Day 1132: Before the Blog: FBLA

I realized that while I'm entering my 4th year of blogging, there's a whole lot of my life that came before Everyday Disney, and so much of it was focused on Disney. A while back I did a post titled "Before the Blog," where I discussed where I draw the line for what "Everyday" means for my blog. However, after chaperoning for FBLA this weekend I recalled that in all the blog posts I've written, I don't know if I've ever mentioned, or at least discussed in length, the Disney connection I have to FBLA.

In 2011, my FBLA adviser suggested to me that I should join Future Business Leaders of America, as it would most certainly benefit me professionally, but also for one key reason: nationals that year was in Orlando, and we all know what else is in the Orlando area. I obviously did end up joining FBLA, particularly participating in Public Speaking, although I had literally no clue what I was doing. I ended up writing a speech about public speaking, of all things, and it led me from Regionals and onto State. Much to my surprise, I took first place at State too, advancing me on to the National Convention in Orlando that had gotten me into the organization in the first place. We did head to Disney World on that trip, and you'll have to excuse young Lizzie in the picture above. Turns out I've changed a lot in 5 years or so...

That was a sort of odd trip for me though, as it was the first I'd taken in the summer, the first one I stayed (at least part of the time) at a hotel off property (that I remember), and also one of my first experiences with other Orlando area attractions aside from Disney. I loved every second of my FBLA Nationals experience, although I still definitely wouldn't trade my time at Disney for anything else.

But I think more than anything else, this trip holds a special place in my heart because I got to experience Disney with my Adviser's son and many of my friends from FBLA. That's not an experience you have everyday, and it's one of the reasons I love trips like these so much. Even though I wasn't going somewhere I'd never been before, I created memories that I'd never be able to create on a solo trip or a trip with my family, and that's what lasts in the long run.

I'm definitely hoping to do more of these "Before The Blog" posts in the future though! There's a lot of my life that's been filled with Disney long before I started blogging, and while those "everydays" may have been in the past, it doesn't mean they're completely irrelevant now!

Have a magical day!

Day 397: FBLA - Level: Chaperone

I am so tired right now that I'm honestly starting to question whether or not writing this blog post is a good idea...so humor me with my mistakes (I'm trying to get myself past that state of tiredness where I am no longer tired so I can work on my philosophy homework yet tonight).

Why am I so tired you ask?

Well, I was up at the wonderful hour of 5 this morning so I could go along with my High School FBLA Chapter to their Regional Competition. We had to be at school at 6:15, so that meant an early wakeup call for every single one of us. But it's always a fun day, so it's not like you can complain too much. Plus, this year it was in Kewaunee, and I have family there, so I got to see some of them today, which was pretty awesome if I do say so myself.

And you know what, while I don't specifically have a picture of it, a little bit of Disney did work its way into the competition today, specifically in a workshop on leadership. I missed the first couple of minutes of the workshop because I escorted someone out so they could leave with their parent, but I was there for most of it, including the Disney part.

One of the speakers talked about the four different kinds of leaders, and he used animals to describe them: The Golden Lion, The Loyal Blue Retriever, The Busy Beaver (or something like that) and the something or other Monkey (I honestly don't remember what it was other than it was Curious George on the slide). Now, the Lion, that was Mufasa...and I felt accomplished because even at first glance I knew it was Mufasa and not Simba (also everytime I write Mufasa I just hear it in like a hyena voice LOL). And then the Beaver wasn't really a beaver at all, but was the groundhog (I think it is) from Winnie the Pooh. The speaker was saying that he couldn't find an actual cartoon beaver that we would know and I was like "LADY AND THE TRAMP!" Except for quiet and only to my friends.

So now I'm sitting here trying not to fall asleep while my cat sits on my lap and does just that: fall asleep. Silly kitten.

Have a magical day!

Day 107: No Disneyland

Today is my first day back to normal life after spending the last few days at our State FBLA conference, and sadly, I have to report that I'm not headed to nationals this summer...and therefore, there will be no Disneyland this summer. I received 6th place at the competition in Public Speaking II, and while I'm fine with not winning, it is still a bit disappointing to not go to Nationals...and specifically for me, Disneyland.

But since my speech was largely about how FBLA has changed me as a person, and about my goals to become an Imagineer, I figure that I shouldn't dwell on it for too long. Life does go on, after all, and we always keep moving forward. That's certainly something both FBLA and Disney have taught me, and it makes no sense for me to stop listening to that advice now.

