Day 1316: Carrying the Load

After 20 years of flying between Wisconsin and the Orlando International Airport, I've become quite the expect packer. I can quickly fill my suitcase with everything I might need for a trip to Walt Disney World, and my carry-on doesn't take much longer. In fact, I've become so good at packing that I've managed to get everything from numerous mugs to candy apples home without a problem, and getting my luggage to and from the airport isn't much more difficult. 

As I headed to Walt Disney World on my first solo trip this past July, I fully utilized the expertise of bell services at multiple Disney resorts. Since I started my trip at Coronado Springs, I picked up my own luggage from the airport for Magical Express, and then entrusted it to the bus driver before seeing my suitcase again at the resort. A few days later, I was ready to transfer to Old Key West, and I was introduced to some of the real magic Bell Services works every day. 

On the morning of my move, I did exactly what my mom said I could do, and took my suitcase to Bell Services at Coronado Springs. After explaining to them that I was transferring to Old Key West, both my suitcase and my carry on were sent away, and I headed to Disney Springs for the remainder of the morning and early afternoon. 

Since you have to transfer at a Disney Resort if you're going from Disney Springs to a park, I figured I would stop back at Old Key West on my way over to Animal Kingdom, especially since I had a notification that my room was already. It'd only been a couple of hours, maybe two or three, since I dropped off my bags at Coronado, but when I checked with Bell Services, my bags were magically already there! Then it was off on a golf cart with one of the cast members to bring my luggage to my room. 

And of course, I got a golf cart ride back up front for airline check in the day I was leaving, which allowed me to check my luggage right at Old Key West and not worry about it again until I returned back to Milwaukee. 

The point here is this: Bell Services at Walt Disney World is a huge advantage of staying at a Disney Resort. While there are bell services at other hotels and resorts, there's something about trusting a cast member with your bags. The personal touch of knowing which cast member is responsible for getting your luggage from your Disney Resort to the airport, and the simplicity of not worrying about any of it as you gallivant around the parks and make the most of your visit. 

So thank you, to all of the cast members that work for Bell Services. You make our lives so much easier and our trips much more magical!

Have a magical day!

Day 1245: Saratoga or OKW

With so many various DVC Resorts out there now, I know just how hard it can be to choose the right one for your vacation. But when it comes down to distinctly DVC Resorts, there's some debate going on: which is better? 

I'll start out by saying that Saratoga Springs and Old Key West are drastically different resorts...in some ways more than others. We'll start with what they have in common though. Both Resorts are usually open even closer to your vacation date, although that may be due to the higher number of DVC Member rooms available compared to other resorts. They both have decent rooms and are split up between various buildings over a large "campus" that includes multiple bus stops rather than just one for the whole resort. In addition, they both are near Disney Springs and provide boat transportation, have quick service and table service restaurants, and are rather lightly themed in comparison to some of the other hotels on property. 

Saratoga Springs is themed on the real Saratoga Springs, bringing the Victorian, horse racing style to Central Florida right from New York. The resort is split into five sections: The Grandstand, The Paddock, The Carousel, Congress Park, and The Springs. The downfall here is that the 18 very large buildings that house the rooms can get to be quite the distance from the main building, and while a major benefit of staying at Saratoga is the walkway that takes you directly to Disney Springs, such a walk can take over a half hour depending on where you are at the resort. On our last trip we even stayed in the middle of the resort, near the Carousel bus stop, and the hike took about 30 minutes. When we stayed at the Grandstand before that, it was nearing 45 minutes. Meanwhile, you can take a bus (if it comes immediately) and be there within 10 minutes. Still, the rooms are all a decent size, although they are a bit smaller than rooms at similar resorts. 

Meanwhile, the rooms at Old Key West, which takes the gingerbread architecture of the conch republic to the Walt Disney World Resort, are the largest on property. As the original DVC Resort, you'll consistently meet fellow visitors who travel to WDW time and time again, which almost gives it an extra homey feel. Like Saratoga, the resort is split into five sections: The Hospitality House, Peninsular Road, Old Turtle Pond, South Point, and Millers Road. While still spread out into over 50 different buildings, the entirety of Old Key West is easily within walking distance, as it's only a short walk from the furthest South Point buildings back up to the Hospitality House. 

All in all, the comparisons really come down to room size and amenities. Old Key West's large, spacious rooms easily beat out Saratoga's, especially now that they've been refurbished. However, the food selection at Saratoga greatly beats out Old Key West with the Turf Club, although Olivia's provides a nice middle option that's not available at Saratoga. In addition, if you're looking at swimming, the pools at Saratoga are themed well and are much larger than the few scattered at Old Key West. 

