Day 1271: The First Time

No, the above picture is not from my first trip to Walt Disney World, but really, at this point, I don't have a lot of pictures from that trip. I do have some video, which I'm hoping to transfer, but beyond that I don't even have any memories of my own. I mean, I was 15 months old, so I don't know how I would remember any of that, but still. 

The truth is, things were pretty different at Walt Disney World during my first trip. The first time I saw Cinderella Castle, and I love to tell this story, it wasn't blue. It was pink. For the 25th anniversary they decorated the castle as a giant pink birthday cake, and the outcome was sort of...odd. When I find the pictures of it I'll be sure to share, but in the meantime you can definitely find some on Google. Just search "Cinderella Castle 25th Anniversary." Actually, the first two trips I took, that's how the castle looked. Can you imagine if I had been older? I probably would have thought that it was supposed to look like that. 

Horizons was still there, as was the Skyway and Dreamflight. Food Rocks was the highlight of The Land, and Dreamfinder was even still hanging with Figment. World of Motion would have just closed for it's transformation into Test Track, and, at the time, a giant Toy Story Parade graced the streets of the then MGM-Studios. In the Backlot, things were drastically different, with an extended tour and residential street still intact. Oh, and Animal Kingdom didn't even exist. 

As I go through that old video I'll be sure to share some of the differences I find with you, and hopefully I'll have pictures and video clips to back myself up! But I do think that looking back to our first trips is sort of an important and fun thing to do. After all, Disney World changes quickly, and sometimes we don't realize just how quickly until we take a look back. 

Have a magical day!

Day 1197: Try Everything

It's time for another magical night of dancing on Dancing with the Stars, and really, it's my favorite night of every season. It's DISNEY NIGHT! 

The opening number is always amazing, which you can watch above. I mean, after all, it's "Be Our Guest," but almost Paint the Night style, and I love Paint the Night anything and everything. Plus, it's great to see such a wide representation of Disney films every time on this show. Regardless, I definitely had a few favorites: 

Ginger and Val's Foxtrot was definitely a highlight for me. I literally fell in love with this dance and really believe it was one of the best of the entire night. In fact, it might just be my favorite performance I've ever seen on this entire show. 

Paige and Mark's Quickstep has to be on here too because it was just so creative and adorable. Really though, you can't get much cuter than this. 

I literally screamed at my TV when this one happened, because it just brought the whole room to life! 

And finally because I adore Jodie and am in love with "Try Everything," this one has to finish us out. Plus, I loved how they were literally dancing with the characters from the film. It wasn't the traditional "dress in a costume" for a dance, and while it was one of the lower scores of the night, I still felt it was really creative and a perfect fit for the film! 

What was your favorite dance from Disney Night? 

Have a magical day!

Day 784: A Package Has Arrived

If getting Disney mail at home is one of the best things ever, then imagine getting Disney mail at school. You might remember a couple of weeks ago when I bought my Epcot Starbucks You Are Here mug, and if you don't remember it, you can read that post HERE, but there's just one small problem.

That mug is now worth at least $200, although most on ebay are currently going for closer to $300-400. I love my mug, I really do, and I have no intention of selling it, but as Megan said the other day, it's kind of nerve wrecking washing a $300 mug that's not even yours, and trust me, it's just as bad when it IS yours. Therefore, there was only one solution to this problem.

I had to get another mug.

Now, I'm not talking about another Epcot mug (are you crazy?), but lucky for me, there are several other mugs out there, and since I already had one shipped to my house, it wasn't hard to find another to be sent my way. Since I couldn't find a decently priced Magic Kingdom mug, I instead opted for the Hollywood Studios mug, which is just plain adorable, and I'm loving the fact that the Sorcerer's Hat is no where to be found. I guess my plan is working because since buying this new one, I've used it twice and the Epcot mug sits safe and sound on my shelf. I feel bad forcing it to live a life on the shelf, but it's a collectors item now, and considering the rest of my Epcot/Spaceship Earth collection, it's now one of the most important pieces.

