Day 930: Bedtime Story

As I was rewatching The Astronaut Wives Club with Megan this week, we came across an AT&T Commercial that suddenly made me frantically search for the commercial on the internet and babble on about Spaceship Earth while Megan sat confused about what I could be going on about now. Before I explain exactly why this commerical quickly found it's way into a blog post, you should probably see which commerical I'm referring to:

Let me say first off that I searched long and hard for a picture or video to help explain why this commercial made me think of Disney, but I couldn't find one. However, I do find it humorous that this happens to be an AT&T ad, as they were the previous sponsor of Spaceship Earth, which just happened to be the sponsor at the time of the reference. For those of you who remember the previous version of my favorite attraction, narrated by Jeremy Irons, you'll probably flash back to some of the most recognizable music for Epcot fans. I grew up on this version of Spaceship Earth and was definitely sad when it changed to the version we have now (not that I'm not a fan of the current version...it's just different). 

Anyway, back in that version of Spaceship Earth, towards the end of the attraction, you might remember the futuristic city, which was preceeded by a series of smaller displays of technology that was, at that time, felt futuristic and like a symbol of what was yet to come. As we grow further and further away from that version of the attraction, my memory grows more fuzzy, but I do remember one of those little displays happened to be a mother reading her children a bedtime story via a skype-like system. There were other displays of the same nature, all of which disappeared when they updated the attraction in 2007. It might still be there, simply covered by a black curtain, and I honestly hope it is, but for now it'll just have to live on in our memory. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, the above commercial is a pretty decent representation of what I'm talking about. Just picture it on a smaller scale in Spaceship Earth. 

Have a magical day!

Day 929: Big and Little

Disney is full of happiness, no matter if you're a fan of the films, Disneyland or Disney World, and celebrating that happiness is one of the things I love to do here on Everyday Disney! So today I figured I would share some of the Big (and Little) things that make up Disney that can always bring a smile to my face!

A Trip to Walt Disney World: 

This one can almost go without saying, can't it? Regardless, there isn't much in this world that I love more than a trip to my one and true home, Walt Disney World. Sometimes it's with my family, sometimes with my friends, and occasionally I get a chance to explore the World all by myself. No matter how I travel to Walt Disney World (and this goes for Disneyland too), I'm extremely appreciative of the moments I'm able to spend there!

Mickey Waffles: 

Finding new ways to bring Disney into my home is always an adventure and a joy, but one that's been with me as long as I can remember is the classic Mickey waffle. As far as I'm concerned it's the only acceptable shape for a waffle, and try as my roommates might for normal waffles, waffle days are exclusively Mickey waffle days in my world. It's small, but a Mickey waffle every so often can always bring a smile to any Disney lover's face.

DisneyBounding: 

I couldn't decide if DisneyBounding is a big thing or a little thing, but it's definitely on the list! It's one of those little bits of Disney that can easily make an appearance in your everyday life, but since I DisneyBound for OUAT and Disney Trips mostly, it does take some planning. As for my personal favorite DisneyBound I've ever done? It HAS to be my Pinocchio DisneyBound!

Disney Mugs: 

What's the easiest way to make your morning magical? A Disney Mug! Regardless of whether you drink coffee or tea (I drink both!), a Disney mug is a sure way to brighten up your day, and let me tell you, there's tons of unique mug choices out there! You're bound to fnd one (or two...or 20) that suit your DisneySide perfectly, just like the Starbucks You Are Here mugs do for me!

Disney Collections: 

My Disney Collection continues to grow constantly. Whether it be by gifts from friends or things I pick up while visiting the Disney Parks (or even here at home), my Disney Collection fills both my bedroom at home and a good part of my Dorm Room at College, making it a big item on this list. But that's how us Disney fans work...we need to show off our love of Disney every chance we get...and that means Disney hats, shirts, pillows, mugs, posters and anything else we can get our hands on are absolutely important!

There are probably a million other things that bring a smile to my face, and just to give you a glimpse into how this list expands, here's a quick look at some of the other Disney things that make me smile:

Have a magical day!

(Note: This Blog Post was Written on July 20 due to technical difficulties).