Still, and maybe it's because I'm bias, I'd much rather stay at Old Key West. Despite the fact that it's not connected to Disney Springs, the entire resort seems much more convenient. If necessary, you can walk to the front within minutes, and since the rooms are much larger, you have an incredible amount of space to spread out. The rooms at Saratoga, in comparison, feel cramped. 

Which resort do you prefer? 

Have a magical day!

Day 1177: For the Love of Nautical Blue

I sat at Barnes and Noble for a long while, on the floor, in front of a shelf filled with adult coloring books. The newest craze was brought to my attention this past Christmas when one of my former roommates gifted me an adult coloring book, and now I use my crayons and colored pencils far more often than I have in the past two years. I didn't intend to buy a coloring book at Barnes and Noble, but the nautical themes of one based on the ocean got my attention and didn't leave me alone...probably because forecasted snow and friends actually on the beach made me wish for warmer weather and a beautiful view.

I've always loved nautical things though, and somewhere along the line, probably when I was coloring a trio of seashells to catch the colors found on The Seas with Nemo and Friends, I realized that my love of all things nautical, including pirates, probably goes much further back than those around me might think.

I definitely still remember the old Living Seas at Epcot, with the attraction vehicles much similar to Spaceship Earth than those currently found on an adventure with Nemo, and the diver's tank that existed long before it was reintroduced a few years ago. My memories of the old Epcot, I've come to realize, are something I really should treasure, because for the young generation of Epcot lovers, I'm right on the cusp between those who really remember what Epcot used to be about and those who wish they did.

But my love of nautical things probably stems more from another location, one outside the parks. I talk about Old Key West as my home resort all the time, and I wish I could clearly express through words just how much it really is home. I honestly think I almost have more memories that occurred in the walls of a room at OKW than I do in my own home, and for those of you who have explored the resort as I have, you know just how nautical the place can get. It's not overly ocean-themed, but there is a lighthouse, and the gingerbread architecture of the conch republic really stands out amidst many of the other resorts at Walt Disney World. Growing up, and still today, I adore the corals and aquas and dark and light blues, I decorate with ships and seashells frequently, and I've built more than one house on the Sims with nautical themes. And just to prove that I did indeed spend a lot of my childhood at OKW, here's a picture of my Dad and I sitting on the balcony of our room.

I'm a bit taller now, but the balcony hasn't changed much.

Have a magical day!

Day 1105: Chillcation

To say we thought long and hard about what we wanted out of our latest trip to Walt Disney World would be an understatement, because planning for "Operation Dole Whip" started almost a year ago, soon after returning from our last trip to the most magical place on earth. Somehow we managed to convince our parents (Franks and mine alike) to let us head back home for an eight day trip only a year after our January Extended Family Vacation that included eldest sister Megan and younger brother Jonny. This time, however, the middle "siblings" headed out on our own with Mom.

Considering the fact that this would be Frank's (remember...her real name is Ashley!) third time to Walt Disney World, we put in some extra thought as to what we might make different about this trip in comparison to the other two. The first trip for my dear friend came as a part of the 2014 High School, and that trip, even by my standards, was insane. Not necessarily insane in a bad way, but just crazy busy as I attempted to pack as much into a few days and hours in the parks as possible. What we accomplished I'm still incredibly proud of, but it certainly didn't leave a lot of time to relaxing. Let's be honest, it hardly left time for walking.

Last January was a bit better, but there was still a lot they had yet to see, so we definitely kept ourselves moving then too, exploring resorts, hidden corners of the parks, and seeing as much as we could in our 9 day trip. I like to think they enjoyed it, especially considering the fact that we have pictures from that trip scattered pretty much everywhere we can find.

But this January was going to be different, and we knew that from the start. Keeping in mind that the operation name of the trip was inspired by our craving for Dole Whips, it shouldn't be surprising that we had plans to slow things down a bit. You know, enjoy the little things. And enjoy them we did. Our first day in Florida was probably one of the more relaxing days, and that's why I figured I'd share some of the things we did to kick off our "Chillcation." After all, there's plenty to do at Disney without really doing much of anything, and I firmly believe that those things are just as important as running yourself out of energy in the parks themselves.

In our typical fashion, we started out the trip by "chilling" by the pool at Old Key West, my home DVC resort and home away from home for the week. Having more or less grown up at Old Key West, it was awesome to be able to share it on such a deep level with one of my best friends, and I hope I can have the same opportunity with Shovell soon! It was, honestly, a bit cold by Florida standards for the majority of our trip, but the first day found us in the 60's and much warmer than the snowstorm and negative temperatures we'd left back in Wisconsin. 

