Day 212: A Few of My Favorite Things V1

I do so many of the Volume Posts, but it just occurred to me recently that I never really talk about my personal favorite things at Walt Disney World. Maybe once I talked a bit about my favorite quiet places or smells or something. Even music, but I don't think I've ever had a series that just talks about things like my favorite attractions or restaurants. In other words, I figure that right now is a very good time to start (Gosh all these Sound of Music References!)

This will hopefully work just like my Disney Collection Series, where about Once a Month or so I'll post on a Different subject of my favorite Disney things! Of course, this topic could go absolutely anywhere in the Disney Universe, but we'll start with something simple: Attractions!

Magic Kingdom Winner: 

This one is really Really REALLY hard, because I absolutely adore so many of the Magic Kingdom attractions! I think after some tough thought (I even had to ask my dad!), my favorite attraction currently in the Magic Kingdom is The Haunted Mansion! This is actually pretty funny because this was my LEAST favorite attraction as a kid. But somewhere along the line I just fell in love with the music and the idea and the entire thing. Plus it houses my absolute favorite word: Prematurely! Oh, and on the topic of which is better, Disneyland or Disney World, totally Disney World on this one!

Magic Kingdom Runner Up: 

Ok, so I couldn't pick just one you know! Actually I think it's almost a tie between the three, but the runners up are easily Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. I've always loved Buzz, and after all, I am the Galactic Hero, but Space Mountain is a more recent addition. It is easily my favorite of the mountains at Disney, and of the roller coasters in general I think. I just love the fact that it's all dark and you don't really know what's coming. Well, I guess if you ride it enough you do, but when you go as often as I do, which isn't very often at all, you kind of forget what happens.

Honorable Mention: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Epcot Winner: 

This is the easiest one! Spaceship Earth! It was the first Disney attraction I was ever on, and honestly, if my life works according to plan it will be the last one before I die. Unless I die at Disney......but then I get to live at the Haunted Mansion, right? Either way, I have been on SSE over 130 times now, and it is absolutely my favorite attraction, not just in Epcot, but in all of Walt Disney World!

Epcot Runner Up: 

While not a "Ride" like all the others listed, this is a list of Attractions, meaning that The American Adventure is most certainly included! This attraction is actually the reason I'm so interested in History, although I have this feeling I talked about that a long time ago. Either way, it has lovely music and a great storyline (our country is pretty great!), and I have always loved the Civil War section with the story of the two brothers!

Honorable Mention: Test Track

Hollywood Studios Winner: 

This one was quite hard too, because my winner and runner up are seriously almost a tie. But the winner has to come out as Star Tours. Like most of the attractions on this list, I didn't like it until recently when I decided to watch Star Wars and then got motion sickness medicine so I would be able to ride it! The first time I went on it years ago I just wasn't impressed, but then I watched Star Wars, and then in November 2012 I went on it 9 times...searching for Han Solo of course!

Hollywood Studios Runner Up: 

And just behind Star Tours is the Great Movie Ride. It's another one of those attractions that's just a classic, one that you HAVE to go on! Plus I'm a pretty big fan of movies myself, and I've actually taken to watching most of the movies in the Great Movie Ride, not including the montage at the end of course, that could get tricky! Still it's helped me discover some of my favorite classic films such as Singin' in the Rain and Indiana Jones!

Honorable Mention: Toy Story Midway Mania

Animal Kingdom Winner: 

Gosh this is hard. For a park without a lot of attractions, it sure is hard to choose a favorite. Honestly though, I think I'm going to have to go with Expedition Everest. I hated this attraction for years, and then two years ago went on it because a couple of my friends wanted to. So I did. I learned I needed to take motion sickness if I ever wanted to go on again, but it has certainly become a must-do on my list each time I go!

Animal Kingdom Runner Up: 

Almost had another tie here, but I'll explain why I didn't. My runner up is Finding Nemo: The Musical. Why? Because I think it's one of the most brilliant things I have ever seen in my life! I am not joking, I absolutely LOVE this musical. I'm not able to see it every time I go, but I will certainly wait in line for a little while to see it! I mean, who can't love Nemo!?! BUT, this was ALMOST a tie with Kilimanjaro Safari. It wasn't and the Safari gets only an honorable mention because I am NOT a fan of the redo of the attraction. When I was growing up you went on a raging mission to save Little Red the baby Elephant. It was an adventure and it was EXCITING! Now there isn't a storyline anymore. You just go see animals, which is still cool in itself, but I really hope parts of the old attraction make their way back!

Honorable Mention: Kilimanjaro Safaris

And that's about it for Volume One of My Favorite Things! Of course, my favorites change all the time (Other than Spaceship Earth, that has been and always will be my favorite). Things come and go, just like Kilimanjaro Safaris did, so I'm sure it will be changing again in the future.

So, if you've been to the parks, what are your favorites? And if you haven't, which attractions sound like the most fun to you!?!

Here's today's Disney History: 1955: The Casey Jr. Circus Train (based on that train of the same name from the 1941 picture, Dumbo) debuts at Disneyland. Located in the back of Fantasyland next to Dumbo, the train was to open with the rest of the park on July 17, but it wasn't operating properly.

Have a magical day!

