Day 786: Never Without It

I believe it was sometime last week when I first realized this, but I decided that it was a big enough topic for a blog post in it's own right, and I was certainly correct with that statement! You see, I'm not Catholic, but I do go to a Catholic College, and that means that there's always a lot of talk about Lent and what everyone will be giving up for it. I find that a lot of students on campus give up something other than meat or in addition to meat, and there are some pretty interesting ideas. My roommate Hannah has given up Starbucks, and I know several people who have given up desserts in the caf here on campus. But for me, giving up something for Lent just doesn't work very well. I do, however, get some pretty interesting suggestions on what I should give up.

First off, let's point out that if I give up any more food, I will literally be unhealthy. I'm already on restricted dairy and I can't eat most fruit, so is taking something else away really a good idea? I mean, I'm pretty sure my most popular dish here at school is salad, and that just seems silly to take away in my situation. I don't really eat desserts either, so why would that even be difficult? Doesn't that defeat the point?

One time I had someone suggest that I should give up Once Upon A Time, to which I just responded with a laugh. After all, OUAT comes back right in the middle of Lent (at the beginning, really), and considering I already spend half the year without it (literally, more than half the year), I'm really already participating in a "Non-Once" period that's much longer than Lent. Plus, after waiting 80 some days, I'm not about to give up my premiere.

Another of my roommates is giving up Make-Up, and that's great. In fact, I fully support her idea. Only it's not really ideal for me. Even if I didn't do the make-up on my OUAT Disneybounds, I still have performances that occur during Lent, and I can't just go perform in front of tons of people without doing my makeup...

But by far the most outrageous suggestion for Lent I've gotten was someone who suggested I give up Disney. Now that, that's just downright IMPOSSIBLE. Why? Because I am literally always surrounded by something Disney. If it's just Disney movies or something, sure! I can do that! I do it most of the year anyway! If it's the Disney Parks, you have to realize that I spend 99% of my time NOT at them, so that doesn't even count. But getting rid of all Disney in my life, even aside from the fact that I write a daily blog about Disney, would never happen.

Over the course of my day, I've taken pictures of some of the most common Disney references in my life. This is just photographical evidence, and certainly doesn't include every last bit of Disney that was in my day, but it's a start!

As you can see, just up by my loft where I sleep there's tons of Disney. Stitch sleeps right next to my head, helping to protect my phone (which doubles as my alarm) from both me and from falling off my bed. I also have a Disney calendar that hangs at the end of my loft, for no reason other than it's pretty. Finally, I have pictures that hang along the wall, and you can see my Star Wars pillow hanging out up there too! 

 

As if my lock screen isn't enough, my Twitter and Facebook are also filled with Disney, and if you want to go off of my phone...check out Megan's! Her phone has Disney all over it too! 

My computer screen almost always has something Disney on it, and I didn't even include my background, which just happens to be Captain Hook (the Disney version...perm and all). Plus, here's where I include Everyday Disney. That picture happened to be taken when I was in the middle of writing Day 782: Thank the Maker! 

Don't even get me started on my desk. But then again, we've covered this already, haven't we? 

Since I couldn't easily take a picture of my lanyard in class, I took one at lunch. At college, we have a lot of little things that we have to keep with us: our ID, keys for our room and for our mailbox, among other things, and in my case, lactade so I can eat. Lanyards are a popular option around here, and you don't wear it around your neck: you carry it. So to make mine easily distinguishable, I picked a Disney lanyard I got at the D23 Expo in 2011!

Even in my "office" I have Disney! Way down in the deep depths of the music building sits the music library, where I work sorting out music and so on and so forth. Since I had a coupon for shutterfly a while back, I created a desk calendar. Although you can't see it, every month has a different Disney picture to go along with it, but since it doesn't officially start until March 2015, I've been keeping it on the cover instead.

Now, I swear I didn't do this on purpose. I picked this shirt completely without this project in mind...but I probably am either wearing something Disney or Disneybounding a solid 60% of the time. Actually, most of my clothes have Disney connections, as a lot of times I buy it for a specific outfit and then it gains a name that has to do with it. For instance, I have "Hook Pants" and a "Belle shirt" and an "Elsa Dress" and so on and so forth. 

Finally, we all know that I love my mugs, and since I have either coffee or tea (or both!) at least once a day, I put them all to good use. Today's mug of choice was my Contemporary Resort mug, which I got in January, although yesterday it was my Hollywood Studios Starbucks Mug and tomorrow it'll probably be my Mickey's Really Swell Diner Travel mug! 

Now, like I said, this is just a taste of the amount of Disney in my day, but as you can see, it would be pretty much impossible to abolish all Disney from my life for Lent. I still haven't figured out if or what I'm giving anything up this year, but one thing's for sure: it won't be Disney. 

Have a magical day!