Following our relaxation by the pool, we headed to Olivia's for some lunch, and boy were we starving. In fact, we were so hungry that we basically just told the waitress to bring us some food and ate it so quickly that we forgot to take a picture until after it was already gone. What was once on the plate was some spectacular buttermilk chicken, mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables, all with a delicious gravy on top. We actually loved it so much the first time that we returned on our last day for a second portion, and I definitely recommend it if you find yourself over at Old Key West! 

By the time we finished our lunch our room was ready, so we caught a ride with bell services and headed to our room for a much needed nap (I only slept about an hour the night before in between driving two hours to Milwaukee in a snowstorm and a 3 A.M. wake up call to fly down to Orlando). I honestly didn't really want to get up and already felt like I could sleep for a week, but even 45 minutes helped before we were off to my beloved Epcot. 

As you saw up above, there's always time to stop for pictures with Trash Cans, which is sort of an inside joke with my family (long story short my brother has a weird thing with Trash Cans), and pictures like that became a sort of standard throughout our trip, which I'm sure you'll see later in a few other posts. We really ended up documenting the off kilter things we did rather than the more common experiences posted by many, and that's certainly something I loved about this trip.

One of those off kilter experiences is certainly my ability to run into my favorite Disney artist, Larry Dotson. My parents brought home one of his prints for me in 2004, which still remains my favorite of the prints I own today, and they started a whole new addiction. Now I must own somewhere along the lines of 15-20 of his various prints from Walt Disney World, and I usually track one down each time I'm in Florida. Of course, I've also had the wonderful opportunity to meet him in person various times, and when I learned his last day for the winter would be at Epcot the same day I happened to be arriving, I made sure to stop in and find a new addition to my collection. 

From there we had plenty of other experiences, but there's seven other blog posts to help narrate the rest of my trip, but I think you can sort of get the idea. It's certainly amazing to see what you're missing at Walt Disney World if you slow down and look around, and that's what a chillcation is really all about. 

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on January 22 due to travel).

Day 1051: Hospitality

Do you ever have those phrases or words that just automatically bring you back to Disney? Like if someone says pineapple maybe you think of a dole whip, Aerosmith takes you to Rock'n Roller Coaster, and discussions about The Twilight Zone end in Tower of Terror. For me, there's any number of these kinds of things, but a few in particular are worse than others.

In one of my classes this semester we talked a lot about hospitality, and after a while I realized that every time I came across that word, whether it was in a reading assignment, test, or class discussion, I ended up adding "house" to the end of it, so instead it would be "hospitality house." For those that don't know Disney (and even those who don't know Old Key West), this probably makes no sense, but for a girl who considers OKW her home, Hospitality House is the only thing that comes across. In fact, all of OKW is about hospitality (as are most Disney resorts), and that's one of the things I love most about it.

There's something about the atmosphere at Old Key West that's just calming, and you can frequently find me there even when I stay at a different resort. In fact, there's not a trip I can remember that I didn't return to OKW at some point, even if it was just to transfer to a different park or Disney Springs (because sometimes taking the first bus you see can help a lot).

And so, somehow, any time someone says "hospitality," I think of Old Key West and suddenly get a bit calmer. Kind of like when someone mentions the printing press and I start thinking about Spaceship Earth. I wonder how many other "trigger words" I have for thinking about Disney?

Do you have any? Let me know in the comments below!

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on December 26).

Day 913: Operation Dole Whip

Fans of Once Upon A Time aren't strangers to the various operation names that surround the show. So far we've had several, incluing Operation Cobra, the original project in Season One, Operation Save Henry, the mission in Season 3, and, most recently, Operation Mongoose, which took place throughout Season 4. So when Frank and I decided we wanted to go back to Disney and finally figured out a time we'd both be able to go, we dubbed it Operation Dole Whip.

And somehow we managed to make it work.

That's right. In January 2016 we'll be headed back to Walt Disney World for more adventures of every kind, and I can tell you already that there are a lot of things in the works for this trip. From challenges to YouTube videos to games of hide and week, we're already hard at work planning things out.

But that's not what we're most excited for. Operation Dole whip is all about taking things at a relaxing pace and enjoying all that Disney has to offer. So instead of rushing around right away, we've decided that our first day won't be a park day at all, but rather a day to enjoy Old Key West and the other resorts, resting up for the next seven days of adventure time.