But that's not all that came in the mail. On a completely different blog post, which you can read HERE, I lamented about the one thing I forgot to buy while at Disney: Tsum Tsum. But since I have a job now, a real job, I wanted to celebrate in a small fashion. Plus, my new desk will need a little bit of decorating once I have things cleaned off more than they are at the current moment. So I put in an order to the Disney store and by the end of opening all the packages I got from the mail center, my life looked something like this:

Oh yes, it was a very good day for mail indeed. I also realized that I ordered the Tsum Tsum perfectly so they stack by film. Three 101 Dalmatians themed ones on the bottom row, with Cruella in the middle of the two pups, two from Toy Story on top of that, and Donald to round out the tower. I swear I didn't plan it that way, but I also didn't plan falling absolutely in love with these little guys. I don't think my roommates planned that either. 

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on February 25).

Day 750: The Things I Forgot

Believe it or not, there are actually things from Walt Disney World that I forgot I was going to buy. Yes, me, who bought half the store, forgot to get something! Know what it was?

Tsum Tsum.

I remember when these guys first came out I laughed. I literally laughed, because who would buy all of those.

And then a month or two ago I realized. I would buy all of those. These things are adorable.

Now, I'm not saying that I was going to buy all of them, but I definitely wanted to find like one. They're small, just like Vinylmation are, and aren't over the top Disney. Perfect for at college for on your desk. A little bit of Disney can often times go a long way without seeming over the top, as we've already learned.

I mean really, aren't these just adorable? Here are some of my favorites:

Maybe it's the fact that Cruella is going to be on Once Upon A Time soon, or maybe it's the fact that I've always loved 101 Dalmatians, or it could be the adorableness that is the Tsum Tsum puppies, but I am in love with these guys and seriously considering getting them sometime, you know, after I have a pay check from my job. 

This little Bullseye is just the start of the adorableness that is the Tsum Tsum Toy Story collection. The little Hamm is even more adorable and there's a little Lotso and why haven't I gotten any of these again? 

Can we just talk about this Dumbo one for a second. Or maybe a bit longer because who can resist that face? For real, I think you can see how they're little enough to fit somewhere like a desk and bring a bit of Disney to your life without having too much of it and making your workspace scream Disney. Unless you want it to scream Disney, then go all out, and please, send pictures so we can all see. 

But for me, I live in a world where Disney, while awesome, isn't exactly everything to those that aren't me, so having a very subtle Disney Desk is important. 

And so that's why I have the distinct feeling that sooner rather than later one or two of these will make an appearance in my life. 

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on January 24 due to a busy schedule).

Day 633: The Great Pocahontas Debate

My roommates and I have really strange discussions.

Not that a debate about Kocoum and John Smith is really that strange because for real this is probably a conversation a lot of people have. I doubt it got to the level we did though, because what started as a simple debate turned into an entire dinner conversation with more than just my roommates.

Two of my roommates like Kocoum, although one of them commented that it's possible it's just because he never wears a shirt. Meanwhile, my other roommate and I are on team John Smith, and to be honest I don't really even know why. I guess I just always liked him better.

From there our conversation about Disney headed into sequel territory, specifically about Pocahontas 2 and the new debate: which John. Because you know, once upon a time we had a discussion about Love Triangles and how that all worked out. Again we were split on the decision. And then we discussed Hunchback 2 and Little Mermaid 2 and Lion King 2 and basically all the other sequels. In the end we basically decided that shorts are ok. So things like "Tangled Ever After" or the new Frozen short are ok, but entire movies just sort of ruin things.

And I agree, as much as I LOVE Tangled, I wouldn't want to see an entire Tangled 2. Just little bits of Flynn Rider every so often are great. This isn't Star Wars, after all. Sequels with completely new storylines are great, like when they made Planes or even Cars 2. And of course there's always Toy Story and the sequels, where each film has it's very own obvious storyline that has little to do with the first one. THAT'S what makes a sequel great, not just "continuing the story." You need something new and different, a factor most sequels forget about.

So here's the question: are you team Kocoum or John Smith, because my roommates and I really want to know?

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on September 27).