Day 211: A Way of Life

Since we haven't done a Pinterest post in a while, here we go. I generally just search through on my Disney boards, and this time I ended up where I normally do, The Disney Truths board, because there are some Disney things that are just common knowledge.

Take this one for instance, the simple fact that Disney is more than just a destination, it's a way of life. 

I think this is one of the things that's a truth for only people who KNOW Disney, and I mean KNOW It. To the large majority of the world, Walt Disney World and Disneyland, or any of the Disney Parks around the world, are just a place to visit. Parents want to take their children there when they're just the right age to have the full magic of meeting the characters still visable in their eyes, and kids want to go there to do just that, meet their favorite characters or ride some of the greatest rides! 

When I was a kid, it was just like that. I guess I didn't know it at the time, but I felt the same way about Disney as I do now, I just didn't know what to call it. When I would come back from a trip I'd bring my class at school some taffy from the confectionery, or Disney Pencils or something like that, and I grew up as the kid who always got to go to Disney World. I'm asked the same questions over and over again, but in reality, none of those people really know what I'm talking about. Of course, there are a few select people who really, truly understand just how much Disney means to me and what a part of my life it is, but most don't see it. 

They don't realize that the shirt I got in Florida, the Eat, Sleep, Disney one, is a perfect description of my everyday life. They don't necessarily know right away that I keep a daily blog where I write about Disney everyday. They don't know I have Larry Dotson prints on my wall or watching Park Videos regularly. And they certainly don't know that when I go to bed every night I listen to Epcot Music. 

You see, my life is filled with Disney. It's how I live now, and I wouldn't trade it for anything in this galaxy. To me, Disney is home, but it's also the thing I wake up to every morning when my alarm goes off (I change the song every month and the current selection is "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.") Disney is the news I read: instead of the local newspaper or watching the news, I read Disney articles daily on my twitter and blogger. I think about Disney at least 50 times per day, probably more. And then I sit down at some point to write my daily blog post that maybe is a part of someone else's Disney day too. And then when I go to bed, I fall asleep to Disney music, and then have dreams of the greatest vacations I could imagine. 

Of course, once and a great while, I get to go home to Disney World, but as the word home indicates, it isn't a destination or vacation for me. Vacation for me is the other 250 days of the year I'm not at Disney. And if all of this isn't proof enough for you that it's more than a destination, or that Disney World isn't my home, let's put it this way: 

Home is where the heart is, and my heart, is most certainly at Walt Disney World. 

Here's today's Disney History: 1999: At Walt Disney World, FASTPASS begins operation on the Magic Kingdom attractions Space Mountain and Splash Mountain. 

Have a magical day!

Day 210: The Magic of the Internet

It's interesting how much I talk about the magic of Disney, but not about the source of how most of my Disney Magic gets to me when I'm not in the parks. Sure, I have my collections and movies and so on and so forth, but there are some things that just aren't the same. I mean, it's pretty hard to experience Illuminations in your backyard, or Spaceship Earth in your living room. I can make posters and write blog posts all I want, but it's never going to bring Disney to me in my own house.

Or is it?

You see, I follow quite a few people, both on Youtube and Twitter and Tumblr, and so on and so forth. This means that I have a ton of opportunities for Disney Magic to make its way into my life. And one of the most magical for me is live streams.

Every once and a while, some website or person will do a live stream from one of the Disney Parks. I think WDW Radio does it the most, with their "In the Box" idea of everyone watching from at home, and don't get me wrong, all of D23, I'll probably be sitting with my computer just watching. Watching and watching and watching. And once and a while there's live broadcasts from in the Disney Parks. Still, they're not the only ones to do it, many others do too, and there was one tonight again!

I didn't catch on to the time thing of why it was being streamed when it was for a few minutes, but it turns out that it was a livestream of Illuminations. I have always loved this fireworks show, and it is just much better in person. I've talked about it before, back on it's birthday too. But that's beside the point. As awesome as it is in person, we don't all live at Disney. At least, I don't. So when I come home and edit all my videos, it's like a reminder of my trip. It's not live though. It's not a realization that the same things I saw are happening at Walt Disney World right now.

And so, when I do get the chance to watch a live stream, it's extra special. It's just awesome to be watching on the computer and think "This is happening right now. I'm watching that, Live." Because even though I'm not there, it's still happening, and I'm still watching it.

Now, I can't watch them every night, but it is just something that really makes me happy from time to time. Especially when you're missing Disney a lot (much like I am right about now).

And a special note, I've been working with editing videos and multiple other projects, so the blog is quite a bit behind, but I AM STILL ALIVE! Don't worry! So things will be progressing as I finish transferring pictures and such. Everything is just kind of a jumbled mess in my life right now because I have way too much going on, but I'm trying to enjoy the last of my summer before college. Phew!

Here's today's Disney History: 1922: The first Laugh-O-Gram Cartoon Little Red Riding Hood is released. A silent black & white short, it is written, produced and directed by Walt Disney and animated by Rudolph Ising. It is considered Walt's first full-length short cartoon as prior to this only minute-long cartoons have been produced.

Have a magical day!