Day 928: 60 Years

Having just turned 20, it occurred to me that I'm a third the age of Disneyland, therefore making the park much older and wiser than I am at this point. That's a weird thought, but I have to be honest...I've always been a little sad that Disneyland and I are so close to sharing the same birthday but not quite. Regardless, I share my birthday with some pretty awesome people, so I'm perfectly happy, but it definitely means that I never forget the day Disneyland made its first public apperance to the world!

Now, 60 years later, I'm in the middle of gearing up for a nother trip to the Land, and the fact that it's during a celebration year makes it all the more wonderful! So in honor of my upcoming trip and Disneyland's 60th Anniversary, I figured I would take a look back at a blog post from 2013, when I listed many of my favorite things from the Disneyland Resort, as a quick Flashback Friday!

The following content is from Day 224, which you can find HERE!

Favorite Attractions: 

Disneyland Winner: 

Now, as much as I love the stunt show at WDW, having an entire ride just of Indiana Jones was AMAZING. I only got on it like twice because I didn't really realize how much I loved it until after I was gone. Like, I was always a fan of Indy as a kid but didn't rewatch it until AFTER I went to Disneyland. Still, I remember going on it the first time and just screaming "INDY!" like half of it because, I mean, why wouldn't you? It's one of the only times where it's totally appropriate to yell that! And I chose the poster for it because in the Poster Art of the Disney Parks Book I remember reading that the artist of this poster was working on it and realized that he just couldn't do it without Harrison Ford's likeness. So what does he do? Just casually calls Harrison Ford and asks him if he can use his likeness. Just CASUALLY CALLS HIM. How does one do that?!?

Disneyland Honorable Mention: Pirates of the Caribbean 

Disney California Adventure Winner: 

You know, as much as I feel that Aladdin is one of the most overrated Disney movies ever (sorry, I'm just not a fan), I REALLY loved this Musical version, and I can't wait to see it on Broadway sometime in the future. I actually saw it twice while at Disneyland, but I think I liked it more the first time. Genie was my favorite, of course, although The Carpet was pretty darn great too. And how Aladdin comes in on that Elephant!?! Amazing!

California Adventure Honorable Mention: Soarin' 

Favorite Nighttime Activity:

I think this is probably my absolute favorite thing I found at Disneyland. Like, I haven't loved something so much since Spaceship Earth and Illuminations. We were staying at Paradise Pier, and as you know if you read my other post, we were able to stay in a room with a Park View because of a Room Mix Up. So I got to watch World of Color every night, twice a night, even after our tickets were expired and we were just spending our time at D23. I'm pretty sure I cried watching it a bunch of times too. The entire show is just absolute Disney magic, and is for sure on my list of the most spectacular Disney attractions or shows ever created. 

Favorite Mode of Transportation: 

I feel like this must be kind of obvious because there's like...two modes of Transportation in all of Disneyland other than walking (God did my feet hurt after that week). But still, the monorail is still worth mentioning! It's not quite the same as the WDW Monorail, but you know what, I don't care! You can still sit in the front of this monorail, which is a luxury that we had to forgo at Disney World, so being able to do that is just really awesome! Plus, unlike Disney World with it's 12 monorail trains, there's only three at Disneyland. We only saw two of them though, the blue one above being one of them! Plus, I'll give it some credit for actually going in and out of the park! 

Favorite Restaurant: 

This one was such an easy choice...I think. Honestly we ate at so many places that I don't really remember them all so clearly. It was two years ago, after all! But I do remember that one of my absolute favorites was the Blue Bayou in New Orleans Square. It doesn't get much cooler than eating IN an attraction (and I'll talk more about that in a minute), but that's not all! It's literally right next door to Club 33, the exclusive dining area for Walt Disney and his guests, and how only Club 33 members (which always pay a really pretty penny to be a member...after sitting on a waiting list for a really long time). Not many get to eat in Club 33, even though it's the dream of all of us, but Blue Bayou certainly has amazing food, and hey, it's like the same kitchen, right? 

