Day 1311: Photographic Evidence

Perhaps one of my favorite not-so-hidden secrets of Walt Disney World has to be the thousands of little pictures you can find right in front of Spaceship Earth. These pictures, a part of the Leave A Legacy campaign that began in 1999, allowed guests to put their own permanent mark on one of the most visited places in the world, and now, 17 years later, you can still see the pictures, proudly displayed at Epcot. Plus, it's photographic evidence that I was indeed at Walt Disney World all those years ago. 

I actually have two Leave A Legacy pictures, one from 1999 with my mom (which I'm pointing to in the picture above) and another of my brother and I from a few years later. I will say that it's pretty difficult to find the pictures, because their individual "addresses" are certainly something you need to decode, but nothing makes me happier than visiting these pictures, a permanent piece of me that is always there at Epcot. It's sort of like a physical part of me that's always there...despite the fact that I don't look much like I did 17 years ago. 

There's been continuous rumors over the years that the plaques will come down at some point, as obviously they're not original to the park, and I believe they were only guaranteed for 20 years, but I would hate to see this living reminder of so many taken down. Of course, there's thousands more represented near the Magic Kingdom in bricks, of which I also have one, some of which have worn down over the years to the point where they're unrecognizable, but that's what the Florida weather will do to you I suppose...if you're a brick that is. 

Do you have a Leave a Legacy photo or a brick at the Magic Kingdom? Let me know in the comments! 

Have a magical day!

Day 908: Chocolate

As you may have noticed if you checked out my "When Did It Start For You?" video, you may have noticed some of the older pictures I included from my childhood. I actaully had several of them scanned a while back, but when I decided to do this video, I knew I needed to find some specifically from the Millennium Celebration. So I hit the books, and by books I mean photo albums.

I did manage to find plenty of pictures from my childhood. For example...

Mickey and Minnie and a throwback to my early days of chillin' on the balcony of a room at Old Key West. DVC for life. 

ANYWAY, while I searched through these various photo albums, I also came across one VERY important picture: my chocolate Spaceship Earth. 

Now, if you don't believe that my love of Spaceship Earth goes back as long as I can remember, here's a story for you. This little picture was taken somewhere around 2000, the year I would have turned 5. By that point, I already loved Spaceship Earth so much that when this was served to us at a restaurant, I knew I needed to take it home. Mom definitely knows the story better than I do...after I, I was like 4 or 5, but somehow they got the little guy home. My little chocolate Spaceship Earth sat on our kitchen counter for weeks probably until it started to turn a not so chocolatey-brown color and my parents finally had to convince me to let it go. I still miss it sometimes. Actually, I'll probably print out a copy of this picture and frame it for my Spaceship Earth collection. It's a valuable addition to my growing shelf of Spaceship Earth. 

Do you remember getting one of these little chocolate Spaceship Earth's back in the day? Let me know if you too remember these in the comments below!

Have a magical day!

Day 907: #WDIS4U

A few months ago (has it really been that long already?) I shared the story behind when my love of Disney started, but in typical Disney fashion, I had to make a video to go along with it, and there's a bit extra to the story this time too!

Of course, you can hear the whole story about how my love of Disney really took off with the Millennium Celebration at Epcot in the video below, but I want to know how it started for all of you? I've been a Disney fan as long as I can remember. I've grown up with the company and the parks and I couldn't be more thankful for that. But that's the point of this entire campagin. The reality that each of us have our own individual stories to tell, but with Disney we can come together as one.

See what I did there? Illuminations references for the win.

So watch my story and then let me know how it all started for you in the comments below!

If you're not already following my YouTube channel, be sure to do so and check in every Tuesday for new Trip Vlogs and every Friday for a new Friday Funday video! 

Have a magical day!

Day 849: When Did It Start For You?

One of my favorite portions of the #DisneySide campaign thus far has to be the When Did It Start For You? series. Over the past month or so, Disney has really had a focus on when Disney became a part of our lives, whether we be a cast member, an actress on OUAT like Ginnifer Goodwin or a regular Disney fan sitting at home, blogging on her couch. It takes something that connects all of us and lets us go back to our roots. It allows us to return to those initial moments when we really found we loved Disney, and that's something spectacular.

Now, originally I was going to do a video on my YouTube channel for #WDIS4U, but I haven't had a chance thanks to finals. So instead I figured I would share my story here, on my blog, because after a lot of debate, I think I really have finally narrowed it down to when it all really, truly started for me.

As many of you know well, I love music. I've always loved music. My family has always really encouraged my brother and I to play instruments and sing and be active in ensembles. I started playing the oboe during the summer before 5th grade, and during my freshman year of high school I picked up the saxophone, which is what I play now as a music performance major in college.

