Day 1313: All The Others

Per usual, after a Disney trip, I share a few of my favorite pictures from my time in the parks, especially pictures that won't otherwise be shared since they may not fit a specific topic. So, without me rambling any further, here are a few of my favorite pictures: 

I don't frequently grab one of the real cameras, aka my parents' DSLRs, but I had enough sense to bring along Dad's on my solo trip this July. While I didn't use it until the last day, it's obvious to me that some of my favorite pictures were taken with his camera, despite the fact that I only used it for a couple of hours. There's just something refreshing about the sound of a real camera in comparison to an iPhone, wouldn't you agree? 

Have a magical day!

Day 1149: Pesticides

Here we go again with the whole environmental science class correlating with something I've learned at Disney World. This time, my studies bring me to Epcot, specifically The Land, where I've heard for years and years about how they're working to find natural ways to control pests instead of the pesticides, which was the topic in my class not long ago. So basically, while we watched a movie about the book Silent Spring, I sat there thinking about Ladybugs.

Disney is actually doing a lot of really great stuff in regards to environmental science though, and the Land is just filled with new growing techniques that are more fruitful, natural, and better on the environment, all of which is needed in today's society. It's been a while since I've headed on the Behind the Seeds tour in The Land, although these pictures are rather recent since my mom took the tour this past January. Who knows, maybe after taking Environmental Science this semester I'll have to go on the tour myself in May!

Here are some behind the scenes pictures from The Land though!

The Land is definitely one of the most underrated areas of Walt Disney World if you ask me, and honestly it was kind of sad to see how the entire pavilion looked this past January while Soarin' is closed. It seems that heading there isn't worth while these days unless there's a thrill attraction involved, even if we really could learn something by going there. 

Have a magical day, and be sure to check out the Land the next time you're at Epcot! 

Day 931: Buffalo

On my drive over to college this morning to catch up on my work, I passed the buffalo farm that sits right ouside my hometown and realized that I've never done a blog post on it despite the fact that every single time I drive past I get some serious Epcot Living with the Land feels.

For those of you who might be a little confused as to why a regular old buffalo farm filled with...you guessed it...buffalo, reminds me of Disney, here's the quick explanation:

The Living with the Land attraction that sits in The Land at Epcot goes through several different ecosystems, one of which is a prairie that features a little family of buffalo (what even is the plural...buffalos?) just hanging around while a wildfire rages on in the background. Now apparently pictures of this scene are hard to find, but I eventually tracked one down from over on AllEars!

So, as you can imagine, whenever I see the buffalo I have a little flashback to one of my favorite Epcot attractions, and let me tell you, I think it's the baby buffalo that triggers it more than the adults. No idea why. Although once, about five years ago when I went out to Colorado and South Dakota with my high school band, I did get to see live wild buffalo, and that was an awesome experience despite the fact that I could go see buffalo any day of the week. There was just something about the fact that it was the land in real life that made it extra special.

Other things that remind me of Living with the Land? Thunderstorms, Prairie Dogs, Farms, Dogs, Greenhouses and, oddly enough...blueberries?

Is there anything in your life that reminds you of Living with the Land?

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on July 24 due to time restraints).

Day 566: Thunderstorms

There aren't many things in life that I absolutely HATE, but thunderstorms? Yeah, that's one of them.

I can't really pinpoint WHY I hate thunderstorms, and in all reality there's no logical reason as to why I should hate them or be afraid of them or whatever. It's just...I do. I absolutely HATE thunderstorms. I mean, the only thing I really can come up with is my love of the Wizard of Oz as a kid and the stupid tornadoes at the beginning that apparently instilled some outrageous terror into me that still lingers today, since if there's one thing I hate on this earth even more than thunderstorms and planes and buses and everything else put together, it's tornadoes.

But as I sit here trying to get work done on Operation Last Week of Summer (because in all reality, it's August 18th as I'm writing this. Not July 20), my window is cracked and the soft pitter patter of rain along with the stupid booming sound of thunder is ever present. And I'm here all alone. I hate thunderstorms...but I hate them even more when I'm alone during them. Especially when the weather box goes off to tell me there's a severe thunderstorm warning for south of here. At least it's not for here. I can calm myself down a little bit.

I texted Megan about my fears just now, about how the thunder is coming in and GOD I JUST SAW LIGHTNING and how I really hate storms, but being the super awesome person she is, she had a response for me, and I very much approve.

I don't know if I've mentioned this, but some time ago on Instagram one of my fellow Disney Geeks mentioned something and I'll never be able to look at thunderstorms the same way, or at least won't be able to now that Megan mentioned it again. They mentioned that whenever there's a thunderstorm they just pretend that they're riding on Living with the Land at Epcot...and it occurred to me that this is pretty much the most BRILLIANT IDEA OF ALL TIME.

So now I'm just going to pretend I'm on a boat going through the rainforest or past some buffalo as a fire rages on because of a lightning strike or...maybe not that second one. But the first one for sure. Sitting in the Land at Epcot sounds a lot nicer than sitting here in my bedroom all alone trying not to freak out while I also attempt to get work done. Yes, that sounds great.

If you need me I'll be learning about our delicate ecosystem. Thanks.

Have a magical day!

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

Day 221: Hot Air Balloons

Nothing makes me more excited than Hot Air Balloons! Ok, so that's a lie, but not totally! I really do love Hot Air Balloons!

You see, tonight marked the first night of my town's annual Hamburger Festival, which I'll talk more about tomorrow. I was volunteering tonight for the Balloon Rally, which is in it's 13th year here in Seymour. But I haven't been to it in years, so being able to see the Hot Air Balloons right up close again was AMAZING.

Why? You may ask? Well here's a few things to jog your Disney memory as to why I love Hot Air Balloons so much! Remember how in the French film there's all those things, but one of those things is the Hot Air Balloons. Honestly, whenever I do see a hot air balloon, that's what I think of. I mean, you watch them kind of blow them up in the film, and then you get to "Ride" in one in the film as well. It's actually one of my things on my bucket list, to go to France for the hot air balloon festival. I really want to go in a hot air balloon in general though.

But that's not all, because one thing just isn't enough! There's another place at Disney where hot air balloons make an appearance, and it's not something everyone is necessarily going to notice. However, if you love Epcot as much as I do, and you've been in the land enough times, you'll know that Hot air balloons grace the ceiling of that pavilion! Now that makes two Disney appearances of hot air balloons...unless you count Oz the Great and Powerful. There's most certainly a hot air balloon in that too.

Here's a few of the pictures I took of the balloon rally tonight, including a picture of me and Hamburger Charlie!

Here's today's Disney History: 1969: The Haunted Mansion attraction opens in New Orleans Square at Disneyland. The public opening of the attraction is heralded by a promotional blitz that include the "I Scream" Sundaes sold at Disneyland's Carnation Plaza. Madame Leota, the medium in the seance room and the tiny talking figure at the end of the ride, is modeled at Imagineer Leota Toombs (also known as Leota Thomas. The attraction will have an official grand opening August 12. 

Have a magical day!