Day 209: Star Wars Celebration

If you are a long time reader of my blog, you already know that I love Star Wars, and if you're not, you know now! Back in May when Star Wars Weekends were going on, I did several posts about that, but there's one piece that doesn't always come during the month of May! And that something is Star Wars Celebration!

This year in Germany, the Star Wars Celebration is a convention for everything Star Wars. Kind of like ComicCon or VidCon...only JUST Star Wars. And that means that it's AMAZING. Sadly, I live even further from Germany than the location of the last Star Wars Celebration in Orlando, so I obviously wasn't able to attend. But I did get to see some pictures and I followed the news like a Hawk, so here's the basic rundown of everything I felt was super important from Star Wars Celebration Europe!

1. JOHN WILLIAMS.

Now, you must really live in a hole or be out of the loop if you missed this one. That's right, John Williams has officially signed on to compose the score for ALL THREE of the new Star Wars films, started in 2015! This is great news because it means one of my three requirements for the new films has been fulfilled (the others are Harrison Ford and Han Solo MUST NOT DIE).

So, in celebration, watch John Williams is the Man, because we all know it to be true.

2. The New Movies aren't going to be like the prequels.

I think this is great news, although I guess what I just said can't really be confirmed. Either way, the basic idea is that the new films are going to use a mix of Real Locations and Models along WITH Digital stuff. I mean, I think it really shows in the difference between the originals and the prequels. The originals looked great even without all the crazy graphics because they used real places and real things to make it work! The prequels just looked really fake to me. Like it's said there isn't one shot in all of the prequels that doesn't use a blue-screen. That's just terrible right there.

3. The Next One is in 2015 in Anaheim! 

That's right, Star Wars Celebration is headed to the home of other great conventions such as D23 and Vidcon! Hopefully in the future I'll be able to make it to all of them...just probably not all in one year. You'll hear more about D23 in the coming weeks too! But either way, Star Wars Celebration is moving out to the Disneyland area for a convention just before the anticipated release of Episode 7. Who else wants to go?!?! (This is where I start begging for people to take me with them!)

Oh, and they announced a couple of other things, like a TV show called Star Wars Rebels. Not much on it yet, but I'm not sure if I'm excited or not. Honestly it has to include Han Solo for me to be excited. One thing that came out of the last Star Wars Celebration that looks like it will never happen is Star Wars Detours. It looked like such a great idea and I'm really sad it will never come to be! 

Here's today's Disney History: 1998: Disney's first cruise ship, The Magic, is christened by Patricia Disney (Roy E. Disney's Wife) in Florida. Built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, the Disney Magic can hold approximately 2,400 passengers. The ship boasts 10 expansive decks, a total length of 964 feet, a maximum width of 106 feet and an astonishing gross tonnage of 83,000. It will embark on its maiden voyage two days later. 

Have a magical day!

Day 208: Still Thinking

You know, over the past few weeks I've been really behind in my blog, but I'm not giving up. Whenever I miss a bunch of days I just go back and write them based on what happened on that day! So in other words, it's still that day's Disney, I just didn't write it until later.

But at the same time, this job requires a heck of a lot of thinking. I mean, to go back a number of weeks and think about "what happened today?" can take some time. Actually, what I do is make a list of all the days I missed and go through and write ideas, normally the title for each blog post, and then write them in order based on what happened. I use the dates and days of the week a lot to try and figure out when I did what, and it doesn't always work out exactly, but normally it's pretty close.

For instance, there are still a couple of posts I need to write from my trip to Disney, because I haven't gotten the daily video done for those days yet, and I don't want to post the blog for that day without the complete video! Of course, those videos take me about two-four hours to edit, and then another while to save to the computer, and then 10+ hours to upload to Youtube (yes, my internet is that slow. Sometimes I wish I could live at Google where you can upload in like minutes). It takes forever, and I mean, you can only edit so much in one day. I try to keep it to two videos per day, but I have a feeling that I'm going to have to double up soon because this is getting ridiculous.

And then there are the days that I have pictures that go along with it. I have an Instagram, which you can find on the left sidebar, and I do encourage you to follow me there because I do post a lot of Disney stuff, where I post pictures of a lot of the things I'm talking about. Or there's those days when I just randomly take a picture of something or another that goes along with a blog post for a specific day. If I miss that day, then I have to go back and find the picture that goes along with it, and even when I don't miss the day, that picture thing means sending it in an email from my phone to my Yahoo, saving the picture and then reuploading it to Blogger!

Honestly, the entire process of keeping this blog takes a little bit longer than I really should be spending...then again, if I did just blog each and every day like it's intended, then maybe I wouldn't have such a problem...still, it's a great addition to my hobbies, and I love this blog like no other! I'm pretty sure I couldn't live without it! But as I've said multiple times in the past few weeks, that's a story for the end of the year!

Here's today's Disney History: 2011: Jennings Osborne, the creator of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, passes away at the age of 67 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Known as the man with the dazzling lights outside his home in Arkansas, and each year at Christmas time at Disney World, Osborne was a successful businessman and self-made millionaire who started a medical research facility with his wife in 1968. A holiday tradition at WDW, Osborne first lit up Residential Street at Disney-MGM Studios back in November 1995.

