Day 1323: A Year Already

The last year has gone by so quickly that I hardly realize that it's already been a year since I was at the Happiest Place on Earth...and yet I tweet about missing Disneyland every few weeks. 

I sometimes forget that I've actually visited Disneyland twice in my life, probably because regardless of how many times I'm there, I don't think it'll ever be enough. I've blogged time and time again about how much I love Walt Disney World, and I absolutely do, but there's something so different about Disneyland, and even with three trips to Walt Disney World in this year and one more to go, it's just not the same as heading out to California. 

What it is exactly that makes Disneyland so special is hard to pinpoint. The easy answer is that it's the original park - it's Walt's park - but that doesn't even completely describe it in my opinion. Disneyland is, in every way, just different from the parks in Florida and anywhere else in the world. Maybe it's the sense of community you feel there, and the closeness to the city around you. Disneyland feels more like a community, with locals visiting and everyone so welcoming, even to out of towners. The attractions there just feel right, and don't even get me started on how precious California Adventure is, especially now that's it's found new life. 

The foods are different, the atmosphere is different, the attractions are different (at least most of the time), the layout is different, the charm is different, and the list goes on. Pretty much everything is different. And yet, it gives the same feeling of home that I've come to know and love about Walt Disney World. My trips to Walt Disney World may amount to 15 times more than those to Disneyland, but regardless of which coast I'm on, it just feels right being there. 

So yes, I'm absolutely missing Disneyland now, even as I continue to prepare for my next trip to Florida. I miss everything about Disneyland, and I can't wait to go back someday. But for now, I suppose I'll have to relive my memories of the west coast by watching old vlogs: 

Have a magical day! 

Day 940: Research

With a trip to Disneyland only weeks away, it seems perfectly logical that I'm doing just a bit of research to learn the ins and outs of the Disneyland resort, especially since unlike Walt Disney World, I've only been to Disneyland once. That means that it's completely new ground for me, or almost new ground. Luckily, however, I do have some great friends and contacts out on the West Coast just waiting for my arrival, and I'm thrilled to meet up with as many of them as possible!

However, back here in Wisconsin, like I said, I'm planning ahead, and one of the greatest ways to do that is to take a break to catch a video from Maxwell Glick. This week he was the special guest on another of my favorite Disney YouTube channels, Thingamavlogs, and he reminded me just how much I need to take a trip to Toontown:

Since Toontown left Walt Disney World a number of years ago, I've found myself missing the chance to take a trip to visit Mickey and Minnie at home, so I'm pretty excited to go visit Toontown, not to mention the other wonderful lands of Disneyland Park and California Adventure! 

Do you have any suggestions for what I should check out when I head to Disneyland in a couple of weeks? Let me know in the comments below or by social media! 

Have a magical day!

Day 563: DISNEYLAND!

We have come to yet another Happy Birthday to the Happiest Place on Earth, and I figure that in honor of this day I'd share a few Disneyland pictures from my trip in 2011!

My trip in 2011 was GREAT, and I'm super excited for things to come that DEFINITELY involve Disneyland! I hate to say it, but more will come at the beginning of 2015, simply because it's going to be one BIG year! 

Have a magical day and Happy Birthday to Disneyland!

(Note: This blog post was written on September 18).

Day 283: All Sped Up

I follow pretty much every Disney thing I can on Facebook. Ok, maybe not every Disney thing, but I do follow Walt Disney World and Disneyland and Disney Studios and the job things and the Passholder page. You get the idea. Lots and lots of Disney.

So yesterday when I was checking my Facebook quickly before starting homework I found something that totally made my day! A couple of times I've done my Youtube Video series, and I believe it was in the first one that I shared two of my absolute favorite Disney videos on Youtube: the Disney Parks Tilt Shift Videos. Just in case you missed them, here's a recap:

I mean, there are a couple of other ones out there, but these two were always my favorite. And for a long time I've been waiting for new ones. In fact, these tilt shift videos helped inspire my video "Memories" that I did. The stop motion one that I did for Creative Writing with my poem. Yep, that one. The music matches up too, if you're observant. 

So you can see how when I found this last night (and just a few minutes ago for the California Adventure one!) it totally made my day! So excited! And then I posted it on Facebook and was like "TOMORROW'S BLOG POST!" because I already had my topic for yesterday done. 

I really do hope you enjoyed the videos because I know I did. Whoever had the bright idea to do these, THANK YOU! 

Here's today's Disney History: 1961: Singer & Actress Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel in Disney's The Little Mermaid (including the sequels) and Barbie for both Toy Story 2 and 3, is born Jodi Marzorati in Rockford, Illinois. She's also lent her voice to Hercules: Zero to Hero, Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure and 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure. She was named a Disney Legend in 2011.

Have a magical day!

Day 224: A Few of My Favorite Things V2

Originally I was going to wait a while before doing another volume of my Favorite Things post, but considering the topic, it just felt right. You see, exactly two years ago I was vacationing at Disneyland for the very first time, and I can't wait to go back, even if it will probably be another two years before I get to return (I'm hoping my family will go back for the next D23 Expo in 2015). So much was going on, and as you already heard I went to the D23 Expo in 2011. But that doesn't mean I didn't have time to explore the parks!

Since I'm not really sure what categories I'm all going to have in the My Favorite Things Series, I'll just go with the basics. You know, Attraction in each of the two parks, Nighttime Activity, Mode of Transportation and, of course, Restaurant. Plus I'll showcase one thing that's my absolute favorite part about Disneyland, as well as my favorite version when comparing something to Walt Disney World! So let's get to it then!

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. 

So that concludes the second Volume of My Favorite Things. Since we had two posts pretty close together there might not be another one for a while, but we'll see! There's so much that will be going on in the next month that I have no clue when anything is going to be! 

Here's today's Disney History: 1958: Disney's stunning True-Life Adventure White Wilderness- directed and written by James Algar - is released. The 72-minute film, narrated by Disney producer-writer Winston Hibler, tells the story of the animal inhabitants of Canada's subarctic and Alaska's arctic wilds. 

Have a magical day!

Day 130: Instagram

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I'm kind of a random person...but lately I've been doing a lot of posting of Disney pictures, and I just thought I'd share a few. I post everything from Fireworks to Test Track...and plenty in between. And of course, every Sunday I post a Spaceship Earth picture to celebrate Spaceship Earth Sunday, which is a legit hashtag I discovered a few weeks ago.

And last night I posted a few Disneyland pictures...which reminded me I need to go and finish going through the rest of said Disneyland pictures at some point....it's just there's like 3000 of them and I have 2000 to go through yet. Still, the trip was in 2011, so I really should finish doing that. Either way, here are some of my most recent Instagram photos!

And yes, all these pictures were taken by me or someone in my family!

You can follow my on Instagram by clicking the link on the left side of the page...just find Instagram! I also post all my Instaphotos to Tumblr and Twitter, which you can find links to as well! 

Here's today's Disney History: 1996: The television comedy series Boy Meets World airs the episode "The Happiest Show on Earth" - which takes place at Disney World. 

Have a magical day!