Day 1323: A Year Already

The last year has gone by so quickly that I hardly realize that it's already been a year since I was at the Happiest Place on Earth...and yet I tweet about missing Disneyland every few weeks. 

I sometimes forget that I've actually visited Disneyland twice in my life, probably because regardless of how many times I'm there, I don't think it'll ever be enough. I've blogged time and time again about how much I love Walt Disney World, and I absolutely do, but there's something so different about Disneyland, and even with three trips to Walt Disney World in this year and one more to go, it's just not the same as heading out to California. 

What it is exactly that makes Disneyland so special is hard to pinpoint. The easy answer is that it's the original park - it's Walt's park - but that doesn't even completely describe it in my opinion. Disneyland is, in every way, just different from the parks in Florida and anywhere else in the world. Maybe it's the sense of community you feel there, and the closeness to the city around you. Disneyland feels more like a community, with locals visiting and everyone so welcoming, even to out of towners. The attractions there just feel right, and don't even get me started on how precious California Adventure is, especially now that's it's found new life. 

The foods are different, the atmosphere is different, the attractions are different (at least most of the time), the layout is different, the charm is different, and the list goes on. Pretty much everything is different. And yet, it gives the same feeling of home that I've come to know and love about Walt Disney World. My trips to Walt Disney World may amount to 15 times more than those to Disneyland, but regardless of which coast I'm on, it just feels right being there. 

So yes, I'm absolutely missing Disneyland now, even as I continue to prepare for my next trip to Florida. I miss everything about Disneyland, and I can't wait to go back someday. But for now, I suppose I'll have to relive my memories of the west coast by watching old vlogs: 

Have a magical day! 

Day 1220: The Vlogging Legacy

I don't remember exactly why I decided that vlogging my trips to Walt Disney World would obviously be the best idea I ever had, but I do know that the thought occurred to me sometime in 2012, which also happened to be the year we got our new digital video camera, which has shot every vlog since and will continue to do so for quite some time. It's the perfect little camera, which fits in my hand, isn't too heavy, and I can run entirely without the use of my other hand (although I sometimes have to invest in using my head instead). It makes it easy to carry around in the parks and yet is still large enough for characters, cast members, and often other guests to get in on the action too, which, really, is half the fun.

And now, because of course if we're going to talk about the legacy of vlogging, I suppose we should go back to the actual beginning...

Boy I haven't watched these vlogs in years probably, and it's insane to think about how long ago that really was (four years I suppose...a little less, although it feels like a lot longer). The fact that it opens with my brother going on about how he "knows stuff about Disney" is pretty humorous, but other than things haven't really changed much. I'm still just as random, videoing squirrels, trying to give random information about Disney that you probably already knew, and freaking out about who knows what. Yeah, I definitely still do that. 

It's also interesting though, because there are definitely differences between these first vlogs and the more recent ones, some good and some bad. The editing as changed, because back in those days I'd never really edited a video before in my life and now I edit at least one per week. But the short cuts are something I definitely used to do and probably should bring back to keep things moving along at a faster pace. Regardless though, it's obvious I've learned a thing or two about vlogging in the parks since November of 2012. 

It took a while for things to pick up after that, but eventually I got the hang of things and now we've had all kinds of vlogging adventures, and they aren't stopping anytime soon. You can watch the most recent vlog right here too, and then subscribe to my YouTube channel for continued vlogs as long as I keep going to Disney!

Have a magical day! 

Day 1037: End of the Land

My trip to Disneyland had a ton of really awesome experiences built right in. So many in fact, that I couldn't even fit them in by day! Instead, I had to do the vlogs in "Parts" rather than days, and that, along with over 11 hours of video, led to video after video for me to share with you!

Day one brought us to California, a dinner at Downtown Disney's Jazz Kitchen, and a great view for World of Color from the Grand Californian Hotel! The next morning, however, we're off to the parks for a wild adventure at DCA...including my first trip on California Screamin'!

Part 2 continues our second day in California and features a really small castle, an opening ceremony (that may or may not have made me cry), our first adventure on the Matterhorn, one handed driving, catching up with my friend Laura, who took me to meet some of the awesome characters that appear only at Disneyland and my first experience at Mad T Party at Disney California Adventure! 

Part 3 starts on a fresh new day at DCA! I beat Jonny at Toy Story Midway Mania (again), I cry on Radiator Springs Racers because I love it so much, we catch some of the performing groups in the parks, keep some promises with Genie and Aladdin, play Mickey's Fun Wheel Challenge, and I give you a monologue about filming at the Disney Parks.

