Go, Go Guinea Pigs

Today Jack turns 5, and as a Mother Worth Her Salt Despite the Bags Under Her Eyes and Mile-Long To-Do List, I had a minor panic attack wondering how I was going to spin a fabulous day out of an empty bucket of ideas.

His dad had planned to take both Kate and Jack camping this week, but sadly had to leave town unexpectedly and cancel the trip. Sure, I was planning a week of pedicures and cooking for one (oatmeal for dinner, anyone?), but I was really pleased that Jack and I would be together for that one day that commemorates our first face-to-face meeting five years ago.

I also remembered that we live in L.A., a city of copious dinosaurs, theme parks, beaches, pools and other boy-friendly fun. But what was on Jack's mind? Guinea pigs. He was itching to see G-Force, the latest Disney 3-D offering. I decided to amp it up a bit and plotted a course to the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.

He loved the high-action comedic rodents racing through the streets in their souped-up exercise balls, but he really liked the G-Force Experience, the cool, interactive component to the movie just across Hollywood Boulevard.

"We just saw so much opportunity with this movie," says Paul Baribault, Vice President of Special Events for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. "We knew kids and families would love to get into this movie."

And get into it we did. Jack and Kate raced through the G-Force obstacle course, squashed roaches on the interactive floor, shot lasers at the evil appliances and gawked at props from the movie.

The movie/experience isn't necessarily cheap ($18 adult/$15 child; $28 VIP), unless you bring along a group of summer campers (group tickets go for $13 each, which is competitive with L.A.'s "normal" theaters), but the theater and its "value-added" experiences make it Special Occasion Worthy. And the historic theater itself is a sparkling little gem in this city of anonymous, multiscreen theaters.

"The El Cap is our pride and joy," Baribault says. It's definitely a throwback, with the live organist, the curtain show and the friendly ushers who help me not stumble down the aisle on the way to my seat.

And the theater has a packed schedule for the remainder of the year. G-Force will be the summer highlight through Sept. 7, then the curtain will go up on the original (and remastered) Snow White. Toy Story and Toy Story II will be presented for a short time starting Oct. 2 for the first time in 3-D.

Then brace yourself for the holidays when A Christmas Carol gets everyone in the "spirit" with high-tech performance capture getting the Scroogiest performance possible from Jim Carrey. Watch for that Nov. 6-Jan. 3. Check out the Christmas Carol Train Tour, which is currently criss-crossing the U.S. on a 40-city, 24-week tour (next up is St. Louis July 31-Aug. 2).

Jack would've tracked down the train, too, if he could have but was also very happy with the secret agent rodents. We capped off his birthday tour with a G-Force sundae at the Disney Soda Fountain and a stroll down Hollywood Boulevard, where he hugged Spiderman, the Incredible Hulk, Yoda, Snoopy – and a tour de force of all Jack's favorites.

I love L.A.

Bottle That!

The Disney Store is digging in to do its part for the Earth, targeting those pesky plastic water bottles as just one way to slow down pollution.

And on Earth Day (April 22), Disney Stores are planning some interesting activities and initiatives, such as:

• Recycling is Magic Project: On Earth Day, shoppers are invited to join in the recycling fun by bringing in three empty plastic  bottles to recycle.  While  supplies last, guests will receive a free reusable water bottle (an $8.50 value).


• New apparel made from recycled water bottles. Shoppers can purchase a soft, wrinkle-resistant shirt and reusable tote made from recycled plastic water bottles.


• In collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, Disney Store and Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund have planted 96,000 trees to help The Nature  Conservancy reach its goal of planting a billion trees by 2015 in Brazil's Atlantic Forest, one of the world's most endangered rain forests. One tree is planted for each reusable tote bag produced. The tote bags feature a special Earth Day design, are made from 100 percent recycled materials and retail for $2.50 each.


• Murals expressing what Earth Day means to local Boys & Girls Clubs of America children will be on display in Disney Store windows beginning April 13.