Day 1003: Disneyland Month!

I'm starting to think that the months are going faster than what they should be, but that always seems to be the case when I finally head back to school in the fall. One minute it's summer and the next there's two feet of snow and I'm shivering on my walk to class. It may already be turning cold here in Wisconsin, but that doesn't mean we can't remember warmer times, like my trip to Disneyland, which I celebrated this month with the Everyday Disney Challenge! 

I'm not so sure I love the new update where you can do wider and longer pictures, mostly because it really messes thinks up for blog posts, but they do look rather nice on Instagram itself. Maybe I just need more time to get used to the new format? And speaking of a new format...I decided to change up the prompt list for October last minute, and while I was at it, decided that maybe it was time for an update in the design! 

So if you're up for it, join in on the #EverydayDisneyChallenge this month! It's color month, so there's something for everyone for sure, and you can participate on Instagram or Twitter, even Tumblr! Just repost the below prompt for easy access and use the tag #EverydayDisneyChallenge on your preferred social media platform!

Have a magical day!

Day 1002: But I Drifted...

It's been a while since I found enough little references in my life to Disney to do a round up of them all. As much as I could probably write a blog post on every single one of these things, I think you would probably get pretty bored if all I talked about was Mac & Cheese for a day. Then again, who doesn't like Mac & Cheese? The point, however, is that, sometimes, there are a lot of little references to Disney that make our day a little bit brighter, and it's those exact moments that make up the foundation of Everyday Disney. So, over time, I make notes of such references I find in my daily life, whether it's in a class, at a meal, or on the radio, and then do a round up of the little things!

Roasted Almonds: 

I've never really been a fan of nuts, and yet there's something about the Cinnamon Roasted Almonds you can find at Walt Disney World that keeps me coming back for more. It's certainly possible that it's the fact that it's Disney food, and all Disney food is amazing, or maybe I actually like almonds after all. Either way, I don't have Cinnamon Roasted Almonds here in Wisconsin, but I do have roasted almond tea. Thanks to a combination of my parents and roommates and a little bit of CaptainSwan, I've fallen in love with loose leaf tea over the last year, and I bought the Roasted Almond Tea on a whim after trying a quick sample while at the tea store.

Long story short, I ended up going back only weeks later to buy more.

EPCOT = Every Person Comes Out Tired:

I've already discussed my schedule this semester, and if you didn't read that post, all you need to know is that freetime, if there is any, is usually spent working on something else, therefore eliminating any freetime anyway. Whether it's writing a paper or a blog post, editing a video, filming a football game, working on a painting, doing a reading for class, organizing the music library, or practicing for my recital, every minute of every day is booked. Yesterday, while sitting in the library around this same time (11 p.m.) after working for 13 hours straight, I realized that my days here at college remind me a lot of a day at Disney. So I guess instead of thinking of my constant "go, go, go" as a downfall, maybe I should think of it as training for Disney world? This also may have something to do with th fact that one of my friends recently told me she overheard someone talking about walking on campus as training for a Disney trip...

Mac & Cheese

And you thought I was kidding when I mentioned Mac & Cheese earlier, didn't you? If you haven't been to your local grocery store recently, or maybe you just didn't buy Mac & Cheese recently, you should definitely head that direction if you're a Star Wars fan. There are currently Mac & Cheese boxes with pasta shaped as Star Wars characters, and while I'm not sure which characters are all included, I definitely had R2-D2 Mac & Cheese for lunch today. Thanks Mom!

But I Drifted...

It's not every day you get the chance to meet a real-life author, although I guess I'm actually surrounded by several every day of my life. That tends to happen on a college campus. Regardless, this past Friday, SNC was honored with the presence of Gina Barreca, who's book They Used to Call me Snow White...But I Drifted features one very obvious reference to Disney: Snow White. In her discussion with my English 305 class, she revealed that the title of the book is actually based on a famous line from Mae West, although the cover of the book definitely features a more Disney-based version of Snow.

You don't have to write a daily blog about Disney to find the little references to Disney in your life though! Let me know what you find in your day to day routine in the comments below!

