My Favorite Things to Do at Epcot

Hello!

Wednesday I talked about

Spaceship Earth- Probably the most iconic ride, Spaceship Earth is located at the front of the park which makes it the easiest to ride as soon as you enter. It’s slow, air conditioned and methodical, showcasing the ever evolving world of technology through animatronics and dim lighting. This is always the first ride I go on upon entering the park!
Living with the Land- This ride is peaceful and very educational; it takes you through The Land’s home grown fruits, vegetables and fisheries as the rider learns the importance of taking care of and properly using the Earth. This ride is a always a must when you want to take a break from the heat (though wait times may be super long).
Teppan Edo- This restaurant is a MUST GO TO for anyone looking for food at Epcot. Despite all of the choices at the World Showcase, this Hibachi house has many different options for food and has decent pricing despite the fact that there is a show along with your meal. There is never a dull moment here, as my family was sat with another the few times we’ve gone and we left with new friends!
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth- These are the evening fireworks and fountain work that lasts about 15-16 minutes. The music and lighting effects are gorgeous, bu you need to show up at least a half an hour early to find a good seat. The good news is, while I was on the Boardwalk with my family, we still saw most of the fireworks!
Frozen Ever After- Once known as Maelstrom, the Frozen Ever After ride is located in the Norway Pavilion. After its refurbishment Elsa and Anna took the place of the old theme and while it’s still the same layout, it’s new and popular characters cause this ride to have mega long wait times almost all day.
Mexico Folk Art Gallery- It’s always worthwhile to walk through the Mexico Folk Art Gallery upon entering the Mexico Pavilion. There they display art and cultural information regarding Dia de los Muertos (now inspired by the movie Coco). Walking around this small gallery is a pleasure, as there are so many small and unique details- I just wish there was more to view!
Eating at the Land- The Land is a great, specifically the Sunshine Seasons Food Court. There’s tons to select from, and with the atmosphere and plenty of seating. To top it all of off, the food has a decent price compared to other restaurants in Epcot without requiring a reservation.

My Favorite Things to Do at Magic Kingdom

Hello everyone!

After a brief medical hiatus, I have returned and hope to regularly post on a scheduled basis that will consist Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays starting in February.

As a medically needy person, I tend to avoid the usual things at parks like roller coasters and food (for the most part). Despite that, the only true parks I ever go to are Disney related, even when the purpose of going to parks is to ride things and eat food you only dream of eating.

So what do I enjoy doing at Magic Kingdom?

Meeting Characters- One of my favorite things to do at Magic Kingdom is explore and locate my favorite characters to add a photo and signature to the autograph book. Meeting the characters has always been a unique experience each time I go, which always makes it worth it.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh- Despite this ride constantly having downtime when I visit, doesn’t make this ride any less enjoyable. The gentle rocks of the honey pot aren’t too big of a deal and every time I ride there’s always a new detail I spot!
The People Mover- I REALLY love the people mover. It’s an easy going ride that allows you to take a tour of Tomorrowland; no spirals or loops needed! It will even take you by Space Mountain, where you can hear the screams of ridegoers as you drive by.
Pin Trading- As you may have noticed in a previous blog, I collect pins and trade whenever I go to the parks. Magic Kingdom is one of the best parks to trade pins with, as there are multiple known locations (as well as some not so well known ones) that have some amazing selections.
Pirates of the Caribbean- This ride is quite popular so I’m sure it’s on many favorites lists. I’ve liked it despite the upgrades they’ve made, and despite some people being unhappy with it, the ride continues to have frequently long lines and wait times. Since it’s one of my favorites, I continue to make sure I have a FastPass so I can make sure this is an absolute stop when I’m in MK!
Shopping- The best thing one can do at Magic Kingdom is shop! I prefer shopping here over any of the other parks because there is so much to choose from, and isn’t based off of one park but the collective.
Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid- This ride is a slow mover, and follows Ariel on her journey to finding her happily ever after. Despite its incredibly long wait time, I enjoy sitting in the clam shell and marveling at the impressive animatronics that make up the ride.
Happily Ever After Fireworks Show- A grand fireworks display that seamlessly blends in visuals and music while showing that while life has its ups and downs, you can have a happily ever after. This show lasts about 20-25 minutes and is a fantastic sight to see, and a great way to end the night at Magic Kingdom.
Liberty Tree Tavern- Since I was a picky eater (before my medical diagnosis), the chicken tenders and fries here were to die for and there are plenty of other options to! Service is pretty fast and the atmosphere matches Liberty Square and a (maybe?) harbor pub theme nicely. By the way, did I mention the chicken tenders are awesome?
Jungle Cruise- The final thing I enjoy is the Jungle Cruise and the tour guides vary in their jokes (which are incredibly cheesy) and tours. While I enjoy the ride as it’s really calming compared to a busy day at the park, it does need a serious update as most of the animals are stagnant, but it’s still a great ride I look forward to going on!

