Day 1249: Freebies

When you move you really should listen to the advice you read. For instance, really think about what you might need in the first 24 hours of your new apartment or home. Chances are, a toothbrush and toothpaste will probably be at the top of your list (they're at the top of mine too), along with maybe a pillow, some basic food, paper plates, and so on and so forth.

What they forgot to tell you is that if you're a college student running back and forth, you may just want to invest in some duplicates of things so you have one at home and one at school. You'd think that after three years of this back and forth game (I live about a half hour from my college), I'd have the hang of it, but apparently not. Since our shower isn't working currently, I headed home to drop off some extra boxes, check out some furniture solutions for our new apartment, grabs a few tools, and take a shower. There was just one small problem: my shampoo was at school.

Never fear though, because as my friends know very well, my bathroom is fully stocked with free guest shampoos and conditioners and soaps and lotions that have been collected over many years of travel. I'm pretty sure that some of these are older than I am, but they're really nice for when you need some extra shampoo, whether it be for a guest or yourself. After all, when you do travel, these are just free little complimentary samples, so even if I don't use them on my trip, I'll typically throw them into my suitcase to add to the collection at home.

Let's just say that the shampoo from Walt Disney World saved my morning when I couldn't find any shampoo, and that next time I'll be sure to remember to bring some from school...or pick some up on my way home.

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 89: Old Key West

In a few weeks I'll be headed to a state FBLA competition, and a couple of my friends and I are more than excited to head out. We, of course, were wondering if there would be a DVD player in our condo (which apparently there isn't), and it occurred to me that I just assumed at first there would be one. Why? Disney.

The truth is, most of the hotels I've stayed in have in fact, been Disney ones. I've gone on many other various trips, but most were only for night or two and I had no reason to use the TV other than to watch the news and weather with my parents, along with the occasional old TV show late at night. So why would I need a DVD player? But I just expect it, because Disney resorts have these kinds of things. 

Granted, not every resort has a DVD player (although I grew up as a lucky child at Old Key West, so there was one), but the point still stands. There are many amenities at Disney resorts that you don't have at other resorts throughout the world, and it's just another reason that Disney is rightfully ranked among the top vacation destinations in the world. 

And not-so-randomly, it got me thinking about Old Key West and how it's changed over the past few years with it's renovations. So I looked up some pictures...and it occurred to me just how much these rooms have changed!

Let's start with the living room, which is pretty changed. The couches are redone, and the most obvious part is the new wood floor. I remember walking into one of the redone rooms (not long after the first set opened...we were some of the first to stay) and just being really confused with the wood floor, since I had in every way grown up with the carpet. But I've come to like the new room much more than the old one. Looking back now, it just looks outdated. Plus, I could never complain about the fact that the pull out chair gives both my brother and I a bed of our own. 

Heading into the master bedroom, I have to say that the new headboard just makes it look a lot nicer, and the redone chair and bedspread. All amazing. I do miss the picture on the wall though  as it looks a little blank. But here too, I like the new room. Sure, I certainly miss climbing around on the bed-end shaped like hearts, but it's a price I'm willing to pay. The bathrooms are pretty much the same though, so those could use some updating, but I'm ok with them staying the way they are too.

Finally, the second bedroom. I've never actually stayed in this second room, but I have to say that I love the updated one much more. The colors work well (and I'm not just saying that because blue is my favorite color). It just seems brighter. The pink and green went well together (and still do on the outside of the buildings) because that's the Key West style, but this new blue color just freshens up the room if you ask me. 

That's really about all I have, but like I said...DVD players...very important. Everyone should be more like Old Key West and have those in rooms. Just saying. 

Here's today's Disney History: 1969: Two children come across the lifeless body of a homeless man in an abandoned tenement building on East 10th Street in New York City. Because no one identifies the body, the deceased is buried in an unmarked pauper's grave on Hart island. A fingerprint check in 1969 will identify the corpse as Bobby Driscoll, 31, the voice of Disney's Peter Pan. It is also discovered that the cause of death is a heart attack.

Have a magical day!