Have a magical day!

Day 1001: Dark Swan

Just a note that if you've yet to watch the first episode of Once Upon A Time Season 5, there will likely be spoilers ahead!

In an odd turn of events, the 1000th day of Everyday Disney actually landed on another important day in my life: the Season 5 premiere of my favorite TV Show, Once Upon A Time. To be honest, I was kind of distracted during the episode itself, but that's what happens when you live tweet on two twitter accounts, are fangirling, and trying to actually watch the episode and make connections. Luckily, I've somehow managed to determine a few favorite moments from the premiere:

While I may have missed this spectacular shot while watching live (I happened to be sending the below tweet, which ended up being favorited by Liam (Arthur) himself, so I guess it isn't a total loss, I rewatched the scene this afternoon in the only 5 minute break I've really had all day, and I have to say that it makes WAY more sense now why my friends all went "Woahhhhh" last night. I'm honestly curious to see how this all connects, but in my opinion, it's one of the most clever integrations of another story line ever on this show. I was a bit cautious as to Camelot coming on and how they would fit with everything that's happened, but the dagger being part of Excalibur absolutely restored my faith in this new Arc.

Aside from the fact that this was clearly a CaptainSwan moment, this speech from Hook was beautifully written, and took me right back to the Season 3 premiere where Emma gave a similar speech to the people now there for her as they attempted to save Henry. Even better? This time it was a former villain turned hero giving the speech to a hero turning into a villain. As backwards as that sounds, this moment for Emma was so important. For the first time in her life, here is this person really willing to stand up for her and fight for her no matter how terrible she fears she will become. Killian isn't afraid of her, and he's not going to give up on her, and that's exactly what Emma Swan needs. 

So maybe the above moment is included simply because I missed it in the episode and needed to make up for that fact by having it forever repeating on my blog. Bonus for you though! Enjoy your wink from Hook! 

Sneezy dressed up as Emma was definitely a highlight of the episode for me. I love Gabe (Sneezy), and he's a wonderful person, so to see him get a hilarious moment in the spotlight was great. The fact that he was turned to stone by the new Dark One, on the other hand, was not. I may have screamed out "NOOOO" longer than was probably acceptable.

As the first official footage any of us saw of Season 5, I remember sitting in the D23 Expo OUAT Panel room with my hand over my mouth as we watched this scene. Even last night, as I watched it again, I had the same reaction. I've never been quiet about the fact that I'm a huge fan of Colin O'Donoghue, but if you don't recognize how spectauclar his acting is in this scene, then I think you need to get your eyes checked. He so perfectly portrays the underlying hurt beneath the hard exterior we've come to expect from Hook. And yet, bits of it slip out: his lashing out at Robin, his stunned silence before he ventures to the dagger, and not even the pure want for Emma to return, but the need for her to return. It's a theme we continue to see throughout the episode, and I'm so thankful for the writing for his character so far this season. We all knew Hook would be central to Emma's Dark Storyline, but his pursuit to find his Swan is brilliant on paper, and even more spectacular when O'Donoghue brings it to life. Well done, Sir! 

Of course, I think a huge moment for all of us was the conclusion of the episode, where the Dark Swan finally appeared. There's definitely a lot left to be revealed this season, and I'm excited to see it all unwravel before our eyes. What did they do to Emma that caused her to curse them all back to Storybrooke? Where's Arthur? What happened in the last six weeks? What happens next? WE ALL NEED TO KNOW THE ANSWERS! On a side note, let's take a moment to appreicate two things: the OUAT Costume Department and Jennifer Morrison's acting. So much of the acting in this episode was so well done, and while I know I just ended with the Colin O'Donoghue praise, I think we need to think about just how different this is from the Emma we've seen in the last four seasons. In a matter of seconds, Morrison managed to send a shiver up my spine, and I had already prepared myself. Truth be told, I'm so ready to see where Dark Swan goes next, and I, as always, eagerly await the next episode.

