Over The Top Mommy

Easter Bunny

The Bunny Has Arrived at OC Simon Malls! Caring Bunny™ and Simon Kidgits Club Easter Events Are Coming, Too!

Spring has sprung! It’s my favorite time! One of the things that my daughtger and I enjoy doing together each spring is to go shopping for a special, new dress and then to visit the Bunny at The Shops at Mission Viejo for an annual photo! I love looking back at the photos from years past!
mvbunny-photo
The Bunny Photo Experience begins this year at Brea Mall and The Shops at Mission Viejo on March 7 and on March 14 at the Westminster Mall. It runs through April 4 at all 3 Orange County Simon Mall locations. The Bunny Photo Experience gives children the chance to visit with the Bunny and take home a treasured snapshot of the fun occasion. The presenting sponsor for 2015 is Gymboree.
easter-bunny-photos
 Hop on over for Bunny photos to the following locations:
  • Brea Mall: Begins Saturday, March 7, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and runs through Saturday, April 4, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the lower level near the JCPenney win. For a full list of dates and times, click here.
  • Westminster Mall: Begins Saturday, March 14 at 10 a.m. and runs through Saturday, April 4 at 7 p.m. in Macy’s Court. For the full list of dates and times, click here.
  • The Shops at Mission Viejo: Begins March 7 and runs through April 4 on the lower level near Nordstrom. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For the full list of dates and times, click here

Save time and avoid the line with Bunny by Appointment! Now you can reserve your magical moment with Bunny online at http://simon.noerrbunny.com.

Caring-Bunny-graphicIn addition to regular mall hours for Bunny photos, Simon’s Caring Bunny™ event will offer families that have children with special needs a subdued environment to participate in the Bunny Photo Experience. Caring Bunny has been developed by Simon and is guided by AbilityPath.org, a national online resource hub and special needs community. Over 90 Simon properties will host the Caring Bunny this season. Promotional assistance for Caring Bunny has been provided by Autism Speaks.

logoThe Caring Bunny program will be offered at Westminster Mall on Sunday, March 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Bunny Photo Experience. Many steps will be taken to reduce sensory triggers, creating a more comforting environment for the children’s cherished visit with the Bunny. Reservations are required and can be made here for the Westminster Mall Caring Bunny event.

The subdued environment is likely to include (specific elements or aesthetics may vary):

  • Turning off in-mall music, stopping escalators located near the photo set, dimming the lights and shutting down fountains for the duration of the event.
  • Eliminating queue lines through the use of a numbering system whereby guests approach the set when their number is called.
  • Special activities geared toward the needs of the child during the ‘wait’ period to help the child understand what activities will occur during the visit.

kidgits-hop-into-springKidgits Club Easter Events

The Simon Kidgits Club® will also host special events, where kids can participate in various Easter activities and games. Participants will receive a special Easter keepsake to take home.

The egg-citing celebrations will take place at the following centers:

  • Brea Mall: Hosting Kidgits Easter Hop Into Spring event on March 14 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Bunny Photo Experience set, on the lower level near JCPenney.
  • Westminster Mall: Hosting Kidgits Eggcellent Easter Extravaganza event on March 28 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Target Court.
  • The Shops at Mission Viejo: Hosting Kidgits Easter Eggstravaganza event on March 21 from 10 a.m. to noon on the lower level near Old Navy and H & M, where kids can participate in various activities, and spring-themed crafts, including special entertainment by Nick The Music Man and Jen The Fairy Dancer at 10:45 a.m.
The Simon Kidgits Club is a fun and informative program that focuses on health, wellness, education, safety and entertainment for children agees 3-8.  The Simon Kidgits Club has kept children and parents alike amused for over a decade with various events and activities while providing incentives for club members, such as special offers, rewards, and games.
For more information about the Simon Kidgits Club, visit http://www.simon.com/kidgits/.
*some images provided by Simon.
 

Our Bunny Photo Experience

When I see the Easter Bunny makes his debut each year at the mall, it truly makes me happy because it signifies that spring has sprung and we’re well on our way to summer, which is my most favorite time of year! Our yearly tradition is to visit the bunny at The Shops at Mission Viejo, a Simon Mall, which is very close to our home. 

Their Bunny Photo Experience is run by Noerr Programs and is decorated so beautifully. I must admit that the fact that their Easter Bunny is a very friendly and welcoming one, unlike some other mechanical bunnies we’ve encountered in past years, brings me relief because there’s nothing worse than a scary bunny that sends your kid running for the hills!

Every year, Emily gets excited to go shopping to for a new spring dress for her bunny pics. It’s very important to her that she coordinate with his setup. 

Perfectly coordinated with the bunny’s setting, she’s ready to go pay him a visit….camera bag and all!

This year the Bunny Photo Experience is offering something new….RESERVATIONS! Yes, you read that correctly! I was ecstatic when I walked up to see the sign!

It basically means that I could check in with my phone, go online and choose a preferred time, and then we could spend some time shopping instead of standing in a long line. What an amazing offering! When it was our turn, or appointment, to visit the bunny and take photos, we simply entered in the return line and we were next. 

