Day 1282: Tsums

The latest craze has been finding ways to display your Tsum Tsum collection, and since they stack relatively well, there's tons of creative ways to achieve this. When I realized that I have way too many Tsums to really stack them in individual little piles all over the place, I figured it was time to join the movement, and asked my Dad if he'd be so kind as to fashion me a frame. 

Well, as you can see, it worked out pretty well, and now my Tsum Tsum collection looks even more adorable all stacked up in this custom made frame. It fits perfectly on the top of my fireplace and is pretty darn cute. I already have black and blue custom wood pieces in my apartment, but this time I really wanted to keep it fresh and light with the white frame. 

There's plenty of other creative ideas on how to store your Tsum Tsums out there though, so definitely go check some of them out for your own collection! After all, for some reason they just look so much cuter when they're all together! 

Have a magical day!

Day 1247: The Off Days

It's hard even for me to believe that the past 1246 days have been so filled with Disney that I'm able to write a daily blog about it all. I mean, think about it. We're all busy people. We have our own lives, adventures, classes, jobs, worries, fears, hopes, and dreams. We watch different TV shows, love different movies, listen to different music, and visit different places. For me, much of my life is spent working on homework and studying or going to class, and really only a small part of it is spent actively "working on" my obsession with Disney. And in reality, if it weren't for Everyday Disney and my YouTube videos, I'm fairly certain that there wouldn't be as much Disney in my life as there is now.

That doesn't mean there aren't off days though, when I find myself sitting in front of a blank computer screen searching for what to write about because in all regards that day was a particularly boring one. Maybe I went to class, and where there's usually something to connect back to Disney, there wasn't. And then I could have gone to practice, an activity that usually goes by without much else to think about. Meetings usually are relatively Disney free, and if there wasn't much Disney going on in class there probably isn't much in the homework either.

What that leaves me with is the responsibility to fill that empty space with something Disney all on my own, and trust me, you can only blog about Disney mugs, Tsum Tsums, and waiting for your next trip to the Disney Parks for so long. As much as we all love the Disney movies, you don't always have time to watch an entire film, at least not if you want to actually find time to sleep at night. TV shows are on once a week, and visits to the parks only occur every so often.

So what's a Disney fan to do? Honestly there's very little you can do, because some days are just really normal days. You can follow every Disney blog on the internet, go through every picture on your computer, go to every store in town, watch every movie in your collection and still feel like the day wasn't especially filled with Disney Magic. There are even days you spend in the parks that feel almost empty, and while thankfully they don't occur very often, they do happen.

But that's okay, because if our lives were so filled with Disney all the time, we'd never be able to truly appreciate the really magical moments that pop up and surprise us out of the blue. Moments like receiving a Mickey Mouse shaped gift from your friends, seeing your new favorite Disney movie for the first time, or maybe revisiting an old favorite you forgot about. Maybe it's taking in every second of your favorite attraction for the 100th (or 200th) time, successfully learning how to make Disney-inspired macarons, or putting together the pieces of history by relating them to something you learned in The American Adventure. It's watching video footage from your first time to Disney, one that you couldn't possibly remember on your own, and discovering that the things you love now started to develop all the way back then, fulfilling your dreams on Main Street U.S.A, and taking your best friends home to Disney World for the first (second, and third) time.

Maybe not every day can be as magical as the day you first saw Cinderella Castle, but that doesn't mean we're without magic entirely, even when it may feel like it. We just have to remember that for every off day, there's a simply spectacular one right around the corner, and that when it does arrive, it'll be all the more worth it.

Have a magical day!

Day 1230: Last Summer

In the few years since my family bought a new, digital video camera, I've filmed over 3000 individual videos. An overwhelming number of those have been on Disney property, usually for vlogs, and plenty of them were filmed at home, recording concerts and such. However, a significant percentage of those videos is also made up by smaller videos, filmed at home for my YouTube channel. 

Last summer I really wanted to expand on my YouTube channel. I'd thought about it for years, and I tried a few times. But then, somewhere along the line, I found a groove. It hasn't always been easy, but I'm finding it easier and easier to brainstorm, film, and edit videos that you eventually get to see. However, with a new summer ahead of us, I figured it would be a great time to look back at some of my favorite videos from last summer! 

In one of my first videos of the summer, I told a story of terror...literally. I hated Tower of Terror for pretty much my entire childhood and well into my adult life. This is the story of that hate. 

Following the trend D23 started, I also shared another story: the story of when my love of Disney really started. I searched through pictures from when I was a kid, found an old cassette tape, and geared up for a music filled journey. 

