Day 1279: The BFG

I read a lot of books as a child, and I definitely remember "The BFG" being one of them, although when trying to remember anything about the story, all I could remember was that BFG stands for "Big Friendly Giant." Apparently I'm one of the only people I know that remembers "The BFG," though, which is a good part of the reason I'm sure that, while a good movie, The BFG won't be entirely successful in the box office. 

The best way i think I can describe this movie is that it reminds me of last year's Tomorrowland. For those that remember the book from their childhood, the story will light up on the screen. Even if you don't necessarily remember the entire plot, the images in the book seem like they belong in front of you, and with the humor that's written in throughout the plot, it'll make anyone laugh. However, I don't believe everyone will get this movie, the same way many set aside Tomorrowland when they may not have understood some of the smaller references that made it more impressive to those who did. 

The other problem, unfortunately, is that those who may not remember reading "The BFG" in their childhood may also lack the memory of Steven Spielberg, who used to draw many to the theaters after successful films such as Indiana Jones, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Jaws, and even the wonderful music by John Williams won't be enough to draw in crowds that will otherwise be heading out to see Finding Dory. 

Overall, I liked the film. It starts off a bit slow, but it's one of the rare chances we have to see Spielberg's more whimsical side, one that we saw years ago. It reminded me of my childhood, that's for sure, and it also really hit home in regards to dreaming and following our dreams. Plus, you can't beat the hilarious scenes that take place in the presence of the Queen of England or the touching moments between Sophie and BFG. The animation was beautiful, perfect for a film like this - life-like, but with a bit of fancifulness, and I must give credit to Ruby Barnhill, who plays Sophie. She does an astonishing job for spending most of a film without an actor directly opposite her, and it doesn't seem to phase her at all. 

I really do recommend seeing The BFG if you have a chance this holiday weekend, even if you don't remember the original book by Roald Dahl. It's a nice reprieve from our fast paced world and perfect for kids as well! 

Have a magical day! 

Day 946: A Whole New Level

After almost 300 days of waiting, the trip I've been looking forward to is almost here. Disneyland.

As if it's not obvious, I've been to Walt Disney World my own fair share, but when it comes to Disneyland, I've got a lot to look forward to. When I went in 2011 I honestly had no idea what to expect, but since that trip I've lived with vivid images and memories of the parks that I can't wait to explore once more. Unlike Disney World, I don't have things down like the back of my hand, but I think that's all part of the charm of a trip to Disneyland, and now I'm more ready than ever to go exploring and see as much of it as I can.

In particular, however, there are a few things I'm VERY excited to go see. Some of them were there when I visited four years ago, and some are new since then, but either way, I guess you could say they're my must see list for this trip!

1. The Matterhorn

If I had Everyday Disney back in 2011, you probably would have been treated to a very long rant about this one. You see, when we decided to go on that trip, I mentioned that the one thing I was most excited for was the Matterhorn. We don't have this mountain at Disney World, and to me I think it feels like the ultimate piece of Disney Parks history, even if I'm not sure why. It's something completely different from anything we have in Florida, so you can imagine how crushed and frustrated I was when it went down for refurb the entire time we were there. This time, however, it's up and running, and I definitely plan on facing it once...or twice...or maybe five times.

2. Mad T Party 

One of my friends (who I'm very excited to see when I head out to Disneyland) has introduced me to the Mad T Party, which I have yet to actually experience but am already completely addicted to. Do I listen to the Mad T Party playlist she made every time I'm driving to and from college? Yes. Do I listen to it when I'm cleaning or making food? Yes. Do I basically listen to it all the time so I know all the words to all the songs when I finally get there? You guess it, the answer is yes.

3. The Grand Californian Hotel

I stayed at the Grand Floridian once, when I was really little, and I don't really remember most of it, so the prospect of staying at the West Coast's fanciest sounds like an excellent plan. On our trip in 2011 we stayed at Paradise Pier, which was basically the greatest thing ever because we ended up getting a park view room on one of the top levels (maybe it was the top level...I don't even remember), which led to me watching World of Color every single night. This trip we're staying for a week of the Californian and then moving back over to a park view room at Paradise Pier for the last few days, and I couldn't be more excited.