However, I think my love of Disney really took off when I was around 4 years old. Like music, Disney has, obviously, been a huge part of my life. My parents both went to Walt Disney World before they met, they went after they met, they went there on their Honeymoon, and when I was 15 months old, they took me for my first trip.

When I was 4 though, the Millennium Celebration started at Epcot. Many of my earliest Disney memories occurred that year. I remember taking pictures for Leave-A-Legacy and the giant celebration building that had a snowman with real snow and the Tapestry of Nations Parade with te puppets that were way taller than I was. One of them leaned down to shake my hand once and I hid behind my Dad, but the puppet-master waited a minute and after I reached out to shake the puppet's hand, I didn't stop talking about it for the rest of the night.

But what really had an impact on me was Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. We had this tape with the music from the show that my parents would put on every time we would drive somewhere, even if it was just the five minutes to town.We still have the original tape, but I'm pretty sure I listened to it so many times that it's long since worn out and we had to upgrade to a CD.

The music from throughout Disney Parks all across the world, Illuminations and the music of the Millennium Celebration included, has inspired me every single day, whether it be in the practice rooms, in a music theory class, in a parade block, or out on stage performing. I definitely still listen to Illuminations: Reflections of Earth on a regular basis, sometimes when I'm happy, sometimes when I'm sad, sometimes when I'm angry, and especially when I'm driving somewhere.

That's when it started for me.

When did it start for you? Let me know in the comments below or share your story with the world by using #WDIS4U!

Have a magical day!

Day 722: More Spaceship Earth

As if I didn't already have enough of Spaceship Earth in my collection, which you can find HERE, I found a piece that I happened to miss when I made that original post!

I was working on the update to the mug collection post last week while also cleaning out my mugs from one cabinet and moving them to another when I happened to look up to the top shelf where this little bugger was hiding:

Honestly, I didn't even remember that I had this, but apparently I do, and now it's on a shelf in my bedroom with the rest of the collection (actually, one shelf has proven to be too small for my collection, so I've enlisted a second shelf), and there it will stay.

But honestly, what even should I call this? Technically, I'm pretty sure it's a Spaceship Earth water bottle, but I might be mistaken. I mean, a Spaceship Earth shaped water bottle isn't exactly the most convenient thing to carry around. It literally is shaped like a giant spaceship earth with a weird handle on one side, and who knows how long it's been sitting in the cabinet (probably since 2000 honestly).

However, it's one of those awesome, unique additions to my collection that makes the Spaceship Earth collection I have what it is. Without stuff like this or the little wind up toy, it really wouldn't be a collection, would it?

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on December 29 due to Holidays and Computer Issues).

Day 495: Late Into the Night

Day 14 of the Disney Photo Challenge: A picture of your favorite night time activity (Existing or past) on Disney Property. 

Blast from the Past: 

I'm going to think a bit out of the box here on this one, because the first thing I thought of about night time at Disney was Extra Magic Hours. And then I thought about my favorite attraction to ride at night, and decided that's actually my favorite night time activity. 

As awesome as Extra Magic Hours are, especially at 3 in the morning and the park is just EMPTY, I really love riding Test Track at night. Now, this ride is, sadly, changing, although I'm excited to see what they are going to do with it. Anyway, after going through a series of tests with your car, you pass the surprsie test and head out on the high speed loops, which are located outside. You go out the door, take a drop and then head into the next turn, around a parking lot. In order for this to work you have to be seated on the right side of the car, and there's a point in the banked turns (making you about 5 feet higher than the person on the left) where you can look out to your left and point directly at Spaceship Earth. You are level with it...and it's just this good feeling. If it's just my family in the car I always yell out at that point and then you pull into a straight line and speed up until you turn again. There's a speedometer there, a giant one, telling you how fast you're going...which is generally between 64 and 65 MPH. Jonny and I always yelled it out, regardless if we're in a car with other people. The highest we've gotten is 64.7...which is pretty good. Test Track is the fastest attraction in any of the Disney Parks, and honestly, is way more fun to ride at night. It's just different from during the day. 

Back to the Future: 

Oh dear...so many to choose from here because I am literally such a night owl when it comes to the Disney Parks.

But currently, I'd have to say my favorite part of the night time atmosphere at Disney World is the Kiss Goodnight at the Magic Kingdom, which occurs about a half hour after park closing. I saw it for the first time last July and have just loved it ever since, trying to catch it as often as I possibly can. There's just something extra magical about it, especially when the park is super empty.

Going into the past for a second though, probably the Tapestry of Nations parade from the Millennium Celebration tops the list as well. It's a piece of my childhood to be honest because that celebration makes up some of the very first Disney memories I have...plus the Millennium Celebration brought me Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, which I love to the ends of time.

Have a magical day!

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

Day 312: Oh Meyla Weyla

Today's blog post is brought to you by Frumpstagram, so let's start with that, kind of like how we sometimes start with Disney History when that day has specifically to do with whatever the history is.