Part 4 concludes another day in the parks with a bit of Paint the Night at Disneyland Park. I also got a bit lost in the dark and had to find my way by following screams until I found my way to Big Thunder Mountain, which was recently redone and was pretty darn spectacular. And then, there's all of the adventures that came in between the D23 Expo, which had two separate videos because there was just too much to fit into one vlog! Oh, and you may also see more than a few familiar faces. 

Part 5 brings us right back to the parks for an early start and features a little bit of a piratey Tower of Terror, lots of Mater (which is still most certainly my favorite attraction at DCA), more Carsland, some Tiki Room, and much much more! 

Just because Part 5 got too long doesn't mean the day is over, as Part 6 picks up where we left off on Monday! Check out more of Disneyland's classic attractions, such as Primeval World, and some awesome nighttime shows! We had great seats for Fantasmic thanks to a dinner package, so I was sure to film the whole thing (even if it did leave me with a back that hurt like no other). 

Part 7 picks up in the middle of yet another day at Disneyland and takes us to meet President Lincoln, the Disneyland Band, Mickey and Friends at Mickey and the Magical Map before finishing off with a bit of Star Wars in World of Color Celebrate from a new view, our hotel room at Paradise Pier Hotel!

Head with us back to Mater's Junkyard in Part 8, and then onward to other new and old adventures alike! Try some food in cones in Carsland, Go Green with the Toy Soldiers, meet our favorite Snowman, a classic Rabbit, and hear Zorro come alive with, again, the Disneyland band!

As we open the last vlog of the Disneyland trip, Jonny is trying to figure out the plotline of Once Upon A Time. Later on we head off to see another showing of World of Color Celebrate, go on a few last attractions, and ultimately, say goodbye to Disneyland once again. 

And that, my friends, rounds out my trip to Disneyland. In case you're wondering, the vlogs are made up of about 1.75 hours of footage from my trip out to the West Coast, although I had to go through over 11 hours to get it narrowed down. I'd count how many attractions are stuck in there too, but I certainly don't have almost two hours to watch every minute of these right now...so I'll leave that up to you! 

Be sure to keep an eye out for more vlogs in the future as I head to Walt Disney World in January of 2016! 

Have a magical day! 

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

Day 996: Vlogland

As usual, my video camera was along for the ride on my trip to Disneyland, and there's already three vlogs up that you can watch! Things worked a little different with these vlogs from the usual setup I use for Florida, as Days didn't really apply in California. With D23 thrown in the middle with special videos, that left a bunch of random footage that didn't really apply, but that I still wanted to include! And so, also in an effort to keep the videos shorter, I've split the Disneyland Vlogs into Parts instead of Days! You can watch the first three here:

Part 4 will go live Tuesday, September 29, and there's several more after that! Plus, there's still at least one more Disneyland Video in the works that I've been planning for quite some time, so be sure to keep an eye out for that too! 

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on September 26 due to a tight schedule).

Day 947: Videos, Videos, and...More Videos

When I first decided to do weekly Disney inspired videos this summer, I sort of thought I was out of my mind. Granted, I knew I had a whole summers worth of trip vlogs that needed to go live eventually, and without a job I figured it was now or never, but I guess I couldn't have expected how simultaneously easy and difficult such an endeavor would be.

It's time consuming, that's for sure. On average, I'll probably spend at least three hours a week on a video, depending on how easily the idea comes, how long it takes to actually film it, and how many technical issues I run into while editing. This week, however, I've spent a solid two and a half days just working on editing videos, and at this point I'm pretty sick of staring at my computer screen. So of course, here I am, still sitting at my computer, writing a blog post. Regardless, this week was filled with so many videos largely due to the fact that I leave for Disneyland in less than a week and I don't want to have to worry about those new videos while I'm gone. So I'm happy to say that the next two weeks of videos are all up and ready to go. Thank goodness.

But I also don't think I realized the crazy things I would end up doing to film a YouTube video. Like when I ended up putting twigs in my hair for the Disney Hairstyle Video, or many of the things you'll see in upcoming weeks. But since I'll be at Disneyland, here's a quick preview of the videos you'll be able to find on my YouTube channel this month:

This Friday, head over to my channel to see what Disney Fans Do Before Disney. We all love to travel to the parks, and we all have this list of things we must do before actually leaving for a magical trip. These are just a few of those things.

Day 4 of my June trip to Walt Disney World will go live next Tuesday, and this time it's all about the Four Parks, One Day Challenge! Also, if you were around for the Tower of Terror video back in June, you'll remember that video of me screaming. Yeah, the extended edition is in this one!

In honor of my trip to Disneyland, on August 14th I'll share some of my favorite DisneyBounds with you, as well as give you an inside look at two of my OUAT DisneyBounds and Three outfits I have planned for my Disneyland trip!