Which is where Everyday Disney comes in. We're planning, as I said, several challenges, but over the next few months here on Everyday Disney and on my Instagram I'll be looking for input from all of my followers on what food we should eat, things we should do and possible challenges we should take, so keep your eyes out and get ready for more of those Frank Flashses you can find in the vlogs from this past January!

Have a magical day!

Day 733: Saratoga Springs

Originally when we planned this trip, we started out staying where we usually start out staying: Old Key West. Since we've been DVC members since 1996, and our home resort is OKW, it's just where we always begin. Occasionally we'll stay at another DVC resort, often times Bay Lake Tower, which is the only location other than Old Key West that I believe we've stayed with our points more than once, and I'm pretty sure we'll be back there in the future. January 2015, at that point, actually was planned for a different resort: Wilderness Lodge. I've never stayed there, and was pretty excited about the prospect of staying at a new resort. Wilderness Lodge has been on my list for a while, and that made it all the better. 

And then Megan and Ashley both decided to tag along, so the plans changed yet again. At that point, there were very few options on where to stay, but Saratoga Springs was one of them. Since it's right next door to Old Key West, I have to say that I felt like I should stay there sometime as well. Plus, staying at Saratoga with my friends meant that we, for the first time, would have a two bedroom unit. This, of course, is huge for us since we generally only have the one bedroom or a studio. 

It's sort of funny actually, that we've never stayed there before. My parents were actually at the grand opening of the resort years ago, but we never got around to actually staying there. So of course, this seemed like the perfect chance, and we weren't let down. 

While I definitely still prefer Old Key West and Bay Lake Tower, Saratoga Springs is a wonderful resort. It's closeness to Downtown Disney is a huge plus, as we actually walked back from the shopping district twice during the trip (much to the dismay of our hurting feet). It reminded me a bit of BLT in that respect, as I love walking from the Contemporary to the Magic Kingdom and it's actually one of the main reasons I love staying there. That convenience factor has become more important to me over the years, especially as I love staying out until 1 or 4 in the morning in the Disney Parks more and more. Being the last guests in Magic Kingdom in July of 2013 was really magical, and I can't wait to do the same thing again the next time I stay at Bay Lake Tower. 

But Saratoga also offered a little bit of my home resort feel. The reason I love OKW so much, aside from the fact that it's my home resort and I've stayed there more often than all the other places combined, is the quiet, home like feel of the entire resort. It's very laid back there. You can walk all over the resort, you can play in the sand at the playground (like we did...pictures are below), you can play ping pong at 10 at night with absolutely no one around you. While we didn't spend a lot of time at Saratoga, I definitely feel like that side was there too, and maybe that's to be expected with it's closeness to OKW and setup. 

In case you were wondering, "The Kid" is my brother, "Lizzard" is me, "Frank" is my friend Ashley and "Shovell" is Megan. We have weird nicknames, and don't even get me started on Daviiiid. 

Overall, Saratoga Springs is a lovely resort. I would probably stay there again...if there weren't a multitude of other resorts I'd like to stay at. I think that's the problem with Disney World (one of the few). There are so many great places to stay that it's incredibly difficult to decide where to stay. You have to choose between your favorites, in my case BLT and OWK, and new resorts such as Wilderness Lodge or, as my brother wishes, The Polynesian. Granted, I've checked quite a few resorts off my personal list, but there's still plenty to go! 

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on January 11 due to the Disney Trip!)

Day 687: Donuts

How do you spell donuts anyway? Is it donuts or doughnuts? Or is one of those weird words that you can spell either way?

Regardless, that's our discussion of the day...or at least part of the discussion. It's one that's been on the topic list for a really, really long time and I just now finally got around to blogging about it for real. Why did it take so long? I'm honestly not really sure because, if you ask me, it's a pretty good representation of Disney in our everyday lives.

Story time! One trip, many years ago, we got these donuts from the store at Old Key West for breakfast. I have no idea what prompted this, other than the fact that we wanted or needed something for breakfast (we rarely eat in the parks for breakfast). We ended up liking the donuts, and ever since they've made our way into the fridge at whatever resort we happen to be staying at. In other words, the classic Entenmann's donuts have become known in our family as "The Disney Donuts."

Lucky for us, because this is a brand that's sold all over the United States, we can sometimes find these donuts in our fridge at home too, and that's what happened. I happened to be at Walmart picking up some food to make dinner and figured I would grab some of the donuts to share with my brother since I know they sell them there. There's only like 8 donuts per box, so it definitely doesn't last long, especially with Jonny around, but they're good for a day or two, and when you refer to them as the Disney Donuts, the second you bite into one it's like a flashback home.