Then, annoyed by some of the questions I get all the time, I created a video about those questions. While I may be just one Disney fan, I'm certain that my fellow fans have heard at least a few of these more than a few times. 

I love trying new things with my hair. I taught myself how to braid and curl and do all sorts of other things to it, and that got me thinking about other Disney hairstyles. You see classic how-to videos all the time, but what about other hairstyles that are less talked about? I mean, who wouldn't want Spaceship Earth hair? 

As I prepared for my trip to Disneyland, it occurred to me that there are certain things we all do before we head on a Disney trip, and this video explored just a few of those habits. 

And finally, at the very end of the summer, I took footage from my trip to Disneyland for a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the original Disney Park. 

I can tell you right now that this summer's videos will be quite different from last summer, but they will have one thing in common: Disney. I've got pages and pages filled in my notebook with ideas for what to do next, and I can't wait to get started! 

Have a magical day! 

Day 1204: One-Sided

Disney fans, unlike the title of this blog post, are very obviously not one sided. I mean, just look at the picture! You don't see that side of me all that often! As in my right side...

Alright, alright, in all seriousness, we're not talking about physical sides of us Disney fans. No, we're talking about the various...fandom sides. I suppose that's what you'd call it since there isn't really a better term for all of the various obsessions we have. And then we have our different moods on top of it, and really, Disney fans become quite difficult to figure out unless you're a fan yourself. 

For instance, there's the Disney Parks Side, which has us all excited to head to Florida. Split that up and you get three areas: Waiting to go to Disney, At Disney, and Leaving Disney. Waiting to go to Disney is how we spend most of our time, constantly wondering if there's anything else can do to plan, making lists of every shape and size, and making countdown crafts. When we're actually at Disney we're usually at our happiest, with Mickey or Minnie ears on our heads and a smile on our faces as we head out into the parks to experience our favorite attractions and foods for the 18 zillionth time. It never gets old for us. Remember that. And then there's the absolute worst part of every Disney fan's life: leaving Disney. We get uncontrollably sad, we may cry, and will also immediately start planning another trip. That's just how it works. And then the cycle repeats. 

Back home, there's the Movie Fan Side of us. The part that's perfectly content to curl up on the couch with some Mickey Waffles and watch every single Disney movie until we can no longer keep our eyes open. It's the side that rushes to the movie theater when a new film comes out, or, likewise, rushes to the store to buy the latest DVD. We end up collecting everything relating to our favorite films, and then proceed to argue with others about which Disney movie is obviously the best. Although, in the end, we all pretty much agree to disagree because they're all awesome. 

There's the Musical Side of every fan, and I don't just mean the Disney Broadway Musicals. No, the part of us that constantly sings along with every recording of every Disney song ever created, because obviously we learned the lyrics to "In a World of my Own" from Alice in Wonderland years ago. We tend to annoy others with this habit, but really they're probably singing along with us. 

There's the Foodie Side, which would give anything to have a Dole Whip during the long months between trips, and longs to go to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival every fall. The Obsessive Side, which refreshes the page every two seconds during the D23 Expo and other fan events, looks up all the possible information about our favorite animators, actors, characters, and films, and memorizes every line in our favorite films. There's the Historical Side, which researches Walt Disney, Disney films, and the parks like our lives depend on it, and the Calm Side, which rarely comes out for a visit.

But most importantly, there's the Dreamer Side, which makes us all believe that anything is possible and that our dreams really can become a reality if we pursue them with hard work, dedication, and a bit of pixie dust. One side alone wouldn't make up a Disney fan, and I'm sure there are plenty of others that I can't even remember to list, but the important part is that every side of a Disney fan helps make up the unique combination of our fandom, and I wouldn't want anything else. 

Have a magical day!

Day 1202: How to Become a Disney Fan

I've been a Disney fan for life, but not everyone has. I'm not kidding though, I've literally pretty much insisted that Disney World is my home since I started to talk, and there's nothing I love more than riding Spaceship Earth. Literally. Nothing.

But if you're not like me and maybe you've never been to a Disney park and haven't seen some of the most popular Disney movies, how do you actually become a Disney fan? I'm not going to lie, it's a pretty awesome community of people to join, as we're definitely some of the most fun and most magical folks around, but you'll also need to know what you're talking about...and what we're talking about for that same matter. Like, do you know what an ADR is? Or a Fastpass? Do you know how many individual strands of hair Rapunzel has on her head?