Day 623: Hidden Secrets

It seems that we're going to have three blog posts in a row about things I've found on the internet, but that's alright. There's so much out there that it's sometimes difficult NOT to go through it all, especially when I'm not the one to go searching for it in the first place. My friends do a great job of bringing tons of Disney articles and games and quizzes to my attention, which seriously makes my job easier.

This time it was one of my roommates, who sent me a pin last night that came from a tumblr account that goes through Disney films and finds secrets within Disney films. It's pretty interesting, whether or not all of them are true. So I guess what I'm saying is to not believe every single one of these. Granted, some of these are legitimate Easter Eggs, and when going through the Beauty and the Beast section, there was no mention of the Beast's name being Adam (fine for headcannons but not for trivia!)

I mean, there was this cameo in Tarzan:

And there's always the ever popular A113. 

Yes, there are tons of little secrets hidden within Disney films, and I hope the owner of the page has a chance to expand into new films as time goes on! It's a great idea and I know I'll be reading more as time goes by. You can find all the Hidden Secrets HERE! 

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on September 17).

Day 515: Can't Pick Just One

Day 22 of the Disney Photo Challenge: A picture from your favorite Disney movie. 

Blast from the Past: 

If you have seen my other 100 Day Photo Challenge, you will know that I don't just have ONE favorite movie. I actually have so many I have to split it into categories. But as far as Disney movies go, that's only just over half. 

Star Wars isn't technically Disney, so that's out of the question right now, and the Non-Disney categories don't count. But we still have everything else. 

So here's the ist: 

Favorite Classic Disney Movie: Beauty & The Beast, Lady & The Tramp

Favorite Modern Disney Movie: The Lion King

Favorite Non-Animated Disney Movie Series: Pirates of the Caribbean

Favorite Pixar Movie: Cars

Favorite Pixar Series: Toy Story

And although there isn't a picture here, my favorite Princess move is Tangled. I just stole the picture from the other challenge cause I'm lazy and didn't feel like finding all the pictures again. 

I have more...but those are just the basics. And the funniest part about B&TB and L&TT is that L&TT is the 15th animated Disney Movie and 15 is my lucky number. B&TB is the 30th animated Disney movie, a multiple of 15. And they have very similar titles and storylines. I guess I just like the idea of the "Princess" Getting together with the Scoundrel. Or something like that. 

Back to the Future: 

Yeah...this one is still impossible to answer.

I actually gave a very detailed account of my Favorite Disney movies a long while ago, which you can find HERE, so I'll do something a little different.

As you may know (if you're not reading my blog completely in order), I've recently been working on rewatching all the Disney films, and a few of them really stuck out to me so far.

Bambi I think was the first that I really just stopped and watched instead of doing work at the same time because I just suddenly had this extreme appreciation for it. I don't know why. I think it has something to do with the fact that the enemy and the villain in the film is us, the humans, and that's just a really heart tugging sort of thing.

Then there was Lady and the Tramp, which as you know, has always been one of my favorites.

But the last one that surprised me was Cinderella I think. I'm not really sure WHY I enjoyed it more than I have previous, but I did. Definitely a great film, especially with the connections to Walt Disney.

I'm slowly working my way through all of them though, and eventually I'll reach the more modern stuff, all while blogging about it as I go! That is...if I can ever finish catching up on posts.

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on August 21).

Day 440: Pizza Planet Truck

When I asked my Music theory class for random Disney topics, this was one of the things that came up: The Pizza Planet Truck. Now, for those of you that don't remember or know, this is the truck that Woody and Buzz ride in during the original Toy Story film. And Pixar, being Pixar decided that it would be a grand old time to include the truck in just about every single Pixar film after it. Because they're just awesome like that.

So, of course, it was in Toy Story, for quite some time. In A Bug's Life, it sits next to the trailer house (which you can later see in Monsters Inc. as well!). So they kind of killed two birds with one stone there...references to more than one Disney film all at once. Awesomeness.

In Finding Nemo, the truck can be seen as Gill explains is escape plans to the others. It's through a plastic bag as they roll towards the road and over into the ocean. Because of course there's a Pizza Planet truck in Australia. Apparently they went international!