Day 627: Visiting Digitally

Disney is constantly keeping things ahead of the game, and here's yet another instance of that.

A few years ago, one of my favorite things to do with my brother was go on Google Earth and search out Walt Disney World. As part of a promotional campaign, they put much of WDW into 3D graphics, meaning that if you went down to ground level on Google Earth (and you can probably still do this), everything is like a giant pop up book. It's not as great as really being there, but this was at the forefront of the 3D additions to Google Earth and it was just a great feeling.

So as part of a newer promotional campaign, Disney has begun creating Animated Resort Tour Videos, beginning with one for The Grand Floridian and another for The Contemporary.

These are pretty darn adorable and creative AND well made, so I can't wait to see if they continue with this progression for the rest of the resorts. It's just another way we are able to experience Disney right in the comfort of our own homes. 

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on September 23).

Day 535: $10000

Generic Blog Post Topic Ideas are easy to come by. The hard part is still associating them to Disney in a way that both makes sense and is something I haven't yet really talked about. Some of these topics lend themselves rather well, while others simply just don't even make it onto the list of possible ideas. This, however, is one of the ideas that made it straight onto the list of blog post topics: What would you do with $10,000.

Actually, the original prompt had $1000, but considering the fact that I just calculated how much money it would take to eat everything in Epcot and that adds up to over $8,000, I upped it a little bit, making for a longer stay and a more realistic vacation.

Base Rules: Let's say I already have an annual pass, just to get that out of the way. Let's also say I'm paying for my hotel room, not using DVC points. I can use any of the money, but cannot go over $10,000. I'm also not including airline fees since that just takes time to figure out and calculate.

Let's start from the basics: Hotel.

As much as I'd love to stay at the Grand Floridian, I picked the Contemporary Resort instead, with a Theme Park View. I figured why not, if I had $10,000 to spend of course I'd go for that option. I also picked some random dates: November 9 - November 17, 2015, for 4 adults. For the hotel room it was $5,604.78, meaning I have $4,395.22 left.

Why not take out $500 for shopping right away, huh? $3,895.22.

Let's add in some prospective meals. I have approximately 8 meals that I would have to plan in for reservations, or at least that I'd want to plan in for reservations. After much deliberation I chose the following 8 restaurants:

1. Brown Derby (Hollywood Studios)
2. Chefs de France (Epcot)
3. Be Our Guest (Magic Kingdom)
4. California Grill (Contemporary)
5. Yak & Yeti (Animal Kingdom)
6. Paradiso 37 (Downtown Disney)
7. Todd English's bluezoo (Dolphin)
8. Liberty Tree Tavern (Magic Kingdom)

I went through and picked out dishes from each restaurant for myself. I figure that those traveling with me can pay for their own food, right? With those emails I estimated about $300 for everything I would eat. Of course, this is probably a low-ball number, so let's up it to $350, just to be safe. Then let's add in approximately $15 for the other 9-10 meals I would eat without reservations: $150, with snacks, let's say $200. Total for food? $550 for the trip. Remaining cash: $3,345.22.

Other than that, I'm not really sure what I'd need to buy. Even if you did add on food for other people, totaling it at the same as me, it brings it down to $1,695.22. Plenty leftover.

Now, we're still not including anything like airfare, and if we flew down there's a significant possibility that we'd have a rental car. Unless we drove, then some of that money would go towards gas and the possible night in Nashville on the way down.

But could I do it? Yes. Yes I could. Anyone have $10,000?

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on October 30).

Day 494: Right at Home

Day 13 of the Disney Photo Challenge: A picture of your favorite "Home" Resort. 

Blast from the Past: 

I often get the following questions/answers...

Other Person: "Wait, how many times have you been to Disneyland?" 
Lizzie: "It's Disney World...and over 20 times."
OP: "20!?!"
L: "Yes."
OP: "Are you rich?"
L: "No."
OP: "Then how do you get to go to Disney so much if you aren't rich?"

It is, honestly, one of my pet peeves when people ask me if I'm rich. I HATE IT. I am not rich. My family owns a business, we take a trip to Disney once a year as a family vacation...as a tradition, and that's it. And my house only looks big because we have a double deck, a sunroom and a "tower" which isn't anything more than where our kitchen table sits. That's it. Sorry for disappointing you. 

Anyway, one of the main reasons I am able to head to Florida with my family is because we are long time Disney Vacation Club Members. My parents joined back right at the beginning in '96, and it's the reason we got to ride in a limo. Anyway, DVC is is kind of like a time-share, but you buy into one of the Disney Resorts, and then are able to use the points you get yearly to help pay for your stay at a Disney resort...and you can pick any resort with the DVC program. When my parents bought into DVC, the only option was Old Key West. So that's our literal "home." The OKW resort has some of the best rooms on property...and it's great for our family. Everything is close, but the one-bedroom includes a Master Bedroom, a bathroom that's more like a double bathroom than anything, including a whirlpool tub, a laundry room, which really helps for packing, and a full kitchen/dining room plus living room...which includes both a pull-out couch and chair (yes...a chair). The theming is awesome, based on classic Key West Style...specifically Conch Flats (also the name of the "town" that Old Key West makes). There's rental stuff, for shuffleboard, ping pong, two tennis courts, a basketball court and plenty of bikes and boats. Plus there's two pools at the resort. 

