Local-My Sentiment ExactLee

Spencer Is Sporting Ceramic Braces And We Love Baptiste Orthodontics

Baptiste Orthodontics Offers A Wide Range Of Treatment Options

Since Spencer is pursuing an acting career I was hoping he’d be able to use Invisalign or ClearCorrect. Both of these options can be removed at certain times of the day or as needed. Unfortunately, this was not an option for treatment with his issue. Instead, Dr. Baptiste and I decided he would receive ceramic braces with the Pure Sapphire Bracket System offering the most invisible option available. He’d be in braces for just about 6 months. The good news is his teeth are pretty straight, it is just the way they stick out that needed to be fixed. I’m confident whatever orthodontic treatment you may need Baptiste Orthodontics will be able to assist you. Of course they offer free consultations which you can book online.

Getting Braces On Wasn’t Painful But There Were Big Changes

The day he was getting his braces on Spencer was a bit apprehensive which is to be expected. People had told him it might hurt or that a lot of foods would be off limits in the future. Dr. Baptiste quickly explained there was good news and bad news. Getting the braces on would not hurt but there could be some discomfort later. And the really bad news was that yes, many of his favorite foods like gummy candy and hard chips were off limits until the braces came off. Getting the brackets, bands and wire on was a quick process taking about half an hour. The next day or two weren’t comfortable while Spencer became used to things rubbing against his mouth. But he handled it like a champ, took some Tylenol here and there and slept a bit more than usual.

The team at Baptiste Orthodontics worked hard to ensure the entire braces experience went smoothly. Between paperwork, scheduling appointments, financing and the procedure itself I was left worry free. The best thing about them is how involved they are with the community and the local school. Baptiste Orthodontics actually travels to local schools, which is how I met them, interacts with the students and helps in any way they can. Our local Wekiva High School is home to the Baptiste Orthodontics Stadium!

The Apopka location which is their 3rd will be open on September 10th. Visit their website to book an appointment at any of their offices!

*I received a financial discount on Spencer’s braces however charges were incurred. A huge thanks goes out to Baptiste Orthodontics.

Is Toy Story Land Worth A Special Trip To Walt Disney World?

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The day has finally come, Toy Story Land is open for playtime at Hollywood Studios! Toys from all over the world are planning their vacation’s to Walt Disney World and I’m sure you are wondering “Is Toy Story Land Worth A Special Trip To Walt Disney World Or Can We Just Wait Until The Next Big Vacation?” and I’ll be honest, the answer is both yes and no. Technically speaking it’s a “small world” no pun intended but if you are a big fan of Toy Story, Pixar or Disney the Slinky Dog Dash is reason enough to come on out! But new lands at Disney are always so much fun and can’t be missed!

Slinky Dog Dash

I don’t ride roller coasters as I’ve told you all time and time again. However, when I saw the new Toy Story Land coaster, Slinky Dog Dash, I thought I could probably handle it. It reminded me of Barn Stormer and Mine Train which I have no problem with whatsoever. Luckily, I was right because it was the most fun I’ve had in years. Slinky Dog goes fast but not too fast, up and down but without the type of drop that makes one sick and has enough twists and turns to keep the action alive the entire ride. Also Slinky Dog Dash lasts a while, it isn’t as quick as some of the more recently built coasters. Undoubtedly this is my favorite ride at Walt Disney World. Or at least a close tie with Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Toy Story Mania

Once you’re finished with the coaster you can head over to Toy Story Mania! for a bit of a tummy break. This ride has been around for a while and is a favorite for many. On this ride you get in a 2 person vehicle and get prepared to play all sorts of midway games. By pulling a string in your car you’ll shoot different types of plates, balloons, bullseyes (no not that Bullseye) and more with Disney magic! At the end of the ride your score will be tallied to find out who wins! Fun times.

Alien Swirling Saucers

Your next and final stop for rides will be Alien Swirling Saucers. My honest opinion is this ride wasn’t worth the Fast Pass we used to ride. It’s a perfect ride for small children as it does not go fast or do much of anything at all. Jason and Spencer assumed it was like tea cups, because as the name suggests it swirls and or twirls around, but it does so at such a slow place and the length of the ride is so short you barely notice it happened. My opinion is to ride it once to say you did, have a good look at the fantastic props Disney created for the Alien theme and then skip it in the future.

Woody’s Lunch Box

When you get hungry you must try the best grilled cheese sandwich I’ve ever had in my entire life at Woody’s Lunch Box. It contains provolone, cheddar and a cheddar cream cheese spread that is worth demanding your toys back from Sid. It’s creamy and oh so delicious. It is also quite filling but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try the Totchos, a tater tot nacho combination including chili and cheese. For dessert you should bite into a Lunch Box Tart, either flavor will do, there is both Raspberry and Hazelnut Chocolate. Be aware seating is limited at Woody’s if you go during peak hours and you may find yourself waiting for a table or standing while you eat. The food will be worth it!