In Cars, the truck got a revamp...meaning a mouth and eyes to make it an actual character. I like it. Granted, Cars is my favorite Disney Pixar Film...so I suppose I'd like it either way.

It's a bit far off in Ratatouille, on the bridge as Skinner is chasing Remy, but it's there, and in WALL-E, the truck is found broken and rusted in a junkyard as Eve searches through it for a plant. In Up, the truck gets another redesign, looking more like a delivery van, but it's still there, and obviously Pizza Planet. They must have modified stuff for the big city. Of course, in Toy Story 3 we see it again on the road, looking a little worse for wear during the scene that tells the story of Lotso. In Brave, it's one of the carvings in the woodworking shop the Witch owns, and while I'm not sure where off the top of my head, I'm sure it appears in Cars 2 and Monsters University, because not having it at this point just wouldn't make sense. 

I just love it when Pixar throws in Easter Eggs. They're always so fun to spot. Of course, people continuously ask me about them and sometimes I'm just like yeah I know already, but I really do enjoy it. My favorite happens to be A113, which my brother and I love pointing out. 

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on March 28 due to Midterms and Travel). 

Day 219:Toy Story

You know what's one of the greatest movies like, ever? Toy Story. I absolutely love Toy Story! And Toy Story 2, and 3 too! They're all great. It's probably partly because I really did grow up with Toy Story, and I watched it all the time, and now as I watch Toy Story Three it's just really sad because that's where I am headed soon...college.

Unlike Andy, I don't have a Sheriff Woody to take with me. In fact, I don't have a ton of stuff like that that I'm going to be taking at all. But in a few weeks you'll see all the stuff that I did get to put in my college dorm room, much of which will have little hints of Disney to it. Not so much that it will annoy my roommate, but just enough for me to stay happy, and I'm really excited about it too!

But how do you choose which of your childhood things you're going to take with you to college and what you're going to leave behind? When is the right time to let some of it go? I guess I'll never be able to get rid of the bear that I had as a kid, although looking at it as an adult now he kind of reminds me a little of Kermit the Frog. At least that's how he kind of looks. His head anyway. And I'm always going to keep my pillow and blanket that I've been using for my entire life, but there are so many  things that are in my room that won't be coming with me to college.

I mean, for instance, I've got my entire Spaceship Earth collection that won't be coming with me. And there's all the Star Wars things that will stay at home. Even my Star Wars and Indy Mickey Mouse's will be staying safely on their shelves at home. The Empire Strikes Back Poster will stay, and so will all my Disney prints by Larry Dotson. In fact, there isn't a lot of stuff that is mine that will be coming with me. Of course, you'll see everything that I AM bringing with me when I do a post on my dorm room once it's all finished.

So how do you choose? I guess I chose based on what space I had and where I felt I could fit something in. My dad and brother and custom making me a shelf for my desk just so I can bring a few of the things with me, but other than that I don't have a ton of space for much other than pictures. Then again, how Andy left without Woody I'll never know. That has GOT to be the saddest thing ever. Unless you're counting the beginning of UP.

Here's today's Disney History: 1964: The Astro Jets at Disneyland become known as the Tomorrowland Jets. Opened since 1956, the Astro Jets was the first rocket-spinner attraction at the park. Supposedly the attraction's name has been changed to appease United Airlines, who has just taken over sponsorship of the Enchanted Tiki Room. Seems United contended the Astro Jets name the free advertising for American Airline's coast-to-coast "astrojet" service.

Have a magical day!

Day 207: Monsters University

I know, I know, it's seriously late compared to when I really wanted to go see it, but I finally saw Monsters University tonight with two of my friends! Sadly it isn't playing much longer, but it pushed us to go see it after it's been out for like a month. The rest of my family saw it earlier this week too.

Now, as far as Pixar movies go, it's very much a tie between Toy Story (all of them) which I have such fond memories of from my childhood (and the emotional factor in the last one), and Cars, which I absolutely adored when I saw it in theaters (why it didn't get the Oscar I still ask!). From there it's kind of scattered, but Bug's Life, UP, and Ratatouille are probably my next favorites. Meaning that Monsters Inc. was never at the top of my list. As far as music goes, that's where it hits the top, but overall, it isn't at the bottom either, WALL-E is actually, but that's another story.