It's where my family has always stayed, although I've been to plenty of other resorts too, and it's part of the reason we're able to go back. The DVC costs a lot, but when you travel there every year like we do, it pays itself off within about 4 years. It's not the only reason, but it's one of them. 

And my favorite part of Old Key West? No matter if it's 9 in the morning, noon or 2 A.M., when you pass security to get into the resort, you can always expect the security guard to give you a "Welcome Home." And they're right...I am home.

Back to the Future: 

Oh, for sure Old Key West...that's not going to change, at all.

But there's one other resort that's wormed its way into my heart as well, and since I know I talked a bunch about Old Key West already, I'll tell you a little bit more about Bay Lake Tower.

BLT (Yes, B.L.T.), is the DVC portion of Disney's Contemporary Resort, and connects to the main building via a pathway on the fourth floor. I've only had the chance to stay at BLT twice, but the second time especially was well worth it, getting to stay on the top floor and visit the Top of the World whenever I wanted. I think I spent more time up there than I did just about anywhere else on that trip.

The two resorts are vastly different, with the Contemporary being closer to Magic Kingdom (within walking distance), therefore right in the middle of the action, while Old Key West is spread out a bit further, with the closest park being Epcot, although Downtown Disney is just a boat ride away.

Will BLT ever actually overpower my love of OKW? Goodness no, but it does deserve an honorable mention!

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on August 19).

Day 193: Magic Everywhere

It's funny because as I write this (on July 27), I was just working on the same topic as you'll see in the video...the band trip. Now, I'm still on a mission to convince my band director that we should stay on property, so I was working on some pricing and basic research on the internet today. In the video, I did a bit of onsite research, heading over to Disney's All Star Music Resort to see it with my own two eyes.

And you know what, I'm now more convinced than ever that I need to convince him of staying there. Why? Well because of the simple magic of course.

I may have talked about this a bit previously, but staying on Disney Property is just an entire part of the experience. At Walt Disney World, there truly is magic everywhere, and by staying off property you miss out on a lot of it!

For instance, at the All Star Music Resort, you are surrounded by giant instruments and icons, from Maracas in the Calypso section, giant jazz instruments in the Jazz section, and giant cowboy boots for Country all the way to buildings that are themed as radios. And I do say it in my video below: the buildings are radios people! How cool is that?!? Plus, you have the pools, both themed to instruments, as a guitar and a piano. And you know what? They're HUGE! Much bigger than a pool at any other regular hotel! Plus, every night there's a movie on a giant screen, and there's activities all day long! And fianlly, you're so much closer to all the magic that awaits in the Disney parks!

On this trip, staying at the Contemporary was a great time! I mean, Bay Lake Tower is right there in the middle of everything! Sure, not everyone gets to stay on the 16th floor and casually walk out to the observation deck whenever they want, but it is another magical experience I can add to my book. And there are things available to everyone at the resort too, and those just visiting! Like the Electrical Water Pageant you'll see in one of my later vlogs. There's the fact that the monorail goes right THROUGH the Contemporary, which for those seeing it for the first time, is pretty cool (I've seen it how many times and still think it's cool!). And my favorite from this trip, Disney Trivia! Each and every day there was Disney trivia at the resort, and that certainly added a little extra magic to my trip.

So in the end, I see now for sure that I have to convince him to stay on property. It's going to be a great experience for everyone because staying at Disney is something you may never have the chance to do again in your life! And it's certainly an experience you won't find anywhere else on earth (well...unless you stay at Disneyland!) That alone is why we should stay there! The fact that it's a great experience unlike anything else!

To watch my full adventures from the fourth day of my trip, watch my daily vlog below!

Here's today's Disney History: 1985: Richard Buckminster Fuller - visionary, designer, architect, futurist, and inventor - is born in Milton, Massachusetts. It is widely believed he developed and named the geodesic dome first. More than 500,000 geodesic domes have been built around the world, including the 265-foot wide Spaceship Earth at Epcot. Fuller actually coined the phrase Spaceship Earth to express concern over the use of limited resources available on our planet. 

Have a magical day!

Note: This blog post was written on July 27, after my actual trip, due to editing and time restrictions.

Day 190: Sitting on Top of the World

With our first day of our trip spent at home thanks to weather delays at the airport, we were more than ready to finally get to Disney. Thankfully, we did get there, and dad had a special surprise for us when we finally did.

