Day 743: Lizzy

This morning, after spending an extended amount of time in bed with my cat because I didn't go to sleep last night until around 2 in the morning (thanks very much 11 hours of work yesterday), I finally made it to my kitchen, where I am now, and to my laptop to begin today's 11 hours of work. Don't ask me how this all equals out, because if I work 11 hours today I'll be up until like 3 in the morning, but band trip videos just don't edit themselves you know.

Anyway, as I scrolled through my list of blogs I follow, the second suggestion was one directly from Disney, specifically Oh My Disney. You all know how this is probably my favorite blog on the internet, but that's besides the point. The article, this time, was about "Life Before Becoming a Disney Fan vs. Life After," and it just so happens to fit in perfectly with something I did this morning as well as something I talked about a few weeks ago.

Personally, I don't really have a life before becoming a Disney fan. I've always been a Disney fan, as I explained to a friend on Facebook this morning who happened to ask me why I'm at Disney so much. The answer is simple, or at least more simple that you might think. It's other people that make it complicated. My family loves Disney, and while we all love different parts of Disney, there's still that central love, and it's been our vacation destination since before I was even born. So as we grew up with Disney, it became ridiculous to even think about traveling somewhere else. That other vacation costs just as much and means less time at Disney, so no thank you.

This isn't to say that I don't want to travel to other places in the world. After all, thanks to one Colin O'Donoghue, I have the extreme wish to visit Ireland, and I certainly couldn't mind seeing France or Italy or pretty much anywhere in Europe. Oh, and don't even get me started on my want to visit Steveston, in Canada, where they film OUAT. But all of these things still mean less time at Disney, and ultimately, when it boils down to it, I always choose Disney, even when that means not visiting WDW and instead opting for Disneyland (you have no idea how excited I am).

So I haven't had a life without Disney, but that doesn't mean I can't relate to this article, which you can read HERE. The difference is, I don't see these things as stuff before and after Disney Fandom as much as I see them as things in and out of the Disney fandom. These are universal Disney truths we're discussing here, and the rest of the world just obviously doesn't understand.

However, one of them really stood out to me, and that's "Lizzie McGuire." As Oh My Disney narrates, "BBDF: That show that was on Disney Channel, maybe? It was a while ago...ABDF: Potentially the most important television program of our era."

For those that didn't live in the Lizzie McGuire age, I feel sorry for you. Back in the day (gosh I feel like I'm old now), we watched shows like Phil of the Future, That's So Raven and even The Suite Life of Zach and Cody, but it was really Lizzie McGuire that hit it all off, at least for my generation. This show isn't even arguably the most important...it just IS the most important. And for me, even more so.

My full name is Elizabeth, although it may or may not be spelled incorrectly on my birth certificate. Either way, I'm one of those lucky people faced with a life of nicknames. The most common, obviously, is Lizzie, and that's what I eventually picked, but there's also Beth and Liz and Eliza and who knows what else.

But the biggest problem in my life? Lizzy. Who in the world spells Lizzie with a Y? I mean, no offense if you do, but why? My brother pointed out last week that it'd be like spelling Jonny with an "IE" (Jonnie), and that looks ridiculous, but I still don't quite get it. If you haven't caught on already, the point here is that Lizzie McGuire was more than just a show for me...it was the show that inspired my nickname. I've said for years that the reason I spell my name with an "IE" is because that's how they spelled it on the show, and that's 100% true. I was awesome for me to be able to identify with a character on television who had the same name as me, and I certainly wish that Lizzie McGuire was still around for this new generation to experience. How these kids live without Miranda and Gordo I'm not even sure.

Plus, have you even seen the Lizzie McGuire movie? Those songs get stuck in your head for AGES.

Have a magical day!

Day 684: Remember the Firsts

Oh My Disney is probably my favorite of the official Disney blogs. I head over there probably at least 6-7 times a week because of the brilliant posts included there, and I wish just about every day of my life that I could make a living writing for a blog like that...especially about Disney. I mean, last week there was a post entirely dedicated to the love of Captain Hook on OUAT. Doesn't that basically describe my life already? 

Anyway, one of the blog posts today was "Pinnacle Moments in Every Disney Fan's Life," so of course I clicked on it. It's very true, there are distinctly Disney moments in the life of every Disney fan, and they help shape the Disnerd inside of us. Plus, I love reflecting on Disney memories of my own, especially when my latest trip is under two months away and I'm getting pretty darn excited. 

But what I didn't really think about until I read the article is that my Disney experience isn't one filled with moments I can remember. The list has a great number of pinnacle moments, including finding a Disney Toy, seeing your first Disney film in theaters, your first trip to Disneyland and Disney World, etc. As I went through it though, I was faced with a lot of moments that I know I had, I just don't remember. 