Other honorable mentions: 

- The Wookiee Gag Mention. Just yes Hook. 

- CHIEF! As an English Major who actually really enjoyed reading Cuckoo's Nest in High School, the references to the novel whenever they enter the basement of the hospital astonish me. Cheif's presense will forever be my favorite reference in all of Once Upon A Time! 

- Zelena's storyline is sure to get interesting as we move forward, that's for sure. I definitely found compassion for her in this episode I haven't felt in some time, and I have to applaud Bex for her acting as well! 

- Pretty much everything Merida related! The poor brothers! Hopefully we'll find them! 

- King Arthur. Just King Arthur. I knew weeks before the premiere that he would be on my favorite character list, and while he only spoke a few words, I'm definitely loving Liam in the role! 

And finally, as usual, I DisneyBounded for the episode! Not surprisingly, my premiere outfit was inspired by Dark Swan, and I'm excited to share some of the other DisneyBounds I have coming up later this season! 

If you watched the premiere, share your comments below! This Oncer would love to hear them! 

Have a magical day!

Day 1000: One Thousand

It's sort of strange to think that it's been exactly 1001 days since December 31, 2012. Back then I was still in high school, although I'd just mailed in my acceptence to attend St. Norbert College in the fall. I was a proud member of the Seymour High School Band, and while I'm not a member anymore, so much of this blog has been founded on the experiences of that group, and now I regularly volunteer for the group as a proud Alumni. I wasn't so insanely crazy about Once Upon A Time, and definitely not Colin O'Donoghue. Oh no, those were the hardcore Harrison Ford days, although I'd still gladly watch a Harrison Ford movie whenever, provided that I have the time. I didn't make YouTube videos yet, at least not on the scale that I do now. The very first vlogs were up already back in 2013, and since then I've gone to Walt Disney World four times and Disneyland once...and I didn't even think, on December 31, 2012, that I would go in 2013 at all. I hadn't met my freshman roommate yet, nor any of the college friends I now associate with as family, I still had yet to meet my spectacular Once Upon A Time friends, and Twitter was just a far off idea of social media.
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But most importantly, on December 31, 2012, I had no idea just where Everyday Disney would take me, and I certainly didn't think I would be here 1001 days later, still blogging about Disney. It's been a wonderful ride, filled with Spaceship Earth, CaptainSwan, Jungle Cruise Jokes, Mad T Parties, DisneyBounds, Vlogs, Fangirl Moments, Millennium Falcon references, and so much more, but the reality of 1000 days is really setting in. There are a lot of blog posts that weren't written on the day they're marked down as, as I get behind almost as frequently as I post on time. Internet problems, computer issues, and a few really bad schedules pretty much rule my entire life, so it's sometimes a struggle, but throughout all of it, I've somehow stuck it out. The other night when I was blogging like a mad woman trying to catch everything up before today (I went for about five and a half hours straight), I realized that, no matter how far behind I get, I would never think about stopping. Not now, and hopefully not for a very long time, if ever.

I have a lot of people that surround me every day, and some are more supportive than others. For me, even with 23 credits, two jobs, three clubs, volunteering, AND personal projects, Everyday Disney is a serious part of the routine. It's a part of my life, and taking it away would be like ripping out my heart. It stands for something, whether it be my persistence, my learning, or my will to do whatever it takes to follow my dream of working with Disney for the rest of my life. It is all of those things, for sure. After all, when my high school band talked about going to Disney, I pushed them harder than they had ever been pushed up to that point, and I've definitely learned more than one or two things about life and blogging in the past two and a half years. But I think it stands for something more than even that; it stands for the love all of us have for Disney.