Today's prompt for Frumpstagram was Oh Meyla Weyla, which refers directly to the Millennium Celebration Parade at Epcot, Tapestry of Nations, which later became Tapestry of Dreams. The lyrics, such as Oh Meyla Weyla, weren't made up of any one language specifically, and the entire parade celebrated the unity of the nations, just as the Millennium Celebration in itself did throughout the years that it existed. Sadly it isn't a thing anymore, but that doesn't mean I can't write a blog post on it. 

You see, I grew up with this parade, and many of my earliest memories of Disney center around the Millennium Celebration itself. I saw the parade many times, such as I've seen Illuminations more times than I can remember and listened to the soundtrack from both probably more times than the number of days I've spent at Disney (that's around 240 for your information). 

I said this on Instagram when I posted the picture too, but I still remember how when I was in Kindergarden and older (which would have been right when the parade was in full swing), I would gather a group of my fellow students and we'd march around the playground (especially during the winter on the snowhills) and I would lead singing Oh Meyla Weyla. Honestly I couldn't pronounce half the words, but I still sang it, and it's one of the few clear memories I have from when I was that young in school. 

Now, this all relates back to my life today, so it's kind of funny that this was today's prompt and not the prompt of a later date. Today in Theology we were talking about equality (specifically equality between races), and I happened to look at my phone right after class. Disney_frump, the user on Instagram who creates Frumpstagram had a great summary on her picture for that day: 

"I really wanted today's #frumpstagram to capture the essence of my favorite music in all of WDW. For those of you who don't know, Tapestry of Nations/Dreams (now sadly obsolete at EPCOT Center) had lyrics that were not any one distinct language, and yet incorporated aspects of any. It is this principle that is the heart and soul of EPCOT's ideals. Although we come from different places, cultures and religions, we are all connected by our dreams and our common humanity. EPCOT is a place that incorporates the lessons of the past with the beauty of the present and the enigmatic excitement of the future. Oh Meyla Weyla means we can all come together and celebrate life, joy, hope and the human experience. With a voice from every country, a face from every land, let's celebrate the future hand in hand. Oh Meyla Weyla." 

She's right, and that's one of the things that I thought was just so special about the Millennium Celebration. From a young age I guess I've always thought that while we may look different and think different things, we're the same. I won't go into further detail, but that lesson has stuck with me throughout my life, and I'm certainly glad it has. 

Here's today's Disney History: 1980: Although running since September, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has an official opening in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. A mine train roller coaster located in Frontierland, it is the second one of its kind (as Big Thunder Mountain first opened in Disneyland in 1979). 

Have a magical day!

Day 11: Disney Vacation Videos

I'm not sure about you, but all throughout my childhood, my family has seemed to gather a whole bunch of Disney vacation planning videos...both on DVD and VHS. While I'll probably talk more in depth about each video I have later in time, I just wanted to talk about them in general.

For instance, there's nothing like watching the old videos from the 80s, back before it was more than the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, and looking at how much the parks have changed. And yet, I somehow remember so much of what used to be there. I have the "A Day at Magic Kingdom" and "A Day at Epcot Center" VHS's, and it's really amazing to see how much that video is still used today. I am watching my second Disney video of the day, and video from those original videos is still seen in the footage today. I think that it shows just how constant some things are...and how amazing it is how the same attractions continue to enlighten and inspire people today the same way they did when those attractions first opened.

And then there's the Millennium Celebration Video I have from EPCOT. I'm not really sure what caused my parents to buy it (as I wouldn't remember...I was five at the time), but I'm sure glad they did. The Millennium Celebration (and I'll talk more about this another time), was basically what I really remember from my childhood. It's the first things from Walt Disney World that I remember...and that's pretty amazing if you ask me. The music and the celebration of that Millennium inspired me to follow my dream...and I'm pretty sure that I'll continue to listen to the music from Illuminations long after it stops it's presentations at EPCOT (Although I hope that never happens).

There's the Walt Disney story DVDs, which, while all similar, each have their own character and each show a different side of the man behind the dream. And the Imagineering videos...generally showcasing something different within the Disney Parks. And, of course, the lovely Disney Vacation Planning videos...which are great for seeing how the resort has changed little by little...and to remember things that have gone within the past years that we otherwise might forget (although I don't think I could ever forget any of it).

I'm sure I have plenty more when it comes to Disney videos...but those are the ones on the top of my head. I cherish them...each and every single one...and often talk about how in the future I'm going to need to buy five or six VHS players so I'll always be able to watch them, even when my VHS player breaks. I'll just have back-ups! That or I feel Disney should re-release all of these videos on one big DVD...like a historical Disney thing. I don't know, and it might not ever happen...but I think it'd be cool.

What Disney Parks/Vacation Videos do you have? And which is your favorite?

Have a magical day!