Those are my top favorite things to do at the Magic Kingdom, next time I’ll be diving into my favorite things to do at Epcot!

Spot

Medical Update 12/18/18

I’m sorry for my month long absence, fellow Disney fans. A lot has gone on since I have written to you last month for me.

The good news!

After 4 years of battling an unknown disease and pain, this year I was diagnosed with Proctosigmoiditis (Ulcerative Colitis creeping up the Sigmoid Colon) which I have started remission as of November!

The bad news?

Sadly I’ve been experiencing pelvic pain since November, and after bouncing between a Urologist, and my Gastroenterologist, I found myself skyfalling back into the OBGYN. They have found a cyst on my right that is causing some pretty labor intense pain.

Right now, I am on Aleve (despite the fact I’m not supposed to as it can reignite a flare of my UC) and a heating pad. I rest as best as I can because it seems like moving around makes it 10x worse.

Will it require surgery if not fixed? I have no idea.

All I know is I’ll try to keep you guys more posted on it as I prepare for my next Disney trip coming in April!

Spot

The Greatest Gift

With Christmas approaching I thought I would share a memory I have that has meant the most to me for the last 19 years. People tend to think stuffed animals are a waste of money, and that children tend to get rid of them after they’ve had their fill. I can’t tell you how wrong that is! For me, stuffed animals are important and I still own many, but there’s many reasons why and that’s a story for another day. Today, I’d like to share the greatest gift I’ve ever received that has been in my house for years.

One night while eating our kids meals from McDonalds we sat at our little wicker table watching Mulan for the first time since seeing it in theaters. I was drawn to the bright colors, elegant artwork and most importantly the character Mushu. His spunky personality and comical relief brought joy to me while also making the movie much more fun to watch. I remember after watching the movie that I ran to the kitchen window and looked at the single star in the sky and wished for a Mushu of my very own. Remember this as I progress in this cute story.

At the age of 5 I was a firework of imagination; always playing and spending time with my family was big for me. My older sister and I did just about everything together- we had most of the same friends, we played with our dolls and ran around in the backyard screaming our heads off when we saw a bee. Days after watching the movie, my sister was invited to a sleepover the upcoming weekend- for the first time I wasn’t invited with her. Worried that I was going to be upset, my mom called my grandfather and asked him to take me to the Disney store (aka my happy place).

My grandpa was an amazing person, I grew up practically at his and my grandma’s house as everyone was super close. My grandma and my grandpa moved Heaven and Earth for us, just because they loved us and wanted to see us happy.

That weekend he came by to pick me up and drove me to the Disney store, letting me adventure through the store and marvel at all of its wonder. At the back of the store there was a large screen that took up most of the wall, playing Disney shorts and cartoons on an endless loop. Under the screen was a stacked mountain of plush toys that to a child, could almost reach the sky. In that pile at it’s center… was a Mushu plush toy. My grandpa bought it for me and I cuddled it on the way home.

Here I am almost 25 years old and the Mushu plush sits on my armoire among my other Disney plush toys. Compared to my newer ones he is raggedy and showing his true age with thinning whiskers and stains. My mom tells me that when I got the plush my grandpa was shocked that a plush toy was $20 and that it was a lot of money, but that seeing how happy it made me had made the trip worth it. If only he could see how much that one gesture meant to me. Nineteen years and this plush has seen play dates, tears, joy and helps me grieve when I miss the warmth of my grandpa. So many years and it was also the inspiration that drove me to draw the characters I love so much. I guess you never know the true meaning of a gift until later down the road, and how much one small act of kindness could create a ripple that creates memories and moments that last forever.