So, if you want to become a Disney fan, there's really only one thing you can do: jump head first into the fandom and embrace all the magic.

If you're at home, I'd definitely start with some of the classic Disney movies. You have to watch Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at some point, and when you get a bit bored during the movie, look up some of the early history of the Walt Disney Company and learn about the man Walt Disney himself! From there you could just go straight through the 50+ animated Disney movies that make up much of the fandom, but if you want to skip around that's good too. Some other must watch films include Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, The Lion King, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Tangled, Frozen, Dumbo, Bambi, and probably Lilo & Stitch, and don't forget about the Pixar movies too!

After you have a handle on some of the movies that we all fawn over, it's time to book your first trip to the parks! You may want to find a travel agent to help you the first time, but once you get the hang of things, you'll be fine! Be sure to brush up on some of the Disney Parks lingo, and make sure you head on some of the most classic and popular attractions: Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, The Teacups, The Carrousel, Carousel of Progress, Spaceship Earth, Test Track, The American Adventures, The Great Movie Ride, Tower of Terror, Star Tours, Expedition Everest, It's Tough to be a Bug, Indiana Jones, The Enchanted Tiki Room, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, and so on and so forth. Really you can't mess this one up.

And then, honestly, you just keep repeating all of this! Head to the Disney Parks more often! Check out some videos on YouTube from Disney YouTubers (like myself), follow Disney fans on social media, watch more Disney movies, and just keep moving forward. You'll get the hang of it eventually.

Have a magical day!

Day 987: Kind of Crazy

Disney fans are crazy, that's for sure, and that's why Buzzfeed likes to make videos about Disney fans and Disney characters. A couple of my roommates hurried into my dorm room the other day to share this priceless video and I knew I had to share:

Why this one stood out to me, I'm not totally sure, but I think it has something to do with the fact that there are a lot of things Disney fans do that people think are weird. Like singing along to random Disney songs at all times, and let's be honest, a lot of us dream of having a Lady and the Tramp moment for real.

If there's a YouTube video that you think I should check out let me know in the comments below! I always need another study break!

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on September 25 due to a tight schedule).

Day 921: Frequently Asked Disney Questions

Lately I've been stuck in a rut, or rather, it feels like other people are keeping me in that rut. Disney fans like myself spend their entire lifes surrounded by those people who just don't quite "get it," if you know what I mean. Those people who wonder how in the world we can go to Disney by ourselves, and think we're crazy doing so anywhere after the age of 10. Those people who ask us why we don't go somewhere else, and then proceed to ask obnoxious questions that can only be asked by someone who isn't an avid Disney fan like ourselves.

And for me, those questions seem to be coming in full force lately.

Sometimes it works out that way, when you just end up with a lot of people asking you about Disney all at once. And that's great. I love talking about Disney. I have a friend who's planning a trip down there for next year and I was answering some questions for her yesterday. I LOVE that kind of stuff. What I don't love is when people act like they know more about Disney than I do and that obviously just because I don't like something else it's because I'm too preoccupied with my thoughts of WDW.

While that's probably true, especially in the cases of WDW and OUAT, that doesn't mean I'm out of my mind. It just means that I understand what it means to be a part of the Disney fandom, and that's something you can only understand once you're 100% a part of it. I blog daily because it's what I like to do, and it's about something I'm extremely passionate about, and that's why, while they may be annoying, I continue to answer these questions day in and day out.

How long did you really think I could go before this guy made an apperance in one of my videos? 

Have a magical day!

Day 856: Thingamavlogs!

Now, as a Disney YouTuber, I'm required to promote other Disney YouTube channels, right? Even if I'm not, today I'm going to share one of my new favorite YouTube channels, and if you're a Disney fan and love YouTube and are not yet watching, WHY NOT?

Thingamavlogs if a channel with not just one, not even two, but five minds behind it, and I'm completely in love. They each do a video a week, making for a new video every single week Monday through Friday, and every single one is focused around Disney. There's a new theme each week, and well...I'll just let them introduce themselves and the channel:

As you can kind of see, we're into what, week three or four now already, and I'm a few days behind personally, due to finals. However, it's never to late to start from the beginning and binge watch all of the videos out so far! There's always a new adventure with this bunch, and I figured I'd share a few of my favorite videos so far, just to get you started! 

Now, I had to pick a favorite from each person, and I cannot wait to see what they come up with in the future! Plus, I'm really looking forward to heading out to Disneyland and D23 this August, where I'm definitely hoping to run into at least one or two of these awesome Disney fans! After all, we must unite, right? 