The concluding day of my June trip to Walt Disney World was a short one, but that doesn't mean it's not filled with Disney magic, in this case, in the form of Epcot! 

And finally, on August 21, check in for my version of The Disney Tag, featuring questions that, unlike those in my Frequently Asked Disney Questions video, you might not get quite as often! 

After this set of videos concludes, don't think things are stopping though! Following the conclusion of my June Vlogs I'll have a blooper video from my January trip and then we head over to Disneyland for a whole new set of vlogs! 

Have a magical day!

Day 932: Day One

I don't do a blog post on every one of the vlogs that go live on my YouTube, but with the beginning of a new trip, it felt right! That's right, we've finally concluded my January trip and have moved onto footage from June 2015, meaning all new adventures at Walt Disney World in the heat of summer. Of course, my June trip was considerably shorter, so we'll see how many videos actually come out of it (four at least), and then we'll head back for bloopers from January and June, or in other words, footage that didn't get into the vlogs because of limiting it time-wise.

So without further ado, here's the vlog to start out Walt Disney World June 2015:

Like I said, this is only the start of the June vlogs, and things are sure to get interesting from here! 

As for what's to come over on my YouTube, I still have new Friday Funday videos going up each week, with new vlogs appearing every Tuesday. Obviously, right now those vlogs are from WDW in June, but as soon as those wrap up and we get through that bloopers video it'll be onto DISNEYLAND! 

Have a magical day!

Day 897: Looking Back

Apparently June is going to be flashback month because thanks to more YouTube videos, we've got more to look back at! This time, instead of last June, I'm thinking back to January, as at this point (when I'm writing this at least), five of the vlogs from that trip have gone live! So let's travel back in time together!

The first day of any trip can be pretty boring, but I think despite the fact that we were all super jetlagged and sick and tired, we did pretty well. Then again, it's hard to mask the pure magic that is Disney, especially when you finally return home! 

I have to mention that this second day reminded me why I loved vlogging in the Disney parks. I edited it about a month ago now and was just astonished by how happy it made me. Vlogging can really take a toll on you, not that it isn't fun. But you've got to be thinking about it, and even now, after the band trip video is done, I had the camera on almost all the time, filming our experiences. Of course, when you return home you still have to edit it. But this vlog gave me the encouragement to quickly edit the rest of the January vlogs, all of which will be up on my YouTube before the end of July. 

Day 3 brought new adventures for everyone, most notably Tower of Terror, which I had basically no interest in going on. We also, however, had a chance to see the Osborne Lights on their last night for the season, which if the rumors are true, could actually be their last night in this form ever! 

We only spent one day at Animal Kingdom this trip, which is pretty usual for us, but in this video you're treated to what my brother calls "Jonny Cam." Good luck, that's all I can say. 

The last vlog that is up at the moment is another of my all time favorites, where we spent literally an entire day meeting characters and doing little else. My brother mentioned to me before the trip that he wanted to do a Dapper Day, so we made it happen, and the Princesses certainly made our lives interesting! 

And that's all for now. What's left? Another day at Magic Kingdom, some Hollywood Studios and, of course, MORE EPCOT! A new Disney Trip vlog is posted every Tuesday on my YouTube channel, so be sure to keep an eye out for them! 

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on June 24 due to travel).

Day 883: Behind the Vlogs

January seems like ages ago, and really, it probably was, but I finally got around to finishing editing on my vlogs from that trip! Of course, per usual, I completed them just in time to head on another trip, but also as I start a summer of new Disney themed videos to show off my Disney Side. I'm starting things slow, mostly focusing on the various projects I have going on, but you can expect two videos a week on my YouTube Channel: a new Trip Vlog every Tuesday and a fun video on Friday.

In case you haven't watched it yet, here's the first of the vlogs from January:

Now then, since the vlogs are officially done, I figured I'd share some of my favorite Behind the Scenes moments from this set of vlogs. Our video camera happens to take pictures while filming, something we initially found to be annoying, but then realized is actually really great. So many Candid moments. And so, while some of these vlogs won't be up for a month or so yet, here's a special behind the scenes look at our vlogging adventures: 

To be completely honest, after June of 2014 I kind of forgot while I loved vlogging so much. The Band Trip Video really took a lot out of me, and having MORE video to edit by the time January rolled around sounded like just about the worst fate possible. But this set of vlogs reminded me of why I love vlogging, as well as why I really love Disney. This was definitely one of the most magical trips I've been on, and I can't wait for you all to see some of the mischif we got up to in the Disney Parks this time! Keep an eye on my YouTube Channel for new Vlogs every Tuesday!