Disney Ornament Haul and Review 11/14/18

Hi Disney Lovers!

It’s a slightly small haul this time around due to recently purchasing my first property, but it’s still a haul! With Christmas only a month away, the stores are beginning to sell ornaments for trees. I enjoy decorating my trees and have two (the large one in my living room and a slightly smaller one in the bedroom) trees to decorate with one being Disney themed.

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Woody is sold through Hallmark and was picked up at Walmart for $5.97. Overall he is well made and looks true to character- he isn’t too weighted where the tree’s limb bends under the weight which is nice, but the ribbon to hang him up is a little long so he sits on top of the branch. A really nice addition to my growing collection as I really am loving the pose he is in as well! It adds character to him.

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This Elsa is another ornament sold through Hallmark that I had gotten at Walmart for $5.97. This is a pretty ornament that is decently made. The only issues is the paint on the face can be a little iffy and I had to look through multiple ornaments before picking the one I own, and the fact that she is very bottom heavy and pulls the branches down. Other than that I’m super excited with adding her to my ornaments and actually prefer this one over the Olaf’s Frozen Adventure Elsa ornament, whose paint job is much more lackluster.

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This pair of vintage winter Mickey and Minnie ornaments were purchased at CVS for $5.95, each sold separately. I love the earlier styles of Mickey and Minnie and didn’t really have any complaints with either ornament; both are well made and have decent weight but not enough to weigh them down. I’m so glad I scooped them up when I saw them last week because I returned to the store yesterday there weren’t any left!

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These Mickey ornaments were found at the Disney Store in the Tanger Outlet in Hershey, PA. These were purchased over the summer but I had waited to post them until I had more to show. Each ornament in this series has a Disney princess style on them (example is Tiana has a green ornament with lily pads on it). Each set came in a pack of eight for $24.99 but since they were at the outlet and it being the Christmas in July sale, I got 2 packs for $12.99 each which basically is two for the price of one. They are glass with glitter and well made, but they are smaller than a basic glass ornament which can be a cute touch without being overbearing. I’m happy I found them and hope to see if I can find more next time I’m in the area.

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Disney Sketchbook Mini Ornaments are fantastic for trees that are on the smaller size. They are about 3 inches in length each and are simple in design. I picked up the Winnie the Pooh ornaments on the Shop Disney website for $29.99, and while typing this out and being unable to locate them on the store site (meaning they may be sold out), Amazon sells them for $28.95. I highly recommend adding these to your tree for a small and simple touch.

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While wrapped and in it’s box, I bought the Babies First Winnie the Pooh Ornament (2018) for my nephew who will be celebrating his first Christmas (looked at it before wrapping). This ornament is a lead free metal that is well detailed down to the little quilt and honey wand rattle. I picked this up at CVS for $12.99, but if you’re at the Hallmark store you can grab it for $19.99. This is a great ornament to get for the new addition to the family, and I am excited to give it to my sister for him.

20181113_214340 Shout out to a purchase I made last year and kept safe until this year. I bought this Limited Edition Keepsake Santa’s Little Helper Pluto for $19.99. While a little hefty in size, this ornament is beautifully crafted with small velvet antlers and fuzzy wreath with hidden Mickey bulbs. By far this is my favorite ornament to date. Since it was Limited Edition it is no longer for sale at Hallmark’s stores but you can purchase it on Ebay for nearly the same price!

That’s it for my ornament haul this time. I hope you enjoyed it and let me know if you found any nice Disney ornaments I can add to my collection!

Spot

Stan Lee Dead at 95

Today we have lost an icon that has shaped comic book history. Stan Lee has died at the age of 95. Why am I writing about this on a Disney blog? Because while Disney does own the Marvel franchise and Stan Lee made many (and I do mean many) cameos in the Marvel world, Stan Lee was an inspiration and not afraid to push limits. He created superheroes and villains who weren’t just black and white, and deserves to be remembered for all of his hard work.