Everyday Disney is fueled on that love, and the connections so many of us can make through it. Disney can be experienced alone, quietly in our own homes with a fuzzy blanket and a cup of tea while watching a Disney movie, or joyfully striding through one of the parks with no one other than a pair of Mickey ears and a dole whip. But Disney is also about community. It's about loving one another, having fun together, and making memories that will last a lifetime. That's what Disney's all about, and how lucky am I that, for the past 1000 days, I've gotten to share my love with all of you? I honestly hope that you, as a reader, have gotten something out of this blog, whatever it may be, because as much as I write this blog for myself, I write it for all of you too. When times are tough and all I want to do is ride Spaceship Earth, you guys are there to listen (even if I do sometimes feel like I'm talking to a brick wall), and when there's some sort of exciting news to share, we get to experience that together too. I can't express enough how absolutely thankful I am for everything Everyday Disney has brought me over the past 1000 days, and I'm certainly excited to see where the next 1000 go too.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for reading Everyday Disney.

Have a magical day!

Day 999: Happy Haunts

What do you do when you get to day 999 of your blog about Disney? TALK ABOUT HAUNTED MANSION OF COURSE!

To be honest, it's after one in the morning when I'm writing this (although it won't be posted until later today), and I'm exhausted, so I have no idea where I'm going with this. I do, on the other hand, believe we need some background music...

I used to hate The Haunted Mansion as a kid. I wouldn't go anywhere near it, no matter how much my parents tried to convince me otherwise. And then I saw the movie, you know the one, with Eddie Murphy, and I finally managed to find the courage to go on it. Now The Haunted Mansion is my favorite attraction at Magic Kingdom, and I try to ride it as often as possible when I'm there. Actually, thinking back, I couldn't even listen to the song when I was younger (because of course it's on every Disney Parks CD ever). I was so terrified of it that I would listen to the song and think some ghost was going to come after me. Now, with the number of times I've been on it, I probably have 999 happy haunts floating around my house. We have one for sure. I named him Bojangles. 

Speaking of The Haunted Mansion, can we talk for a second about some of the amazing merchandise that's out there now? I finally settled on getting the bookends, but gosh do I ever want that teacup and that apron. I've also definitely been toying with the idea of getting a new phone case with the Haunted Mansion wallpaper on it...but I already have two phone cases for a phone I haven't even gotten yet, so maybe that one will go on the back burner for a while.

The Haunted Mansion is, I found out, pretty great, and I'm counting down the days until I can go pick up a few more hitchhiking ghosts. For now, I'll just be here, planning the day I'll become the 1000th...although something tells me 1000 isn't that far off...

Have a magical day!

Day 998: At the Top

Since it's the Friday before Once Upon A Time returns and I needed a video topic that wouldn't take me an eternity to film (I had an extremely busy week), I thought it would be fun to do a quick video on some of my favorite episodes of my favorite TV show. It actually ended up being really fun, and even Cardboard Colin got in on the action:

Initially, my list had 10 episodes (if you include both that make up the Season 3 finale), but I narrowed it down to the few you can see in the video. I wanted to keep it short and sweet, definitely something difficult for a Once Upon A Time fangirl to do. I have so many favorite episodes that it was hard to pick 10, much less narrow it down to even less! So here, as an exclusive here on Everyday Disney, are a few of the episodes that didn't make the cut: 

1x04: The Price of Gold

1x07: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

3x17: The Jolly Roger

4x02: White Out

4x04: The Apprentice

I do believe there were even more than that, but off the top of my head (which is getting pretty fuzzy as I finish catching up the blog before a big occasion on Sunday!), those are the ones that I could remember debating for the list! 

If you watch OUAT, let me know what your favorite episodes are in the comments below! And...in case I didn't remind you enough in the video, Once Upon A Time returns this Sunday, September 27 at 8/7c on ABC. There's also a special on the hour before the premiere that will catch you up on everything Once if you're a bit behind! 

Have a magical day!

Day 997: The Muppets

While I didn't have a chance to watch it live, I did indeed catch the pilot episode of the new Muppets show that's on ABC! It's always a struggle when you have class during your favorite TV shows (thank goodness OUAT is on a Sunday), but I manage to keep up with things fairly well!

Anyway, I thought this first episode was hilarious, and I love that they brought back the idea of having guest stars on the show, just like in the old days. I haven't seen the last couple of seasons of the original Muppet Show, but I have seen 1-3, and it was awesome to catch little references to those episodes. I think I was mostly just excited to see them all back on the screen again. I've really grown to love the Muppets over the past several years, and I look forward to watching them weekly!