It's Better at Disneyland: 

Speaking of Pirates of the Caribbean and Blue Bayou, it also holds the record for my favorite comparison attraction to Walt Disney World. Honestly, the WDW version of this just doesn't have a chance against this one. Like, you're always disappointed when you go on the WDW version after you've been on this one a few times. You start in the restaurant, and then there's an extra drop and a whole number of extra scenes before you get to the stuff you already see at Disney World. Plus, there's no ghost. That's ALWAYS a plus. 

Overall Favorite Thing:

Now, I feel it's worth mentioning that one of my overall reasons I love Disneyland, and one of the places it beats Disney World, is in the small town atmosphere. Like, the characters can walk around without handlers, and everyone is just a lot more friendly. Disney World is made up of theme parks, although they are one of a kind in every way, but Disneyland is just more quaint. You can really take your time strolling and seeing the magic that Walt saw in it when he was alive. It's Walt's dream, and while Disney World was too, this was the one he saw to completion. This is where he walked and lived, and where I think he still lives today. It's almost like you can feel his watching eye over the entire thing, and I think he'd be pretty proud of it all. 

As for what I'm most excited for when it comes to my trip next month, Carsland is definitely at the top of the list, as is finally getting my turn on the Matterhorn and meeting up with many of my West Coast Disney Friends, but that sounds like a topic for another day! 

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on July 20 due to technical difficulties).

Day 927: 5 Year Plan

When you approach the end of High school and go through college and into job interviews, there seems to be one question that always pops up: "What's Your 5 Year Plan?"

To be completely honest, I've never had an official job interview...at least not yet. I actually have two jobs, both of which are on campus working with professors who approached me and gave me more of a surprise "Would you be interested in doing this?" sort of interview. No questions about 5 or 10 year plans, at least mostly. For my second job my professor did ask me what I intend to do once I finish my schooling here at St. Norbert, and for the most part, that's a question I seem to get almost daily. The answer comes in two parts, the first of which is always the same: "Work for Disney." The second half of the answer, on the other hand, changes every time I give it, because of course everyone asks me what I'm going to do once I get to Disney. My answer ranges from something in music to Imagineering to writing for the Disney Blog, and overall, I do believe I'd be happy anywhere in the company.

But when it comes to a 5 year plan in general, it's absolutely one of the hardest questions in the world, at least if you ask me. Five years previous to now I was sitting in between my Freshman and Sophomore years of High school. Everyday Disney wouldn't come along for another two and a half years, I hadn't been to Disneyland yet, Once Upon A Time would start over a year later, Star Wars wasn't even a thought for me, and in reality, the idea of working for Disney for the rest of my life was as far off as possible. Back then I always answered that I wasn't going to work for Disney, as it wasn't until halfway through my senior year that I really realized that Disney is the only place I'd be happy.

Never in a million years could I have predicted five years ago that I'd be where I am now, sitting at my college writing the 927th blog post about Disney, planning videos for later this summer, thinking about a SECOND trip to Disneyland, obsessing over Colin O'Donoghue, counting down to the premiere of Star Wars: Episode 7, and trying to figure out which coast I'll apply for on the Disney College Program in just under two years. So to think about where I could be in Five years seems impossible. I texted my friend just last week about how I don't know when this became my life, but I'm absolutely glad it did. I have so much to look forward to, in school, college, fandoms, Disney, and overall life, which, as I previously stated, I could have never imagined just a few years ago.

And in my opinion, sometimes it's good to take a moment to stop and remember where we've come from to remind us how we can Keep Moving Forward.

Have a magical day!

(Note: This Blog Post was written on July 20 due to technical difficulties). 

Day 926: Happy Birthday to Me!

My Birthday, at least over the past few years, has been nutoriously awesome. Two years ago I had the chance to spent my birthday at Walt Disney World, ending out the day by shutting out the Magic Kingdom as the last guests. What an amazing way to spent your 18th birthday, right? Then last year, I stayed home...not that it mattered to me because it brings one of the greatest flashbacks EVER!

Considering the fact that I have that tweet framed on my desk probably goes to show that I'm not ready to forget my tweet from Colin O'Donoghue anytime soon. And while I didn't get another tweet from him this year, I can say that I had a wonderful birthday...one that was definitely still filled with Colin. To see what I got up to you can check out my birthday vlog!