I grew up reading Spider-Man comics and watching him on TV. It sparked an imagination that made me think I could be as heroic and magnificent as he was. As I grew older, my love for Marvel and everything Stan Lee imagined grew. He made worlds without limits, bringing the magical and the scientific together in a way that gelled. It’s because of him I fell in love with the world of the super.

To lose someone like Stan Lee feels like losing a close friend. Growing up with his work and seeing it made adapted for movies and shows of today is something I’ll always remember and treasure. Rest in Peace Stan Lee… thank you for everything.

Spot

Disney Pin Trading

Pin Trading is one of the big highlights you get to enjoy when at any of the Disney locations. When visiting the parks, you can trade with any cast member who is sporting a lanyard (they can never say no!) or a cork board filled with them. The trick is to trade what you like if they have it- you don’t need to trade by value (meaning $9.99 pin for $9.99 pin) and you don’t have to trade pins you like.

Some of my pins!

Pin trading is a family friendly activity that anyone can do at any age! It’s a great way to meet people and socialize, as not only can you trade with cast members but other guests as well. While it can get a little expensive, there are thousands of different varieties and options, so you can collect them all or be as specific as you want!

Here are some helpful tips to get you started:

Pins come color coded which mark the prices. Currently they run for $9.99 (green and silver), $12.99 (blue and yellow), $14.99 (pink). Specialty pins, booster packs, mystery pins and limited edition pins may have different pricing which is something to remember!
If you are just starting, it is easier to buy the starter packs which includes a lanyard and four pins. These typically run for $29.99 and have different styles to choose from, so if you like anything from Star Wars to Disney princesses then it’s a great place to begin.
There are great places to trade: Frontierland at Magic Kingdom, Pin Central at Epcot, Fantasy Faire at Magic Kingdom and Big Top Souvenirs are some of the best. They always have pretty good selections and sometimes have limited release ones from parties from time to time so it’s great to keep checking back!
If you don’t feel like showing off your pins on a lanyard, you can use wall space (when not trading), vests, backpacks or even the official Pin Trading book!

Pin Types:

Basic- These are the ones seen throughout each pin store. They are the most common and available for purchase, until they retire.
Limited Edition- Pins that are released for a certain amount of time, usually made for a series.

Limited Release- Pins made in a certain quantity that are available for purchase; get them before they are gone!

Mystery- Usually bagged or in a small box, you never know which one you’ll get!

Event/Commemoration- Rare pins handed out during events like Mickey’s Merry Christmas Celebration, Disney Movie Club VIPs get Commemorative pins or for Annual Passholders who get the the Annual Passholder pins!

Hidden Mickey- Cast member released pins with a small hidden Mickey somewhere on it- these are extremely popular.

Pin trading is tons of fun and can be a great hobby, but there are some things to remember when you begin.

Do:

Be polite. If a cast member or guest is busy or a fellow guest isn’t keep on trading a specific pin, don’t be pushy!
Buy cheaper pins to trade. There is no price system or color system to trade pins with cast members so buying a starter pack or a green color priced pin to trade is a great and more affordable way to start.
Explore! Don’t be afraid to ask around and check for pins in all sorts of places; some places people don’t think to go to for trading and may contain nicer pins.
Figure out where the Trading Posts Stores are. Wherever the stores are that are exclusively for pins, there are bound to be tons of guests and cast members looking to happily trade!
Try to go to events! Events sometimes have rare and exciting pins that are only available for attendees.
If you can buy it and you like it, get it! Some pins are limited edition or limited release and are a little more pricey. These aren’t going to be around too long and can go up in value, so if you like it, get it!

Dont:

Buy from Ebay or Auction sites. This is the biggest no-no in pin trading. Counterfits are most likely and often sold in most online stores, and if some cast members don’t recognize it, they leak into the Disney parks traded around. Other cast members who do recognize them, end up rejecting your trades.
Argue. If someone, be it cast member or guest refuses a trade then don’t argue, be courteous and move on!
Overspend to trade. This goes hand and hand with the “buy cheaper pins to trade”. You don’t need to buy the $12.99 or $14.99 in order to get a hand in the trading world.
Trade a basic pin for special editions. Certain pins are worth a lot now, and if someone is trading one, ask them what they’d like. Offering them a common pin is a little lackluster, and a little etiquette goes a long way!