Other than the guest star thing, they really brought the Muppets into the modern world, and while I know several people are upset about the more mature content of the show, I honestly think it's been there for a while. The Muppets were never just for kids, as they were just as much for adults, and that definitely rings true in this new show.

Also refreshing? To see all our favorite, and some lesser known, Muppets back in the game! Plus there were a few new characters thrown in there too! I happened to watch the episode while eatinng lunch and I honestly couldn't even stop laughing for a while. As a member of a different generation, some of the jokes in the old show really got lost on me, but I picked up on everything in this new one. I especially loved the Gonzo line about the cuts to interviews. Priceless.

You can catch The Muppets every Tuesday at 8/7c on ABC!

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on September 26 due to a tight schedule).

Day 996: Vlogland

As usual, my video camera was along for the ride on my trip to Disneyland, and there's already three vlogs up that you can watch! Things worked a little different with these vlogs from the usual setup I use for Florida, as Days didn't really apply in California. With D23 thrown in the middle with special videos, that left a bunch of random footage that didn't really apply, but that I still wanted to include! And so, also in an effort to keep the videos shorter, I've split the Disneyland Vlogs into Parts instead of Days! You can watch the first three here:

Part 4 will go live Tuesday, September 29, and there's several more after that! Plus, there's still at least one more Disneyland Video in the works that I've been planning for quite some time, so be sure to keep an eye out for that too! 

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on September 26 due to a tight schedule).

Day 995: Getting Closer...

You have to admit that I've been pretty calm about waiting for OUAT over this entire Hiatus. I suppose it has something to do with how much I traveled, and especially lately, how busy I've been, but that doesn't mean I haven't been completely ready for the premiere this Sunday, September 27. All summer long we've slowly been getting new information about this season, and especially about Dark Swan, which I'm super interested to see on screen!

In fact, here's a few things I'm excited for this Season on OUAT:

Merida: 

Brave was a pretty great movie, and while she's not my favorite princess, it's going to be interesting to see how she plays into the storyline. I know a sneak peek that was already shown feautred Emma needing the Whisps to get rid of the darkness inside of her, but something tells me it can't be that easy. Regardless, it looks already like Merida will have a ton of adventures during Season 5, so get ready for some real bravery!

Camelot: 

About halfway through Season 4 I have this gut feeling that we were going to Camelot. A lot of Oncers have talked about it for years, wondering just when they'd finally incorporate Merlin, Arthur, and the entire gang. After all, Lancelot was in Season 2 (and I'm absolutely ready to see him back!), so it was only a matter of time. Specifically, I'm really excited for King Arthur...even if I am kind of skeptical about this "bromance" that he'll have with Charming. No one messes with my BrOTP of CaptainCharming!

Hook (and Emma too!): 

Speaking of Captains, OF COURSE I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment in the love story that is CaptainSwan. I have some pretty high expectations for this season in that department, and from the sounds of it, we won't be let down in the premiere. There's tons of articles out there if you really want to go read one and find out more, but I won't share anything! I've shared too much already!

Dark Swan: 

Of course, as I mentioned before, the big news this season is Dark Swan. I know Jennifer Morrison spent a lot of her time off from filming working with Adam and Eddy doing research on how to develop Emma as the Dark One, and I, for one, am very ready to see that hard work pay off. As a lover of fairy tales, I'm sure I'll have my work cut out for me as we learn new information and new references are added into the tale, but it will be oh so worth it!

DisneyBounding: 

And finally, I have to mention that my OUAT DisneyBounds continue this season, and while I'm a bit behind on what I'm going to do, I am excited for, especially, my first outfit! Here's a sneak peek, just to give you an idea:

Dark Swan is coming everyone! Get ready! Once Upon A Time returns to ABC this Sunday, September 27, at 8/7 central! Will you be watching?

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on September 26 due to a tight schedule).