Generally, as Disney Vacation Club Members, we stay at our home resort, Old Key West, just like we did on our last trip back in November. But sometimes we get a chance to stay at another DVC resort, and this was one of those times. Previously, I've stayed at many of the Disney Resorts, but as far as DVC works, we've been to Bay Lake Tower once, as well as several of the others. We returned this trip to Bay Lake Tower, the perfect mix of convenience, magic, history and, well, Disney.

Although we just had a studio, that doesn't mean our room was bad. In fact it was great. A little small for our family that is used to having the space of a one bedroom at Old Key West, but still great. But that isn't the best part. My brother loves the Contemporary Resort, a lot. I love it myself, but when my dad got in early, we weren't sure what floor we were actually going to get. Jonny (my brother) always likes the highest floor possible, so when my dad did finally get there late the night before we did, he just simply said "The Higher the Better."

Well, I'll tell you something. We couldn't get any higher. We ended up staying on the 16th floor. If you know Disney, and you know Bay Lake Tower, you will know that there aren't many rooms on that floor, nor is it a floor just anyone can get on to. Up on the top floor there's a lounge and observation deck that's popular for watching the Magic Kingdom Fireworks each night. And so, in order to access the "Top of the World," you need to be a DVC member staying at any DVC Resort on DVC Points. We were certainly doing that...and as soon as we got there I was able to see this spectacular view:

I can honestly say I spent a lot of time "on top of the world," and the song playing the entire trip on the Weather Channel fit right along with it. "On Top of the World" by Imagine Dragons. Take a listen below. 

Staying up on the 16th floor was a great experience, similar to the chance I had on our trip to Disneyland to stay on a upper floor of Paradise Pier and being upgraded to a park view room, enabling me to see my absolute favorite attraction there, World of Color, twice a night. 

Now magical experiences like this don't happen to everyone, but I think that the number I've had in my time certainly makes it obvious that it does happen, and often. Disney World is a wonderful place, and you'll see me say it time and time again over the next week of posts. It is unlike anywhere else on this planet. 

For my complete First Day Experience (including the walk from the Contemporary to the Top of the World and the sunset over Magic Kingdom!) watch my vlog below!

Here's today's Disney History: 1956: Actor Tom Hanks, the voice of Sheriff Woody for Disney/Pixar's Toy Story films, is born in Concord, California. In 2013, he portrayed Walt Disney in the film Saving Mr. Banks (more on this next week!)

Have a magical day!

Note: This blog post was written on July 19, after my actual trip was completed, due to obvious reasons.

Day 106: Animal Kingdom Lodge

Since I'm technically writing this on the 17th of April (Remember...I was at FBLA and had absolutely no time or internet access), I decided to look back to the Daily History for ideas on what to write this post on (when you have 5 days to write...it gets a little daunting).

So, in preparation, here's today's Disney History: 2001: Disney World's newest resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge, opens at Osceola Parkway. The six-story resort features deluxe facilities and luxury suites with the feel of a South African game reserve lodge. A midst at 33-acre wildlife preserve, guests can gaze on any of more than 30 species of wildlife on display from the comfort of their balconies! The savannas are special areas built specifically for the AKL and are separate from the nearby theme park Disney's Animal Kingdom.

I, first of all, can't believe that this lovely resort is already 12 years old. That seems like much to old...but I suppose it's true. I've been lucky enough to stay at the resort once, back in 2008, and it was a great experience. I'd love to stay there again, only in Kidani Village, but at least I stayed there once, right? Then again, in July we'll have stayed at my brother's resort of choice, the Contemporary, so I think it's my turn to pick...although I'm perfectly happy with a room at Bay Lake Tower (I loved being able to be so connected to the parks, food and everything. That's a luxury you don't really have at Old Key West...although I'd really love to stay at the Beach Club...but that's another post).

I think my personal favorite thing about Animal Kingdom Lodge is the same as every one else's...the animals! It's amazing to be able to look out your window in the morning and see real live giraffes...and not have to go half way around the world to experience it! I still have an animal guide somewhere from when we went too...although I don't think we marked any animals off on it just so we could keep the piece itself.

But I can't have a post about AKL without mentioning one other thing...Zebra Domes. If you haven't been to Boma, or haven't picked some of these up in the Mara...hurry your way over there because you haven't ever experienced the best dessert in the history of the universe. Zebra Domes are by far my favorite dessert from anywhere on property, and I always have to go to the Mara to grab some to take back to the room if I'm not already eating at Boma (and sometimes I'll get them even if I am eating at Boma). I'm lucky enough to have a recipe and know how to make them, although they're never as good as those you can actually get at Disney. It was even on my bucket list to eat some...not that it was a hard addition to the list!

I also have an odd love for the store at Animal Kingdom Lodge...although I'm not sure why.

History is above...but you already knew that!

Have a magical day!