So if you haven't checked out Thinamavlogs yet, please go do so! Support Disney YouTubers and these awesome people! They deserve it!

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on May 14 due to finals).

Day 798: J'adore Disney

French is definitely not my strong suit...not by a long shot. But on the other hand, it seems to be one of the best places to come up with blog post topics, and I finally figured out why. Teachers that love Disney are kind of hard to come by, and by love Disney I mean LOVE Disney. There's the usual, "Yeah I like Disney Movies" and the occasional "Disney is awful," (I've actually heard that more than once), but every so often you find one that will literally have an entire whispered conversation in the middle of class with you about how much you love the parks.

It all started the other day when we were discussing calling cards in French class. Our professor showed us his French calling card, which just so happens to have Mickey and Minnie on it because, apparently, Disneyland Paris is a pretty big thing, at least for the Disney fan that lives in France (I definitely hope to get there someday)! He said a little more about all the Disney parks and I helped out a bit by supplying the info on Shanghai, but he knew all the rest of the parks, and I left class that day mentioning to Megan how he had talked about Disney and that I had a suddenly good feeling about this. The next day (or maybe a day or two later, I can't remember), there was another discussion where Disney came up, and as our TA, Victor, led the class, my Prof pulled up his usual chair right next to me since I sit on the end of the row. Then, somewhere along the line when Disney was mentioned, we ended up having this whole conversation about Disney and how he's been to various parks and lived in Anaheim as a kid and loves Disney. 

Boy, did that put a smile on my face. 

I do believe that finding fellow fans is one of the greatest parts of being a part of a fandom, and yes, Disney definitely counts. Social media has certainly proven to me over the past year or so that there are plenty of people out there who identify with you on a crazy level. I've found friends in the Once Upon A Time fandom, and friends via Instagram, where we all post our Disney Parks Pictures. But finding someone who shares your passion in real life? That's even greater. Just a few weeks ago I actually realized that there has to be another crazy Disney fan who lives in my very dorm, since I saw a car pulling out of our parking lot with a license plate that said something along the lines of "Disney Fan." I'll probably never find that person, but I'm keeping it in mind if I see the car again.

And that's one of the things I love most about Disney...it brings people together. When a fandom unites, some serious magic is possible, such as the fact that CaptainSwan has pulled together and is now featured as one of the top two TV Couples on EOnline (you can go vote for the final two HERE through Thursday March 19), a feat that definitely wouldn't of happened if the fandom really worked together. It's just another example of how social media and fandom friends can make a difference. 

To be totally honest, I can't wait for August and the D23 Expo, where I'm certain I'll finally get to meet many of my Disney friends (and some of the leaders of our wonderful fandom). I'm counting down the days everyone, and of course, the blog gets to come with me, so get yourselves ready too!

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on March 16 due to Midterms).

Day 629: Disney Nightmares

I love Oh My Disney and the hilariously accurate Disney Fan related posts. This time it was one on Disney Nightmares...the terrors that keep us up at night...and ONLY us up at night.

They're list includes things like "Losing a Radiator Springs Racers FastPass" and my personal favorite, "Buying 8 Vinylmation Only to Get the Same One 8 Times." You can read the entire list HERE, but I felt like I needed to add just a few more completely accurate Disney Fan nightmares. Because let's be real, these are SCARY.

1. Your Favorite Attraction Being Closed for Refurb During Your Entire Trip. 

I actually just dodged a bullet with one of these this morning, since I'll be headed to WDW from January 2-10, and Splash will be closing for annual Refurb on January 4. Our first day at Magic Kingdom for the trip? January 3. BOOM.

But seriously, this is scary. And it happens way too often. Luckily I've always managed to secure my place on Spaceship Earth (knock on wood) even during the great 2006-2007 overhaul.

2. Your Favorite Attraction Closing - For Good. 

I feel for you Malestrom and Backlot Tour fans. We all feel your pain.

3. Your Annual Pass Running Out. 

I face this one in January. That is a sad day indeed because it means you have to either pay more money for your new annual pass or live in the sad world without one until further notice.

4. Having a Terrible View for Fireworks or the Parade.

If you think that because we've seen these things before we'd be ok with allowing someone else superior viewing, you think wrong.

5. The End of Your Disney Vacation. 

Admit it...this is the worst nightmare of all. The scariest part? We face this one in real life all the time.

Do you have other Disney nightmares? I'm pretty sure I could write a book on this one.

Have a magical day!

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