Of course, there are other things like this throughout the world. For instance, sometimes when I buy a new bottle of water from Phils, the college "convenience store" and grill, I'll pick up a Dasani water instead of something else (although SmartWater, also sold at Disney, is also a popular option for me). Why do I prefer this water over the other water that is literally probably no different whatsoever? It's because that's the water they sell at Disney, and for some reason I just feel natural walking around with one of those versus a different brand.

The same thing can go for a coke. When I was younger I would only drink Pepsi, giving into the coke world only when at Disney, but somewhere along the line I switched over. I don't drink soda very often, but when I do you bet it can be something that reminds me of Disney, and that generally means coke.

Want another example of my super weird Disney Food obsession? Although I'm lactose intolerant now, as a kid I was a huge fan of the Toll House Cookie Ice Cream bars, although I also seriously loved the "Minnie's Strawberry Bar." Here's proof:

Yes, that's me. Of course, they sell these things all over the place, and I'm more likely to pick up a Toll House Cookie Sandwich than I am a Drumstick if I'm going to eat ice cream. And the Minnie's Strawberry Bar? It's an Ed's Strawberry Bar and I keep them around quite often (pretty sure there's some in my freezer at home...unless I finished them all again). 

This is just one of the really weird ways that Disney's worked it's way into my life and mind. It's not a subconscious thing whatsoever, because I know for a fact that when I go to Phils to buy water I walk in there thinking about the Dasani water or SmartWater I'm going to walk out with, and that leads me on a train of thought that goes back to Disney. I'm sure it happens with more of than these four, but they're the most prominent for sure, bringing a little bit of home into my college and Wisconsin life. 

Have a magical day!

Day 604: Out the Door

I've talked about Disney Deja Vu before, many times. Last year it was the train whistle (which surprisingly I have yet to hear) and the smell of something or other on campus. It comes in flocks I find, when my mind is just in a Disney mode and then I seem to find more hints of Disney around me.

But lately I've been having some serious Disney Deja Vu, and I have no real idea why. It happens every single morning, for sure, as well as several other times of the day...specifically whenever I walk out the door of my dorm room. I just get this sudden feeling that I'm at Disney and should be going to Epcot instead of a class on British Literature. 

Maybe it's because our dorm is sort of in a motel-like setup. No, our doors aren't on the outside of the building, but they are outside, winding around center courtyard that's completely open and totally beautiful: 

Because those doors are technically facing the outside air, it's possible that I'm connecting that to some of the resorts at Disney, such as Pop Century or my home resort of Old Key West. Yeah, now that I say that, it makes a lot of sense. Plus, since I've only been in my room for a few days, it would fit together that I feel like this is a hotel instead of my new home. After all, last year really, seriously, felt like summer camp for a good week or two. The hotel idea is a little different, but I guess I'll make it work. 

The problem? I leave here every morning thinking I'm at Disney for a split second, and while this puts me in a pretty darn good mood, what happens later in the semester, like in a week, when I realize I'm not at Disney and none of this is new anymore? I'll be stuck in the rut again. 

Maybe this is why I've had such an urge to practice my alto...I'm just happier in the first place. 

Have a magical day! 

Day 494: Right at Home

Day 13 of the Disney Photo Challenge: A picture of your favorite "Home" Resort. 

Blast from the Past: 

I often get the following questions/answers...

Other Person: "Wait, how many times have you been to Disneyland?" 
Lizzie: "It's Disney World...and over 20 times."
OP: "20!?!"
L: "Yes."
OP: "Are you rich?"
L: "No."
OP: "Then how do you get to go to Disney so much if you aren't rich?"

It is, honestly, one of my pet peeves when people ask me if I'm rich. I HATE IT. I am not rich. My family owns a business, we take a trip to Disney once a year as a family vacation...as a tradition, and that's it. And my house only looks big because we have a double deck, a sunroom and a "tower" which isn't anything more than where our kitchen table sits. That's it. Sorry for disappointing you. 

Anyway, one of the main reasons I am able to head to Florida with my family is because we are long time Disney Vacation Club Members. My parents joined back right at the beginning in '96, and it's the reason we got to ride in a limo. Anyway, DVC is is kind of like a time-share, but you buy into one of the Disney Resorts, and then are able to use the points you get yearly to help pay for your stay at a Disney resort...and you can pick any resort with the DVC program. When my parents bought into DVC, the only option was Old Key West. So that's our literal "home." The OKW resort has some of the best rooms on property...and it's great for our family. Everything is close, but the one-bedroom includes a Master Bedroom, a bathroom that's more like a double bathroom than anything, including a whirlpool tub, a laundry room, which really helps for packing, and a full kitchen/dining room plus living room...which includes both a pull-out couch and chair (yes...a chair). The theming is awesome, based on classic Key West Style...specifically Conch Flats (also the name of the "town" that Old Key West makes). There's rental stuff, for shuffleboard, ping pong, two tennis courts, a basketball court and plenty of bikes and boats. Plus there's two pools at the resort. 