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on June 4 due to Computer Issues).

Day 685: Lizzie Watches Her Vlogs

I go through a lot of video from Disney World. As I blogged about a while back, when it comes to the band trip video, I am selecting footage from over 30 hours of video, and that means that there's a lot to work through. In addition, I probably watch each vlog around 4-5 times in editing and every piece of any other video at least 70-100 times, depending on the length of the section. Why is this important? Well, I generally don't end up watching those vlogs very often after they're published on YouTube. I'll end up watching them with people from time to time, and when I have a really bad day I'll sometimes turn one on, but other than that I actually forget a lot of what happens in the vlogs. 

So when I was watching some of my vlogs the other night I decided to take it to Twitter as well. After all, there are a lot of things in the vlogs that you don't necessarily see within the video itself. It's hard to narrow down those 33 hours of footage to only a few minutes! Within my tweeting and rewatching though, I have to admit that it made me pretty sentimental, and I have a number of really good thoughts. Here's a few of my favorite thoughts I had over the past few days when going back through all my vlogs: 

"I feel like my vlogs have made me a more adventurous Disney Park Goer...like I went on Dinosaur for the first time in years in March so I could video it. I wouldn't have ridden that in 65 million years before (pun intended)." 

It's true though. I headed on Dinosaur in March specifically for footage for in the band trip video. Previous to that time on the attraction, I think I'd only been on it twice, if that. It just wasn't my thing at all. But I knew I needed the footage, so I forced myself on it, and I know already that I'll be headed back in January. It's amazing how just knowing that there are people out there watching you on your trip can make up be more adventurous. 

"A number of years ago my brother and I made a pact to not fight on our trips. We kid each other but still keep it."

I remember the conversations my brother and I used to have. When we were younger, the fighting on Disney Trips was non-stop. The 100% completely normal "we're siblings and we want to go on different attractions" kind of fights. And then one year we were outside out house playing catch, of all things, and we started talking about it. Mom had been freaking out for a few days about how we were probably just going to fight constantly on our upcoming trip, so the Kid and I made a pact. That trip we were going to surprise our parents and not fight at all. Somehow, the pact worked, and then it just became some sort of silent agreement. We argue all the time back home, and you definitely still see us "arguing" on camera, but not like we used to. Disney Vacations have been much nicer since we played catch that day. 

"If I had a dime for every time my bro mentions trash cans I'd have enough to pay for another Disney trip. And if he had a dime for every time I mentioned Colin O'Donoghue, my brother would be able to pay for five trips."

We all have our obsessions...they don't go away just because we're at Disney. 

"Filming on Test Track is probably one of the scariest things I've ever done." 

When I say that I have 33 hours of footage, I'm not kidding. However, not all of that is me walking around, and it's not all of fireworks and parades either. There's actually a TON of footage from many of the Disney attractions from all over the parks. That means I definitely have video of the thrill rides, and I get questions all the time about whether or not I was terrified for the camera in those moments. The answer is yes...I always am. The scariest? Probably Expedition Everest and Splash Mountain. For sure.

"In all 25 WDW trips, only once have I been held in Wisconsin due to weather. July 2013 was that trip." 

I live in Wisconsin, and I travel mainly in the winter. It's just what worked better for my family and it's much cooler down in Florida int he winter months. So you'd think that eventually we'd have run into a snowstorm or something that prevented us from making it to Disney. Only once has this ever happened. We've had close calls, for sure, but it was in July, of all months, that I didn't make it to Disney on time...because of a thunderstorm.

"I actually didn't really like Wishes until my high school band trip when my own wish came true. It was magical." 

I'm an Illuminations fan, forever. I grew up with it, and that made it my favorite, among other reasons. It also meant that I just didn't like Wishes quite as much, and I never really liked to stop and watch. It stayed this way until quite recently. For months before we found out about being accepted to Disney Performing Arts, I listened to Wishes and wished upon a star that we would be able to go. When we were, indeed, accepted, I couldn't help but wonder if the wish coming true was mine. Now the show definitely has a special place in my heart. 

There are tons of other thoughts that I had while watching my vlogs, and I have a feeling that #LizzieWatchesHerVlogs will be a hashtag I keep around for a while. Hopefully new vlogs and video will be appearing very soon as well! And be sure to follow my personal twitter (@epcotexpert) and the official Everyday Disney twitter (@EverydayDis) for my constant random thoughts on just about everything Disney!

Have a magical day!

Day 160: Almost There

I honestly didn't intend for this title to work or anything, but it kind of does work and reminds me of a lot of different things.