4. it's a small world

I'm oddly excited to head back on the Disneyland version of this attraction. Maybe it's because of the differences from the Disney World version that just make this one better? Maybe it's the awesome outdoor loading dock that just sounds super warm and comofortable to me at the moment because I'm freezing? Or maybe it's because I'll have my Tomorrowland pin at the ready? Who really can say?

5. Carsland

This is about what Carsland looked like when we visited in 2011. Walking past it all the time was a real struggle, especially after seeing some of the awesome stuff on display at the D23 EXPO. Thankfully, Carsland was finished not long after we visited, and now I'm more than ready to explore a land made up from one of my all time favorite Pixar movies. I can't even imagine the number of pictures I'm going to take guys.

6. Food

My list of food I want to eat might actually be a mile long. So I've got boxes upon boxes of lactade ready to go, a list of food I for sure want to try and money ready to spend on delicious treats. Like that bacon wrapped asparagus you see up there. I've never really been a fan of asparagus, but my Disneyland friends swear by this one, so I think it's definitely worth my time.

7. World of Color (And all the others)

If you know me, you know I love Illuminations, and in my 20 years of life, nothing has ever come close to topping it on my list of favorite things at Disney (aside from the usual #1, Spaceship Earth, of course)...that is, until I experienced World of Color for the first time in 2011 and absolutely FELL. IN. LOVE. World of Color is one of those things that brought tears to my eyes faster than anything else ever has, other than maybe anything relating to the Disney trip with my high school band. And that would be why I'm planning on seeing it as often as possible. I will find a way. Plus, now Disneyland has a whole slew of awesome nightime entertainment, and having listened to the soundtrack for Paint the Night about 50 million times, I'm 100% ready to see everything.

Now I just need to decide where to stand for Disneyland Forever.

Have a magical day!

Day 902: Tomorrowland Round Two

If you thought it was impressive that I saw Tomorrowland on opening day, think about how impressive it is that I saw it in theaters not once, but twice? I barely see most films the one time, much less a second. However, this time I saw it with my family rather than my friends, and I had a few thoughts on it this round through.

If you missed my first review of Tomorrowland, you can find it HERE! 

Like I said last time, I really feel like this film grows on me a little more every day. Luckily, this time I focused more on the details, leading to some interesting finds, especially in that Fan Shop she goes to. That's all I'll say about that though because #NoSpoilers. Just be sure to keep your eyes peeled for any one of probably hundreds of references in that one scene alone. 

But when it comes to the overall point of the film, the entire film made much more sense the second time through, and I think I did enjoy it more seeing it again than I did the first time. It made things a lot easier to follow, and the actions of perticular characters fit in more compared to the first time around. Going back to my first review, that means you can take out my dislike of the confusion, as once I knew what was going on, everything fit together perfectly and made the end even more meaningful than it was the first time. 

I do have to mention though that my friends and I have been making references to Tomorrowland for weeks after seeing the film. We don't necessarily talk about it directly, but we'll say something about the Eiffel Tower and all laugh while meanwhile my brother would look on in confusion.

Other things I loved about Tomorrowland seeing it a second time? The soundtrack stood out to me even more this time, as did the point at the end. I'm definitely still appreciative of the idea that we all can provide something to the future of our world regardless of the profession we choose to take on. The future needs all of us, whether we be a science, music or business major, and that's something that, especially as a college student, I feel we all need to remember. 

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on June 25 due to Travel).

Day 873: Tomorrowland

Well, I finally got to see a Disney Movie NOT three months after it came out! Impressive, right? What's even more impressive is I saw it OPENING DAY, and I definitely have a few thoughts on Tomorrowland that I'm ready to share! To be honest, I was really skeptical of this movie, and I sat in the theater confused for the majority of the two hours I was there. But that doesn't mean I didn't love it, and while I'll be sure not to reveal any spoilers, here's a short recap of what I loved and what I didn't:

What I Loved: Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow! 