To be completely honest, I don't know what my Disney Toy is. Maybe my parents remember me having one, but I certainly don't. I have my own fair share of Disney themed stuff now though...although I guess you could sort of count my Spaceship Earth collection. That's been a long time in building, and it's far from done. It'll be the highlight of my Disney collection someday. 

I don't remember seeing my first Disney film in theaters, nor do I even know what it would have been. I also don't really remember my first Disney Halloween Costume...unless it was like Han Solo two years ago or something. Then I guess I do...or Captain Hook from last year, depending on what you count. Then again, I wasn't ever really 100% into Halloween anyway. 

I do, however, remember my first trip to Disneyland, if only because it was in 2011 and I should in every logical way, very much remember that trip. It wasn't like it was ages ago or anything. My first trip to Disney World, on the other hand? Yeah, that happened wayyyy too long ago for me to remember, as did my first pair of Mickey Ears. I also don't really remember ever actually picking my favorite Disney song, movie and character, if only because it changes constantly. The only height requirement I ever remember actually meeting was Test Track, and I have no memory of my first dole whip. I can not for the life of me tell you when that was. I didn't need to wait for my Favorite Disney movie to come to Blu-Ray...Tangled came out on Blu-Ray right away (hahaha rhymes). 

But most of all, my life has ALWAYS been completely devoted to Disney. It makes it sort of weird to think about people having a moment where they just realize it. I guess a part of me can definitely relate that feeling to starting Everyday Disney, but I don't think I can pinpoint one exact moment otherwise. It was more of a "it's just this way" sort of thing. 

On the other hand, I am lucky enough to have the chance to see some of my friends experience the same pinnacle moments. I got to see my friends visit Walt Disney World for the first time, and get their first Mickey ears, and as we go through the Disney films together I often even get to watch them choose favorite movies and songs and characters. Even their first dole whip was a moment I got to experience with them. So while I may not remember my own first moments, I certainly am able to remember theirs! 

Read the whole Oh My Disney article HERE!

Have a magical day!

Day 567: Match the Quotes

Time for another fun game when it comes to Oh My Disney!

Making up blog posts is weird simply because I take the simplest thing and make it into an entire blog post but THAT'S OK! Because every little thing in my daily life that somehow relates back to Disney certainly has a lot to do with the whole point of this blog.

Anyway, right. Game time.

You can play the game for yourself HERE if you want to follow along!

First off, yes, I am the person reciting all the lines in the Haunted Mansion stretching room out loud, and I'm working on learning those last couple words to "Yo Ho." Oh, and let's not even underestimate my ability to say every line of Spaceship Earth in time and with an accent.

So this quiz should be a breeze.

"Thank the phoenicians." HAHAHA. Spaceship Earth.

"You see the excellence of this invention?" Not going to lie, this ones a bit harder, but that's probably because it comes from Disneyland and I obviously have less experience there. Either way, Indiana Jones.

"And, of course, these little beauties." SOARIN'!

"You are not the first to pass this way nor shall you be the last." A moment of silence for Malestrom.

"We're not gonna make it, we're not gonna make it!" And yet we made it back, with a Dinosaur.

"The backside of water!" is the 8th wonder of the world...at least it is on Jungle Cruise.

"Make it a stretch...in fact, make it a super stretch." Another one that's a little harder since I don't ride this...ever...but we all should know this is Rock N' Roller Coaster!

"I'd like to borrow some aluminum foil, a clothespin, and a candle." Oh Bill Nye, what are you up to now?

"Some imagination, huh?" *Drastic hand movements timed to the music of the Fantasmic Finale*

"A salute to all nations, but mostly America." Probably my favorite Muppets line of all time.

"Kindly step all the way in please and make room for everyone." Is this even a question?

"But keep a weather eye open, mates, and hold on tight, with both hands if you please." Mates gave it away, didn't it?

"We're going to make you all disappear!" Now I'm going to be singing all night.

"I know you're in a hurry, hurry, hurry, but for your safety, safety, safety." I don't go to Disneyland often, and I've never even been on this one, but for some reason without even reading the options I knew it was California Screamin'.

"Now, something is about to happen that will change all that." How is that I've never been on half of these and still know all the answers? TOT.

A perfect score, huh? Go figure.

What was your score? Were these easy, or hard or somewhere in between? And are you like me? Do you narrate every attraction simply because you can?

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on September 18).

Day 514: Which Princess Kingdom?

Basically, we all know that we're all Disney Princesses, despite the fact that those animals that live outside our windows just do not listen. For me, it's the squirrels that live all over campus at college, and seriously I just want to pet one.