Honestly though, I think more than anything, I'm just awful tired. The state conference is an amazing event...but the downside is that you get very little sleep...and therefore, everyone who went is walking around with glazed over eyes today. I have to say that I found it a bit amusing when I got out of bed and it felt as if my feet had been to Disneyland without me...when in reality it was just from wearing my heels so much the past two days.

Hopefully there will be a trip to Disneyland in my future though, and in fact, I know there will be, because I'm not going to stop chasing my dream of becoming an Imagineer. I may have lost, and I may not be going to Disneyland this summer, but I'll get over it, and I'll continue to obsess over Disney as I always do. It's how life works.

We keep moving forward.

Here's Today's Disney History: 1924: Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures and the Louis B. Mayer Company merge to form Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer...or MGM. MGM will become one of the biggest producers and distributors of films and television programs and even team-up with Disney to open a Florida theme park in 1989 called Disney-MGM Studios (known today as Disney's Hollywood Studios).

Have a magical day!

Day 105: Little Things: FBLA Edition

Once again, I'm writing at a later date, but this one really does have reference to particular day and experiences I had! On the day this article was supposed to be written (and is dated as such), I was smack dab in the middle of my Future Business Leaders of America state competition...which is, was, and would be my final FBLA competition...unless I go back to help next year, but this was it for competing.

Anyway, we spent three days at Wisconsin Dells for the event, and there were several little things present throughout those days that really had references to Disney. The last time I did a "little things" post was back in January, when I talked about the references in my Physics class...but I realize now that "Little Things" could be somewhat of a normal post, because in reality, there are many small details in our lives that remind us of Disney...at least there are for those who are as into the company and parks as I am.

So here's a few things at the FBLA State Leadership Conference that reminded me of Disney:

Off the top of my head, one of the first I can think of was one of the buses we were on. The Dells Center, where all the large events were held, was about a half mile to a mile away, so we had bus shuttling for when we needed to be over there...meaning that multiple times a day we would all crowd onto a school bus for a short trip down a very narrow winding road. It really wasn't all that bad, especially since one time we got on the bus and I immediately thought of two things, and then told my best friend the thoughts that had entered my head. The smell was distinct, and it reminded me of nothing more than a combination of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Spaceship Earth. I don't really know how to describe this smell, other than there was a hint of BBQ sauce stuck in there...but it certainly got my attention and made me think of Disney.

While I didn't take the test itself, a few of my friends competed in an open event and told me there was a question about Disney on the test. I'm honestly not sure what the question was, or if I'd even be allowed to post it online if I did know, but there was a question, and I thought that was really awesome...even if I didn't see it for myself.

My best friend and I also made a small reference to Singin' in the Rain every once and a while. Pretty much every time we were on the bus we started singing Moses from the song...which was just awesome...and each morning we woke to Good Morning playing on my phone. Originally we were going to watch Sleeping Beauty and Brother Bear, but since that didn't happen, it doesn't really count much more than we thought about it.

But I think the most I thought of Disney was with the customer service of the hotel. I'm not saying the hotel was terrible, it was quite enjoyable, but I realized just how many things there are at Disney that we take for granted. The internet was terrible where we were staying, a far cry from the free wifi that works great everywhere on Disney property (especially in the hotels...where it is honestly faster than my wired internet at home...and think! They provide internet for every guest on property...which is way more than any other hotel). Along with this, when we first arrived, we had a group of 15 people and four carts of luggage, and were told that our room wasn't ready and that we wouldn't be able to check in until later...even if our bus was leaving and we had nothing else to do. Now, Disney has similar policies, but it reminded me of when I did go to Disneyland a couple of years ago, and one of my favorite memories was made when we were told our room was ready, traveled up multiple floors and found that it wasn't. We headed back to the lounge and got upgraded to a park view room for free. To this day I wouldn't want to stay in any other room than a park view room at Paradise Pier. I loved seeing World of Color every single night (it is, in every way, my favorite part of Disneyland). That was awesome of Disney to do, and our hotel this past weekend did nothing but argue with our adviser  Every visitor at Disney is a guest, and nothing less. They get the best quality, and if they don't, there's someone there to try and make it more magical anyway.

I'm sure there were a few other things at FBLA that really reminded me of Disney, but those are the main ones in my head, at least at the moment! I can't say for sure if there will be more "Little Things" posts, but something tells me they will make an appearance again.

Here's today's Disney History: 1962: Voice actor Tom Kane is born Thomas Roberts is Overland Park, Kansas. Best known as the voices of Yoda and Admiral Yularen in the TV show Star Wars: The Clone Wars, as of 2012 Kane is the new narrator aboard Walt Disney World's monorail system. His Disney credits also include episodes of Kim Possible.

Have a magical day!