So as excited as I was for Monsters University, I was never as excited as I was about something like Cars 2 or Toy Story 3. It was just the regular excitement of a new Pixar movie. That being said, I disagree with everyone else! I really don't think it's one of the worst Pixar movies! It did have me guessing until the very end, and don't worry, I won't say anything if you have't seen it yet. Was it as strong as Toy Story or Finding Nemo or even the original Monsters? No, but was it downright bad? Certainly not! Although I am kind of sad this didn't happen...

I think a part of it is the fact that the timing is great for me. In under a month I'm going to be in the same position as Mike and Sully...a College Freshman. Let's just hope that I remember a pencil on the first day of class! So in other words, my best friend and I found it seriously amusing when things like Sully hitting his head on the ceiling happened, a real worry of ours when we head to college next month. Plus, Little Adorable Mike is Adorable...

Overall, I laughed and had a great time watching the movie, and let's just say that I can't wait for it to come out on Blu-Ray. Oh, and if you were wondering, it lives up music wise to the original. It's second on the list for favorite music in a Pixar movie (previous holder was UP!)

Here's today's Disney History: 1921: Writer, humorist, actor and National Radio Hall of Famer Jean Shepherd, the voice of the father in Disney's Carousel of Progress attraction, is born in Chicago, Illinois.

Have a magical day!

Day 171: Must Watch Movies

A while back I read a list of movies you have to watch before you go to Disney World. In fact, here's the list:.

The list is pretty good, with, if you were too lazy to read the list, Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Peter Pan, Swiss Family Robinson, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Fantasia, Tom Sawyer, The Little Mermaid, Monsters Inc., Lilo & Stitch, Little Einsteins & Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, A Bug's Life, Song of the South, Mary Poppins, The Wizard of Oz, Lady & the Tramp, Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Twilight Zone, Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Singin' in the Rain, and finally, Casablanca.

Now, before I saw this list I had seen 16 out of the 25 (although really it would be 30 because of Star Wars, and then 33 with Pirates if you've seen them all). That list includes Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Peter Pan, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Fantasia, The Little Mermaid, Monsters Inc., Lilo & Stitch, A Bug's Life, Mary Poppins, The Wizard of Oz, Lady & the Tramp, Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Indiana Jones. I've recently added another two to that list, as I've now seen Singin' in the Rain and Casablanca (And I will have watched Song of the South before I go to Disney this July).

Honestly, I think some of them are unnecessary. Many of those films are ones that you need to have seen before visiting Walt Disney World, but if you ask me there are a couple missing and there are some that really aren't important. I guess I've put some thought into it because of a couple reasons. One, it's a question I get a lot, and two because my band will be going to Disney World, many people of which will have never been to Disney before and may not have seen all these films.

So here's my own list of movies and/or TV shows you need to have seen before visiting Walt Disney World, and a brief description as to why:

1. I agree with the list that Toy Story is a must see, although I would add Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3. There aren't actually any attractions based off of the original Toy Story, as Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin is based on Toy Story 2 and Toy Story Mania now features characters from all three films, but specifically the third.

2. Finding Nemo is also a notable addition to the list, as it is the inspiration for multiple attractions just as Toy Story is. You have The Seas with Nemo and Friends at Epcot and Finding Nemo the Musical at Animal Kingdom. Without seeing the movie at least once, you may be a little confused with the seas at Epcot, so if you find yourself at Disney having not seen the film, maybe check out the musical first, because it is a spectacular version of the story.

3. Peter Pan is a  must see if you plan on going on Peter Pan's Flight at the Magic Kingdom. But that's not all, Tinker Bell now plays a key role in much of the parks, and while I don't think you need to have seen the Tinker Bell movies specifically, you should at least have some knowledge of the Peter Pan film.

4. The Lion King, again, has multiple attractions inspired by the movie. One can be found at the Animal Kingdom, where there is the Festival of the Lion King, where a bit of the broadway production comes right to Central Florida for daily productions. Also at Animal Kingdom is Rafiki's Planet Watch, which isn't necessarily quite as important, but it's still helpful to know who Rafiki is! And lastly, at Epcot there's the film "Circle of Life," which includes many of your favorite characters from the Lion King to help explain environmental issues.