Have a magical day and thank you to everyone who wished me a Happy Birthday!

(Note: This blog post was written on July 20 due to technical difficulties).

Day 925: A Month Till D23

It's been four years since my last adventure to California, and two years since the last D23 Expo, so to say I'm excited to return for the 2015 D23 Expo this August would be an understatement. I attended my first expo back in 2011, a happy coincidence based on when we were scheduling our first ever trip to Disneyland. Since then I've had an increased appreciation for Disney, and I honestly think that D23 and Disneyland played a large part in really bringing me into the extremely large Disney Fandom. After all, I think many of us have that awkward stage somewhere in Middle or High School where Disney doesn't seem as important anymore...mostly because our friends are all falling out of the Disney love and it no longer seems like the cool thing, so we play it down. But D23 brought it all back out for me, and that's why I'm THRILLED to be returning this year!

If you've never attended a D23 Expo, just know that it's HUGE. Think of pretty much everything Disney related all in one place. I'm talking Lucasfilm, The Disney Parks, Marvel, ABC, Disney Movies, Pixar and on and on. Everything. All together. For one weekend. It's Comic Con but for Disney, and this year I know what to expect going into it, and definitely have a few stops planned out already!

For those of you who might not know, I'm a HUGE fan of OUAT, although if you've read my blog for any amount of time that shouldn't be hard to figure out. That's why I've been waiting for MONTHS, actually more like over a year, for ABC to announce anything Once Upon A Time related, and let me tell you, they didn't let me down! I'm absolutely excited to announce that, for the first time ever, I'll be there for the Once Upon A Time panel at a convention, and I fully plan on waiting to get autographs from Lana Parrilla and Ginnifer Goodwin! I'm also hoping to attend the Muppets Panel on Friday morning, so be sure to keep an eye out for me at both events if you're attending the EXPO as well! For more information on these panels, you can find it HERE on the official D23 Website!

As for the rest of the EXPO, I'm saddened that due to conflicts with the OUAT Panel and Autographs I won't be able to attend the Disney Parks Presentation, which is the one big presentation I'm usually excited to attend. It seems that the chance to meet Lana, Ginny, Adam & Eddy won out this time. That's alright though, as my parents will still be at the presentation, so I'll get caught up on everything via them! I will, however, be hopefully attending the Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios Upcoming Films presentation on Friday in Hall D23, and I'll definitely be around the show floor and grounds the entirty of the three days! Keep an eye on my Twitter and Instagram for more information as we get closer to the event!

I do believe I get more excited for the D23 EXPO every single day, with chances to meet some of my favorite actors and actresses as well as get the inside scoop on everything Disney and meet many of my fellow Disney YouTubers and Bloggers!

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on July 20 due to technical difficulties).

Day 924: Why the Watch?

I got a new watch not that long ago and realized just the other day that I don't think I ever actually blogged about this particular topic...despite the fact that the watch on my wrist really should remind me of it every single day, and you'll see why in just a minute.

Sometime this last semester, not long after our January trip, I found myself with a watch on my wrist. Previously I wasn't really the watch type, instead just checking my phone or computer or clock on the wall to indicate the time. Did I really need a watch? No, not technically. But did the watch remind me a little bit of Disney? It definitely did.

You see, while at Walt Disney World, you spend your time with a Magicband on your wrist, and eventually you just get used to it being there, right up to the point where when you finally return home, your wrist just feels like it's missing something. The easiest solution because the rest of the world has yet to understand the power of Magicbands? A watch!

Does it give you the ability to access a Disney park? No. Does it allow you to pay for your Starbucks with a simple tap and a PIN? Also no. But can it be Disney themed and make you feel a little bit better about life? Absolutely! This new watch, which I just got the other day, is from Hot Topic and features the characters of Peter Pan, which as I previously blogged about, seems to be making more appearances in my life every single day. My favorite part about this one though? It says "Never Grow Up" along the outside edges, always reminding me of the magic in our everyday lives and that sometimes it's alright to leave the Adult life behind...if only for just a few minutes. 

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on July 20 due to technical difficulties).