Day 75: Shopping Trip

Every once in a very great while I have a chance to go shopping. I don't go very often since I am pretty busy generally, but when I do go, my best friend and I plan it for weeks. We know what we're looking for and where we will be going and exactly when we will be leaving home long before the day actually arrives. Luckily though, today was that day.

I had a few things I was really looking for on this trip. First off I needed to find a new pencil skirt for my upcoming state FBLA competition. Second I wanted to find a pair of yellow converse. Third, I wanted to get some clothes that make it easier to Disneybound. Up until today I've been pretty limited with who I can Disneybound as, since my closet is filled with pretty much the same two or three colors...black, blue and more black. It's partly because my favorite color is blue and most of the shirts from our high school are black, but still. It makes it pretty difficult.

So  headed out and I ended up finding quite a few things that I can Disneybound with for very little. Ok, not very little, but the only thing I bought full price was my converse, and if you ask me that's pretty good!

You'll see more of what I bought in the coming days as I start to wear it, but I'd like to mention that I also found these and thought they were cute. Hey, this blog is about how Disney appears in my everyday life, right? There's a great example!

Here's today's Disney History: 1923: Animator, designer, Imagineer and Disney Legend Joyce Carlson is born in Racine, Wisconsin. Her 56 years at Disney include creating the original "It's a Small World" for the New York World's Fair of 1964. Carlson first worked as an ink artist on films such as Cinderella  Peter Pan and Sleeping Beauty and later as the lead ink artist for the 1955 Disney Classic Lady and the Tramp. Carlson moved to Central Florida in 1982 to work at Disney World as a senior show production designer. She retired from her full-time position at WDW in 2000, but remained working for Disney through 2007. Carlson's Disney World window, which is on the second floor of a structure along Main Street U.S.A, reading "Dolls by Miss Joyce, Dollmaker for the World."

Have a magical day!

Day 74: The Magic, The Memories & You

Originally I was going to talk about the unveiled plans for Disney Springs, but it seems everyone else has that covered. While I am pretty excited to see what this expansion to Downtown Disney (well, overhaul really) will bring, there are plenty of other things at Disney to talk about.

But it is the announcement for Disney Springs that brought me to this blog post. I was watching the announcement video with my friend and we were discussing the projections they use on the model to give it life and color. I very much enjoyed the projection, and I was explaining how it's probably similar or the same to what they use on the castle each night.

And that led to The Magic, The Memories & You. I loved this show...like a lot. I admit, I cried the first time I saw it, and then several times more. It's a very magical show...but I have to also admit that I'm disappointed with the replacement. It just doesn't flow the same way as the Magic, The Memories & You did. It's just not there. Granted, some of my favorite parts are still a portion of the show, but there's still something missing.

Then again, I have some great memories from that original show. A couple of years ago I headed down to Disney with my FBLA Chapter, and my adviser brought her son along too. He had never been to Disney World, but he was a great sport all the time. I don't think I heard him complain once the entire time we were at Magic Kingdom, which was pretty much all day...a really long time for a 6 year old. But my favorite part of that trip was when we saw this show. It was late, of course, and it was kind of hard for him to see since we were in a large bunch of people, but I had previously seen the show and knew exactly which portion he would love. He loves two things (or did at the time, I'm not sure if this is still true), Buzz Lightyear and Tinker Bell, so it was obvious to me that he would love seeing the castle become a rocket. I told him to listen for Buzz's famous words, "To Infinity and Beyond," and when he finally heard it he was like "Lizzie! I heard it! I heard him!" And then we watched the rocket head up into the sky and all he could say was "Wow." It's one of my favorite moments of any Disney trip I've ever been on, and it's certainly something I'm never going to forget.

My favorite parts of the show are, of course, the rocket, because who doesn't like that? But also the "Circle of Life" portion, where the castle rotates from day to night over and over until it turns into the old camera. The final portion is the Lilo and Stitch part, because I cry pretty much every time when Stitch goes "Ohana Means Family" because it's just adorable and cute and completely true and magical.

Either way, this conversation led to us watching the show...which always brings a little extra magic to my day. So I figured I would share a video of it with you so you can watch too.

Here's today's Disney History: 2002: Singer-songwriter Phil Collins (known for his music in Tarzan) is among the 10 inducted as Disney Legends. In honor of the opening of the Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris, all of this year's inductees are of European origin. 

Have a magical day!

Day 36: Touring

Today I went on a couple of tours of local businesses with my FBLA Chapter because, guess what...It's FBLA week! We toured a local YMCA and a performance venue, but here's the funny part. Originally I wasn't going to be going on these tours, but the other day my friend decided that she could indeed miss her Calc class and that we would be able to go. So we went, and there were signs all over that I should be there, which I was!