I absolutely adored that the film started out with "There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" from the Carousel of Progress. It was this little bit of nostalgia to kick things off, and from there it just got better. From the fact that it begins at the 1964-65 World's Fair to the inclusion of a very familiar attraction, I had to control my flailing around.

What I Loved A Bit Less: The Confusion

As I mentioned a minute ago, I was very confused the majority of the film, although by the end I finally got the meaning. Then, all of a sudden, the point becomes clear, sort of like when they finally solve the case on Psych or something. I suppose that's how most movies are, but at the same time I felt more confused during this film than I have in a theater in quite some time. I think the same runs true for the trailer, which I got more questions about than I had answers. Going into the theater, I really had no clue what the film was about, aside from the fact that I knew that, as a Disney fan, this was one I needed to see.

What I Loved: Originality 

We definitely live in a world of sequels these days. Just look at the films coming out in the next few years, even just from Disney. There's very little original material, and Sequels bring in the most money. It's hard to go against that grain, so to see a film like Tomorrowland was sort of refreshing.

What I Loved A Bit Less: The Constant Movement

This kind of goes along with the confusion point, but there were just so many elements that you had to keep track of to understand the story. There's the pin, obviously, this hat, the robots, this other city, a bunch of different characters, multiple locations, and several plotlines that seemed, to me, only half there. Of course, this is in addition to the never ending action scenes that are so popular with audiences today, although I felt that many of them were appropriate considering the topic.

What I Loved: The Point

Regardless of how long it took to get there, the meaning of the film shines through like the beginning of a new day and boy, is it ever powerful. No Spoilers, but as a college student with two majors that often lead to difficult career paths, I found a lot of comfort in the end of the film, and the speech that's made about our society near the end? Brilliant and spot on.

Overall, I think I like Tomorrowland a little more with each passing day. When I first left the theater I felt a bit disappointed, but as I believe the film intended to do, as I examine the society around me, I understand where the film is coming from a bit more. With everything else aside, though, it does provide a great motivational tool for those of us who dream to do great things for more than money or popularity, because sometimes we just want to have a little bit of fun.

If you've seen Tomorrowland, let me know what you thought!

(Note: This blog post was written on May 24 due to computer issues).

Day 517: IT'S HAPPENED!

It's funny, because this is one of those things where I knew about it, but I couldn't really tell you guys until I knew for sure and it actually went through, but now that everything's done with, I can finally share some super exciting news with you!

If you follow me on Instagram, this might already be old news (in fact it should be), or if you're friends with me on facebook, where I released the news a number of weeks ago when I first found out. But for those of you in neither category, it's time for me to share something really awesome!

One of my instagram photos was chosen to be features on the official Walt Disney World Instagram and as you well know, this is a pretty big deal for me. I LOVE Instagram. In fact, it's probably my favorite form of social media, and I LOVE Disney, obviously, so putting the two together is just about my favorite thing ever. But to be featured on the official instagram? That's crazy, even for me. It's like one of those things where you really really wish it would happen, but you know the chances of it going down are super small so you just kind of push it to the back of your mind and then all of a sudden it happens and surprises you like no other.

The story behind how it all went down is pretty funny though. I actually took the picture while half walking. It was on my March trip, and my brother and I like to walk the back route between Tomorrowland and Storybook Circus. You know, the pathway that goes beyond Space Mountain's Gift Shop, past the speedway and the train, as well as the little dog park that sits over there, leading right up to the Barnstormer (Oops, Great Goofini), and the Train Station? That pathway. Along there, you can find the target that's in the picture, and we were about to walk by it when I told my brother to hold up for a minute while I snapped a quick picture with my phone. That tends to be how things work out. I'll have the video camera in one hand and my phone in the other, both of them on and taking pictures. It gets pretty crazy to tell the truth. So I catch a picture and I don't think anything else of it. Then, a while later (I believe it was actually after I got home), I posted the picture on Instagram and again, didn't think much of it. I post Disney pictures all the time, so why should this one be any different?