Personally, I can’t wait to get back to Toy Story Land for Slinky Dog Dash and the Grilled Three Cheese Sandwich. Jason loved Toy Story so much, wore his Buzz Lightyear costume night and day and had to have all the toys. Toy Story was a huge part of our lives so this land is meaningful to us. I hope it will mean a lot for all of you as well. Let me know what you think once you arrive.

*Thanks to Disney for the tickets so we could experience Toy Story Land for ourselves and tell you all about it.

Disney Youth Programs And Disney Performing Arts Learn At The Place You Love

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Walt Disney World is a magical land of fun and this is a sentiment shared with just about every person I know. But were you aware Disney can also be educational? Epcot has always been educational but Mickey Mouse has come up with some fantastic Disney youth programs in all the parks to help educate groups of 10 children or more. Public, private, charter and homeschool students can take part in these experiences which start at around $186 per person and include a day at the parks and behind the scenes features.

Below is a sampling of the courses you can sign your kids up for at Walt Disney World theme parks:

Discovering Marine Life Conservation – Epcot
Discovering the American Spirit – Magic Kingdom
Principles of Animal Behavior – Animal Kingdom
Managing Your Personal Brand – Hollywood Studios
The Evolution of Technology – Epcot
Energy and Waves Physics Lab – Magic Kingdom

Students will have the chance to actually use the WDW theme parks as classrooms while using attractions like Haunted Mansion, Test Track and Tower of Terror as tools for learning. How cool is that? For example, I was taken on a sample program to learn about the wonders of scrim and peppers ghost. We had the chance to go inside the ballroom scene in The Haunted Mansion and actually see how it works. This probably rated up with the most unique experiences I’ve ever had. I can only imagine how educational and entertaining the other Disney Youth Programs would be.

These programs are available to Elementary thru College age students (and Scouts) and are accredited by the Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), which certifies them as providing educationally-sound experiences designed for academic achievement. Wow, that’s a mouthful but sounds pretty legit if you ask me. You can find the Disney Youth Education Series at both Disney World and Disneyland. Tell your school or your scout group and take part, you won’t regret it.

Another option for those more inclined to the arts is Disney Performing Arts opportunities. For example, have you ever seen a high school marching band take part in the parade at Magic Kingdom? Or what about a chorus of teens singing in the Candlelight Processional at Epcot? These are performance opportunities you are sure to enjoy if you take part in this aspect of the Disney Youth Program.

There are even workshops your children can sign up for, similar to the programs I listed above but instead they revolve around performance. Here are

Dance
Auxilary
Singing
Costuming
Puppetry
Tech (A/V)

I remember when I was in high school and I was part of the flag corp in band. We marched in the parade at Magic Kingdom and had the chance to spend time backstage or “behind the scenes”. Magic Kingdom has an entire green space set up for students so they can feel comfortable before their performance. There is water and bathrooms and photo opportunities and plenty of room to practice.

My son Jason, who plays the trombone, thinks the competitions held at Disney World are a benefit to young performers. Receiving valuable feedback (in both written and recorded form) from a nationally recognized adjudicator can be priceless. And he should know, he takes part in a lot of these events and they last mere moments. Disney Youth Programs offers something bigger and better which should come as a surprise to no one. If there is a way to outdo those around them, the team at Disney will find a way.

You can learn more about all the programs listed above for Disney Youth Programs and Disney Performing Arts by visiting the Disney website. I hope you will consider taking part in Walt Disney World as a classroom the way we did, you’ll learn so much and have an unforgettable experience!

*A big thanks to Disney for inviting us out for the day to experience scrim, refraction, peppers ghost and all that jazz. No literally, all that jazz.

Rent The Musical At The Dr. Phillips Center June 5-10th

Something Rotten The Musical At The Dr. Phillips Center April 24-29th

Something Rotten In The City Of Orlando

The show opens with a minstrel setting the time, place, and back story of the musical with a rousing number of song and dance. One has to listen carefully because right from the start the music and words are fast paced and slip between the speech of Old England and that of today. It is also very helpful but not necessary if the audience has a knowledge of musical theater for there are a lot of snippets from musical theater that enhance the entire show and lend to the parody on William Shakespeare.

This show has it all, a love story, adversity, comedy and relevancy and the performers were able to engage the audience with their dialog, punchlines, song and dance. I especially loved the choreography and the use of very proficient tap. The scenery was well done and yet easily moved as it took your imagination back to what it might have looked like in Old England. The costuming was colorful and a bit risqué but appropriate for the show.

All in all it was a great show and I would highly recommend it. It plays well for the young adult and adult audience. You can purchase tickets to Something Rotten now at DrPhillipsCenter.org for shows playing April 24-29th.

*Thank you for the complimentary tickets to see the show 😉