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 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 205: Mickey's Toontown Fair

The other day I talked about when Full House went to Disney World, and one of the things that I love about that episode is how much Disney really has changed. It's hard to believe that it's been 20 years since they visited (Yes, that episode premiered in 1993!), although when you watch it, it certainly seems like it HAS been that long.

Even since I was a little girl (my first trip was around three years after the Tanner Family's), Disney World has been a world of change, just like it should be, and one of the things that really has changed a lot now, is the area that I grew up with as Mickey's Toontown Fair. Of course, it's now the Storybook Circus area of New Fantasyland, but it was other things before that too! Still, I always remember it as the area where you could meet Mickey and all his friends (because when I was really little you could still meet Mickey in his house like you do at Disneyland!)

The basis of the area though, was a County Fair, and that's where this comes into play with my everyday life. This week is OUR County fair, and I enter in it each and every year, much like Minnie seems to do (her house was just loaded with awards for all the wonderful things she created!) Of course, several of my projects had to do with Disney, so I figured it made more than enough sense to share with you, especially since everything is judged now!

First off, I had several photography entries, all of which got firsts. Four of them were nominated for merit or state too, but none were chosen (honestly the photography program at our fair is kind of wacko. Like no joke). As you can kind of see from the picture below, several of them were taken at Disney World! Points to the person who figures out which ones (and no...you can't guess if I told you at the fair!).

(P.S. This may or may not be a trick question!)

Anyway, next on my list of fair entries was my drawing! Now, I've only done something in the arts and crafts category a few times, but last year, after seeing the entries that went to state fair, I decided that I wanted to do a drawing of Spaceship Earth. And so, I set out to do just that, a drawing of Spaceship Earth. Honestly, I feel awful for the person who had to do all the sketches of that attraction, because it took absolutely FOREVER. That's ok though because it got a MERIT AWARD! I was super duper happy about this because it's one of two that I REALLY wanted to get such an award!!!

And finally, I had foods, although I'm too lazy to try and find pictures (honestly I'm pretty sure they're on mom's camera, and she's gone at the moment, with the camera!). I entered two things, and BOTH were somewhat inspired by Disney! The first was a donut, which was actually a recipe from one of the Disney sites. It was like Apple Cider Donuts or something like that, and then they had a chocolate glaze. Actually, you're supposed to make them look like Mickey Mouse heads, but I didn't exactly have the correct pan to make the ears. Oh well! Still got a first! And then I had Sugar/Dairy Free Lemon Blackberry Cream Puffs! Sound's good, right!?! Well they should because they too got one of those beautiful yellow ribbons! This one was inspired by the spectacular Lemon, Sugar/Gluten Free Cream Puffs at Be Our Guest! Of course, I made it dairy free instead of gluten free because, well, I am lactose intolerant! 

Overall the fair went really well this year. All blue ribbons, meaning all first places, with two merit awards! That's honestly the best I have ever done at the fair, and a great way to end my run there! And you know, I think Minnie Mouse would be pretty proud!

Here's today's Disney History: 1966: The New Orleans Square area opens at Disneyland, California, with a ceremony presided over by Walt Disney and the real mayor of New Orleans, Victor Schiro. The 3-acre site, the first new themed land added to Disneyland after its 1955 opening, has cost $18 million to build. It is the only land in the Magic Kingdom to debut without a single attraction. Although filled with shops and restaurants, the Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion attractions won't open until 1967 and 1969. 

Have a magical day!

Day 204: Disney Depression: For Real

Remember a long time ago when I talked about ODD (Obsessive Disney Disorder)? Or how, just a couple of weeks ago I talked about DSA (Disney Sleep Apnea)? Yeah, here's where they really come into play.

You see, it has been a week since I was graced with the presence of Walt Disney World...not that it left. I'm the one that left it. And that first week (and every week after until your next trip) is the absolute hardest week in the world. It's like when you break up with someone and then you are in this like depression and such...yeah...happens EVERY SINGLE TIME.

Well, for the past week, that's what I've been living in, and quite honestly, once you read the rest of this post you're going to be like "Wow...she's nuts." Probably because I am, but hey! I miss Disney. What is one really supposed to do when you're in the middle of what I call, "Disney Depression."

1. Listen to Disney Music: This seems to be a solution for just about every Disney problem (not that there are many of those!). But hey, for half of the last week my brother and I had Disney music (Epcot Specifically) playing through the speakers of the Entire house. And whenever I drive somewhere, either Wishes or On Top of the World (see that blog post from the first day of my trip) playing on repeat.

2. Smell Disney Smells: I can honestly say that my blanket still smells like Bay Lake Tower. Yes, I've had it sitting on the side of my bed folded up for the last week. Other than at night right before I go to bed. Then  unfold it and smell the inside...Bay Lake Tower. This is obviously in relation to when I normally stay at Old Key West and then EVERYTHING smells like Old Key West. My pillows, blanket, clothes, me. The list goes on.

3. Distract Oneself: Basically, there isn't anything better than just trying to distract yourself, because as you will read in a moment, you need to be distracted. I personally have been watching Full House almost nonstop. I have watched almost a season and a half this week...although part of that might have to do with the fact that at the end of Season 6 they go to Disney World.