Well, today is officially less than a month until my trip to Disney World. Of course, I'm super excited, but I have to comment that it feels like I just went, which I kind of did, but I kind of didn't. It just means that the last number of months have gone by really really fast.

Anyway, I realized that the last time I went to Disney I took a lot of selfies before I went and put them on Instagram. Like everyday counting down from about 30. I was thinking about what I should do this year and I honestly don't know what I'm going to do. Doing something does sound fun though. I have an idea, but I'm not going to say what it is, but it will probably start within the next few days, especially if you follow my Instagram.

Either way, it's really exciting to say that my Disney trip is that close, and that means plenty of stuff is going on for me. I was going to make a video to practice editing using my new software today, but it just was not working for me today. But sometime in the future I may have videos on my Youtube channel. Well, I know I will at some point because of my Disney vlogs, but that's beside the point.

I'm honestly pretty tired so I guess that's about it for today, I do know that I have a pretty good post for tomorrow though! =)

Here's today's Disney History: 1934: Donald Duck makes his very first film  appearance in The Wise Little Hen, a Silly Symphony short y Walt Disney. Donald's appearance in this cartoon, as created by animator Dick Lundy, is similar to his modern look except his features are more elongated, his body plumper and his feet bigger.

Have a magical day!

Day 156: When You Have a Bad Day

Now, I didn't have a bad day, but one of my good friends did, and then, right now actually, we're in the middle of a discussion about what we think about when we are having a bad day and everything seems to just be against us. I'm not sure how random this post will be, but here's my list of things that always help when I'm upset:

1. Blogging: Or just writing about it really. It was actually one of the things that we were discussing. She just started her own blog, which you can find here, and she was commenting to me on how blogging made her feel better. Like, even though she's had a bad day, just kind of talking about it helps, and I feel the same way. There may be no one reading this blog, although I know a few people who do read it, it's still like I'm talking to someone, and that helps.

2. Reading: Specifically, when I get really upset, or in a fight with a family member or something, I'll back my car out of the garage, shut the garage door, turn the car off, get in the back seat and just curl up with a blanket I keep there and a pillow I bring out and just read a book. It doesn't matter what I'm reading, as sometimes I go there just because it's easier to read in the quiet of my car than anywhere else. I mean, I read Hamlet and Macbeth in that car...but I also read How to Be Like Walt, so yeah.

3. Disney Music: I am fairly certain I've talked about it before, but I'll mention it again. When I'm having an absolute horrible day, I'll put in my earbuds or hook up my iPhone dock and just listen to music from, a lot of times, Epcot. But at the same time, my brother is pretty awesome, because he knows that when I'm in a bad mood and we're driving in the car, he should put on Han Solo and the Princess because that always makes me feel better too. =)

4. Vlogs: The specific thing I told her to do this evening since she was in a bad mood, was to go and watch my vlogs from my Disney trip. I can't speak for her, but I'm pretty sure she loves those videos, and I personally CANNOT wait for July to make more!!!! I loved making my daily vlogs and now that my whole family is going again, it should be pretty entertaining. Plus, at the moment it's even more exciting because we're approaching the one month mark until the trip, and I'm right in the middle of planning for my challenge for this trip as well as the vlogs.

5. Thinking about Disney...OR Harrison Ford: When we were beginning to text, she mentioned that she was just trying to think of Disney and Star Wars, and I added that she could think about Harrison Ford, because that's always a fun thing to do. I just end up quoting all of Star Wars honestly, but still. It gets my mind off the bad day. Another great option, do what I just talked about and plan something for a Disney trip...and if you don't have a Disney trip coming up, go read about it and fantasize anyway.

6. Watch a movie: So maybe it's a theme here, but Indiana Jones, Star Wars or Disney are always good options. Just saying. Although I think my favorite is to watch a new movie or a movie I haven't seen in a really long time. Those always work well because sometimes I'll forget what the ending is when I first start so then it's like watching it for the first time...so then it gets my mind off of whatever is upsetting me.

I'm sure I have more ways to become "un-upset" but those are the ones that come to mind as of right now. Other Disney things for today? I went for dinner with my family at Longhorn Steakhouse and outside the restaurant as we were walking in, my dad and I decided it smelled a lot like Epcot for some reason. I have no clue where in Epcot, but it just reminded us of that. Also, my teacher's son is watching Star Wars for the first time today (although by now he'd probably be done). I think he was pretty excited about it, and she sent me a video of him singing the main theme before they started and it totally made my day.

Here's today's Disney History: 1934: Walt Disney Productions is granted a trademark of "Mickey mouse" for use in books and newspaper comic strips.

Have a magical day!