Even though I was skeptical about this new system when I first saw the sign,  I found this process to run smoothly. I am excited for Santa photos next year because they’ll also be offering the same reservation program! This is going to be a game changer for so many, especially families with small children who have a difficult time waiting an hour to see Santa or the Easter Bunny!
The bunny greeted Emily with a hug, a few high fives, and even did a little bit of a dance with her, before he sat down for photos. I think this type of interaction helps alleviate any hesitation a child may have about taking pictures with the bunny. I loved the bunny’s costume and the background that they had and I especially LOVED the way Emi’s pictures turned out, don’t you? 

Having these keepsake photos to look back at year after year is something that’s important to me, as a mother. I know Emily will appreciate having them to show her own children, one day too.
Noerr Programs offers a variety of affordable packages which are priced to fit a family’s budget. We purchased keychains in addition to our package, which were an inexpensive add-on. 
With the purchase of a photo package, they’ll also allow you to snap a picture with your own camera, so we took the opportunity to go where most have never gone before….we took a selfie with the bunny! I’m pretty sure Emi thinks I’m nuts for making her do this!

I guess we can cross THIS off our Bucket List!

They also send you home with a link for online sharing of your pictures, which makes it easier to share with friends and family on Facebook and Twitter. They also send you home with some coupons for Gymboree and Crazy 8

We LOVE these 2 stores AND The Shops at Mission Viejo has them BOTH!
Gymboree is the sponsor this year 
for the Bunny Photo Experience.

If you haven’t made your way over to a Simon Mall to visit their Bunny Photo Experience, then hop on over before Easter! For a list of Simon Malls click here.

Irvine Park Railroad Easter Eggstravaganza 2014 & Giveaway

If you have ever been to Irvine Regional Park, you know how much amazing family fun it has to offer! Among some of the activities you can do are hiking, biking ( they even have bike rentals), rent paddle boats, pony rides, visit the Orange County Zoo, and even have a picnic!  If you’ve never been, you need to take your family there right away! 
One of our favorite things to do in the park is to ride the Irvine Park Railroad. In past years, we’ve gone in December for the Irvine Park Railroad’s Santa Train and festivities! 
This year we’re excited to visit for it’s annual Easter Eggstravaganza, which begins on Saturday, March 29th and runs through Saturday, April 19th! Children and adults can ride the train through beautiful Irvine Regional Park. Children, ages 2 through 12 years old, also have the opportunity to participate in an Easter egg hunt, hunting for eggs that are each filled with either candy or a prize.  
You can purchase tickets for your child(ren) to participate in the Easter egg hunts, which begin at 10:00 AM daily. Tickets will be exchanged for a wristband which will indicate a specific time for the egg hunt they’ll be participating in. Don’t forget to bring an Easter basket for each child who is participating in the Easter egg hunt. Irvine Park Railroad will also offer Easter baskets for purchase. Tickets must be purchased on the day of the event, in order to receive a wristband for the Easter egg hunt. Please visit http://www.irvineparkrailroad.com for complete details on the Easter egg hunts, including times and costs.

During the Easter Eggstravaganza, children can meet the Easter Bunny at a cost of $10.00 per family or group. This cost includes a picture that will be taken by Irvine Park Railroad staff and available for pickup shortly after the picture is taken.

There will be other activities to enjoy during the Easter Eggstravaganza including hay rides, a moon bounce, Easter cookie decorating, carnival games, face painting, picture stands and a lot more. Please visit http://www.irvineparkrailroad.com for full details including costs.

Irvine Park Railroad’s other annual events include the Anniversary Celebration, Pumpkin Patch, and Christmas Train.

Become a fan of Irvine Park Railroad on Facebook, follow us onInstagram (Irvine Park Railroad), view pictures on Flickr, and follow our tweets on twitter (@IrvineParkRR).
While at Irvine Regional Park, be sure and visit the parks other activities including Wheel Fun Rentals® at Irvine Park bike and paddle boat rentals, pony rides and the Orange County Zoo.

The park entrance fee – charged by the County of Orange – is $3.00 per vehicle on weekdays and $5.00 per vehicle on weekends.
Irvine Park Railroad opens daily at 10:00 AM. The cost for train tickets is $5.00 per person; children younger than 12 months ride free. Irvine Park Railroad is located at 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869.

We can’t wait to go to the Easter Eggstravaganza 2014! 
Emi already has her outfit and her Easter basket ready to go! 
Now for the giveaway….you can enter to win 6 tickets (which can be used to ride the train OR participate in Easter Eggstravaganza activities) and 1 Wheel Fun Rentals at Irvine Park surrey rental (excludes double surrey)! Enter the giveaway in the Rafflecopter below! 
Good luck to everyone! 
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway open to U.S. Residence. No purchase necessary to enter. All fans have an equal chance to win, however, you must enter to win. A winner will be randomly selected via RaffleCopter and notified via email. No cash value. Winner will have 36 hours to claim their prize or a new winner will be selected the same way. Several different ways to earn entries. Not liable for unclaimed prizes or fulfillment. Sponsor has the right to refuse filling prize for duplicate winners from other blogs. Winner’s tickets will be mailed directly to home (or mailing address) and will not be available for will call at this event. 

photos courtesy of Irvine Park Railroad