But you see, no matter what you do, Disney Depression is still going to sit in. Don't believe me, here's how it works out, and the next time you return from Disney you can compare your own life to this list:

1. First, when you are leaving, you get real sad, and wonder if there is anyway on the planet that you could stay there for more time. Like maybe your flight would be canceled and you could stay there another night because the next flight isn't until the next day. Sadly, that doesn't work, and then you sit on the plane listening to Disney music until you cry.

2. When you do finally make it home, the entire first day you are home is spent sulking. Since the extreme excitement of Disney has left your life, you don't feel like doing anything. There just doesn't seem to be any other point in life.

3. After that first day you seem to be getting better. Don't believe it. For the remainder of the first week you will think about Disney like it is a lost boy or girlfriend. Everything will remind you of Disney. EVERYTHING. The food you eat, the places you go, the people you talk with. Everything will bring a memory. Oh, and you'll want to talk to everyone about Disney for a large portion of this time too.

4. But then, something happens...You no longer want to hear about the new Limited Time Magic or what's happening in the Disney Parks this month because, well, you just won't be there to see it. Disney Movies seem fun...and if you shipped stuff home, your purchases from Disney arrive, so that's exciting, but other than that, you want nothing to do with Disney.

5. Still, like any good "stage of your life," you all of a sudden want to hear EVERYTHING about Disney. What's going on in the parks, what's the new merchandise and so on and so forth. It all seems so interesting, and exciting. Too bad you still won't be there for any of it.This is generally the time you spend thinking about what you'll want to do on your next vacation.

6. Everything, finally, goes back to normal. You continue your regular life, which for those of us who are Disney fans, means we continue to eat, sleep and dream Disney. It never really ends. Eventually you'll book another trip and get super excited about it and start counting the days down from 300, but hey, why not? Disney is just sitting there, waiting for you to return. Ok...maybe not. Maybe it's you just staring at the computer waiting to return to Disney.

I will say though that I absolutely hate Disney Depression. Now, it certainly doesn't help that this month is Expo month...this last weekend was Comic Con, this weekend is Star Wars Celebration over in Germany, next weekend is Vidcon and the weekend after that is the one all us Disney fans have been waiting for, the D23 Expo. You know, I sure wish I could be there. Honestly I would probably have business cards to spread the word about my blog. Because then maybe someday I could go to such things and have a booth of my own and...excuse me, I'm in between step 4 and step 5 of Disney Depression...so I really probably have no clue what I'm saying anymore.

Here's today's Disney History: 1999: Inspector Gadget, starring Matthew Broderick, debuts. The live-action comedy is produced by Caravan Pictures and Walt Disney Pictures, and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution. Based on the animated cartoon Series, the film will gross $103 million worldwide and spawn a direct-to-video sequel.

Have a magical day!

Day 203: Full House

Now, if you do know me in real life and not just through the internet, you'll know that lately I've had a serious obsession with something that isn't exactly Disney. No, it isn't Universal or anything terrible like that. Actually, it's Full House.

My best friend and I found the first two entire seasons of the show on sale at Target, and so it began. Now I have all eight seasons, and am currently just finishing Season 6 (there's 8 total). Yes, it's probably very unhealthy for me to sit around and watch Full House all day, but you just get to watching and all of a sudden it's like you can't stop and then you watched a whole season in a day. (Ok, maybe not a WHOLE season in ONE day...but two? Maybe).

But you see, the entire time I've been watching, I've been looking forward to one thing and one thing only. Ok, two. Or three. First I was looking to the cutting of Jesse's hair. That mullet style in Season One just needed to go. Thank you Steph! Two, I couldn't wait for Michelle to start talking. She's just absolutely adorable. But three, and the most important of them all, is the Disney episodes that take place at the end of season 6!

I saw them on TV  really long time ago. Full House is on Nick @ Nite sometimes, and that's about all I watch on that channel...the old TV shows like Full House and Family Matters and Home Improvement, if any of those are still on there today (I honestly have no clue). But like I said, I saw the episodes a while back, and couldn't wait to watch them again now, especially since I had grown with the family and totally understood what was going on.

It's very easy for me to say that now, having watched them again, they are totally two of my absolute favorite episodes (and that's a tough list to get on to. The other's all pretty much are the ones where Jesse cries because they're just the best ones for some reason. They always make me cry).

I love the entire show, but this was just awesome! I mean, as if going to Disney isn't awesome enough, they go to the Grand Floridian, and Epcot is like the first thing you see (SPACESHIP EARTH), and you go to the other parks too! It's just super great! And I don't want to spoil what happens if you haven't seen it (BECAUSE YOU SHOULD GO WATCH IT RIGHT NOW), but it all ends with a Jesse and the Rippers Concert on the Stage in Front of the Castle...WITH FIREWORKS.

What I would give to have been there (hard to do since I wasn't even born yet...sigh).

Here's today's Disney History: 1994: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction opens on Sunset Boulevard at Disney World's Disney-MGM Studios. A simulated freefall thrill ride, it is themed after the popular television series, The Twilight Zone, hosted and created by Rod Serling.

Have a magical day!

Day 202: College: It Begins

Now, in these few days after Florida, I try to distract myself the best I can. Luckily, with the fair and college approaching it's fairly easy. Yes, I should be focusing more on the fair this week because, well, the fair is this week, and college isn't for another month, but at the same time, it's lingering there.