5. Beauty and the Beast is still on my list as well, and now more than ever! With New Fantasyland you absolutely HAVE to have seen this film to understand the wonder and magic that is the Beauty and the Beast area, specifically the restaurant "Be Our Guest." But there's also the Beauty and the Beast stage show at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

6. Fantasia, but more specifically The Sorcerer's Apprentice. I think you could go without seeing the entire film, but you'll need to at least see that short to understand multiple things, like the big hat at Disney's Hollywood Studios, or Mickey's PhilharMagic at Magic Kingdom. There's also a bit in the Great Movie Ride that is Fantasia.

7. The Little Mermaid is quite similar to Beauty and the Beast in this respect. With New Fantasyland, it's essential that you see it, and there's also a show at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

8. Monsters, Inc. continues the relationship between my list and the original, as it would be pretty hard to understand the Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor at the Magic Kingdom without having seen the film. I mean, I suppose it would still be entertaining and funny, but it's just funnier if you've seen the movie.

9. Lilo & Stitch, especially if you plan on going on the attraction. But it really is only for older kids, as it's kind of scary. So if you only have younger kids I think you could skip this one. If you're old enough that you're not going to be afraid of a wild alien on the loose, then go ahead and watch this adorable film!

10. A Bug's Life is a good idea, as there are multiple references at Animal Kingdom, but especially inside the Tree of Life, where there's the 4D experience, It's Tough to Be  Bug. In order to understand the characters who are talking to you, and pick up on many of the jokes, it's just a good idea to watch it.

11. Star Wars is a bunch of movies you just kind of need to see. Now, I spent 15 years of my life not seeing these films, and I lived a pretty happy life. BUT, I never went on Star Tours, and now that I've seen the films, Star Tours is one of my absolute favorite attractions. I've found that I actually love Star Wars. Granted, it isn't for everyone (as I probably wouldn't even like it without Harrison Ford), but if you do plan on going on Star Tours, it's essential to see all six films, probably more than once.

12. Either the Twilight Zone or The actual movie the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror should be on your list. The TV show is one thing, and I actually could add it to my list of things I've seen because I have seen a couple of episodes, but I think the movie based on the attraction would really be more helpful than the TV show. Or, you could just watch both.

13. Indiana Jones is like Star Wars, kind of. You know, you just need to watch it, because not only is it one of the greatest movies of all time, but the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is based on it...plus there's a bit of it in the Great Movie Ride.

14. Singin' in the Rain is one that while it doesn't have any specific attractions based off of it, it will be a real help. I didn't see it until earlier this year, but it is honestly one of my favorite movies. There's a reference to it in the Great Movie Ride, and a hidden reference in the back streets of Disney's Hollywood Studios as well. PLUS, I think it does fit in perfectly with Disney's Hollywood Studios, and it will give you a different perspective of films in general!

15. The Muppets are a group that you need to know before you go to Disney because it's just going to make your experience better. Trust me. My relationship with the Muppets actually started at Disney, and I ended up getting the first three seasons on DVD for this past Christmas. I now absolutely love them, and I can't wait to see how the attraction is different and better for me now that I've seen so much of the show.

16. With the addition of New Fantasyland, you will need to have seen Dumbo, as an entire section of Fantasyland is now based on the circus theme of the movie. I mean, everyone needs to see Dumbo anyway because of the classic attraction, but I think it's even more important now.

17. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs needs to be seen no matter what. Partly because it's the first Disney film and partly because in 2014 there will be the addition to New Fantasyland. So watch it.

18. I think it should be obvious that you should see Cinderella, because of the castle. If you walk through the middle of the castle you can find a mosaic of the story, and Cinderella's Royal Table has many references to the film. In this same category is Tangled, as there is now a new rest area based on the film. That and Tangled is a great movie and you should see it anyways.