For instance, while at the YMCA, there was a commercial on one of the TV's and it was something Disney. All I know is that I glanced in that direction and then was like "Wait...Did I just see Mickey Mouse?" My best friend and teacher both laughed because they saw it too. I really do feel it was the first sign.

Then, later when we were at the performance venue there was more evidence...and this time I have pictures!

As we were waiting in the lobby to go on our tours, we started seeing commercials on a giant screen for Disney on Ice, which is headed to my area and that venue in just a couple of weeks. It was just very interesting that it was there, and while it's something they probably run almost all of the time within a month or two of the show, it was still funny that I was there at the time. 

Also, on the giant TV was an ad for our local hockey team, and on this ad was a kid...he had a lightsaber and later tried to force choke some people. Is it coincidence that his lightsaber is green and so is mine? I think not!

And then, as we toured backstage I kept commenting on how much their backstage area looked like the Utilidors at Disney. I can't say much more, but it really did look a lot like it. Of course, I then had to explain to a whole bunch of people about what the Utilidors are and how these hallways resembled them. 

To round out my day I made a trip to the grocery store, for bubbles, Dr. Pepper and a snack for musical practice. Of course, while searching for bubbles my friend found these...

I'm not sure why you'd want premium Disney Cotton Swabs, but maybe if you really love Disney that much. I'd buy them, but I feel like I wouldn't use them because they're Disney and I'd want to keep them. So I didn't buy any. 

Here's today's Disney History: 2000: The Disney Channel Original Movie "The Color of Friendship," based on a true story about the friendship between two girls from different worlds who learn to overcome their differences, debuts. It will earn an Emmy Award. 

Have a magical day!

Day 33: FBLA

Today was my regional FBLA competition. I know I talked briefly about it the other day, but since today was the actual competition and it largely involved Disney for me, I figured I'd talk about it a little more.

I participate in Public Speaking II, which means I write a speech, memorize it and then present it to a group of judges. This is my third and final year in FBLA, and I'm more determined to go to nationals than ever. Why? Because it's in a little city called Anaheim, California...which just happens to be the location of Disneyland. I have been excited about it for quite a while...and I really want to make it to nationals. At the moment though, I really want to focus on state and getting to finals. One step at a time. One step at a time. 

But anyway, we don't have a lot of guidelines for writing this speech, other than it needs to include an FBLA goal and be centered on Business. This year, since it is my final year, I decided to do a speech on just how much FBLA has impacted me. I don't want to talk too much about the content here though, just in case someone out there is reading...but it does center largely around how FBLA has changed me as a person and has helped me in my decision to become an Imagineer. Of course, it's a challenging occupation  but basically because of FBLA I am prepared to do whatever it takes to reach that goal. 

And so, I ended up recieving first place, and that means I'm going to state competition. I won first place the last two years as well at the regional level, once in Public Speaking I and once in Public Speaking II, and at state I got 1st in public speaking I and 5th in Public speaking II. Overall pretty successful I think. I'm exciting to be headed to state for my third year, and I can't wait to continue work on my speech and make it the best it can be. 

Here's today's Disney History: 2006: Disney announces that the Disneyland and Disney World Pirates of the Caribbean attractions will be undergoing a 3-4 month makeover to work in character and plot elements from the movie series that took its inspiration from the original attraction. (The attraction now features Jack Sparrow, Mermaids and several other elements of the film series).

Have a magical day!

Day 30: Disney Geek

I'm going to talk more about this in Saturday's post, but today I was practicing my speech for my FBLA competition. FBLA, for those that don't know, stand for Future Business Leaders of America...and I will be competing this Saturday at the Regional competition in Public Speaking II. As I said, I'll talk more about this on Saturday, but at the moment I figured I'd talk about something I mention in my speech.

I talk in my speech about my want to be an Imagineer, and in order to explain what that is and why I want to pursue that career, I needed to explain my background with Disney. So, I refer to myself as the term of "Disney Geek." I don't know how many people have heard of Disney Geek, but it's a thing put on by the official Disney fanclub, D23. My dad became a member a few years ago when we found the D23 convention would be going on when we traveled to Disneyland...and I learned about Disney Geek not long before that. It's a podcast and honestly just a whole bunch of stuff...including videos and just a lot of awesome. I don't have a lot of time to watch it all the time, but I do suggest you at least check it out if you love Disney...and D23 is awesome too! I really hope to attend the D23 Expo this upcoming August as well.

Click here to be taken to the Disney Geek website.

Have a magical day!