And that's kind of what I was thinking about tonight. It started with a list of things that either I or my roommate need to bring, because we're both going to use them anyway. We just need to split up who gets what. Of course, that morphed into "what do I need to bring" in general...which morphed into "what movies do I need to bring?"

Now, if you know me, you know that my movies are a very important thing. I cannot live without them. Like...no. Just no. If I'm sad. I watch a movie. If I'm happy. I watch a movie. If I'm stressed. I watch a movie. Bored? Movie. Angry? Movie. Get the picture? (LOL...Punny!)

I have quite the movie collection, although considering the collection my family has, this isn't really a surprise. It's actually made up of mostly non-Disney movies...unless you count all the Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies. Then Disney certainly beats out the others. Well...no, I guess maybe it already does. It's just close, we'll say that. Although the non-Disney number is certainly helped by my stack of Harrison Ford movies.

It's so difficult though. I mean, chances are I won't have time to watch any of these other than maybe like one or two, and we all know that one or two will end up being Empire and Indy. And in reality, my movies wouldn't be all that far away (it's like a 30 minute drive home). BUT, I just feel like I couldn't handle NOT having them. I guess I watch Star Wars and Indy and Tangled enough to warrant for sure bringing them, and I guess I could maybe live without the rest...but I just better not take chances.

Plus...how can you just leave Toy Story and Season Six of Full House (the one where they go to Disney World) at home?

You will be certainly hearing about more of my pre-college adventures within the next month, because as of tomorrow I have officially...well, one month, until I move in. How scary is that!?!

Here's today's Disney History: 1954: Construction officially begins on Disneyland. Amazingly it will be built in less than a year!

Have a magical day!

Day 201: Saving Mr. Banks

Now, I know this isn't exactly brand new news, because it first came out about a week ago, but I swear this is the first chance I've had to actually blog about it. Going away for a week really puts you behind schedule! I tell you, I'm pretty sure I didn't have all this work when I left! That's probably because I didn't have half this work when I left...but hey!

So this is a blog post I've been waiting for for the past few days. It just happened that there were other things I needed to blog about too. In fact, there's so many things I want to blog about that I should probably write down so I remember them all.

Anyways, last week the trailer for the new Disney movie "Saving Mr. Banks" finally premiered. Now, I admit, when I first heard about the movie and saw some first pictures of filming at Disneyland I was like "WHAT? That will never work." But now that I've seen the trailer...I can't stop watching it. I honestly think I might go to see it ASAP when it comes out too, because I am REALLY excited. Yesterday alone I watched the trailer 12 times.

Since I keep talking...you might as well watch it for yourself if you haven't already...I think I'll watch it again too.

Initial reactions (From the first time I watched it):

1. Tom Hanks as Walt Disney? I love Tom Hanks. I love Walt Disney. Will it work to put the two together? 

2. DISNEYLAND. 

And that's about it. 

My reactions after watching it about 50 times: 

1. Tom Hanks works as Walt Disney. If anyone is going to play him, I'm glad it's Tom Hanks. 

2. I love the music...and how Disney puts trailers together in general. 

3. Did anyone else notice that odd cut with the Sherman brothers? I did...seems they were wearing different clothing in the one shot. Oh well. LOL

4. My favorite parts are when she's all "No no no no" and Walt is like "Well when does anybody get to go to Disneyland with Walt Disney himself?" and then the driver is "There he is!" and Walt does that little wave thing. AND the part with the Chinese theater at the end that's paired with "I swear everytime a person walks into a movie house...they will rejoice." Although the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious thing was pretty funny too. Oh...and the ending. 

5. I think, based on what I've seen so far, they really brought a lot of who Walt was into Hank's portrayal of him, which is great. I mean, the slight swear word, and the thing near the beginning about how she has to call him Walt...brilliant and so Walt Disney. 

Other than that I really just love the whole thing. The more I watch it the more it grows on me (As if it could grow on me more than it already has). And so, I am eagerly awaiting December. Be sure to get more updates as they come through, because I am certain I'll be following everything that happens with this movie from now forward. 

Here's today's Disney History: 1969: The historic Apollo 11 moon landing is televised on Disneyland's Tomorrowland Stage. Neil Armstrong (who in July 2005 will take part in the re-opening of Disneyland's Space Mountain) becomes the very first human to set foot on the moon. 

Have a magical day!

Day 200: Wow.

Now, originally I was going to talk about Saving Mr. Banks today, but I guess that can wait until tomorrow because today is a milestone...again.

200 days of Dinsey blogging. That's crazy, but I do know that I can't wait for the final post of 2013. I know already that this blog has really changed me, and very much for the better. I can't wait to see what's ahead of me, now that I'm certain that I want to head on a path that leads me directly to Disney. Things are going to be hard, I do know that, but I'll always have Disney movies to watch when I get down, and if Walt Disney taught me one thing, it's that you can't give up on your dreams.

But today isn't the day to get all sentimental. As I just said, we still have almost half a year before we do that! It is only July, after all. The next few months especially are going to be some of the most interesting months of my life, with starting college and all, and I know that all I can hope for is that I'll still have the time and effort left for this blog. It does worry me a little bit sometimes, with a full schedule like I have and everything.