19. The Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean are both interesting. I think The Haunted Mansion would be a great one to see because it is based off the attraction, and I know that the only reason I now love the attraction itself is because of the movie. It does a wonderful job of explaining all about Master Gracy, as well as what some of the mansion's areas are. You should see at least the first Pirates of the Caribbean now as to understand who Jack Sparrow is, as he is a member of the Pirates crew now. My personal favorite Pirates is the third though, as there is some direct recording from the attraction in it.

BONUS: Song of the South is kind of a weird one. I have lived all of my life without having seen it, and I love Splash Mountain just the same, but I do think that it's an adorable movie, and that it shouldn't get the bad rap that it does. There are some recordings out there if you want to watch it, but I wouldn't say it's absolutely necessary.

Honestly the list could go on forever, because really you should see ALL the Disney films before visiting! But I have lived much of my life without some of the key movies I've listed above, so it isn't going to be the end of the world if you DON'T see one of them before going. The list is there because seeing these films is going to make your experience that much BETTER when you do go to Disney. Oh, and this is just for Disney World. Disneyland has movies of it's own to see!

Here's Today's Disney History: 1952: Actor John Goodman is born in Affton, Missouri. His Disney voice credits include Sullivan Truck in Cars, James P. Sullivan in Monsters, Inc. (and now Monsters University), Pacha in The Emperor's New Groove, Baloo in The Jungle Book 2, and Eli "Big Daddy" La Bouff in The Princess and the Frog.

Have a magical day!

Day 63: Unexpected

Today, as I finally got around to looking through my large amount of Disney news from the past week, I came across an article from today about the Flower and Garden Festival. But it wasn't just an article, it was a video too, and one that really showcases just how much Disney puts into everything they do...even their advertising.

Here's the video, of an unexpected topiary that traveled around town promoting the Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot starting in a few days.

I thought it was a really cute video, and like many have said, I do hope that Hook makes an appearance at the festival itself. It's one thing to make a topiary like that, it's another to make him move! 

Here's today's Disney History: 2003: Toy Story is voted #1 in the Top 100 Animated Features of Al Time by the Online Film Critics Society. Other Disney films in the top ten include Fantasia, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Beauty and the Beast, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Also on this day in 2008: A re-dedication ceremony is held at Epcot for Spaceship Earth, now presented by Siemens). 

Have a magical day!

Day 15: A Toy Train

This comes as today's blog post because last night, as I was working on my physics project (a bridge design), my dad and I came across the last woodworking project I did for school...a toy car. Now, when I did this back in 8th grade, the project was to create either a design based car or a CO2 car (obviously I did the design option). A few people wanted to work with me on this project, but being the nice person I am...I said no. Not because I didn't want to work with them...but because it would end up being an easy A for them...which I guess means I didn't want to work with them, but still.

While deciding on a design for this car, I went through many different options, but finally settled on a Disney-inspired car...but not just any Disney-inspired car! It would be a design car based on the theme of Toy Story...Toy Story Midway Mania (the attraction in the parks) to be specific. So I set out with some research on what you see in the cue line at Disney's Hollywood Studios...

And after looking through these I decided to include a variety of different toys, including Tinkertoys, a card, building blocks, letter blocks and of course, Scrabble letters. It ended up looking like the picture below. Of course, it won first place in the design contest and amazed pretty much everyone who saw it. It's made up of about 44 different pieces, not including the wheels, and I don't even remember how long it took to make it...but it was certainly a long time. It also showcases 4 Hidden Mickey's, just to keep in the Disney Parks spirit. I'm very proud of the little car, and while there are a couple of things to fix on it at the moment, it shall someday sit in my Disney collection...just in the portion that I've made personally, along with my paintings (In 8th grade I did all of my art projects themed to Disney). 

Have a magical day!

Day 10: Real Life Toy Story

I know this has been going around on the internet a lot lately, and while I haven't had the time to watch the whole thing all the way through, what I've seen of this is amazing.

For those that don't know, these people made Toy Story, shot for shot, completely live action. That's amazing...and I heard that even Pixar approves. One of these days I'll get around to watching the whole thing, but if you do have time at the moment I highly suggest checking it out, because it's pretty awesome!

Have a magical day!