclosure:  My family and I were lucky enough to receive an invitation to experience Universal Orlando Resort and Loews Portofino Bay Resort as their guest.  No monetary compensation was received for this blog post.

My daughter has always had an extremely energetic and lively spirit. She can be the loudest and most attention-grabber in the room, but only once she´s comfortable with her environment and, especially, if the environment is mostly Spanish-speaking.

I have to admit that I´ve been a tad worried that our efforts to immerse her in Spanish all the time aren´t allowing her to fully be herself when she´s with a group of kids that only speak English. Because of that, five months ago we enrolled her part-time in an all-English Montessori pre-school which did wonders to her self-confidence and individuality, but she was still shy around groups and new situations.  She would never respond to strangers who love to compliment her on her blonde, curly hair or even tell anyone her name.  She was scared of fireworks, anyone in a costume (especially characters) and anything unexpected.

It took two trips to theme parks in Orlando for her to finally come out of her shell and let her bilingual spirit be.  We were blessed to be invited to join the Hanes Comfort Crew on their annual family trip to Disney World. Three weeks later, we went back to Orlando on a very special invitation from Universal Orlando Resorts. On both trips we were surrounded by bloggers and their families.  There were kids of all ages and activities to keep us entertained all day.

My husband joined us for the trip to Universal Orlando Resorts last week and witnessed how Camila bloomed into a lively, friendly, uninhibited little girl right before our eyes.

Here is just some of what she experienced where we noticed her personality bloom:

• We discovered that she loves roller coasters as she rode the Flight of the Hippogriff and Woody Woodpecker´s Nuthouse five times each (and wanted more!).

• Now we know that not only does she like speed, but she´s not afraid of heights (I detest both!) Her papá and her soared above Universal´s Islands of Adventures on the Pteranodon Flyers. They were there at 9am so she could ride as many times as she wanted. I lost the count…

• During a luau at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort, we witnessed a budding little star as she went onstage with the other kids to learn how to hula dance (she´s the last one on the right with the white dress and super concentrated on learning the moves!).

• We froze in expectation when the presenter asked her her name and exhaled when she answered not only her name, but also her age.

• We would turn to look at each other with proud smiles every time any of the warm cast members at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure would talk to her and, instead of crouching over to hide her face, she would beam at them and yelp out a huge “Hiiiii!”

• She´s still not into characters too much, but we did get her to pose close to some Minions, the stars at Universal Studios Orlando´s newly announced 2012 ride based on the movie Despicable Me.

• We spent an afternoon at the awesome pools in the Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando and she went wild with the slide.  Unheard of before now.

• After a failed attempt at a date night, we decided to bring Camila with us to the Blue Man Group show in Universal Orlando´s Citywalk.  We figured if it got too crazy for her we would just leave. No need! She enjoyed every second of it and even participated in audience interactions listening and following instructions.

• She made many new friends and would initiate conversations with older girls herself–in English and español.

Thanks to this, we realized theme parks can broaden a child´s world in so many ways. Here are only three:

1)  Being immersed in constant new situations allows children to explore freely without the expectations they have already set for themselves.

2)  Visiting theme parks puts children in a space they can embrace as their own.  It is made for them. They know it, they see it and they live it on their terms.

3)  Theme parks and travel offer so many learning and cultural experiences.  From seeing storybooks come to life (Curious George Goes to Town, Dr Seuss, Harry Potter, etc), to getting up close with animals (Animal Actors on Location), to seeing how a dinosaur egg is hatched (Jurassic Park Discovery Center), and exploring mythology (Poseidon’s Fury) you will constantly have conversation pieces to make your child´s head explode with newfound knowledge and experiences.

All images property and ©SpanglishBaby, Ltd

Have your children been to any theme parks?  Would you like to plan a trip to Universal Orlando Resort?  Stay tuned because this week we are launching a giveaway where two winners will grab a package with tickets for a family of four to visit Universal Orlando before June 12, 2012.

Disclosure:  My family and I were lucky enough to receive an invitation to experience Universal Orlando Resort and Loews Portofino Bay Resort as their guest.  No monetary compensation was received for this blog post.