Even in the mix of all that though, I'm sure there will be plenty of Disney left to go around more than a few times. I would like to thank my readers for sticking with me, and I really am glad that I have gotten over the "how many views do I have phase," because this is something I love doing, and it's something I hope I get to do for much longer. Blogging has become a regular thing for me, and it's much easier with this new laptop too, I have to say.

For the full experience, you're welcome to follow my social networks on the side there, and as I said a couple of days ago, watch out for the possible additions of new pages!

Here's today's Disney History: 1919: Dal McKennon - the voice of Benjamin Franklin in Disney's American Adventure (located at Epcot) and the narrator of the now-retired Disneyland attraction Mine Train thru Nature's Wonderland - is born in Oregon. He is best known for the famous Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Safety Announcement.

Have a magical day!

Day 199: The First 24 Hours

A couple of weeks ago I talked about the night BEFORE your trip, but I feel like it's just as important to talk about the night AFTER! I mean, as exciting and amazing as the night before was, the night after is just absolutely depressing. Honestly half of us probably lay in our beds crying our hearts out because our room doesn't smell like a Disney Resort, and then, in those first 24 hours, we feel like doing absolutely nothing because it just doesn't compare to anything we did at Disney. But at the same time, we want to try and find things that remind us of our home, with limited success.

In my first 24 hours after I got home from Florida, I did most of what I just talked about. I got home late in the evening, so my first 24 hours was started mostly by sleeping. Luckily, as soon as I get home it means I get to see my cat, which is always great. I mean, isn't she just adorable?

Not the greatest quality, I know, but I took it as soon as I got home. It's like the first picture I took that wasn't something on my vacation (because yes, the flight home counts too!). She's normally mad at me for like ten minutes and then follows me around the house obsessively to make sure I won't leave again.

Generally I unpack right away, because everything smells like Disney and I love Disney...and a bunch of stuff I bought is in there, so of course I want to open it and get it all out! I kind of put some of it away, make a pile of everything I bought, and just kind of go from there. My clothes go in the laundry, and my pillow and blanket go on my bed.

Normally I stay at Old Key West, and that means that no matter how many airplanes my pillow was on the way home, it still smells like my wonderful home resort. Sadly for me this time, Bay Lake Tower wasn't quite as strong (then again I was there for three less days too!), so my pillow just smelt like airplane. But don't fear, my blanket still smelled like the wonderful Bay Lake Tower. (And as of the beginning of August, it's still faintly there because I don't touch it for anything other to smell it, and then I fold it back up).

But what else happens in those first 24 hours? Lots of nothing actually. I think I spent a large portion of mine just laying on my bed doing absolutely nothing because I couldn't figure out what it was I wanted to do. My brother had Epcot music playing through the entire house (ok, I gave him the idea). It's just that when you leave Disney...everything else seems so...boring and awful.

Probably because it is compared to the awesomeness that is Walt Disney World.

Here's today's Disney History: 1965: Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln opens to the public (the day after its official dedication) at the new and specially constructed Opera House on Main Street USA at Disneyland.

Have a magical day!

Day 198: What's Next?

Well, after I finish with the last week, which I'll be working on over the next week, I will be hopefully launching some new stuff. I can't wait for my next trip to Disney, and it seems like lightyear's away, but I guess there's plenty I can do until then, and I mean plenty. I have a lot of projects that I can't wait to share, and I didn't say it in any of the previous posts, but I'll be making a "Haul Video" as soon as the remainder of my purchases gets here from being shipped home. I can't wait to show you all what I all got, since there really was too much to just make a blog post about it. Plus, one of my new goals is to make more Youtube videos.

Also, soon you will see an addition to the websites on the side of the page, and in fact I may be updating all of them (since some of those social networks really do look different now!). I hope to be launching the Everyday Disney Facebook page soon, both to get the word out about my blog and for another way for people to follow. I'm not totally sure what I'll all have on there, but I can say that it will be appearing soon. I actually just created the page today and will be working on the graphics for it ASAP.

And finally, I am really debating starting a Disney Instagram of my own. Obviously I have enough pictures, and while several of those posted recently will then appear on that Instagram, it will be used solely for Disney while my epcotexpert account will still be my personal account. It would be under the title of Everyday Disney, so be sure to watch the sidebar for that addition to the Everyday Disney family too.

In general, I'm really excited about the future of Everyday Disney, and I can't wait to get started. =)

Here's today's Disney History: 1955: Television crews, Walt Disney, Art Linkletter, Ronald Reagan, Bob Cummings, The Mouseketeers, Thurl Ravenscroft, California Governor Goodwin J. Knight and over 28,000 guests witness the opening of Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Broadcast on ABC, it is the biggest live telecast to date.

Have a magical day!

Day 197: The Hardest Part

So I finally finished editing my final vlog from my Disney trip, and that means that I can finally write this blog post. It certainly took long enough. It's just so hard to edit video when you're so busy. But I did it, and now I will talk about that one thing no Disney fan ever wants to talk about: leaving.