Fast forward like a week or so. I'm sitting at my desk in my dorm room working on homework (I think it was sociology, but I could be wrong), and my phone is sitting there in case someone texts me and so on and so forth. Out of the corner of my eye, I happen to see a notification pop up on the screen, since I get Instagram notifications only when people follow me, comment, or tag me (doing it for every favorite would just be ridiculous at this point). All I read was "@WaltDisneyWorld commented on your phone:" and I was like OH MY GOSH. So I'm sitting there at my desk and I'm freaking out and my roommate is like "What's going on?" because I was literally flailing around and jumping off the walls and the only time I ever get like that is when a member of the Once Cast tweets me or something, but I think I was more excited than when that happens (Although, having now experienced it, the tweet from Colin O'Donoghue on July 15 takes the cake in the freak out mode). I tell her, continue freaking out, reply yes to the official instagram and patiently wait for my picture to be used.

It must have been about a month later when it finally went through and was featured, during, of all times, my High School's 2014 Graduation. I'm sitting up in the bleachers of our Field House freaking out because my Instagram notifications are going absolutely insane and, in the end, I was just really happy.

I mean, let's be real here, it's not every day the official Instagram likes your photo so much that they're going to feature it. Let's just check "Be Featured by Walt Disney World" off the bucket list and move onto the next one: "Be Featured by Disneyland!"

Have a magical day!

(This blog post was posted on July 17, 2014). 

Day 113: Opening of Disneyland

Since we celebrating a park's birthday yesterday, I figured today would be a great time to talk about the original park opening...of Disneyland on July 17, 1955. This comes partly for two reasons...one, on the 17th I'll just be getting back from my trip to Florida, so it wouldn't exactly be the best time to write a post on something so different, and two, because I was just watching the opening day TV special the other day.

I have to say it's an interesting TV special, although maybe not quite as interesting as the fourth anniversary parade (I mean...the fourth anniversary had a dead lion on a stick and a live bar fight on a float). It's really interesting to see how much everything has changed. I've only been to Disneyland once, but it's enough for me to know what it looks like (even if I can't exactly picture it in my head like I can do with WDW), and in this TV special, it's interesting because everything looks so much more...green. There's obviously no Matterhorn there yet, since that wouldn't open until 1959 (At that same fourth anniversary celebration), and there are several other things casually missing from the park (some wouldn't appear until after the World's Fair in 1964-65). It just looks...empty.

But along with that, I have to say that as a student who works mainly on a wireless laptop, using wireless internet, and has a wireless cell phone...it's kind of funny to see how everything has changed technology wise. In both the opening celebration and the fourth anniversary celebration, there are ads from Kodak for cameras and such...and boy have those changed. I'm pretty sure our out digital video camera cost a few hundred dollars...and back in the 50's you could get a COLOR video camera for just $3.95. If that doesn't show some perspective I don't know what does.

This also goes along with a series of pictures that have been floating around various Disney blogs for the past several weeks...having started on the ImagineeringDisney blog. There's a series of pictures of "Then" and "Now" from many of the Disney parks (or at least those that are old enough to have then and now pictures). There are pictures such as those below, from Disneyland, and then there are sections for The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, River Country and the 1964-65 World's Fair (which I'll have to do a post on soon since it keeps coming up in discussions!) Check the entire series out here. 

These are just pictures from Disneyland...although I think there are two things to note from these. One, how much Tomorrowland has changed. I'm one of those that feel it's going to need an update soon (although I think WDW more-so than Disneyland), but the difference from the past fifty (almost sixty now!) years is incredible. And second, how different the characters are now. I decided to share that particular picture because the characters, I feel, are just down-right scary. I'm so thankful for the costuming department at Disney and all the work they do (and you can head inside the one at WDW on certain tours...it's well worth it! Of course, you can always see it on the Backlot Tour at Hollywood Studios). 

Here's today's Disney History: 1928: Shirley Jane Temple, the popular child star who presented Walt Disney with special Oscars for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, is born in Santa Monica, California. As an adult, she took part in a 1957 Disneyland dedication and later served on the board of directors of some of the largest enterprises including the Walt Disney Company (1974-75). (Today is also my dad's birthday! Happy birthday Dad!)

Have a magical day!