It's where my family has always stayed, although I've been to plenty of other resorts too, and it's part of the reason we're able to go back. The DVC costs a lot, but when you travel there every year like we do, it pays itself off within about 4 years. It's not the only reason, but it's one of them. 

And my favorite part of Old Key West? No matter if it's 9 in the morning, noon or 2 A.M., when you pass security to get into the resort, you can always expect the security guard to give you a "Welcome Home." And they're right...I am home.

Back to the Future: 

Oh, for sure Old Key West...that's not going to change, at all.

But there's one other resort that's wormed its way into my heart as well, and since I know I talked a bunch about Old Key West already, I'll tell you a little bit more about Bay Lake Tower.

BLT (Yes, B.L.T.), is the DVC portion of Disney's Contemporary Resort, and connects to the main building via a pathway on the fourth floor. I've only had the chance to stay at BLT twice, but the second time especially was well worth it, getting to stay on the top floor and visit the Top of the World whenever I wanted. I think I spent more time up there than I did just about anywhere else on that trip.

The two resorts are vastly different, with the Contemporary being closer to Magic Kingdom (within walking distance), therefore right in the middle of the action, while Old Key West is spread out a bit further, with the closest park being Epcot, although Downtown Disney is just a boat ride away.

Will BLT ever actually overpower my love of OKW? Goodness no, but it does deserve an honorable mention!

Have a magical day!

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

Day 467: Nautical

Sometimes the "themes" of my life tend to mingle with one another, and this is most certainly one of those cases. My brother and I have been a part of our local 4-H Club for many years, and one of the things we generally do is the Foods Review each April. Basically you make a dish and then it's judged, but not just upon the food, but as well as a place setting and imaginary menu. It's actually kind of fun (until it gets to be tedious), but you can be pretty creative with it.

Unless you wait until the last minute to put your project together. In my brother's defense, he's a busy kid, so alright, we procrastinated a bit. Or he did rather. I had nothing to do with it. Until we all ended up trying to figure out a theme. His dish was something with shrimp, so we eventually decided on a nautical theme. Then, once you have a theme, you have to figure out your menu.

Of course, I knew what I was talking about. With a pirate as a favorite character on Once Upon A Time, I had some grand ideas. Plus, this does indeed relate to Disney, but we'll get to that in a minute. I mean, really, how can you go wrong with rum flavored punch? And grilled pineapple with coconut for dessert? Brilliance. Pure brilliance.

Once you have your menu set aside, you need a place setting, and honestly, that was kind of difficult to do at the last minute. But somehow, between all of us, we pulled it off, searching through the house for the perfect dishes and centerpiece. Speaking of the centerpiece, that was my idea. It's a model of the Old Key West Lighthouse that normally sits in our bathroom. I remembered that it was there and was like "GOT IT!" The judge thought it was too tall, but I still think it was pretty perfect.

Which brings us to the main idea here. After the foods review, I went shopping with one of my friends, and I realized that nautical everything is very in right now. I mean, you go to a store and where there were tons of bows a year ago, now there's everything pirate and ship and nautical. I LOVE IT.

You see, I've been embracing the nautical theme for years, and finally it's what's in. Although it seems I am one step ahead of these crazy fashion trends. That's good I suppose. To be ahead. But either way, I'm happy with it. It seems that, because I've spent so much of my childhood at Disney and specifically Old Key West, the nautical theme surrounds me. Two of the bathrooms in our house are themed after the sea, one with a very specific nautical theme (hence the lighthouse), and my favorite Disneybounds happen to generally have something to do with the theme as well. Even my favorite color, navy blue, is probably inspired by the theme.

Weird, huh?

Just goes to show how Disney can shape us in the smallest, most detailed ways.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, my brother got a first place ribbon at the foods review.

Have a magical day!

Day 244: Frumpstagram

Hey, it's the start of yet another month here on Everyday Disney, and that means that it's a great time to start a new tradition, or at least start something new for this month!