Leaving Walt Disney World is like, I don't even know. It's just so terrible. I cry just about every time I leave now, kind of like I did as a kid, but I think it has more meaning now than it did then. Like now I realize that I might not be back for a really long time, kind of like what I'm going through right now. I'll be back with my High School Band in 2014, but that hardly counts as a Disney trip for me. Yes, it's Disney, and I'm really excited for it, but three days is hardly enough time for me to be home. And then I'll have to wait at least another six months to go back. I'm going to go insane.

And the problem is, no matter how hard you try, you won't be there or anywhere close until you go back. I mean, I listen to Disney Parks music literally EVERY DAY, and yet I still long to go hear it for real. Sometimes I just want to go and have time to just sit in the parks and listen to the music I listen to here. Like in Epcot. I want to just sit on a bench, people watch and listen to the music. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less. Just being there would be good enough for me.

So when you leave Disney, you're coming off this high of being there for a number of days, some of the best days of your life, and then you have to go back to reality. And then you go through Disney Depression, which I'll talk about very soon, and you just sit and wait and wait and wait and wait and wait until you go back.

And the worst part? Saying goodbye gets harder every time.

Here is the final vlog from my July 2013 Trip to Walt Disney World.

Here's today's Disney History: 1955: Television crews, Walt Disney, Art Linkletter, Ronald Reagan, Bob Cummings, The Mouseketeers, Thurl Ravenscroft, California Governor Goodwin J. Knight and over 28,000 guests witness the opening of Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Broadcast on ABC, it is the biggest live telecast to date.

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on October 12, 2013 due to obvious editing issues).

Day 196: MY BIRTHDAY!!!

That's right. This day is the day of my birth. Well, sort of. You see, I'm actually writing this over a month AFTER my birthday, because of all those editing and uploading problems I've been having, but that doesn't mean I can't write a blog post about my birthday. In fact, it was one of the most memorable birthday's I've ever had, so how could I NOT talk about it?

It's not every day that you get to spend your birthday at Walt Disney World. Of course, I had a couple of requirements as to what I wanted to do on my birthday. First and foremost, I HAD to go on Spaceship Earth. It's just one of those things that just needed to happen. Like if I didn't go on it would have regretted it for the rest of my life.

And then I HAD to go to eat at Be Our Guest because you only get the grey stuff on special occasions...in which my birthday was. It seemed like another of those things that just should happen because otherwise I'll NEVER get the Grey stuff (just kidding...there will be plenty of chances. But I did finally get it! And It WAS delicious!)

Other than that I guess I didn't have a lot of requirements as to what I wanted to do on my birthday. Still, it was certainly a great day. A little sad because the next day was the day I was going home (as you'll see tomorrow), but a great day otherwise! Oh...and it rained. A lot. But you know, one deals with such things.

Oh, and I almost forgot! One of the awesome things that happened at the end of my birthday was the fact that my brother and I were the legitimate LAST PEOPLE in the Magic Kingdom. THE LAST ONES. We walked out and they closed the gate. AWESOME!

Here's the full day in vlog form!

Here's today's Disney History, other than the fact that it's my birthday: 1995 (MY EXACT BIRTHDAY): In Florida, Disney's Wedding Pavilion - located south of the Grand Floridian Beach Resort - opens. Built on a private island surrounded by the Seven Seas Lagoon, it is a glass-enclosed Victorian-style non-denominational chapel. Available for weddings, vow renewals and commitment ceremonies, the chapel can seat up to 300 guests. Walt Disney Imagineering has designed the site so that Cinderella Castle is framed in two views: through a window behind the indoor altar where ceremonies are held, and through a hedge arch outside the chapel.

Have a magical day!

Note: This blog post was written on August 24 due to obvious reasons.

Day 195: Pictures Galore!

Another day of Disney, another topic to discuss about my latest trip!

This time, we'll do a bit of an update on the Official July '13 Disney Challenge. I'll eventually have a final post to wrap it up, but even now (August 19) I'm still not finished with the last like 6 pictures. I'm SOOOO close to having them done though. And I do plan on finishing them. It's just kind of difficult at the moment because I'm so busy.

Either way, the challenge went over great for this trip, even as it was shorter! It'll probably be my last challenge for a while too because if I do go with Band the next time that will just be a challenge in itself. Still, challenges are ALWAYS fun to do, and this one was especially...other than the fact that I did spend a lot of time on Instagram. Still, it made for a lot of wonderful pictures to go along with my trip!

So I figured that I'd share a collection of the pictures here!

Of course, there are over a hundred pictures just from this trip on my Instagram, so if you'd like to see all of them you can go check there. I haven't posted anywhere near as much since I returned, so even if you're reading this later it shouldn't be hard to find! 

I love taking pictures at Disney, and sure wish I could just spend like a few days taking pictures of things. Like just taking a camera and going from one thing to another. Not necessarily going on anything. Just taking pictures. That would be great. Of course, we all know that's pretty much impossible because I'm never at Disney anywhere near long enough to do something like that. But maybe someday. =)

If you'd like to see the adventures I went on today, you can watch the vlog below! Oh yeah...and this is the one where I freak out about Harrison Ford, so it's pretty entertaining! 

Here's today's Disney History: 1975: The Disney Company announces plans to build an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (or EPCOT) in Florida. 

Have a magical day!

Note: This blog post was written on August 19, after my actual trip, due to obvious reasons.