The Caravan Theater didn’t undergo any noticeable changes or upgrades during the almost 4 month closure. There is now a Fastpass line for UP! A Great Bird Adventure. We took advantage of using a Fastpass for this show. Normally I wouldn’t do that but since it is new and I hoped that a Fastpass would allow us to sit closer to the front, which it did.

Russell meets an African Crowned Crane

UP! A Great Bird Adventure is hosted by Annika who is joined by bird handlers and of course, Russell and Dug from the movie UP!. Here is a brief overview of the show.

Mom Maven’s Thoughts on UP! A Great Bird Adventure

We, Jordan and I, enjoyed UP! A Great Bird Adventure, but it won’t make it onto our ‘must-do” every visit list. It was a cute 25 minute show but we felt Flights of Wonder was more entertaining than this new show. I understand that adding familiar characters will entice more families into the Caravan Theater and that is a good thing, but for me, it isn’t a big enough draw.

We will see the show on a future visit because Ron is a huge UP! fan and he wasn’t with us on this particular day but we won’t be visiting often. If you’d like to watch the show our friends at Inside the Magic have a full show video for you to enjoy.

If you would like to see the show in person, I am happy to help you plan your next Walt Disney World vacation. My services are FREE to you. Just Email Me and we will get started.

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Throughout the show Guano Joe learns to appreciate the different species of birds and as he learns, we do too. The cast of birds changes occasionally but you can usually see these different types of birds:

• Abyssinian Ground Hornbill
• American Bald Eagle
• Augur Buzzard
• Barbary Falcon
• Eurasian Eagle Owl
• Gray-Crowned Crane
• Harris Hawk
• Ibis
• Indian Runner Ducks
• Macaw
• Pigeon
• Seriema
• Toco Toucan
• Yellow-naped Amazon Parrot

You won’t find silly parrots riding bicycles at this bird show but you will see majestic birds displaying their natural talents as you learn a lesson about conservation.

I know lots of people skip this attraction. I recommend that on your next visit you stop in and see it, I think you’ll enjoy yourself. Have you seen the show? Love it? Hate it? Why? Leave me a comment and let me know.

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Slavery is not legal anywhere in the world today. No where is it ok to own another human being. Modern day slavery a.k.a. human trafficking, is the 2nd largest criminal industry worldwide. There are an estimated 27 million victims of slavery on earth today. Of that 27 million, 70% are female and 50% are minors.

Human trafficking happens all over the world, even here in the United States. An estimated 15,000-18,000 people are trafficked into the U.S. annually. In the U.S. these slaves are used as domestic and field workers  or sold into the sex trade.

Sex slavery is big business. Worldwide it generates an estimated $7 billion annually. Destitute families around the world sell their children for as little as $150. The traffickers can turn around and sell the children to a brothel for $1000.

There are many organizations worldwide doing what they can to educate parents and rescue victims. One such agency is The Emancipation Network or TEN. They help rescued survivors rebuild their lives by education, training in handicrafts to create sustainable income, and reintegrating them into society. TEN offers shelters, healthcare and legal aid to survivors. Most victims who were sold or abducted into slavery cannot return to their family’s. When they are ready to move out and start fresh, TEN offers rent support, medical care and continuing education.

TEN helps prevent trafficking by working in high risk communities to train adults and create sustainable income. Often as little as $100 a year in addition income will allow a family to not need to sell a child into slavery!

What can you do to help?

• You can purchase the beautiful handmade products at Made by Survivors.
• You can host a home party or community awareness event. http://madebysurvivors.com/HowYouCanHelp
• Donate to The Emancipation Network via Just Give

Today’s giveaway is for a beautiful Eco-Chic Wood Handled Tote Bag in Blue and White

Ultra-green product!  This unique wood-handled purse from our Eco-chic collection measures 15″ x 15″ and is made from reclaimed garbage – plastic shopping bags that were littering the landscape of Ahmedabad India.  The bags have been collected, washed and woven on a loom to create the ultimate bag and matching small case, laptop case, and camera case. The bag sells for $24 at Made by Survivors.

How to Enter

Mandatory entry: Visit The Emancipation Network and learn more about the plight of human trafficking. Then come back here and leave me a comment about something you learned about this international crisis.

Bonus entries: You may chose to complete any or all of these after completing the mandatory entry. Leave a comment for each one you complete.

• 5 entries for making a purchase from the Made by Survivors store.
• Fave this blog on Technorati-click on the button in my sidebar
• Subscribe to my RSS feed
• Tweet this on Twitter “@MomMaven is hosting a giveaway to support the survivors of Human Trafficking. I entered, you can too! http://tinyurl.com/dm8suz” leave the URL of the tweet in your comment-you may do this 1X a day.

This contest is open to US residents only and the winner will be chosen by Random.org on May 9th at 5pm.

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