I'm no stranger to social networking. I mean, have you seen all those things listed to the left? But by far my favorite is Instagram (ok...Pinterest really too. They're kinda tied). I spend a lot of time on Instagram and always love finding new pictures to take. I used it for my July '13 Disney Photo Challenge, and got plenty of great shots that I now adore to death! I use Instagram to promote my blog sometimes, and other times I just use it for my personal use. As I said over a month ago, I am debating starting just a Disney Instagram account as well for Everyday Disney, but for the moment let's just do this.

I normally don't do monthly photo challenges. In fact, the only ones I've done officially have been on Facebook, and the way I do those is I sit down and in one sitting, find all my pictures and type up responses for each of them in a Word Document. Then all I have to do is go through, upload, copy and paste and finish them on the day they need to be up. No extreme thinking involved. I've done two full photo challenges that way (My Disney Photo Challenge and the Star Wars Photo Challenge). It's a fun thing to do, but only if you remember to do it.

On Instagram, there's obviously always all kinds of monthly challenges, and I too have tried for the past two months to complete them. Sadly I only get a couple of days into them. But I found one today that sounds like it's right up my alley. It's from Instagram user Disney_Frump, and sounded like something I could implement right here on Everyday Disney! So I just want to give a quick thank you to her for this awesome challenge!

As you can see, it's an Instagram daily photo challenge based on Disney prompts such as "Welcome Home," "Ears," and "Adventure." Fun, huh? I think it shall be quite the adventure to do it each and everyday both on my Instagram and here on Everyday Disney. Of course, I had to think a little bit about how I'm going to do this because I already have the daily history, and that will continue too. So this is just going to be a one month thing as to not take up a ton of space at the end of every single blog post. I'm pretty sure these things are long enough as it is. Still, I encourage you to do this with me, even if you're starting a couple days late! 

So here's today's #Frumpstagram picture from my Instagram, based on the prompt "Welcome Home."

And here's today's Disney History: 1993: Disney announces that AT&T has renewed its sponsorship of Spaceship Earth at EPCOT Center in the Walt Disney World Resort. Spaceship Earth was originally sponsored by the Bell System from 1982 to 1984. When Bell was broken up into smaller companies in 1984, its parent company, AT&T became its own independent company and began sponsoring Spaceship Earth. It will continue to do so until 2004, when Siemens picks up sponsorship. 

Have a magical day!

Day 206: Mail Call!

You know what's the most exciting thing to happen after you get back from Walt Disney World?

Come on, think about it.

That's right! Getting your package with all the stuff you bought in the World of Disney Store that you had to ship home because you knew it wouldn't fit in your suitcase!!!!

Similarly to how I was acting before my bows came a number of weeks ago, I asked my dad pretty much every day if there was a package from Disney. Of course, finally, he said yes, and I ran out to the truck to get it. Honestly, it was pretty darn heavy. And it should be, for all the stuff that I bought from Disney World!!!

So here's a basic rundown of everything I bought:

This picture here shows everything I got (other than the chopsticks that I apparently forgot to put in the picture!). I have a wide variety of stuff, and a lot of it will be coming with me to college this fall too! Of course, there are a few new additions to my collections as well! Things that I already covered in my Disney Collection series that you're just going to have to see now!

Here you can see some of my favorite items that I bought. On the top left is the newest addition to my mug collection, a 2013 mug! I loved how the handle was the three, plus it's the year I graduate, so it just has to happen! Next to it is one of the two newest additions to my Larry Dotson Print Collection that Hangs proudly on my wall. There will be a Disney Collection post specifically on it in the future, but I did get two new ones this trip that you can see in that giant picture, one of the Haunted Mansion and one of Hollywood Studios. Oh, and did I mention I got to meet him a second time!?! In the middle we have my new magnets, both ticket magnets and attraction poster magnets to satisfy the Vintage Disney Lover in me! And on the bottom we have my new shirt that I absolutely love! It describes my life perfectly! And then I got some stuff for my dorm room in the kitchen supplies area of the World of Disney, meaning a set of cups, bowls, plates and a tray, as well as some dish towels!

But that's not all I bought!! In this one on the top left you can see my new Han Solo in Carbonate bank. I saw in the in the Tatooine Traders store and was just like "MINE" and then I bought it. Like seriously, I love it a lot. In the middle you can see the four new pins I got. You can kind of sense a theme going on (Epcot 30), and then I got the Happy Birthday pin because I spent my birthday there so obviously I needed that too. And on the top right is the newest addition to my Vinylmation collection! Mr. Lincoln from Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln is a member of the Park Stars Series, which I thought was adorable, so it just had to happen. It turned out great too because Lincoln is one of my role models in life! And down below you can see some of the other things I got, including two Disney board games (Candyland and Haunted Mansion Life), a Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious pillow for my dorm, one of those Old Key West bags that are pretty new, a new phone cover and, luckily for me, Chip and Dale as Ewoks and a New Jedi Mickey leftover from Star Wars Weekends! And if you look closely you might be able to spot the Graduation 2013 Mickey Ears I managed to snag too!