Despite this fact, we're pretty sure we're Princesses, and that means that we need a suitable Kingdom, right? Of course, as always, Oh My Disney is there to help us answer the unspoken questions that we have all the time. For real? Would I be swimming around Ariel's Castle or crossing the bride to Rapunzel's. I guess we'll find out.

Since I normally do quizzes on one big post, but I have soooo many blog posts to make up, we're going to do this different. Let's go through each question!

1. My dream vacation destination is...

Uh....Ireland is not on here, and neither is Walt Disney World or Disneyland or basically anywhere that I actually really want to go. So England?

2. My Favorite fruit is...

Despite the fact that I am allergic to it, I have to say cantaloupe. Before I became allergic to most fruit that was one of my favorites. Although if I had to pick one now that I can still eat, it would be strawberries.

3. My favorite type of weather is...

Oh gosh. Uhhh....Snowy?

4. Pick a pattern...

I can't really show all the pictures here, but you should all know that I do love chevrons!

5. On an ideal weekend I would...

How about all of the above because for real all of these sound like great options. But I think I'll have to pick Read a Book. You can't go wrong with that one.

6. The one household item I can't live without is...

A television, because let's be real...I can't live without Once Upon A Time.

7. Pick a Vinylmation...

Oh god. I can't. Too many options. THUMPER!

8. If I were a Disney animal, I would be...

This is hard too because literally these are like all my favorite Disney animals. I like to think I'd be Brave like Pongo, and caring like Lady and friendly like Bambi but I'm stubborn like Marie and get into trouble like Figaro and seriously no one is more sarcastic than Pegasus. And then there's Simba and Copper and I'm kinda like them too soooo.....Lady.

9. My favorite mode of transportation is...

Singing montage. Hands down.

10. The best time to visit the Disney Parks is...

Epcot Food & Wine Festival. I will attend you again someday, I promise.

11. Pick a Princess Dress...

I've said it before and I'll say it again, but I certainly wish that I had a princess dress when I was a kid. Granted, we had like...half of these, so it's not like I really had an option anyways. So I pick Rapunzel. Cause she's my favorite.

While I really wish I could live in Corona (that's Rapunzel's kingdom), I think I'm cool with this. I mean, that's one awesome castle, and hey, great balls? Maybe the mutton won't be overcooked! (Yes...that's a OUAT reference). 

But seriously, no glass slippers. Dancing in those until Midnight must really hurt your feet. 

In which Princess Kingdom do you reside? 

Have a magical day! 

(This blog post was written on July 23, 2014).

Day 247: Emotional Journies

There's been a lot of talk these past few days about the emotions we feel when we go to Walt Disney World. Maybe it's just the blogs I follow, or maybe it's the fact that the Comical Growers from OceanSpray went to Walt Disney World, but I didn't want to be left out! I mean some of the things were pretty entertaining, and very true, all at the same time!

So here's a few of my personal favorite graphs and charts from the past couple of days, with links to where you can find the entire set!

I couldn't help but put this one on here, especially since we just discussed this a few weeks ago. When you go to a Disney Resort, you're happy all the time. Just all day, everyday you're there. And then you have to go home, and you just end up grumpy until you go back. 

This one made me laugh quite a bit, because it's pretty darn true. I never used to like Space Mountain (I know, I'm sorry), but I love it now (does that make up for it?), and this chart perfectly describes how I handle the attraction. No matter how many times I go on it I somehow always end up still screaming. Probably because it just makes it more fun. I mean, it's not like I can be surprised EVERY time I go down the same drop, especially when I go on it multiple times in a row...but I can pretend right? 

And now, what I feel is the truest one of them all, the want to buy all the things. I always want to buy all the things, and I will find every reason or excuse to buy said things when I go to Disney. In fact, I'm pretty sure I will never have enough when it comes to Disney things. I mean, I do have a room to fill in my future house, right? 

You can find more of these awesome charts here!

Finally, because I thought this was just the best thing of all time, here is a video that describes how we all feel when we walk into a Disney Park!

In the end, we all know that going to Walt Disney World is basically just an emotional rollercoaster, pun completely intended. Luckily, and to quote John Green, we're on a rollercoaster that only goes up...well, until, as that chart up there perfectly narrates, we have to leave. Then I guess we go down and completely renders this example pointless, but you get the idea. 

Today's #Frumstagram photo is based on the keyword "Merch," which, interestingly enough, fits in well with the topic of this post, since I just talked about how I always want all of the things. Because yes, and sorry to my High School English teacher, things is the proper word. I used a picture of some of the only Disney Merch I have in my dorm room, my Vinylmation!

And here's today's Disney History: 2000: Hundreds of Mary Poppins' fans gathered at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood where moviegoers are invited to sing-along with the film as lyrics appear along the bottom. Before the film starts, the Sherman Brothers and others involved with Mary Poppins speak about creating the film. 

Have a magical day!