All in all, pin trading is a great and fun hobby to participate in and is a great way to show off your love for certain characters and movies. I hope you have a lot of fun, and feel free to comment your favorite pins!

Spot

Share Your Ears!

Hi Disney Lovers!

November 4th through the 17th of this year, you can help make wishes of those in need come true.

By posting a photo of yourself decked out in homemade or store bought ears and use #shareyourears on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, Disney will donate $5US to the Make-A-Wish Foundation (up to $2 million).

Disney has been partnering with Make-A-Wish since 1980 and has helped to grant more than 130,000 wishes for children who suffer from life changing illnesses.

Please take a moment to put on your best Mickey and Minnie ears and post to one of the sites listed above; if you would like to do more then please donate to the Make-A-Wish Foundation as well. Any amount helps!

For more information please check out Share Your Ears!

Personal Shopping

I can’t tell you how honored I am that I have friends and family members looking for help shopping for their friends. I have a few friends and relatives who have children in their lives who love Disney and don’t know what to get them, as Disney isn’t something they know well. To be asked to help gives me a sense of joy, as it mixes two things together I love: gifting and Disney!

I’m not a professional, let me tell you that! If I could work as a professional shopper for Disney that would be a dream come true, but to help make others happy is a great feeling (and doing it enough can grant some extra money).

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When shopping, I like to consider the following:

What is the age of the person I’m buying for? Gender?
What do they like- clothes, jewelry, toys, decor? Mix?
If clothes, what sizes do they wear?
What are their favorite movies or character/s?
How much are you looking to spend?

These questions make it possible for me to get a good idea on what to pick out.

It’s nothing to be ashamed of if you need help, thinking of others is the best gift. It’s the best time of the year, and sometimes just showing you know someone well enough to answer some (or all) questions really says a lot in itself. Happy Holidays and happy shopping!

Spot

What Fun It Is!

Cold and Flu season is the hardest time of year for me. Even before my official diagnosis I got sick frequently-just this past year I had gotten the flu at two separate times. This year I have gotten three colds in the months of September and October that were exhausting enough to prevent me from going to work as it caused a flare of my IBD. To try to prevent getting sick (as people go out even when they are sick) my doctor had highly recommended to wear a face mask in public and wash my hands and belongings more frequently.

I went out Christmas shopping on Saturday and found some nice ornaments for my Disney tree this year (blog coming soon on the Ornament haul!). While I was out shopping at my local Walmart, I was looked at by other shoppers. I get it, it’s different and trying to avoid looking at it is easier said then done- trust me I used to have trouble myself. It wasn’t until I passed by some Comcast employees trying to sell internet that I felt what others with similar problems deal with daily.

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I passed by the employees and was looking at the DVD bin next to them. An older man in an electric wheelchair pulls up besides the employees and “whispers” (I put it in quotes because it was really loud) while pointing at me, “Why is she wearing a face mask in the public? Can you make her take it off?”. The employees whispered a reply but I couldn’t hear what they said.

I looked up at them and gave them a look of anger with my eyebrows and just walked away. I could have made a scene, I wish I did- but I didn’t. The hurt and embarrassment was pretty heavy and I learned quickly why people with disabilities and diseases have trouble engaging with the public. I understand you could be afraid of becoming ill, but not everyone with a protective face mask in public is sick.

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While this happens Saturday, something similar happens on Sunday at my Churches charity dinner for volunteer work. The woman I ran into was a lot nicer- we were talking in line waiting for our dinner and since I knew her somewhat, explained my food was taking a little longer because I can’t eat many things. She smiled and said she figured that was what the mask was for but didn’t want to be rude and pry. Following that, she explained she has a daughter with an IBD as well who has to do the same thing. It just goes to show you the differences you face and how just basic awareness can prevent issues like this weekend from occurring.

Was I overreacting? I probably am taking it too much to heart but since this is new to me still, and I’m a bit sensitive about it. A little common courtesy goes a long way!