Overall, I'm SUPER Happy with everything I got! One can never have TOO much Disney! You'll actually see a lot of this in my dorm room when I move in too, because you know there will be plenty of Disney taking place in that room, and a lot of this stuff will be heading there with me! 

Here's today's Disney History: 2003: The Disney Institute, a resort located at Walt Disney World, officially closes after 7 years in operation. A vacation and learning center open since 1996, it was a pet project of Disney CEO Michael Eisner who saw it as a way for families to learn and play together. Although the Disney Institute as a program still exists today, the actual resort was later developed into a Disney Vacation Club property named the Saratoga Springs Resort. 

Have a magical day!

Day 91: April Fools!

Really kind of random, but I also just realized I've been blogging for three entire months now. Time sure goes by fast, doesn't it?

Anyway, today's blog post is, in every way, true...or at least everything I say is true. No jokes here.

I'm not sure about any of you, but I did happen to watch a few videos this April Fools Day, and one that really got my mind set on Disney was this one:

I know I've talked briefly about it before, but I figured I'd talk about it again because this really did pop up in my head. If Google had a thing called Google Nose that enables you to smell things...I could smell Disney World! Now, by itself this sounds weird...but here's a list of things I'd LOVE to use Google Nose for...

1. Spaceship Earth - The Burning of Rome : I have to admit right away, I am extremely sad that this feature has disappeared. Like...a lot. I tend to cry a little every time I smell BBQ sauce, because in reality, that's what the burning of Rome does smell like. BBQ sauce. I'm not joking. It's exact. Like those little ones you can get from McDonald's or something...or anywhere on Disney property. THOSE BBQ Sauces smell like the burning of Rome. Just think...with Google Nose I could smell this whenever I want!

2. Something OTHER than Skunk : Let's face it, we all get a little tired of getting stuck with the smell of skunk every. single. time. What am I talking about? Journey into Imagination. You know, when for once in our young lives we play a slot machine and lose each time? That's right...with Google Nose I could actually smell coffee or roses instead of having to hold my breath...even if I'm sure I've gone on that attraction enough times to be immune to the smell of skunk. 

3. Disney Resort Buses : One of my personal favorite scents on Disney Property is that of Disney transportation. This goes for the monorail too, as each piece of Disney transportation has it's own distinct smell that honestly can't be found anywhere else. The funny part, as many people as there are traveling on those buses...it's never a bad smell...only a good one. If only I could figure that out for my bus here at home. 

4. Oranges and Pine Trees : I think this one is pretty universally on everyone's list of scents of Disney World...and Disneyland for that same matter. We all love the smell of the orange groves and pine trees in Soarin'. I did a blog post on this one before because luckily, these scents DO exist in everyday life...well...if you peel an orange or live near pine trees that is. 

5. Old Key West : This one is going to be different for everyone since we don't all stay at the same resort, but I love the smells of Old Key West. It's like this odd mix of pool water, Florida, fish on the grill from Olivia's, sand and a warm breeze, all thrown together. I don't know, I just like it. 

6. The Great Movie Ride : I'm not sure if it's the smoke from the Wicked Witch or the Jewel...but there's something about the Great Movie Ride that just has this distinct scent to it. I can't really describe it either...but it's one of those things that kind of randomly pops up once and a while and you stop mid sentence and just blurt out "It smells like the Great Movie Ride." Oh wait...I'm the only one who does that? I kind of figured. 

Anyway, I'm sure there are many other Disney things in which I'd use Google Nose for, but this list can't get too long...so those are my top six. Oh, and Happy April Fools Day!

Here's today's Disney History: 1976: Treasure Island reopens at Walt Disney World as Discovery Island, after being closed since the beginning of the year for the addition of a walk-through aviary, exotic flora and fauna, and a snack bar. This natural 11-acre island, located in the middle of Bay Lake, is a lush forest environment with birds, reptiles & mammals and hundreds of tropical specimen plants from all over the world. In 1979 it will be accredited by the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums. The only way to reach Discovery Island is by one of the many ferries which depart from the Magic Kingdom, Fort Wilderness and the Contemporary Resort. 

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!